Degree Complete

Degree Complete Status

Seniors who complete all of their degree requirements by the end of the fall semester are eligible to declare “Degree Complete” status. Students who declare degree complete status remain in their current class year and must demonstrate that they are on track in their last semester at the University of Rochester, to fulfill all of their degree requirements including overall credits, major and minor requirements, cluster requirements, and the primary writing requirement. Students must also demonstrate that they have fulfilled the College’s enrollment policy. If degree complete status is approved, the student is eligible to receive their degree dated December 31.

Declaring Degree Complete Status

Seniors who wish to complete their degree at the end of the fall semester remain classified in their original class year and should not request reclassification. Instead, they should schedule an appointment with an advisor in the College Center for Advising Services (CCAS) to discuss their plans and review their academic progress to ensure that all remaining degree requirements will be met. This appointment should be scheduled as early as possible during the fall semester. The CCAS advisor will notify the ASE Change of Status team by email of the student's plan to declare Degree Complete status for the spring semester. Students who declare Degree Complete status will receive information about commencement activities for the upcoming May Commencement ceremony.

No fee is charged for this status, but it is essential for students who wish to graduate in seven semesters to consult with an advisor in the College Center for Advising Services (CCAS) to confirm that they will meet all degree requirements as well as the College’s enrollment policy. Students who declare degree complete status should consult with their financial aid counselor regarding repayment of any student loans. International students should consult with the ISO to discuss the changes to their proposed completion date and any required paperwork.

Diploma, Commencement, and Degree Verification

Students who declare degree complete status will continue to receive information about commencement activities and are eligible and encouraged to participate in May commencement. Information is available on the University’s Commencement website or by email to commencements@rochester.edu.

Students who declare degree complete status at the end of the fall semester are eligible to begin a graduate program at the University of Rochester during the upcoming spring semester. Students who plan to do so, should be aware of the College’s transfer credit policies, as well as individual program requirements concerning graduate classes completed prior to matriculation in a graduate program.

Unfinished Requirements

Students who declared “degree complete” status for the spring semester but did not finish their requirements in the fall as planned should meet with an advisor in CCAS to discuss options for the spring semester. These options will differ depending on what and how students complete the final requirements:

• If a student needs to finish incomplete coursework, or plans to register for additional classes at another college, the student will be converted to “degree pending status” for the spring. These students should document their plans by completing the Graduation with Requirements Incomplete Form.
• If a student needs to register for additional classes at the University of Rochester in the spring, they should discuss these plans with an advisor in CCAS who will then contact the ASE Change of Status team to arrange for registration to take place.

Students who complete their degree requirements by the May Commencement ceremony will be eligible to receive their diploma at that time. Students who do not complete in May should be aware that the next conferral date for the degree will be August 31.