Graduation
ARE YOU READY TO GRADUATE?
Review You Degree Evaluation in Degree Works
Each student, in consultation with their major department advisor, must follow the program requirements for earning a degree in their major. These requirements are determined by the program in effect during the semester in which you were accepted into your major and are reflected in Degree Works. All majors require a minimum of 120 credits to graduate.
You can access your Degree Works audit through your Banner Web account by selecting the Degree Works for Students link. Each semester, you and your advisor should review your Degree Works audit based on the coursework you successfully completed in the previous term. This review helps you track remaining degree requirements and allows your advisor to assist with planning sequenced or irregularly offered major courses.
Requirements for Graduation
Students are eligible for graduation upon successful completion of all program and total credit requirements for their degree, as outlined in the appropriate section of this catalog. A Bachelor’s degree requires a minimum of 120 credits, and an Associate’s degree requires a minimum of 60 credits.
To graduate, students must earn a cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 2.0 or higher for all credits attempted at Western and a minimum GPA of 2.0 in all courses within the major. Some programs require a higher GPA or additional academic standards, as noted in the relevant catalog section.
In addition, students must complete at least 30 credits at Western, including at least half of the required coursework in the major.
Note: In the Ancell School, a major consists of two components: the business core and a specialization (e.g., accounting or finance). All B.B.A. candidates must complete at least half of the total credits in both the business core and the specialization, and at least half of the specialization credits, at Western.
Applying For Graduation
Degrees are awarded at the end of each semester as well as Intersession and summer session.
Forms including the application for graduation can be found using this link.
Students must apply for graduation for the semester that they anticipate completing their final degree requirements. Graduation Applications must be filed with the Registrar’s Office.
Degree Application Deadlines:
| Graduation Date | Application Deadline |
| May | November 1 |
| August | February 1 |
| December | August 1 |
| January (Intersession) | August 1 |
Graduation Honors
To be eligible for graduation honors, you must earn at least 30 semester hours of quality point–bearing coursework at WCSU and earn a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.50 at the end of your final semester. The residency requirement for graduation honors cannot be waived. Only graded coursework completed at WestConn counts toward this requirement; pass/fail courses and transfer credits are not included.
Graduation honors are determined based on your cumulative GPA at the end of your final semester and are awarded as follows:
| Summa Cum Laude | 3.90 to 4.00 |
| Magna Cum Laude | 3.70 to 3.89 |
| Cum Laude | 3.50 to 3.69 |
Honors will be confirmed upon completion of a degree program and awarded on both the official transcript and the diploma.
Honors Cords
December and January graduates and May candidates for graduation honors are identified at the conclusion of the Intersession semester preceding graduation and will be eligible to be awarded Honors Cords to be worn during the graduation ceremony. Students must have earned a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.50 by Intersession and 30 credits earned at WCSU by May.
Candidacy for May graduation honors does not guarantee the award of graduation honors upon completion of degree requirements.
Diplomas
Degrees and certificates are awarded to students who have completed all program requirements, and will be recorded on the student’s academic transcript approximately 2-4 weeks after final grades are received. As a reminder, students can order a free official transcript once the degree has been awarded but prior to received your diploma.
Diploma Information
The diploma lists the student’s name (as indicated on the graduation application), degree, major and honors (if applicable). Options and minors are not printed on the diploma but will be noted on the academic transcript.
Parchment by Instructure is WCSU’s official provider of diplomas. After graduation, you will receive an email to your WCSU email and/or text message from Parchment asking you to confirm your mailing address for your paper diploma. Paper diplomas are mailed within 4–6 weeks. The email from Parchment will also include instructions for accessing your digital diploma, which you can share instantly with family, friends, employers, and on social media.
There is no fee for your original diploma.
Replacement Diploma
Graduates may order a Replacement Diploma for a non-refundable $25 fee payable at the time of order. Please make check or money order payable to Western Connecticut State University.
Apostilled Diploma
If you need your diploma notarized for international use, please go to https://www.wcsu.edu/registrar/apostilles-2/
Commencement
Commencement is a ceremony held to celebrate and recognize recent and upcoming graduates from the current academic year. Participation in Commencement does not confirm graduation, and diplomas are not distributed at the ceremony.
Students who submit a graduation application for the Spring or Summer term and whose Spring degree evaluation confirms they are registered to complete all degree requirements by the end of that term are eligible to participate in the May Commencement ceremony. Students who submit a graduation application for the Fall term or Winter Intersession will participate in the following May Commencement ceremony.
Please note: The Registrar’s Office is not involved in Commencement-related activities, including cap and gown orders, commencement tickets, ceremony logistics, or guest information. Students will receive all Commencement-related communications via their WCSU email from the Events Management Office. For detailed information about Commencement, including timelines, regalia, tickets, and ceremony details, please visit the Commencement website.
Degree Auditors
Contact the auditor for your major listed below with any graduation questions, or contact your academic advisor with questions about your degree requirements.
| Auditor
|
Major |
| Dr. Jessica Coronel Assistant Dean (203) 837-9842 coronelj@wcsu.edu |
All Graduate Programs
|
| Susan Donnelly Assistant Registrar (203) 837-3286 donnellyse@wcsu.edu
|
|
| Yageysa (Jay) Bencosme Assistant Registrar (203) 837-9209 bencosmey@wcsu.edu |
|
| Thomas LaPorta Assistant Registrar (203) 837-9206 laportat@wcsu.edu |
|