As we move through the midpoint of the Spring 2023 semester, there are several important upcoming deadlines and reminders for graduate students. Please pay special attention to each of them, and if you have any questions contact either your program coordinator or respond to this message.
- Spring 2023 Commencement and graduation
- Course registration and deadlines for Summer and Fall 2023
- Spring 2023 course drop or withdrawal petitions
Spring 2023 Commencement and graduation
The Spring 2023 semester officially ends on Friday, May 5, and grades post to transcripts on Wednesday, May 9.
Final clearance reviews for graduation begin on May 9, and earned degrees will officially post to transcripts on June 1. Students who do not clear for graduation will be notified by the Academic Affairs office of their status by May 30.
Spring 2023 diplomas will be printed with an award date of Saturday, May 6.
See below for information on the Spring 2023 Commencement ceremonies.
Manuscript clearance deadlines
Doctoral students and Master’s students completing theses must meet manuscript clearance deadlines in the semester in which they graduate.
Students defending early in the semester, in a term prior to graduation, or who miss a semester deadline (delaying graduation) must meet the 60-day deadline.
Additional information can be found on the Graduate School’s manuscript clearance deadlines page, including dates for future terms (Summer and Fall 2023).
Spring 2023 Manuscript Deadlines
- March 20 – doctoral students: last day to submit doctoral dissertation or treatise for pre-defense format review.
- April 3 – master’s students: last day to submit master’s thesis for pre-defense format review.
- April 17 – all degrees: last day for the post-defense, content-approved manuscript and required Portal forms to be submitted.
- May 5 – all degrees: last day to receive an email from Manuscript Clearance Office confirming final clearance.
Commencement ceremonies
Detailed information about the ceremony and commencement schedules by college can be found on the Registrar’s graduation website.
Spring 2023 dates and deadlines for Commencement
- March 20 – doctoral student information due to Academic Affairs office for inclusion in printed program
- March 31 – deadline to late apply and guarantee name appearing in printed program
- April 14 – deadline to late apply and guarantee participation in ceremony
- May 5 – University Doctoral hooding ceremony – 9:00 am, Tucker Center
- May 6 – Bachelor’s/Master’s commencement ceremony – 9:00 am, Tucker Center
Doctoral students may choose to participate in the College-wide ceremony, but formal hooding with faculty advisors will not occur.
The Commencement ceremony is not the same as graduating – it is a formal public recognition of the accomplishment, but final granting of the degree is dependent on a student completing necessary requirements in their final term, grades for which post after the ceremony date.
Course registration and deadlines for Summer and Fall 2023
Current graduate students can register for Summer and Fall 2023 beginning March 6, at 8:00 am EST.
Course registration for the Summer and Fall semesters open at the same time. Register for any needed coursework at the same time to help avoid any registration errors or oversights.
Missed or incorrect registration for a given semester’s deadlines is not an excuse for exceptions to any given University, College, or department/program policies. This includes:
- Incurring late registration fees
- Registering for less than full-time status or other minimum hours needed for financial aid, assistantships, waivers, etc.
- Registering for non-fundable course sections when using waivers or other aid requiring fundable enrollment
Preliminary exam deadlines
Doctoral students planning to complete preliminary exams in a given semester must remember to schedule and pass their exams prior to the seventh week deadline if they wish to add or convert dissertation hours for the current term.
Summer session pro-rated deadlines
- Summer A – June 2
- Summer B – July 14
- Summer C – June 30
Fall deadline
- October 13
Manuscript clearance deadlines
Students planning to graduate in Summer or Fall 2023 should plan ahead now regarding manuscript clearance deadlines in order to effectively plan their thesis or dissertation defense and final edits.
| Semester Deadline | Summer 2023 | Fall 2023 |
|---|---|---|
| Doctoral students: last day to submit doctoral dissertation or treatise for pre-defense format review. | June 19 | October 30 |
| Master’s students: last day to submit master’s thesis for pre-defense format review. | July 3 | November 13 |
| All degrees: last day for the post-defense, content-approved manuscript and required Portal forms to be submitted. | July 17 | November 27 |
| All degrees: last day to receive an email from Manuscript Clearance Office confirming final clearance. | August 4 | December 15 |
Spring 2023 course drop or withdrawal petitions
After the seventh week deadline (last Friday, February 24), graduate students petitioning for a course drop or semester withdrawal must show documented, cause-specific extenuating circumstances which directly impact their ability to perform academically. Merely receiving the support of a faculty member or advisor is not in itself grounds for a drop or withdrawal.
Course drop and withdrawal petitions are initiated online through the College’s drop and withdrawals petition application. After submitting the application:
- Those petitioning for medical or mental health course drops will receive a drop packet via email from the Academic Affairs office that must be submitted with documentation to the University review committee.
- Those petitioning for personal hardship course drops must complete the personal statement and upload documentation as part of the petition application.
- Those petitioning for semester withdrawals must contact the Office of Withdrawal Services after submitting the College’s petition to initiate the formal withdrawal process. Submitting the College’s online petition form constitutes making the required Dean’s office contact.
Conditionally admitted students in their first semester should verify the impact drops or withdrawals may have on their admissions review at the end of the semester. Drops and withdrawals – or any reason – which cause any violation of admissions conditions may result in removal from the program.