Students who complete graduation requirements by the spring of a given year normally participate in commencement exercises at the close of that spring semester. Students who are very near completion may participate in commencement if they fulfill the following conditions:

• they must be within 8 hours of completing all graduation requirements;
• they must, in consultation with their academic advisor(s), develop a Degree Completion Plan (available from the Registrar) showing how they intend to complete the remaining degree requirements by the end of the fall semester of the calendar year in which they plan to process;
• they must submit the Degree Completion Plan to the Registrar by the end of the last day of classes for the spring term as indicated in the College’s Academic Calendar.

In such circumstances, participation in commencement exercises does not imply the conferral of a degree, nor will a diploma be given to the student or a transcript be released until all graduation requirements are complete. This policy and its provisions are not subject to alteration by petition.