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It's common to hear the terms graduation and commencement used interchangeably--but they actually mean two different things. Understanding the difference can help you plan for both.
Graduation is the official completion of your degree. It means you:
If you have completed those requirements--Congratulations! You are eligible to Apply to Graduate!
Applying to graduate is done through your PAWS account. When applying, make sure the address in PAWS is where you want your diploma sent. Then select the semester you expect to complete your degree requirements and submit your application by the deadline below:
| Expected Graduation Semester: | Deadline to Apply to Graduate: |
|---|---|
| Summer 2025 | Wednesday, June 25, 2025 |
| Fall 2025 | Tuesday, November 4, 2025 |
| Spring 2026 | Wednesday, March 25, 2026 |
What happens next? After you apply, the Graduate School Certification Officer will review your degree audit to confirm you're on track to graduate. The degree audit will then be emailed to you, noting any outstanding academic requirements. Be sure to watch your Panther Mail for this important information!
Following the close of the semester, the Graduate School Certification Officer will provide the Office of the Registrar with official verification that you have completed your program’s degree requirements. Once this verification is received, your degree will be awarded (also known as conferred), and your diploma will be mailed to you.
Questions? Please contact Melanee Bates, Graduate School Program Coordinator and Certification Officer, via email (mbates@eiu.edu) or phone 217-581-7490.
If you complete all degree requirements before the end of a semester, you may be eligible to request early certification.
Early certification provides verification that you have fulfilled all requirements for your graduate degree. This early certification can appear on your transcript and, upon request, may be sent to a prospective employer, school district, or college/university to confirm the date your degree requirements were completed.
Please note that the degree itself will not be officially posted until the end of the term. Students wishing to request early certification should follow this link: Early Certification Form.
Commencement is the celebratory ceremony where you walk across the stage in your cap and gown. 宅男研究所 holds commencement ceremonies at the end of fall and spring semesters to honor our graduates.
Participating in a commencement ceremony does not mean you've officially graduated (See above.) The commencement ceremony is a way to celebrate your hard work--either just before or after completing your degree.
If you have completed your graduation requirements, please visit this page: 宅男研究所 Commencement for information regarding the next ceremony, details on cap and gown ordering, ticket availability, links to watch the ceremony virtually, and more.
At the commencement ceremony, you will receive a diploma cover when you cross the stage. Approximately six weeks after your graduation has been verified, your diploma will be mailed to the address listed on your graduation application. (Please ensure the address listed in your PAWS account is where you want your diploma sent.)
For further information regarding the receipt of your diploma, ordering duplicates, etc., please visit Office of the Registrar: Diplomas
Commencement by Exceptionality allows graduate students to participate in a commencement ceremony either after the term in which they graduate or—under certain circumstances—before completing their degree requirements.
For example, a student who completes their degree requirements in the fall semester but is unable to attend the fall commencement ceremony may be permitted to participate in the spring ceremony. Similarly, students completing their graduate requirements in the summer, such as a thesis, internship, or practicum, may be granted permission to participate in the preceding spring commencement.
Graduate students* who wish to participate in Commencement by Exceptionality should complete the form found here: Exceptionality Form and submit it by the appropriate deadline below:
| Participate in Commencement Ceremony for: | Deadline to Apply for Commencement by Exceptionality: |
|---|---|
| Fall semester | First Tuesday in November |
| Spring semester | First Wednesday following the Spring Break |
Graduate students with questions regarding Commencement by Exceptionality should contact Melanee Bates, Graduate School Program Coordinator and Certification Officer, via email (mbates@eiu.edu) or phone 217-581-7490.
*If you are an undergraduate student, please go to the Undergraduate Students applying for exceptionality to walk in Commencement page for more information