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The Gladys W. and David H. Patton College of Education
Patton Hall
100 East Union St.
Athens, OH 45701-2979

Graduation

Application

Graduation application is made through the Registrar's Graduation Office, Chubb Hall, by the deadline published by the Office of the Registrar. Other details and answers to frequently asked questions about graduation can also be found on the website.

The fee for graduating master's students can be found on the website.

Any student who does not graduate during the term for which they apply must re-apply for graduation and register for a minimum of one semester hour during the term of the reapplication, unless they qualify for the early filer provision. An additional fee and the application must be submitted by the Registrar's application deadline.

Certificate Conferral (non-degree)

When you have completed the course requirements for a certificate you must apply for certificate conferral through the Registrar’s Office before the graduation application submission deadline. 

Early Filer Provision

An early filer is a student who missed a deadline for the semester in which they intended to graduate but can complete all paperwork before the first day of the next semester, meeting the Early deadlines. While the student will be a graduate in the following term, early filer status allows a student with no other obligations to the university to graduate in the next semester without having to enroll in courses or pay fees. They must simply reapply for graduation.

There are limitations on who qualifies for this option. The eligible student must:

  • Be enrolled in the term in which they originally intended to graduate.
  • Have no visa restrictions requiring them to be registered in the term in which they graduate. To clarify if you are eligible, contact the International Student and Scholar Services at 740-593-7330.
  • Meet all early deadlines.
  • If appropriate, respond promptly to TAD Services requests for format revisions.

Graduate Review Process

The Patton College Office of Student Affairs, Graduate Records receives a list of graduation candidates approximately one week after the application deadline. The office reviews the candidates' files makes any corrections for the degree, the major code, and other pertinent information, and returns the data to the Graduation Office, Chubb Hall. The student will receive a preliminary review memo from the Patton College Graduate Records office listing (1) current registration and (2) any problems affecting graduation, such as incomplete courses, no Program of Study or changes/approvals, and no official degree-bearing transcript from a previous institution. It will be the student's responsibility to clear up errors in registration or meet lacking requirements. The memo will also include a date by which the Graduate Records office must receive grades for incomplete courses.

Verification of Completed Degree

A request for a letter to be sent to an employer, a school system, or other entity verifying that the degree has been completed should be submitted by email to The Patton College Office of Student Affairs Graduate Records. A request must be made at least five working days before the date the letter is needed. The requested letter will not be issued until current grades have been verified and clearance given by the Registrar that the student has no financial holds.

Grades

Grades are not received by the Patton College Office of Student Affairs, and Graduate Records until a week after the term ends. Final graduation reviews will not begin until grades have been recorded by the Office of the Registrar and reported to the Patton College Office of Student Affairs. If verification of a completed degree is needed sooner, request that your instructor send a confidential email with your final grade to the Office of Student Affairs, Graduate Records.

Graduation Clearance - Final

Upon final review for graduation, if requirements are not met that are delaying the candidate's graduation, a memo or email will be sent stating the reason(s) for the hold on graduation and the deadline by which requirements must be met. It will be the candidate's responsibility to resolve any problems relating to the requirements that have not been met. If the requirements are not met by the deadline, the candidate will receive a memo stating that they have been denied graduation along with information about the reapplication process. The final confer/deny report is returned to the Graduation Office of the Registrar approximately four weeks after the term ends.

Official Transcript

Those who need to submit an official degree-bearing transcript to an employer, a school system, or another entity may pre-order the transcript from the Transcripts Office, Chubb Hall.

The transcript may also be ordered in person or through the mail.  Application for transcripts in person is made by going to Chubb Hall. Subject to change, there is a $6.00 charge for each transcript. Those wishing to order an official transcript via regular mail should send their request to the Transcripts Office, Chubb Hall, with the following information:

  • Full name
  • Date of Attendance
  • PID
  • Completed address to where the transcript should be sent
  • Date of birth
  • Phone number of the person requesting a transcript
  • Signature

Special note: TO BE HELD UNTIL DEGREE BEARING

If you have any questions concerning your transcript, please contact the Academic Records, Chubb Hall, 740-593-4199.

Diploma

The diploma will be mailed approximately three weeks after the Registrar, Graduation Office, Chubb Hall completes the conferral process. The diploma is mailed by third-class mail to the address listed on your graduation application. The degree conferral reporting and recording process and mailing of the diploma takes approximately six weeks. Any questions concerning the diploma or transcript should be directed to the Graduation Office, Chubb Hall: graduation@ohio.edu. 

Financial Hold

If you have a financial hold, verification of the completed degree will not be issued. Additionally, your diploma or official degree-bearing transcript will not be mailed until the financial hold is released by the Office of the Registrar.

Commencement

The commencement ceremonies for graduate students are held at the end of the Fall and Spring terms. The dates are published on the Commencement webpage.

Graduates from the previous Summer term may participate in the Fall ceremony, and graduates from the Spring semester may participate in the Spring commencement. Commencement information will be provided via email to those students who have indicated on the graduation application that they wish to participate in the ceremony.

Master's students who have not completed their degree and have applied for graduation may participate in the commencement ceremonies, along with those master's students who have graduated, if they are within two terms of completing the degree. These students must re-apply for graduation and register for at least one semester hour during the reapplication term.

For further information, contact the Graduation Office, Registrar, Chubb Hall.

Cap and Gown Information

Cap and gown order information is sent to each student's Ohio University email address. The information is sent only to those students who have indicated on the graduation application form that they intend to attend the annual Commencement ceremony and request that cap and gown information be sent to them.  Any questions concerning the cap and gown should be directed to Event Services, Baker University Center, 740-593-4020.

Graduation Invitations

Graduation announcements are available for purchase at the College Book Store at 740-594-3505. 

Graduation Parking

Information concerning parking is typically included with the cap and gown information. If parking information is not received, please get in touch with Student Affairs. 

Graduate Reception

A reception for graduate students and their families is held immediately following the commencement ceremony. Please watch for announcements in your OHIO email for details about the Patton College reception.

Robing/Marching

On the day of the commencement ceremony, faculty and administrators will be stationed at designated places to assist graduates in putting on robes, lining up for the processional, and entering the building or site where the ceremony is being held.

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