NAU Graduate College graduation
Graduation policy and requirements
All graduate students who wish to have their degree awarded from Northern Arizona University must submit a graduation application. NAU’s official graduation policy includes all pertinent information about students’ eligibility for applying for graduation, posting of degrees, and participation in commencement ceremonies.
Graduation deadlines
| Expected Graduation Term | Application Due | End of Term/Confer Date |
|---|---|---|
| Fall 2020 | May 1, 2020 | November 25, 2020 |
| Winter 2020 | May 1, 2020 | January 8, 2021 |
| Spring 2021 | November 1, 2020 | May 8, 2020 |
| Summer 2021 | November 1, 2020 | August 4, 2020 |
Mid-term degree awarding: Summer 2020
While the degree awarding process typically occurs only once per term, under certain circumstances NAU students may petition for a degree to be posted at the mid-point of a term. Due to the COVID-19 outbreak, an exception has been made to allow eligible graduate students to utilize the mid-point awarding for the Summer 2020 term, with a 7/3/2020 conferral date.
Considerations
- All degree requirements must be completed on or before 7/3/2020 to be eligible.
- Students will not be able to begin or continue in any NAU coursework for the remainder of the Summer 2020 term.
- A degree being posted at the mid-point of a term may impact a student’s financial aid or loan pay-back date.
Timeline for completion
| Deadline | |
|---|---|
| 5/11/2020 | Request for mid-term posting due to GradGraduation@nau.edu. |
| Varies per student | Format Checks for theses and dissertations are due 10 days PRIOR to your defense |
| Varies per student | Dissertation defense scheduling forms must be submitted 10 days PRIOR to your defense (doctoral students only) |
| 6/24/2020 | Last date to hold a dissertation or thesis defense |
| 7/3/2020 | All degree requirements must be completed, including the full completion of coursework, internships, student teaching, the final upload of theses and dissertations to ProQuest, oral presentations, etc. |
| 7/10/2020 | Final grades post to transcsript |
| 7/10/2020-7/17/2020 | Mid-term degree awarded to transcript |
Mid-term graduation request process
An email request must be submitted to the Graduate College (GradGraduation@nau.edu) on or before May 11, 2020. This request must contain all pertinent student information, including, full name, 7-digit student ID number, and degree program. The Graduate College will communicate any further steps after the request has been reviewed and approved.
Graduation application
The graduation application is facilitated through your LOUIE Student Center. Please view our Step-by-Step Guide on how to submit your application.
Graduation application fees
The NAU graduation application fee is $35.00 for each degree and/or certificate and will be charged to a student’s LOUIE Student Center once the application is submitted. If a student withdraws their application or if an application is denied due to deficiencies, the $35.00 fee will not be refunded. Additionally, the graduation fee will not be waived due to low income status or other circumstances.
Withdrawing your graduation application
NAU graduate students are unable to make changes to their graduation term once the graduation application has been submitted. Students may request their application to be withdrawn by contacting GradGraduation@nau.edu.
Academic recognition
At the time of graduation, if you have earned a cumulative grade point average of 3.90 or higher for all courses taken as a graduate student at Northern Arizona University, you will be recognized with the notation of “with distinction” on your transcript and diploma.
Verification letters
If you have an approved graduation application on file, you may request a letter of verification indicating that: “Fulfillment of degree requirements is in progress” or “Fulfillment of degree requirements are complete”. You may submit your request for a verification letter via email to GradGraduation@nau.edu.