• Multifaith Baccalaureate Celebration
• Class Day Luncheon and Night Before Party for Graduating Students and their families
• President’s Reception

If you are expecting to graduate at the end of Spring Quarter, you should file your graduation application by the application deadline, April 12, 2009. If there is any question about which quarter you should apply for, contact the Student Services Center, 2nd floor Tressider Union or submit a Student Service Center Help Ticket as soon as possible for advice.

File your application through Axess. From the Student Services tab, select the Apply to Graduate function. Follow the directions given, being careful to complete your application accurately. Remember to SAVE your application when completed!

In Axess, check the degree information display carefully as you apply or you may not graduate. Double check the following:

• Are you applying for the degree you think you are?
• Is your major or graduate degree program correctly listed?
• Should you have a major field or not? Only specified majors offer fields as a degree option for undergraduates and graduate students.
• Is your minor correctly listed?
• For undergraduates, will you graduate with departmental or interdepartmental (Humanities, etc.) honors?

If anything about your degree information does not agree with your degree intentions, do not file your application until you have made corrections to your degree program or contacted the Degree Progress division at the Office of the University Registrar and resolved the problem.

You must complete the following bachelor’s degree requirements by the degree conferral date (i.e., Commencement Sunday for Spring Quarter). Be sure to scroll all the way to the bottom!

An In Review status indicates that you have not yet completed your University requirements.

Undergraduates have an In Review status if courses in progress meet General Education Requirements (GERs), Units Towards Graduation (UTG), or if a Major-Minor and Multiple Major Course Approval form must be submitted. For undergraduates, the In Review status is moved to Pending after grades are posted for courses counting towards GERs, UTG, and/or when the completed Major-Minor and Multiple Major Course Approval form is submitted to the Registrar's Office.

Graduate students have an In Review status if residency requirements and milestones are not completed; this includes dissertation submission if applicable. Graduate students are moved to Pending when residency requirements and milestones are complete.

A Pending checkout status indicates that you have completed your University requirements. For undergraduates, this includes completing all General Education Requirements (GERs), Units Towards Graduation (UTG), and submitting a Major-Minor and Multiple Major Course Approval form if applicable. For graduate students, this includes completing residency requirements and milestones, including dissertation submission if applicable.

Your status will be updated to Approved by the evening of Thursday, June 12, if all your departments approve all your programs, major(s), and/or minor(s). Note that the Registrar's Office and your department(s) work together regarding your department graduation clearance. You do not have to take additional steps to notify the Registrar's Office concerning your departmental graduation clearance.

Degree candidates are moved to Denied status by the evening of Thursday, June 12. Students will be emailed the evening of Thursday, June 12 if they have a Denied status. The Denied status indicates that you have not completed all your University and department or major and/or minor requirements in all your departments. It also could indicate that you have a hold preventing your degree conferral. If you believe that this status is an error, visit the Registrar's Office after 8:00 a.m. on Friday, June 13.

Registration is required in the term in which your degree is conferred. If you are not planning to enroll in courses during Spring Quarter, you need to apply for an alternative registration status (i.e., Permit to Attend, Permit for Services Only, 13th Quarter); you should contact Degree Progress for assistance before March 31, 2008.

Undergraduates must submit a Request for Last Units Out of Residence (pdf) petition to the Office of the University Registrar if you plan to take your final units while away from Stanford.

Perform all checks mentioned in the “Undergraduate Degree Requirements” section above to be sure you will meet all requirements for your undergraduate degree.

Degrees are conferred each quarter, but diplomas are distributed once each year at the department ceremonies held after the University ceremony in the stadium. Information about your department ceremony will be available from your department during Spring Quarter.

When you apply to graduate on Axess, you will be asked to inform the Office of the University Registrar how you wish to receive your diploma: at the department ceremony, at the Office of the University Registrar, or by mail. If you elect to pick up your diploma at the Office of the University Registrar, it will be available at noon on June 15, 2008. Diplomas are mailed throughout July.
You may use Axess (select the “Apply to Graduate” function) as often as necessary to update your diploma distribution instructions through June 1, 2008.

Click here for the Registrar's Diploma page.

Degree recipients who require evidence of conferral may order official transcripts to be issued after degrees are posted. Choose the “Degree Confer Date” option when you request your transcript in Axess. Degrees are normally recorded in Axess one week after the conferral date.

Any party (your employer, insurance company, etc.) may request confirmation of degree conferral by contacting the National Student Clearinghouse at http://www.studentclearinghouse.com or (703) 742-4200.

Click here for detailed information about the degree certificate.

A Commencement Weekend brochure (containing the full schedule of Commencement Weekend activities, cap and gown instructions, etc.) will be mailed by the Stanford Events office to all degree candidates in early Spring. It will be sent to your mailing address as listed in Axess.

A separate packet of Commencement information addressed to “The Parents of (your name)” will be mailed by Stanford Events to parents of undergraduates.

The brochure and information packets provide a schedule and invitations for the various Commencement Weekend ceremonies, tours, and activities. This mailing also uses the parental addresses as listed in Axess. Please review all related address information at your earliest convenience so that you and your parents can be notified in a timely manner.

Reviews applications for bachelor’s degrees and verifies completion of the 180-unit minimum for graduation. Monitors each student’s completion of the University degree requirements. Will verify completion of the requirements or explain deficiencies. Handles major declaration.

The student services administrator in your department can verify that your course of study will complete the requirements for that major. Multiple majors must check with both departments.

Reviews applications for advanced degrees.

Evaluates transfer and other external course work.

Open Commencement Sunday from noon to 4:00 p.m. for diploma pick up.

Handles matters concerning students’ financial obligations to the University.

Handles last-units-elsewhere petitions. Processes special registration status for final quarter such as Permit for Services Only (PSO) or 13th Quarter.

Prepares diplomas and manages their distribution to departmental ceremonies or to students who elect to pick them up after the stadium ceremony on Commencement Sunday. Also prepares the Commencement Program.

Coordinates Commencement weekend activities. Distributes Commencement information packets to students and parents in spring.

24-hour Commencement hotline.

Rents and sells caps and gowns. Also sells engraved Commencement invitations, announcements, class rings, and diploma frames.