Graduation Application Process for 2024-2025 Academic Year
Graduation Applications: Students who wish to begin the graduation application process will need to schedule an appointment with a professional advisor in The Caddo Center. The application is not available online, but will be obtained when meeting with the professional advisor. Students who attempt to begin their application without first meeting a professional advisor are likely to repeat steps in the process. When meeting with the professional advisor, steps for having the application reviewed by a faculty advisor and program director will be explained.
The Registrar's Office will accept graduation applications only after being reviewed and signed by the professional advisor, faculty advisor, and program director. The completed application must be either submitted to the Registrar's Office (Womack 203) in-person by the student, or emailed directly from the department chair to the Registrar. After receiving your application, the Registrar's Office will send you an email (including a copy of your application) with important instructions for your next steps, which include paying your graduation fee ($100 Undergraduate; $140 Graduate). The graduation fee will be paid online in Campus Connect.
Application Deadlines
June 15: All Application for August graduates must be submitted.
October 1: All applications for Fall graduates must be submitted.
March 1: All applications for Spring graduates must be submitted. (August graduates planning to participate in the Spring ceremony should abide by this deadline.)
Exceptions to Deadlines: Graduation applications not submitted to the Registrar/Graduate Studies office by the relevant deadline will be delayed until the following graduation cycle. Only under exceptional circumstances will applications be accepted after the deadline. If an application is accepted after the deadline a late fee of $25 will be charged to the student's account.
Beginning in the Fall 2025 semester a new application for graduation process is being implemented.
Students will submit their intent to graduate via Banner. Step-by-step directions are included here.
Once you submit your intent to graduate, following the steps above, the Registrar’s Office (Undergraduate Students) or Graduate Studies Office (Graduate Students) will utilize your Degree Works Audit to determine if you are approved for graduation or if deficiencies need addressed. Please watch your HSU email for this communication (faculty advisors will be included in this email).
Once your application has been approved watch for various emails with important instructions for your next steps, which include paying your graduation fee ($100 Undergraduate; $140 Graduate). The graduation fee will be paid online in Campus Connect.
Once your application has been approved AND you’ve paid the graduation fee, please reach out to the bookstore (bookstore@hsu.edu) to order your cap and gown. The cost of the cap and gown is included in the graduation fee. You will be able to pick up your cap and gown at the Alumni Office’s Cap’d Off Event. If you can’t attend in-person you may pick up at the bookstore after this event. Students who can not pick up in either location can contact the bookstore about having the items mailed to them (additional fees for postage apply).
Details on the Commencement Event (graduate check in details, parking, shuttle service, etc) can be found at hsu.edu/graduation. We will also email all students with an approved graduation application with relevant details as we get closer to graduation day.
Students with an approved application should watch their @reddies.hsu.edu email for the following communications.
- Details about Commencement
- Details about the Alumni Office’s Cap’d Out event
- Links from the University Institutional Research Office with a Destination Survey that needs to be filled out prior to Cap’d Out. (Graduate students will receive a link for a graduate studies exit survey as well.)
- Following the end of the semester and final grades being submitted the appropriate offices will work to begin awarding degrees. This process can take between 4-6 weeks. Students should watch their email for details about awarding of degrees.
- Once degrees are awarded students will receive an email from Parchment with a digital copy of their diploma and details about receiving their paper copy of their diploma. (Certificates will be issued only via a digital copy.)
Balances MUST be paid in full before being able to pick up cap and gown and participate in commencement.