Graduation Requirements
The Institute holds one commencement ceremony each year in the month of May.
Graduates who complete all requirements for their degree in the January preceding May commencement and candidates who expect to complete all requirements for their degree in July (PA graduates only) or September following the May ceremony may participate in the May ceremony for that year.
Important note: DNP graduates who expect to complete all requirements for their degree by September will participate in the following year's May ceremony.
For detailed information about the Institute's upcoming Commencement Ceremony, visit our Commencement Pages on the website.
Application for graduation
Students must file an application for graduation form with the Registrar's by the beginning of December prior to the year that they will officially graduate.
Graduation fees are charged at the point of initial matriculation and are included with the “matriculation fee”.
If a student is unable to graduate as planned, he/she must inform the registrar in writing and the the student will be moved to the next available graduation cycle as long as it falls within that calendar year. If requirements will not be completed until the following calendar year, the student will be required to re-apply for graduation following the guidelines established above. No additional fee will be required.
The student's full/diploma name, as provided on the application for graduation, will appear on the diploma, in the Commencement Program, and will be the name read on the stage at the Commencement Ceremony.
Registration in Semester of Graduation
Even though there is only one commencement exercise each year, there are four official graduation dates: January, May, July (PA program only) and September. Every candidate for a degree must be registered at the Institute during the semester of graduation. This includes students who are working to complete terminal projects. Registration for project continuation will be required for any student who has no other coursework to complete and will only work on completion of a terminal project.
Failure to graduate at the expected time will require additional registrations as necessary.
Deadlines for Awarding of Degrees
The deadlines for completion of all thesis requirements including submission of the final signed thesis are as posted in the official academic calendar.
- For degrees awarded in September and January, degrees are conferred and diplomas will typically bear the date of the first Friday of those months.
- For PA degrees awarded in July, diplomas will typically bear the date of the second Friday in July.
- For degrees awarded in May, diplomas will bear the date of the actual commencement ceremony.
Participation in Commencement Ceremony
Students in all programs other than the Doctor of Nursing Practice (see below) participate in the May ceremony in the year that their degree is being conferred. This includes the following:
- Non DNP Students completing all requirements by the end of the Fall semester - January Graduation date, walk in the May ceremony and will already have received a diploma by US mail and will receive a "mock" diploma on stage at the May ceremony if in attendance.
- Non DNP Students completing all requirements by the end of the Spring semester - May Graduation date, walk in the May ceremony and will receive their diploma at the event - or by US mail if not in attendance.
- PA Students only completing all requirements by the beginning of July - July Graduation Date - walk in the May ceremony and will receive their diploma in July via US mail.
- Non DNP Students completing all requirements by the end of the Summer semester - September Graduation date, walk in the May ceremony where they will receive a "mock" diploma and will receive their official diploma in September via US mail.
Dr. of Nursing Practice students must be approved for and will participate in graduation ceremony as listed below.
- DNP Students completing all requirements by the end of the Fall semester - January Graduation date, walk in the May ceremony and will already have received a diploma by US mail and will receive a "mock" diploma on stage at the May ceremony if in attendance.
- DNP Students completing all requirements by the end of the Spring semester - May Graduation date, walk in the May ceremony and will receive their diploma at the event - or by US mail if not in attendance.
- DNP Students completing all requirements by the end of the Summer semester - September Graduation date, walk in the May ceremony of the following year and will receive their diploma in September via US mail.
Revocation of Diploma/Degree
The Institute reserves the right to revoke a student's diploma or degree if it is determined after notice and a hearing that the degree was received through fraud or deceit, including but not limited to: fraudulent representation during the admissions process; or academic dishonesty during the degree process. The student's records will be changed to reflect an Academic Dismissal from her or his program instead of graduation.