Graduating Students

You should regularly review your degree requirements in Stellic to ensure it is accurate and complete.

To access Stellic, log-in to SIS and from your home page select the Academics tile and then the Academic Progress tile. The University Registrar webpage provides Stellic how-to guides and videos.

We recommend that you schedule a meeting with your four-year advisor one year before your anticipated graduation date to confirm your academic plan.

After you register for your final semester of classes, you should again review your degree requirements in Stellic to ensure it is accurate and complete. If you see an issue, do not ignore it!  Contact your four-year advisor as soon as possible. Possible items that you will need to address could include:

• Adjusting your schedule to fulfill a remaining requirement
• Needing to make a course substitution or other correction
• Adding, dropping, or changing a major or minor

Note about requests to graduate early: Students who have completed all graduation requirements in fewer than eight semesters have the option to move up their graduation term in SIS one semester prior to their new graduation date. Contact your four-year advisor for more information.

You must submit a graduation application in SIS by the relevant deadline:

• Feb. 1 for May graduation, for students who complete their programs during the spring semester (app open Dec. 1 - Feb.1)
• June 1 for August graduation, for students who complete their programs during the summer semester (app open May 1 - June 1)
• Oct. 1 for January graduation, for students who complete their programs during the fall semester (app open Sept. 1 - Oct. 1)

The graduation application will ask you to confirm various information for your diploma, such as:

• Official name and spelling
• Degree type, major(s), and any minors; if necessary, you are still able to make changes to your majors and minors after submitting the graduation application
• Whether you wish your name to be listed in the Commencement program

The graduation application in SIS is different from registering for Commencement. See more about Commencement registration below.

Commencement Week occurs annually in mid-May, and includes Convocation, the Commencement Ceremony, and other events to celebrate graduates. Undergraduates are split into a morning or afternoon commencement ceremony, based on the degree earned. View the Undergraduate Commencement Ceremony schedule here.

Commencement registration is open March 3 - April 1 and is required for students who wish to participate in their commencement ceremony and other Commencement activities. Eligible students will receive an email with instructions on or before March 3. Email the Commencement Coordinator Dorien Langezaal if you did not receive the email. 

Students are eligible to participate in Commencement if:

• They will complete all degree requirements during the current spring semester or the immediately following summer semester.
• They have already completed all degree requirements in the immediately preceding fall semester or summer session, and did not already participate in a Commencement ceremony.
• They are a future graduate who has an approved plan to complete their degree requirements in the upcoming fall semester; please connect with your four-year advisor for more information. Note that students who participate in Commencement prior to earning their degree will not be included in the Commencement Program and will receive their diploma at the time of degree completion.

A student may participate in Commencement only once as a bachelor’s degree candidate.

Tickets are required for guests to attend the Undergraduate Commencement Ceremony. Tickets are free, and must be reserved in advance via the Commencement registration form (this includes all children regardless of age). Students participating in a 2025 Undergraduate Commencement Ceremony are able to reserve up to 4 tickets during Commencement registration, and can indicate if they would like to enter the ticket lottery for additional tickets. Students will be contacted in mid-April with ticket lottery details. Please note that additional tickets are subject to space availability and are NOT guaranteed. A live stream to the Undergraduate Commencement Ceremony will be available on the Commencement website.

Cap & Gown

Academic regalia (cap and gown) is required for all graduates participating in commencement ceremonies (not Convocation). Students who are completing a combined bachelor’s/master’s program may instead order their graduate program regalia and do not need to purchase undergraduate regalia. They can be purchased at the University Bookstore, during one of the Grad Fairs, or directly from the vendor Oak Hall Cap & Gown.  For more information, see the Commencement website.

Honors cords

Latin Commencement honors are awarded to the top 35 percent of the graduating class. Eligible students will receive an email notification one week prior to Commencement with pick-up instructions. NOTE: Students who are participating in Commencement in advance of completing all degree requirements will not be eligible to receive Latin honors cords.

All undergraduate students participating in Commencement are required to attend Commencement rehearsal at 9 a.m. on Friday, May 16 in the Veale Convocation, Recreation and Athletic Center. 

Students do not need to wear or bring their regalia to the rehearsal.

Remember to bring your CWRU ID for entrance into Veale.

Students will line-up in Horsburgh Gymnasium (in Veale) and should arrive no later than:

• 8 a.m. for the 9 a.m. Commencement Ceremony (College of Arts & Sciences)
• 12:30 p.m. for the 1:30 p.m. Commencement Ceremony (Case School of Engineering, Frances Payne Bolton School of Nursing, or Weatherhead School of Management)

Tickets are required for all guests, including children regardless of age. To access tickets, visit case.tassel.com using your CWRU email address, then click Print/Email Tickets to print or email tickets directly to your guests. When arriving at the venue, guests may show a printed ticket or a digital version on their mobile device. Note that tickets are unique and can only be used once. 

For those not able to attend, the ceremony will also be available via livestream. 

Security measures are continuously changing; please review the Commencement website to stay up-to-date and help keep our CWRU graduates, faculty, staff and guests safe.

Please encourage your guests to review information on the Commencement website regarding parking, arrival, and other details.

All participating students will receive an envelope when they cross the stage. If a student is a Spring 2025 graduate, has completed all their degree requirements, and has resolved any administrative or financial holds, the envelope will include their diploma. If a student already graduated in an earlier term (Fall 2024 or Summer 2024) their envelope will include a certificate notifying them as such. If a student is graduating in a future semester (Summer 2025 or Fall 2025) or has other administrative or financial holds, the envelope will include a letter with further instructions and contact information.

For more information about diplomas and transcripts, visit the University Registrar website.

The 2025 Commencement Program will include names for all students who have fulfilled degree requirements in the current (Spring 2025) semester, or the two most previous semesters (Fall 2024 or Summer 2024). If you are fulfilling degree requirements in a future semester (e.g. Summer 2025 or Fall 2025) but participating in the 2025 Commencement ceremony, your name will not appear in this year’s program.

Photographers are on-site during the ceremonies. For more information on professional photos, as well as gifts and memorabilia, please visit the Commencement website.