Students may apply to graduate for any quarter during the year: autumn, winter, spring or summer.
Degree conferral dates can be found on the Academic Calendar, generally about a month after the last day of classes for that quarter.
Application process
To apply to graduate, students can indicate their intent to graduate directly into the Axess system. This will trigger them to be included in a list that is provided to the department by the Registrar's Office, called the "Recommending List." The department then looks at the program sheet and transcript and ensures that the student has completed all of the departmental requirements to graduate. For undergraduate students, the file is then forwarded to the School of Engineering Student Affairs Office for review of general Engineering and University requirements (e.g. math, science, TIS, Fundamentals).
The student will be contacted via e-mail if there are any problems. When all problems have been resolved, the student will be "cleared" to graduate. To ensure a smooth progression, it is important that students submit an updated program sheet with all required signatures at least one month prior to end of the final quarter.
NOTE: Students with Individual Designed Programs who consider ME their home department (besides Product Design and BME) must stay in touch with the Student Services Office proactively since they will not show up on ME student reports.
Commencement
Generally there are two commencement ceremonies, both in June. The university holds a general ceremony for all graduating students in the morning, and afterward, the department holds an ME Diploma Award Ceremony for ME, Product Design and Biomechanical Engineering students.
Students just shy of completing graduation requirements are also allowed to "walk-through" by submitting a petition at least one month prior to the commencement ceremony. Students graduating in summer or fall can come to the department ceremony held in the June prior to degree conferral. Students graduating in winter should attend the June ceremony the quarter after degree conferral.
