Steps to Graduation 2010
Six months before your expected date of completion:
- Run an unofficial copy of your U of MN transcript from the on-line site: http://onestop.umn.edu/registrar/transcripts/index.html or pick up an unofficial copy at the Office of the Registrar (located in 130 Coffey Hall, St. Paul campus) between the hours of 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., Monday through Friday.
- Complete a Degree Program Transmittal/Degree Program Form. you can download this form here or pick one up in the stack trays in the MSW Student Lounge (25 Peters Hall), Students Services Office (140 Peters Hall), or from your distance education site coordinator. The Degree Program Form must be submitted to the Graduate School one term prior to the term in which you plan to graduate. The approval process takes at least six weeks, once the Degree Program Form is received in the Graduate School.
- For your records, photocopy your completed forms (transcript and degree).
- Lastly, attach the unofficial transcript to the degree program form and give these to your faculty adviser. Ask your faculty adviser to sign the Degree Program form and route it to Jan Goodno, Student Personnel Worker. Jan will make a final check of your form to ensure you have completed all program requirements. She will then route the form to the Director of Graduate Studies, Dave Hollister, for his signature, and forward the materials to the Graduate School. If you do not receive approval of your Degree Program form within eight weeks of submitting the paperwork to your advisor, contact Jan Goodno (jgoodno@umn.edu) and she will check on the progress of your form.
Last semester prior to graduation:
When your Degree Program form has been approved, the Graduate
School will return a copy of the approved program to you by mail.
A graduation packet will be mailed to Moorhead and Rochester students.
Twin Cities students will receive the graduation packet in their mailbox
in the MSW Student Lounge. The packet will include a Commencement
Attendance Approval form. This form must be returned to the
Graduate School by March 1 if you plan to attend the Graduate School
Commencement Ceremony on May 7. The Commencement Approval Form
does require the signature of your adviser and the Director of Graduate
Studies. If you are not mailed a form, you will need to request one from
the Graduate School (at gsmast@umn.edu)
or download the form from the Graduate School’s website:
www.grad.umn.edu/ You may also get the form from Jan Goodno in Student
Services.
One month prior to the submission of your final grades:
The Graduation Packet will also contain the Application for Degree. This
form must be filed (in-person or by mail) at the Office of the Registrar
(130 Coffey Hall, St. Paul Campus; 200 Fraser Hall, Main Campus) prior
to the first of the month in which you plan to graduate. This is
a firm deadline. Do not discard this form as you will not be
cleared to graduate until this form is filed. For example, if you plan
to graduate at the end of May and have not filed the Application for
Degree by May 1, you will not receive the MSW at the end of May even if
course work is completed and all grades are posted. The only
signature required on the form is that of the student. Degrees are
granted, by the Graduate School, at the end of whichever month all
grades are posted and required paperwork is completed (Application for
Degree must be filed prior to the first of the month in which the degree
is awarded).
Degree Posted to Official Transcript and Diploma:
The award of the degree will be posted to the official transcript
approximately two weeks AFTER you have been cleared to graduate.
Official transcripts are ordered through the Office of the Registrar or
available on-line at OneStop (www.onestop.umn.edu - select Students,
Academics, then Transcripts). Order forms can be downloaded from this
site and faxed to the Office of the Registrar. Your diploma will
be mailed to you approximately three months AFTER your degree has been
granted.