Step 4: Final Step of Graduation and Commencement
The Final Graduation and Commencement Requirement: Attendance/Non-Attendance Form (STEP
4) is required and should be completed by all graduating students (undergraduates, masters, specialists,
doctoral and law. (Law only completes this form in December) within the semester they are graduating. Graduates attending and not attending the
ceremony must complete the form. Attendance and non-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. Watch for an email to your UofM account
during the semester you are graduating from our office.
Current semester graduates
Check your Memphis email for the appropriate guidelines and deadlines to complete Step 4. This form is REQUIRED whether you ARE attending or NOT attending the Commencement ceremony.
Step Four: Required and Final Graduation Form
Step Four is the final required graduation form for all degree-seeking students. You must complete it, whether you attend the ceremony or not, to ensure your diploma is processed and mailed correctly.
Submitting this form allows you to complete the final graduation requirements:
- Confirming your official name, degree, and any academic honors.
- Verifying the exact diploma mailing address.
- Registering to attend or decline your seat at the Commencement ceremony.
- Reviewing and accepting Commencement Guidelines.
- Answering all the questions, and submitting the form before exiting.
After successful submission, you will receive a confirmation email to your memphis.edu email address. The confirmation email is confirmation your form is submitted.
Additional Survey: Following Step Four’s deadline, you will receive a required survey from the University of Memphis Office of Institutional Effectiveness. It must be completed prior to cap and gown distribution. The survey is required by all graduating students. For registered commencement ceremony participants, your account will be checked prior to releasing your cap and gown during distribution. For non-participants/non-responders, your account will be checked prior to releasing your diploma.
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.
As our office is an event office, we are often away or closed for visitors. So, we highly recommend contacting us via email only with questions or concerns at commencement@memphis.edu. We answer most messages within 24-48 hours, standardly. When communicating with us, please include your Full Name, U-Number, and Major so we can find answers to your questions quickly.