Step One – Be formally admitted into your degree or certificate program

UAA policy states that prior to graduation you must “be formally admitted to the degree or certificate program at least one semester prior to applying for graduation”. If you have not yet applied to be admitted into your degree program, instructions on how to do so can be found at the Admissions website.

If you have been and are currently admitted to your degree program for at least a semester, move on to Step Two:

Step Two – Meet with your Academic Advisor

Your Academic Advisor is the person who will perform your initial degree check with you. They will have check lists to help you ensure that you have met, or will meet, all University, College/School, and major requirements. If you have difficulties scheduling a meeting time with your academic advisor, or if you do not know who your academic advisor is, contact your department and explain the situation.

You will be unable to complete the graduation application process until you have had a chance to speak to an advisor within your certificate or major program, so make sure that you contact your advisor early! Once you and your academic advisor have determined what semester you will be eligible for graduation, you should move on to step three:

Step Three – Fill out an Application for Graduation and submit it by the published deadline

An application for graduation must be filled out by every student who wishes to graduate from the University of Alaska Anchorage. Even if your College or School has its own special graduation ceremony, you must fill out a University application for graduation. Applications for graduation can be found:

• At One Stop Student Services, in the University Center, located at 3901 Old Seward Hwy., Anchorage, Alaska.
• Online, at http://www.uaa.alaska.edu/admissions/forms.cfm

Turn in your application early, to prevent graduation delay!

Applications can be submitted either in person at the Cashiering window at the University Center, or by mail/fax to:

University of Alaska Anchorage
Enrollment Services
PO Box 141629
Anchorage, AK 99514-1629
(907) 786-1581 FAX

Once your application for graduation has been submitted wait for Step Four:

Step Four – The Official Degree Audit

By the 1st day of the semester you intend to graduate, a letter titled “Registrar's Office Degree Audit” will be sent to your UAA student email address. This degree audit will give you a breakdown of every requirement for your degree that must still be met prior to your certificate or degree conferral.  This audit is not a guarantee.  A final audit will be completed at the time of graduation and students will be responsible for any missing university, college, major, and /or minor requirements. 

Ideally, you and your academic advisor will have already determined all remaining graduation requirements, and nothing on the Degree Audit will be a surprise. If something listed on your Degree Audit is unexpected, or if you would like more clarification on what is listed on your degree audit, you will want to contact your academic advisor.

Enrollment Services is unable to provide degree advisement. If you have trouble getting in touch with your academic advisor to discuss the results of your Official Degree Audit, contact your department and they will be able to help you.

Step Five – Commencement

Once you’ve completed all your degree requirements, it’s time to celebrate!

Degrees are conferred at the end of the summer, fall, and spring semesters. Diplomas will be distributed to students who submitted their applications for graduation by the published deadline, and who completed all university, college/school, and major requirements by the end of the semester you have applied to graduate.

The name on your diploma will be your official name on file at the time you earned your degree/certificate.  Diplomas will be printed with first name, middle initial, last name; and if applicable mailed to 'address of record'.  Please verify your name and current address on UAOnline.  Change Form (for name & address) can be found at http://www.uaa.alaska.edu/admissions/forms.cfm.  Foreign students must submit address changes prior to leaving the country.

If your 'address of record' is in Anchorage, Fort Richardson, Elmendorf AFB, Chugiak, or Eagle River you will be notified through your UA email account when your diploma is ready to be picked up at One Stop Student Services in the University Center.  If your 'address of record' is outside of these areas your diploma will be delivered via certified mail. 

Diplomas prepared for pick up are available at the One Stop Student Services during the semester they are awarded until the following semester diplomas are printed.  As the following semester diplomas are printed - those remaining UNCLAIMED diplomas from the previous semester will be automatically delivered via certified mail to the student's 'address of record'.  All 'certified mailed' diplomas when returned to UAA will be shredded.  A Duplicate Diploma Application  with $25 fee is required once a diploma has been shredded.

If you intend to have another individual pick up your diploma they will be required to present a written signed letter of permission with a copy of your picture identification attached and their own picture ID to verify their identity.

The University of Alaska Anchorage holds one commencement ceremony per year, at the end of the spring semester. Students who complete certificate or degree requirements and meet the application for graduation deadline during the summer and fall of the previous year and the spring of the current year are invited to participate in the annual Commencement Ceremony in May. Students who complete certificate or degree requirements and meet the application for graduation deadline during the summer session of the current year are invited to participate in the Commencement Ceremony the following May.  Except in extraordinary circumstances, students will not be allowed to walk during the commencement exercise prior to earing their degree.

Commencement regalia and memorabilia, including caps and gowns, can be purchased at the UAA Bookstore, beginning in mid-February.

Further information on Commencement Ceremony can be found at: http://www.uaa.alaska.edu/commencement.

Please Note: Participation in the Commencement Ceremony does not guarantee degree conferral. Final credit reviews for students graduating in May, will begin May 8, after Spring 2008  grades have be received.  Please allow 6-8 weeks for final confirmation of degree.

Fast Facts: Miscellaneous Advice to help the Graduation Process:

• Check your UAA student email often and make sure that you keep your 'address of record' updated – Enrollment Services, University Advancement, and many other offices will be sending you information to keep you up-to-date on the Commencement Ceremony. Address updates can be done through your UAOnline account or by submitting the update in writing to Enrollment Services.
  
• The UAA Campus Bookstore holds its Graduation Fair in February. Keep an eye out for fliers around campus and in your mailbox. The Grad Fair will be your first chance to order those Commencement essentials, like your cap and gown. This will also be when you can order memorabilia such as invitations and your class ring. If you miss the Grad Fair, you can stop by the Bookstore during their regular business hours and the staff there will be able to help you will all your graduation gear needs.
  
• Honors cords are distributed at the end of the spring semester. If you received honors in the summer or fall semesters of the previous year, or if you are eligible for honors for the spring of the current year, an email will be sent to your UAA student email address, late-March/early-April informing you when you will be able to pickup your honor cord at One Stop Student Services in the University Center located at 3901 Old Seward Hwy., Anchorage, Alaska.