Graduation Policy

There are three standard graduation dates each year for the Kellett School undergraduate programs, Master of Business Administration, and Master of Science in Leadership and Organizational Development programs when all graduation requirements are complete.

Semester End Dates:

• Fall and Spring semester: Last day of finals week (main campus) for fall or spring term
  • includes those who student-teach in respective term
  • includes students who complete their last 7-week or 12-week class sessions during that term
• Summer semester: Last day of classes of the last session offered in summer
  • Master of Music candidates usually complete their program in their final summer semester, standard date applies.

For students in the Master of Education program, the graduation date is typically the date of successful defense of the thesis or project. For students in the Master of Arts in Counseling program, the graduation date is typically determined by the completion of internship hours or the accompanying coursework for the counseling internship requirement.

For students in the Master of Education or Master of Arts in Counseling programs who are enrolled in coursework in addition to the thesis or Internship II, the standard graduation dates apply.

Application for Graduation

Students should work closely with their Kellett School advisor to make sure they are accurately projecting their expected graduation date.

Kellett School advisors review and notify the Office of the Registrar of eligible candidates in a term. Upon receipt of this information, an analysis of the student’s academic record occurs to identify any outstanding degree requirements. 

Students should submit the Diploma Name Request form found on my.Lakeland to the Office of the Registrar.

• Should graduation plans change, the student must inform his/her Kellett School advisor immediately. Students who reach graduation eligibility without having submitted a Diploma Name Request risk exclusion in the graduation ceremony.
  • Students will incur a replacement diploma fee for any request to replace, duplicate, or alter the diploma document or for a request to change name displayed.
• The Diploma Name Request is the official request for degree conferral by the Office of the Registrar, NOT an RSVP to attend the ceremony.
  • ​In order to participate in the commencement ceremony, a student must complete a separate reservation process to attend their respective ceremony via the Lakeland University Commencement website.
  • This process officially launches in early March of each year; all eligible graduates receive notification via their Lakeland University email address.
  • Students should check their Lakeland University email and check the website to determine the deadline dates related to ceremony registration and academic attire orders.

General Graduation Policies

Financial or Record Holds:

• Lakeland requires students to fulfill all financial obligations to the university, including the payment of all fines, prior to conferring a degree and issuing a diploma.
• Students who have not met their financial obligations by their proposed date of graduation will receive their diplomas and requested transcripts as soon as they meet all financial obligations.
• Outstanding transcripts from other post-secondary institutions needed to complete degree requirements should be in the Office of the Registrar at least two months before the official date of graduation. If such transcripts are late in arriving, degree conferral is on hold until all transcripts arrive.

Undergraduate Honors:

• Determination of Honors regalia is reflective of the cumulative GPA for all coursework completed by the final day of the fall term and may include the entered or in-progress semester hour calculation of the individual student.
• Final Official University academic honors determinations occur once all course grade entry is complete.
  • Once a final academic assessment occurs, a student may earn new honors designations or increase their level of honor.
    • Conversely, staff may rescind an honors designation or decrease the student’s level of honor.
  • Transcription of official honors designations are on the permanent academic transcript and diploma.
• Associate Degree and Graduate Studies students are not eligible for honors.
• Please refer to the Academic Standing  section of this catalog for further information regarding the standards for honors.

Diplomas:

• Graduates receive diploma documents (both digital and paper) approximately six to eight weeks after the term in which all graduation requirements are complete and meet all final financial obligations to the university.
• The graduate will not receive a second degree or diploma if the degree designation of the second program is the same as that of the first. The new major (and/or minor) will appear on the graduate’s transcript as an additional major (and/or minor).
  • The graduate will only receive a second degree and another diploma if the student completes at least 30 additional semester hours and the second program degree differs from the prior degree award (B.A., B.F.A., B.S. or B.S.N.).

Commencement Ceremony:

• Eligible students are encouraged to attend the May commencement ceremony to celebrate accomplishments and receive a diploma folder.
• A Lakeland University graduate returning under the Program for Alumni Career Enhancement (PACE) will not be eligible to participate in commencement.
• Undergraduates may participate in the ceremony when earning their first associate or bachelor’s degree.
  • Any prior Lakeland University undergraduate returning for a second bachelor’s degree will not be eligible to participate in commencement.
• Master’s degree candidates may participate for each master’s degree earned.
  • Any Lakeland University graduate returning for another concentration in their previously earned graduate degree will not be eligible to participate in commencement.
• Submit any appeals for exceptions regarding ceremony attendance to the Office of the Registrar.

May Commencement

• The 2021-2022 commencement ceremony is scheduled for May 7, 2022.
• Students who have completed all degree requirements by the end of Fall 2021, Spring 2022, or are registered for their final twelve (12) or fewer credits for the Summer 2022 term may participate in the May 2022 ceremony.
• To be eligible to participate in the May ceremony, students must have completed or be currently enrolled in all courses required for the completion of the degree.
  • Students enrolled in Lakeland spring term courses are eligible to participate in the May ceremony, even if those courses do not conclude until after the date of the ceremony (including cooperative experiences, internships, practicum, or student-teaching placements).
• Students with thirteen (13) or more credits remaining who register for all of those credits for the Summer 2022 term will be eligible to participate in the May 2023 commencement ceremony.