Graduation/Conferral of Degree

This is an archived copy of the 2020-2021 Catalog. To access the most recent version of the catalog, please visit http://catalog.norwich.edu/.

Graduation/Conferral of Degree
Graduation is the completion of all degree requirements as recorded on the official transcript. Commencement is the ceremony that celebrates the completion of a degree. Participation in the commencement ceremony does not imply that a student officially graduated. The diploma is a commemoration of achievement. Official certification of the degree is made only through the official transcript or through the certification service of the National Student Clearinghouse (NSC).

Conferral, also known as degree completion, is evaluated on a rolling basis and once completion is certified, the completion date will be recorded on the student record. Diplomas are distributed three times per year. There is one commencement ceremony at the conclusion of the full Spring Semester for campus-based programs and the summer session for CGCS programs. Coursework deadlines are August 25, December 22 and the last day of the semester prior to commencement exercises. For further information on the required outstanding coursework and diploma distribution, please contact the Office of the Registrar. The degree award date is posted using the last day of final exams for Fall semester, the day of Commencement for Spring semester, and the last day of the last Summer Session for Summer. No degree shall be conferred, or diploma awarded, until the Registrar’s Office verifies all degree requirements are met.

The Registrar, in conjunction with the President and the approval of the Board of Trustees, awards degrees. An act deemed by the University as egregious can result in the act of revoking a conferred degree or the conferral of a degree.

Graduation Application
Student will submit a Graduation Application to the Registrar’s Office. The May and Summer Semester graduation application is due October 1 and for Fall Semester the graduation application is due March 1. A student with an expected graduation date for December, May, or August (or other summer session) and who missed the deadline for submitting a Graduation Application will have a hold placed on his/her registration record.

Diploma
The Diploma is printed with the degree, major, and, when applicable, Latin Honor. The printed student name will come from the Graduation Application. Most often, this is the student’s legal name; however, an alternate name may be given. The University reserves the right to deny a non-legal name. For an eligible student, the Military College of Vermont (MCV) designation will be included on the diploma.

Commencement
A student who is within two courses of meeting graduation requirements and applies to graduate for Summer Semester will be permitted to walk in Commencement. A student is not permitted to participate in commencement until all University bills are paid, or arrangement for payment are made to the satisfaction of the Chief Financial Officer. Participation may also be revoked when the student has pending disciplinary action to be cleared by the Provost, and when applicable in conjunction with the Vice President for Student Affairs.

Latin Honors (refer to Academic Honors)

Posthumous Degree

A request for a posthumous degree is initiated by a person, associated with the deceased, to the Registrar. This is usually a family member, but the academic department of the student can initiate it in accordance to the wishes/support of the family. The request must be approved by the Department Chair/School Director, the College Dean, and Provost.

Undergraduate degree:

  • At the time of death, the student was enrolled in courses required for completion of the degree and nearing completion of work required for award of the degree.
  • The student was in good academic standing and successfully progressing toward completion of requirements for the degree to be awarded.

Graduate degree:

  • At the time of death, the graduate student was nearing successful completion of the work required for the degree.
  • The student was in good standing.

If the posthumous degree is approved, the Registrar shall notify the College Dean who will notify the family to inquire if a family member wishes to attend Commencement Exercises to receive the posthumous degree.

  • If family wishes to attend Commencement, the Dean will inform them to contact the Registrar.
  • The Registrar will provide instructions to the family on how they will receive the degree at Commencement.

The posthumous degree will be so noted after the deceased student’s name in the Commencement Program. The Registrar shall note, but not post, the degree to the deceased student’s official transcript with the notation; “Degree Awarded Posthumously”. The Registrar shall ensure that grades of W (withdrawn) are entered for all courses the deceased was enrolled in at the time of his/her death.