Commencement

Event Information

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Commencement Participation

University-wide commencement ceremonies will be held annually at the completion of the spring semester (date to be announced each year, pending venue availability). Any student who has fulfilled the requirements of Saint Leo University for receipt of a doctoral, masters, bachelor’s, or associates degree, meets the participation eligibility requirements outlined as part of this policy, and has satisfied all financial obligations, are invited to participate in commencement. Participation in the commencement exercises is optional. Candidates may participate in one commencement ceremony per degree awarded.

Bachelor’s and associates degree candidates who have 6 or fewer credits remaining to complete the degree at the close of the spring semester may participate in the spring commencement ceremony prior to the completion of their final requirements. Ineligible students with more than 6 credits remaining will be invited to participate in the following year’s ceremony.

Graduate degree candidates expected to graduate in spring and the following summer will be invited to participate in the current year’s ceremony. Fall graduates will be invited to participate in the following year’s ceremony.

Doctoral degree candidates expected to graduate in spring must defend their dissertation by April 1^st in order to participate in the current year’s ceremony. All other candidates expected to graduate in summer or fall, or whom have not met the April 1^st defense deadline, will be invited to participate in the following year’s ceremony.

Students must include their desire to participate in the commencement ceremony on their original Application for Graduation. Changes to participation status after initial submission may occur, at the request of the student and upon review of eligibility criteria. Students who wish to change their Commencement participation intentions after submission of their application should email commencement@saintleo.edu. 

The deadline for submission of the Application for Graduation to include participating in the immediate year’s ceremony is April 1^st. All Applications for Graduation submitted after April 1^st each year will be directed to participate in the following year’s ceremony. 

Application for Graduation

Students must submit a formal application for graduation through the Degree Conferral Application, located in the eLion student portal. Dues are required for degree completion, even if the student chooses not to participate in the Commencement exercises.

The Degree Conferral Application will become available on the eLion student portal when undergraduate students reach senior standing (i.e. completion of 90 credits) and graduate level students complete 21 credits in their program. In order to provide time for a thorough review of the applicant's degree audit and student record, the application must be submitted no later than two semesters/terms prior to the anticipated completion date. 

Awarding of Degrees

Degrees are awarded at the close of each 8-week term (i.e. Spring 1, Spring 2, Summer 1, Summer 2, Fall 1 and Fall 2). The conferral date is determined upon completion of all degree/program requirements, including the resolution of all incomplete coursework, and the receipt and posting of all transfer credit. The conferral date will be consistent with the last day of the term in which a student satisfies all requirements. Students who have not submitted their Application for Graduation by the stated deadline within the graduation cycle, or who have not resolved all outstanding requirements, will have their anticipated graduation date moved to the next available cycle. Degrees will not be awarded retroactively.