Q: What do I have to do to graduate?

A: The process of graduation begins when an application to graduate is completed and submitted to the Office of the Registrar by your advisor. The deadline to submit the application is normally the end of the third or fourth week of the term. Refer to the Academic Calendar for the exact date. Late submissions will only be accepted in exceptional circumstances.

Download the application from the web site at FORMS. After completing, contact your college advisor. You will either be instructed to schedule a meeting to review your graduation application or instructed to mail the application directly to your college advisor.

Once you have met with your advisor, your advisor will begin the process of verifying graduation requirements. A final determination is not made until the end of the term when all final grades have been posted. Once the degree is certified, the application will be forwarded to the Office of the Registrar where the degree will be posted to the student's academic record. If a student is denied graduation, he/she must reapply in a subsequent term.

Q: What do I have to do to be able to walk in commencement?

The first step is to submit an application for graduation. Applications are available in the Office of Registrar and on our web site. Commencement packages will then be sent to all students that have applied to graduate for the applicable term. Spring graduates walk in the May commencement. Summer and Fall Graduates walk in the December commencement. Summer graduating students who would like to walk early, (May ceremony), must submit a petition stating why they would like to walk early and why they cannot wait until the December event. This petition can be in the form of a letter and must be submitted along with the application to graduate.

Q: When will I get my Diploma?

Diplomas are available 6-8 weeks after the end of term. These will be mailed to graduates to the address requested on the application for graduation. If, instead of mailing, you wish to pick up your diploma, you may do so by contacting the Office of the Registrar.

Q: What honors will I receive at graduation?

Undergraduate students with outstanding academic performance will graduate with honors (cum laude, magna cum laude, summa cum laude) depending on the GPA they receive for all FGCU course work. Refer to the CATAOLG for the GPA required and level of honors.

Honors for commencement will be based upon the cumulative GPA as of the last semester prior to commencement.