Steps to Graduation 2011
Six months before your expected date of completion:
- Run an unofficial copy of your U of MN transcript from the on-line site 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. These forms are available in the stack trays in the MSW Student Lounge (25 Peters Hall), Students Services Office (140 Peters Hall), from your distance education site coordinator, or downloaded from the Graduate School Web site. 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 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. One month prior to the submission of
your final grades: The Graduation Packet will 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.
Instructions are available
on-line at OneStop.
Your diploma will
be mailed to you approximately three months AFTER your degree has been
granted.