Apply to Graduate

All Steps of the Graduation Process are required.

To ensure a seamless experience, the University of Memphis schedules a backup date for all commencement ceremonies to accommodate potential weather or facility adjustments. Please keep both potential days completely open on your calendar until the final date is officially confirmed. We strongly advise graduates and guests to reserve travel arrangements for the entire weekend and plan their departure for the following Monday or Tuesday.

 

Deadlines

For deadlines to Apply to Graduate, visit Apply to Graduate Deadlines.

Important: Select your most current or most recent term of enrollment on the first screen. You will choose your graduation date later on in the application. 

How to Apply to Graduate

• Log in to MyMemphis.
• Open My Degree and find the commencement box.
• Select your current/recent term for your curriculum.
• Click to the next screen.
• Answer the questions.
• Choose your graduation date and submit.
• Proceed to Step 3 for diploma and cap and gown details.
• You will receive Step 4 via your Memphis email 2–3 months before the event.
• Name Changes: Name changes must be completed before Step 4 goes live. This means graduating students who want to change their legal name, display a full middle name instead of just an initial, or switch to a preferred name must submit these updates when filing for graduation.
   
  • Submit an Official Name Change form with the Registrar.
  • Wait 24 to 72 hours for the Registrar’s office to update your records in the system.
  • Return to Step 3 of your graduation application to update and save your preferred diploma name.
  • The Graduation Application Name must be one in the same.
  • The name Commencement uses for diplomas and the commencement ceremony are one in the same. They must match and we do not deviate from the Official Name on the student's academic record. If a student wants to update their name, they must do so upon filing for graduation and at least one month before Step 4 is emailed to the Memphis.edu email account. 

Failure to complete any part of the Graduation Application will result in your name being excluded from the Commencement program, render you ineligible to participate in the ceremony, and prevent your diploma from being processed.

 

Important Details about graduating from the University of Memphis

 

• All students at the University of Memphis are required to Apply for Graduation.
• Early participation is not permitted. Graduating students must be enrolled in their final term coursework and officially cleared (approved) for graduation to participate in the ceremony.
• Students are limited to one commencement appearance per degree.
• University of Memphis commencements held at the FedExForum require a backup date due to potential NBA Memphis Grizzlies schedule changes. Graduates should advise guests to keep the entire weekend flexible to ensure attendance.
• Important Second Major and Certificate Information
  • It is extremely important to check with your Graduation Analyst (Contact link below) if you believe you are graduating with more than one diploma. This is extremely rare. Most of the time it is one degree, one diploma only. However, there are some exceptions.
  • You do not receive multiple diplomas for each major. You only receive a second diploma (degree) if you have earned a second diploma (degree) by obtaining a second degree.
    • Example: If you have a major in history and a major in english, you will receive ONE diploma. Both majors fall under the Bachelor of Arts (no additional diploma). 
  • A second major under the same degree type does not receive a separate diploma and does not participate in the ceremony.
  • For complete requirements and degree applicability rules, read and review the University of Memphis Catalog or consult your Graduation Analyst.  
  • Certificate-only recipients do not take part in the commencement ceremony.
  • Earning a double degree (ex. BBA and BS) results in receiving two separate diplomas. Refer to the University of Memphis Catalog.  
• Please note that deadlines are strictly enforced. Missing a deadline may prevent a student from participating in the ceremony and result in a delay in degree conferral.

• Step 4 is mandatory for all degree-seeking graduation candidates and will be sent to your Memphis email 2 to 3 months before the event.

  • You must complete the questionnaire, fill out the U of Memphis survey, and formally accept or decline your seat to register for the ceremony.
  • Approved attendees receive graduation regalia.
• Majors, minors, concentrations, and the like are not reflected on the undergraduate diploma.

• All graduates and guests must follow our Commencement Guidelines during the ceremony. To learn more, please visit https://www.memphis.edu/commencement/graduates/conduct_guidelines.php.

• Participation in the Commencement ceremony does not constitute official graduation. Degree conferral is contingent upon the successful completion of all academic requirements outlined in the Undergraduate Catalog, Graduate School, and Departmental guidelines.

• After reading this page, log in to your MyMemphis account and click UMDegree to apply for graduation.
• If you have questions about applying to graduate, commencement ceremonies, cap and gowns and the like, contact us at commencement@memphis.edu.
• Direct questions regarding academic records, majors, minors, concentrations GPAs and other related academic inquires to your Graduation Analyst at Graduation Analyst Contact.

 

Honors Distinction

At Commencement, undergraduate honors distinctions are determined using the grade point average from the preceding semester. Final grade point averages and official honors statuses are conferred following the ceremony once final grades are certified by the respective college. GPAs are not rounded. No exceptions are made to the Honors Distinction Policy.

Graduate students are not eligible for honors distinctions.

GPA Requirements and University Honors

University honor cords are single ropes worn over the robe. The cords come in three colors — gold, crimson or white.

• Summa Cum Laude, with Highest Distinction, 3.80 - 4.00: gold cord
• Magna Cum Laude, with High Distinction, 3.50 - 3.79: crimson cord
• Cum Laude, with Distinction, 3.25 - 3.49: white cord
  • Undergraduate students who have achieved academic honors distinction (summa, magna or cum as determined by the University policy on GPA) will receive their honor cord at cap and gown distribution.
  • Names listed in the program with the designations Summa Cum Laude, Magna Cum Laude and Cum Laude are provided by the office of the Dean of the College or School and are based on grade point averages at the beginning of the term.Please note that we use your current official GPA, which is the one earned at the close of your most recent completed semester. Your current semester grades will not become official or be calculated into your GPA until after Commencement, during the formal degree awarding process. If your final semester grades qualify you for a change in distinction, this will automatically be reflected on your final diploma and official transcript. The University does not round GPAs.
  • You may confirm your honor designation by checking the proof of the Commencement Program. If you think there is an error, you must talk with the Commencement Office early/by the Step 4 deadline. After you notify the Commencement Office of the error, they will contact your college/school to determine if changes should be made.
  • Graduate Students do not have academic honors, but may wear cords awarded previously.
  • 4.0s are determined by looking at an undergraduate student's overall undergraduate studies (entire transcript/entire undergraduate career: Every undergraduate course taken must be an A or better) to determine a 4.0 GPA . 
  • Student Marshal(s): Each undergraduate College and School will identify the undergraduate student(s) with the highest GPA in their overall undergraduate studies to act as its Student Marshal. Student Marshals are recognized by their Marshal's medallion and will lead the college across the stage. 
  • If a student is graduating with University Honors or University Honors with Thesis, they must communicate with the Honors Program several months before Commencement to ensure the Commencement Office and the college/school knows to add this to the program and diploma information.

For more information on the Institution's Recognition of Academic Performance, see Recognition of Academic Performance

Graduation With Distinction (Undergraduates Only)

Students who intend to achieve Graduation with Distinction must do the following:

1.     Fulfill all University of Memphis graduation requirements.

2.     Earn the following minimum grade point average on both their UofM and Overall* GPA to achieve the listed designations (it looks at institution and overall and takes the lower of the two to determine if the graduate qualifies for honors distinction):

• 3.2500-3.4999 Cum Laude
• 3.5000-3.7999 Magna Cum Laude
• 3.8000-4.0000 Summa Cum Laude

Read more important information here: https://catalog.memphis.edu/content.php?catoid=22&navoid=1128#graduation-with-distinction.

The actual conferral of Graduation with Distinction  cannot be made until the student’s UofM and Overall GPA has been certified by the College/School. Transitional Academic Studies courses (DSP) are not considered in calculating eligibility for Graduation with Distinction. College level courses used to satisfy high school deficiencies will be considered in the computations to determine eligibility for Graduation with Distinction.

• For more information on the Institution's Recognition of Academic Performance, see University of Memphis Catalog.  

 

Things to Keep in Mind

Participation in the Commencement ceremony does not constitute official graduation. Degree conferral is contingent upon the successful completion of all academic requirements outlined in the Undergraduate Catalog, Graduate School, and Departmental guidelines. For more information about diplomas, visit Diplomas and Diploma Mailing Schedule. 

 

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: Visit https://www.memphis.edu/gradschool/current_students/graduation.php for more information. For further questions about academic coursework, please contact your Graduation Analyst.

 

Law Students: Students must return the Law School’s 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.

 

Understanding the difference between Graduating and Participating in a Commencement Ceremony

• Commencement is the optional celebration, while graduation is the official completion of your degree.
• Commencement Attendance is optional.
• Certification is the actual degree conferral, contingent upon your successful fulfillment of all the requirements for receiving a degree, certificate in your field as described in the Catalog of your Academic Program/College or School requirements of the University of Memphis.

 

Good notes about Commencement

• We host Commencement Twice (2) a Year (December and May Only). August graduates participate in the December combined ceremonies (August and December together) Commencement ceremonies. 
• Summer graduation has not gone away! Summer Commencement is simply combined with December for a combined December and summer ceremony to be held in December each year. There is no separate summer commencement at the University of Memphis. 
• Participation is restricted strictly to graduates. Guests, family members, and children are not permitted on the event floor or the stage. Additionally, personal announcements, including marriage proposals and the like, are prohibited during the ceremony.
• All messages are routed to your Memphis email. Please monitor your inbox regularly.
• The Commencement Program is a public record listing all approved degree candidates. Names submitted before the notification cutoff may appear even if final approval is pending. To request name omission, submit a written notice to commencement@memphis.edu by the Step 4 deadline.

• Service Animals: Service Animals are allowed only if they are service animals trained to perform tasks for a disability in all public spaces. Emotional Pets are not allowed. 

• For deadlines, visit https://www.memphis.edu/commencement/apply/deadlines.php. 

 

Diplomas

Understanding Second Majors & Graduate and Undergraduate Certificates

• Second majors do not take part in the ceremony. Second majors do not receive a second diploma. Refer to the information about Applying to Graduate that you were required to read before filing for graduation https://www.memphis.edu/commencement/apply/. 
• The University recognizes degrees. Although a student has a major area, we award degrees specifically. If your major falls within the same degree area or under the same degree name, this is considered a second major. If you or your Advisor do not clearly understand this process, contact your Graduation Analyst who are the experts in the area. Examples: If you obtained a Bachelor of Arts from the College of Communication and Fine Arts in 2024 with a major of Journalism, and then, you return to put more work into a major in History in 2025, this is considered a second major.
  • Although history is under the College of Arts & Sciences, both Journalism and History would earn a student a Bachelor of Arts degree (same degree type). This does not warrant a separate diploma. 
• The additional/second major would be on the transcript only. A second major allows a student to have two different majors while overlapping coursework generally requiring less coursework than a dual/double major. 
• Double Degrees do call for a second diploma: The other major must be under a completely different degree type and unlike second majors, dual/double degrees will require additional coursework —most times doubling the coursework of an individual who only obtains a second major since the coursework is typically in common for the second major. Majors are not listed on the diploma. 

Diplomas: What do they look like? What is on them? 

Diplomas will only reflect the degree name, any undergraduate honors distinctions, and undergraduate departmental honors. Majors, Minors and Concentrations are available on your transcripts and will not be placed on the diploma. Graduate Students do not have honors distinction. 

• Student’s name as listed on Step 3 and Step 4 of the application. 
• College or School Name 
• Degree Name 
• University Name 
• Date of Graduation 
• Undergraduate Academic honors, if earned 
• Undergraduate College honors, if earned 
• Undergraduate Departmental honors, if earned 
• No, we do not have digital copies. Contact Registrar. 
• For more information, revisit /commencement/apply/index.php. 

 

DIPLOMA SIZES
Bachelor	14 across x 11 down
Masters	14 x 11
Doctoral	14 x 17
Juris Doctor (law)	14 x 17
Honorary	14 x 17
Joint BioMedical	14 x 17
Graduate Certificate	8.5 x 11

 

 

Email After Graduation

Memphis Email Access Information: Your Memphis email will expire after 1 year/graduates will lose access to email in 1 year after graduation. For more information visit /umtech/solutions/email.php. For all students voluntarily separating from the University, either through graduation or lapse in enrollment, access to university data and IT systems will be revoked one year after the last term the student was enrolled. It is the responsibility of the student to save any personal electronic files or data stored on university systems prior to the access termination date. Access to personal electronic files or data may not be provided after the one-year expiration.

 

Delaying Commencement

To delay commencement participation, submit the apply to graduate form, first. Then, in your final semester, open Step 4, log in, select "no" for attendance, choose "Other" with the reason "I want to delay my participation to a future Commencement," and submit the form. You will receive the official Delay Commencement Form after the deadline.

How to Delay Commencement

• Apply to graduate for your actual completion term.
• Open Step 4 and log in with your credentials.
• Answer the questions and set attendance to "no".
• Select "Other" for the reason and type: I want to delay my participation to a future Commencement.
• Submit the form to get a confirmation email.
• Wait for the official Delay Commencement Form after the deadline passes.

 

What if I missed the deadline to Apply to Graduate? 
Apply to Graduate deadlines are strictly followed. If you missed the deadline for any reason, it is the decision of your academic college or school to determine if you can file late. Contact your Graduation Analyst. 

By participating in the ceremony, you agree that commencement does not equal graduation. Degrees require completing all University of Memphis Catalog requirements. Diplomas are sent post-semester following grade certification. Submitting your application confirms compliance with all academic policies. For more information, contact your Graduation Analyst or review the University of Memphis Catalog.