Graduation

Graduation Dates       

There are three graduation dates each year: May, July, and December. Students should plan to participate in ceremonies as follows:

• Students who plan to complete degree requirements by the end of the Spring semester participate in May commencement ceremonies.
• Students who plan to complete degree requirements by the end of the Summer session (s) participate in December commencement ceremonies. (There is no summer commencement ceremony.)
• Students who plan to complete degree requirements in the Fall semester participate in December graduation ceremonies.

Participation in the commencement ceremony does not certify that a student has graduated. The degree is awarded and posted to the student's transcript after all grades are reported to the Office of the University Registrar and posted to student records.   

Candidates for Graduation       

Students (in concordance with their advisors) are to apply for graduation when it is clear that the coursework currently in progress and their pre-registered coursework will fulfill all requirements of their degree programs. The department must submit all graduation applications in adherence to the scheduled deadlines in order to ensure the timely processing of all documentation.

Student submissions will not be accepted by the Office of the Registrar and will only delay the processing of that student’s information. Upon receipt of the graduation application and all supporting documentation, the Graduation Audit Team will evaluate the student’s academic record for completion of all requirements.

Any applications that are deemed as incomplete or not qualified for graduation will be returned to the student’s academic department for correction and/or retention.

  Any questions regarding a student’s pending graduation status should be directed toward that student’s advisor or department.

Graduation Fees        

• There is a $30.00 application fee for each graduation application submitted.
• Each student who has met all of the necessary qualifications for graduation will be assessed a $130.00 commencement fee.
• Please note that these are two separate fees.

Additional University Requirements      

In addition to the departmental academic requirements of your major, minor, concentration, or degree program, the following requirements must be completed before you can be certified as a graduate of Norfolk State University:

Incomplete Grades:

• All graduating seniors must clear their academic record of any Incomplete (“I”) Grades.
• “I” grades that are not cleared within the next academic year will be automatically converted to a grade of “F”.
• No student will be graduated with an “I” grade on his or her record.

Exit Exam of Writing Proficiency      

• Undergraduate students, including those students who are seeking a second baccalaureate degree, must sit for and pass the University's Exit Examination of Writing Proficiency prior to the date of graduation.
• This requirement is waived for students who enrolled as freshmen prior to Fall 2001 and for transfer students who enrolled prior to Fall 2002.

General Graduation        

Specific Program / Degree Requirements:

• All students, both undergraduate and graduate, should consult the University Catalog or their departments for complete information about degree requirements for specific programs.
• Students are responsible for monitoring their own progress toward degree completion and for meeting all graduation requirements.
• Prior to the beginning of their final semester, students are strongly encouraged to consult their advisors regarding their progress.

Commencement      

There is no summer graduation ceremony. Students who expect to graduate in July should plan to participate in the December ceremony.

The names of July graduates are published in the December commencement program.
All activities related to commencement are managed by Events Planning in the Office of University Advancement.

 Commencement Website

Diplomas       

Diplomas are not distributed at commencement. Approximately 10 weeks after the graduation date, diplomas will be mailed to the permanent address on record in the Office of the Registrar. Verify and update your permanent address on your graduation application – all correspondence regarding graduation will be sent to your permanent address as it is listed on your graduation application.

If you would prefer to pick up your diploma at the Office of the Registrar, please send an e-mail to the Graduation Audit Staff at registrar@nsu.edu by January 15, if you are a July or December graduate, or by June 1, if you are a May graduate.  This email must state your full name and your intent to pick up your diploma. You will, in turn, be contacted via email when your diploma is ready to be picked up.

All holds, debts, or obligations to the University must be satisfied before your diploma will be released.

Final Transcript  Request         

Transcript Request Information

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