Graduation checklist
Close to graduating? Here’s what you need to do to get in that cap and gown.
All communication regarding your degree progress and commencement activities will be sent to your UA e-mail account.
All financial obligations to The University of Akron must be reconciled prior to degree candidacy (i.e., commencement program notation, ceremony attendance and degree conferral).
Since there is no Summer commencement ceremony, Summer degree candidates have the option of attending either the Spring or Fall commencement ceremony in the same calendar year. Please note that your degree will be conferred at the end of the Summer semester regardless of the ceremony you choose to attend.
Questions? Contact us at registrar@uakron.edu.
Stellic is an online guide to assist you in reviewing your academic progress towards degree completion, as well as being used in the final degree clearance process. Students can access Stellic directly or as a quick link in MyAkron.
Based on your current academic record, the 'official' view of your progress tab in Stellic will display your academic requirements, including what requirements have been fulfilled and what needs to be satisfied in order to complete your degree. Please see your academic advisor if you have questions regarding the course requirements shown in Stellic.
Financial Obligations
In your student Profile in Workday, review the information under the Student Financials section to ensure that you do not have any due charges. Also review the Actions Items and Holds section to ensure that you do not have any Accounts Receivable holds.
All financial obligations to The University of Akron must be reconciled prior to degree candidacy (i.e., commencement program notation, ceremony attendance and degree conferral). If a financial obligation exists at the time of degree conferral, your graduation application will be cancelled.
Diploma Mailing Address
Once your degree and/or certificate is posted to your academic record, it will be mailed, by default, to your HOME address.
If you wish to have your diploma sent to a different mailing address, you will have the option to input a DIPLOMA mailing address into the required questionnaire that is generated when you officially apply for program completion in Workday.
If any corrections are needed to your DIPLOMA mailing address after the questionnaire is submitted, please contact us at registrar@uakron.edu.
Your Name
In your student Profile in Workday, in the Personal section, click on the Names tab and review your Legal Name and Preferred Name. By default, your Legal Name is what will appear on your diploma and/or certificate.
If you wish to specify a Diploma Name to appear on your printed diploma, you will have the option to input a Diploma Name into the required questionnaire that is generated when you officially apply for program completion in Workday. Please note that we do not include prefixes such as Mr. or Mrs. on the diploma/certificate.
If you have had a legal name change and you want your new name to appear on your diploma/certificate, please complete the Legal Biographical Information Update form and submit it to the Office of the University Registrar no later than the end of your graduating semester. (Note: name changes will soon be integrated into a business process in Workday, at which point in time this information will be updated; until then, forms will be honored.)
If you have questions regarding how your name will appear on your diploma, please contact us at registrar@uakron.edu.
The degree and certificate graduation application deadlines are as follows:
Undergraduate degree candidates:
- Fall 2024: Closes October 1, 2024
- Spring 2025: Opens August 26, 2024 - Closes March 1, 2025
- Summer 2025: Opens January 13, 2025 - Closes June 1, 2025
Graduate degree candidates:
- Fall 2024: Closes November 1, 2024
- Spring 2025: Opens August 26, 2024 – April 1, 2025
- Summer 2025: Opens January 13, 2025 - Closes July 1, 2025
Law degree candidates
- Spring 2025: Closes October 1, 2025
- Fall 2025: Closes March 1, 2025
To apply for graduation, log into Workday and follow these instructions: Apply for Program Completion
If you have missed the deadline, please consult with your academic advisor/advising office for a late graduation application.
Please note: In order for your name to be printed in the commencement program, your graduation application must be submitted prior to the following dates:
- Fall commencement program - November 1
- Spring commencement program - April 1
Fall 2024 degree candidates for graduate and undergraduate will be recognized in ceremonies on Saturday, December 14, 2024 at the James A. Rhodes Arena.
Graduates are assigned to their college's ceremony.
The listed time is the start of the ceremony with a formal processional.
Doors will open for both graduate check-in and guest arrival one hour prior to the start of the ceremony.
Saturday, December 14, 2024 - 9:00 a.m.
- Buchtel College of Arts and Science
- College of Business
Saturday, December 14, 2024 - 1:00 p.m.
- College of Engineering and Polymer Science
- College of Health and Human Sciences
Degree candidates will be sent communication via their UA email inviting them to RSVP for their commencement ceremony and reserve their guest tickets.
Candidates must have a graduation application on file to receive an invitation to RSVP for their commencement ceremony.
All degree candidates attending the commencement ceremony must wear proper graduation regalia. Caps and gowns are available for purchase at the Barnes & Noble Bookstore in the Student Union and in the Polsky Building. The deadline to order online has passed.
For questions pertaining to regalia, graduates are encouraged to contact the Bookstore by phone at (330) 972-7624.
Want to proudly display your diploma from The University of Akron? Diploma frames may be ordered online.
Professional photographers from GradImagesTM take photographs of each degree candidate prior to the ceremony processional and while crossing the stage.
All undergraduate fall 2024 candidates who have qualified to graduate with honors will receive the appropriate honor cords or medallion on the day of the ceremony. Further instructions will be provided by email as your ceremony approaches.
If you are a member of a registered university organization which selects students from the entire University student body for membership and/or of a departmental or college honor society, you may wear appropriate recognition symbols.
When details of the live webcast for the Fall Commencement ceremonies have been finalized, information will be posted here. In the days leading up to the ceremony, a link will be posted to the appropriate page for accessing the live stream.
A final audit of your academic record and student financial account will be conducted beginning one week after your graduating semester and can take up to four weeks following your graduation date.
After all degree requirements have been verified as successfully completed and all financial obligations have been verified as reconciled, your degree will be posted and your diploma will be mailed to your DIPLOMA address. If we do not have a diploma address for you at the time of mailing, your diploma will be mailed to your HOME address.
Undergraduate students should review information on Graduating with Honors.
Are you an alumni and your UA diploma has been lost or damaged? Alumni may submit a Duplicate Diploma Request.