BIG NEWS FOR FALL 2015 GRADUATION
As of the December 2015 commencement, only those undergraduate students who have every single course, every single credit needed for degree completion on their fall semester schedules will be permitted to participate in the Commencement ceremony. For more details, click on the video here.
This is huge! This means that you must be extra, extra careful to have your fall schedule thoroughly endorsed by your academic advisor. You must count your credits–120 academic, 45 upper level, 30 in residence at UMBC--to be sure they will all be there when Fall grades are posted. (Remember that PHED credits do not count toward those totals and repeated courses may be counted twice until final grades are posted…)
And if you are taking a course at another institution that you plan to transfer, you must have an approved Verification of Transferability form and be prepared to supply a copy of your schedule.
INSIDER TIP: If you plan on December graduation and discover a credit shortfall, you may add an internship or independent study course up through September 30. You will need to submit a “HELP” ticket to the Registrar’s Office, since “self-service” registration is now closed.
STRATEGIES FOR COMPLETING YOUR DEGREE WITHOUT A HITCH
Strategy #1
Apply for graduation by the deadline, which is September 15!
The application process is brief, completely on line, and involves no fee!
Related INSIDER TIP: Applying to graduate is essential, whether or not you plan to participate in the Commencement ceremony!
Strategy #2
Embrace your degree audit!
The whole purpose of your degree audit is to tell you where you stand on completion of your degree. If you see any “Unsatisfied” items, view that as something needing immediate attention. You will find your degree audit under the topic “Advising and Student Support” in myUMBC. Make sure any substitutions or waivers of major requirements are documented in your degree audit; ask your advisor to submit a “HELP” ticket to the Registrar’s Office to add these notations to your record.
Strategy #3
Don’t slack off (much) in your final semester!
Just having the courses “on your schedule” will not do much good if you do not achieve the grades you need to be successful. Do what you need to in order to stay focused on the goal. Taking courses after commencement because your performance slipped can delay entering the workforce, entering graduate school, or achieving other life goals.
Bonus Strategy
Avoid procrastination on wrapping up the details!
If you have Advanced Placement or CLEP scores, transfer transcripts, foreign language waivers, or other items you need to provide to UMBC, delay no longer! If the major, minor, or certificate program on your record is out of date, submit a new Declaration of Major form. Do not let these items delay your graduation.
HANDY LINKS
Foreign Language Equivalency Form (for international students)
EXTRA CREDIT DISCUSSION QUESTION
What questions do you have about the graduation process? Write them below in the “Comments” section and we will find answers for you!
POLL: When you finish your degree, do you plan to participate in a UMBC Commencement ceremony?
