Applying to Graduate
You should apply to graduate at least one full semester prior to your final term so that you can conduct a graduation audit, and address any issues, prior to your final registration term. If you apply during your final term, it may be too late add a class if you are deficient in some area. Applying late in your final term may also mean that your name will not be on lists of graduating seniors, including the printed commencement ceremony program.
Graduation and commencement are two different things and, for some students, happen at different times.
Graduation means meeting all your degree requirements after the Office of the Registrar has confirmed your progress toward a degree and conferred a degree to you. Commencement is the ceremony at the end of the fall and spring terms, celebrating graduating students.
Use the following table to determine what term to select when applying to graduate and what commencement ceremony students will be eligible to participate in.
Student's last class will be completed in:
| When applying to graduate, student should select:
| Student will be eligible to participate in the following commencement ceremony:
|
Spring term
| Spring term
| May ceremony |
Summer term
| Summer term
| May ceremony |
Fall term
| Fall term
| December ceremony |
Winterim term
| Winterim term
| December ceremony |
To apply to graduate, click on the Graduation tile from your Homepage in accesSPoint. This tile will appear when you are eligible to apply.
Important Graduation Application Deadlines
Spring 2025 graduation application closes March 28, 2025
Summer 2025 graduation application closes July 4, 2025
Fall 2025 graduation application closes October 31, 2025
**Please note - these are the deadlines for the graduation application in accesSPoint. If you find that you missed the deadline to apply for a specific term in accesSPoint, please contact the graduation auditor.
After you have applied to graduate, any communication regarding your degree requirements will be sent to you via your UWSP email. It is important that you check your UWSP email regularly even after your final semester is completed. If any issues arise after the semester that may prevent you from graduating, or if your degree is not approved, you will be notified only through your UWSP email.
If you need to change your graduation date or have questions regarding your term of graduation, contact the graduation auditor.
Your Diploma Name
Your legal name will be the default name used on your UWSP diploma. The legal name at the time the diploma is ordered is what will be printed on the diploma.
Once you have applied to graduate, you can request your preferred name be used on the diploma. Choosing to print a name other than your legal name on your diploma may result in unforeseen complications. Some countries require that your diploma name and official transcripts match for various legal, immigration, and employment purposes. We recommend that any student who plans to live, study, or work outside the United States choose their legal name to be printed on their diploma.
Any legal name changes or requests for use of preferred name after the last day of your final term are not guaranteed to be reflected on your diploma due to the timing of degree posting and diploma ordering. Any update to your name after your diploma has been ordered will require you to order a replacement diploma. Standard fees apply.
Additional Graduation Information
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