Whether or not you plan to graduate in May 2013, please complete the graduation application in TreeHouse no later than Friday, March 1, 2013. If you have a problem with the online application, please contact the Registrar’s office at (973) 408-3025 for assistance. The application guarantees that a diploma is ordered for you and that your name appears correctly in the commencement program.
Students receiving degrees are expected to participate in the commencement ceremonies wearing appropriate academic dress (cap, gown, and hood). A candidate unable to participate in the ceremonies must submit to his/her academic dean a written request to be excused and awarded the degree in absentia.
Certification For Graduation
According to the regulations of the several faculties, candidates for graduation will not have their degrees conferred until all academic and financial obligations to the university are satisfied. That means that candidates for graduation are not certified to be graduated until all bills are paid and all academic requirements are met. Until all financial obligations are satisfied, candidates for graduation will not be recorded as receiving a Drew degree, will not receive a diploma, will not be verified as graduated for employment or post-baccalaureate education, and will not receive an official transcript. In addition, students with significant balances will not be allowed to attend the commencement ceremony. Students should contact the Business Office (973) 408-3114 with questions concerning his/her account balance. Be certain to return all library books, pay outstanding library or traffic fines or telephone charges, and turn in all keys.
Incomplete/Not Reported Grades
Unless otherwise approved, any courses with incomplete (I), not reported (NR) or (Z) grades that you intend to use to satisfy requirements for May 2013 must have all outstanding work submitted to instructors and a passing grade forwarded to the Registrar’s Office by February 14. If you submit outstanding work after this date, our office cannot guarantee that your name will be included on the commencement list.
Regalia
Notices will be posted at the University Center Bookstore when caps, gowns, and hoods are available. Doctoral candidates should not pick up their hoods at the University Bookstore. The Bookstore staff will send the Doctoral hoods directly to the appropriate school office. Your hood will be presented at special hooding ceremonies on Friday, May 10. (See schedule of events for the time and place of your hooding ceremony – schedule will be made available as event nears.)
If you have any questions concerning the purchase or rental of academic attire, please call the University Bookstore directly at (973) 408-3881.
Renting
You may rent your attire by ordering from the company online, or by completing the regalia rental form and submitting it to the Bookstore. The deadline is March 29rd.
Buying
You may purchase your attire by ordering from the company online or by completing the regalia purchase form and submitting it to the Bookstore. The deadline is March 8th.
Graduation Announcements
Ten announcements are provided without charge for each candidate. You may purchase additional announcements at $.50 each. Please indicate in the space provided on the graduation application how many additional graduation announcements you need. These announcements do not include personal name cards and are not to be confused with announcements you may purchase from the bookstore. You may purchase additional announcements at the Office of the Registrar. (If you have already ordered additional announcements they can be picked up in the Registrar’s Office, Mon-Fri from 9am – 5pm.)
Commencement announcements may also be picked up at the Drew University Bookstore from April 15, through May 8. (For candidates non resident students not in course work for the spring term including the S.T.M., Doctor of Ministry, and Graduate School Candidates who are maintaining matriculation, or in dissertation research, announcements and downpour tickets will be mailed). These announcements are not individually embossed with candidates’ names.
Attendance
Candidates for degrees are expected to participate in the commencement ceremony. If you cannot attend, please write to the University Registrar at regist@drew.edu no later than Friday, April 26, to inform the office of your absence.
Diplomas
As candidates cross the Mead Hall rear porch, they receive a diploma cover, no diploma inside. All candidates who are cleared academically and financially for graduation will receive their diploma via United States mail approximately two-three weeks after the ceremony.