General Graduation Information

GRADUATION - MAY 2018

Almost everything you need to know is here:
https://umd.edu/commencement

Answers to FAQ's are here:

Applying for graduation:  Deadline to apply for May 2018 is February 6.  Do so HERE (click “Graduation Application and Diploma Status”: 

All ENST majors earn a B.S. -- This means you will be wearing a YELLOW collar (the B.A. students wear white) and it should come with your graduation robe when you pick it up at the bookstore.

Some students have heard about a special "exam" prior to graduation... the correct word is "survey".  The University (and College and Department) are very interested in learning about what you do and where you go, after graduation; hence, more and more colleges/departments are using online surveys to gather this information.  I would encourage you to complete such requests, as it'll help UMD faculty and staff help teach and advise future generations of students. But it's not an exam, and there are no wrong answers :) 

Re: locations/times: 
There are TWO graduation ceremonies you can attend - the campuswide ceremony and the individual ceremony for your College/Department.

1. The Campuswide Graduation Ceremony  will be held Sunday, May 20, 2017 at 1pm in the Xfinity Center.

2. The individual graduation ceremony (where they call your name as you cross the stage) is by College: 

----  College of Agriculture and Natural Resources - Saturday, May 19 - 3pm - Reckord Armory

• Environment and Agriculture
• Environmental Economics
• Soil, Water and Land Resources
• Wildlife Ecology and Management

Details regarding Spring 2018 commencement have not yet been updated, but will appear HERE when they do.

 

Normally, it's a good idea to show up 45 minutes ahead of time, unless told otherwise.


Graduation tickets -- Number of tickets to College/Departmental ceremonies allowed varies annually and by college, according to the number of graduates AND the location of your ceremony.  Check the websites above.

Re: "walking" (participating in ceremonies) when you haven't completed your degree requirements, for example, "you have one more class to take, and you are signed up for it this summer."  --  The University generally discourages "walking;" however, policies vary by College.  Believe it or not, "walkers" have sometimes fooled their parents (and themselves :+|  into thinking they've graduated, when they haven't.  It's a mess.  Don't do it.  But if you do “walk,” be clear about what you need to do to finish up this summer, before you have a job to contend with.

August graduates -- if you are completing "one more class," or your ENST 389 internship, over the summer, you become an August graduate.  Once your grades are submitted and the final degree-audit takes place, your diploma will follow about 6 weeks later.   August graduates are invited to participate in December ceremonies if they want to "walk" because  there are no summer graduation ceremonies. 

Diplomas -- Arrive in the mail about 6 weeks after your ceremony, i.e., after one more audit to be sure you finished everything you were registered for in the Spring.