Steps to Graduation

Congratulations on your upcoming graduation from the University of Memphis. Please read the information below in its entirety before submitting your application to graduate. The information provided will assist you in successfully completing the graduation application process.

Deadlines to Apply to Graduate: Click here

Special Notes:

1. When you proceed to Step Two – Apply to Graduate – and are required to select a term, choose the most recent term or the term in which you were last enrolled in your degree-seeking program (degree, majors, concentrations, and/or minors).
2. Once your application to graduate has been submitted, any changes must be routed through your Graduation Analyst. You can view your submitted application by selecting "View Application to Graduate".
3. You must complete an application to graduate for each degree. For example, select the College of Arts and Sciences' Bachelor of Arts degree with a major in Psychology. Submit the application. Return to Apply to Graduate to select your second degree, complete the application, and submit.
4. If you plan to graduate with more than one degree and the degrees will be completed in different terms, you must complete the Diploma Mailing/Cap and Gown Information form for each of the terms (i.e. Fall 2013 for Bachelor of Arts and Spring 2014 for Bachelor of Science).

Undergraduate Students: If you have attended another college or university, having transfer credit in UMdegree is essential for the graduation checkout to be accurate.  Please notify your advisor if you have missing transfer credits. For further questions about academic coursework, please contact your Graduation Analyst.

Graduate Students: All degree seeking student filing for graduation are required to submit candidacy forms (masters/doctoral/certificate program/ EDS Program of Study and Candidacy Form) for processing by the Graduate School.  Signatures are required from the departmental advisor, graduate studies coordinator, and College Director of Graduate Studies.  Candidacy forms received by the College Director of Graduate Studies after the semester deadline will not be approved; therefore, we strongly recommend that you submit the form to your departmental advisor at least one to two weeks prior to the college directors' deadline. Proceed to the Graduate School website and click on "Graduation Information" to obtain the required form(s), deadlines and additional information pertaining to graduation.

If you have previously filed for graduation and did not meet all degree requirements, it will not be necessary to submit a new candidacy form unless you have made significant changes to your degree program. For further information about your academic coursework, please contact the Graduate School.

Law Students: Students must return the Law School Graduation Checklist to the Law Registrar prior to completing the Application to Graduate. For further information about your academic coursework, contact the Law School Registrar.

News from the Commencement Office

• Spring graduation may conflict with the Grizzlies playoff schedule so there could be a possible date change. If you are graduating in the spring semester, read about it here.
• Second majors and second concentrations do not participate in the Commencement ceremony. They do not walk. They are not listed in the program and they do not receive a second diploma. For example, in May  2011, student received a Bachelor of Professional Studies with a concentration Health Services degree, and returned in May 2012 and added a concentration within Professional Studies. In May 2012, student received a Bachelor of Arts degree with a major in English, and returns in December 2012 and gets a second major in History. These are the same degree, so no second diploma, program name or participation.
• Graduate Certificate ONLY students do not participate in the Commencement ceremony. Names are listed in the spring Commencement program only.
• Step 4-The Attendance/Non-Attendance Card is required for both students participating in the Commencement ceremony (walking) and for students not planning to participate (non-walking). This includes all levels of students: doctoral, masters, law and undergraduates. Attendance is collected by semester so only the current semester graduating student fills out the form. Ceremony attendance information will be collected by the Commencement Office during the middle of your graduating semester. See below for when you need to fill out your card.

Call 901-678-5547 with questions.

Return to your myMemphis portal. Click on the My Degree tab and then locate the Commencement channel to access Step 2, Apply to Graduate.   Completion of Step 2 and Step 3, Diploma Mailing/Cap and Gown Form, is required of all students who are applying to graduate whether or not you plan to attend the Commencement ceremony. Again, actual ceremony attendance and/or non-attendance information will be collected mid-term of your graduating semester.

I have read all of this, and I have more questions. Read FAQs or contact the Commencement Office at 901-678-5547 or commencement@memphis.edu.