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 GRADUATION |
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 Frequently Asked Questions Q. Who is my advisor?
A. You need to call the department of your major. Some departments assign advisors while others have them available on an as needed basis. Q. Why do I have to take my SASS report to my advisor? A. You must do so because your advisor will be aware of any requirements you may have failed to meet, and will work with you to correct these issues so your graduation will not be delayed. Q. Who can tell me if I am ready to graduate? Q. When will my transcript reflect that I have earned my degree?
A. After your degree is posted, some four weeks after grades are received, your official transcript will reflect that you have earned your degree. On the web also reflect earned degrees. Official transcripts can be requested in person at the Office of the Registrar or through the mail. Click here for more details.
Transcript requests should be detailed with "after degree posted." Note: Completing a graduation application, or attending commencement, does not imply a student has earned a diploma. Please do not assume it is automatic and confirm completion. Q. How do I change my current major or add a second major or minor? A. You can download these forms from MyFIU or pick them up in person at the Office of the Registrar. Please remember they are not valid unless signed by a designated department representative. Graduates students wishing to change their major must complete a form available on the web at www.fiu.edu/ugs/Change_of_Graduate_Degree_Program.pdf. Back to top A. This depends on your major. The list of colleges and schools is available in the university catalog and on the web at www.fiu.edu/docs/colleges_schools.htm.
Q. When is commencement held? A. Commencement ceremonies are held at the end of the Fall and Spring semesters. Students who graduate in Summer are invited to attend the Fall ceremonies, their names will appear in the Fall Commencement Booklet.
Q. Can I walk (participate in the Commencement Ceremony) even though I will not know at the time whether I will graduate?
A. Most students walk without knowing if they have officially graduated.
Q. How many tickets do we get for commencement? A. You will be allowed between 4 to 6 tickets depending on the number of ceremonies that will be held in that semester.
Q. Do I need tickets for my children? A. Everyone needs a ticket because of the Fire Code Regulations.
Credit Hours Required to Earn a Degree Q. How many credits do I need for a Bachelor's Master's, Specialist's or Doctorate? A. Normally you require a minimum of 120 credits for a BA or BS. Please confirm your requirements in the catalog and contact your advisor for additional detailed information. For master's, specialist's and doctoral programs, the number of credits required is unique to each program. Check the University Graduate Catalog in the year you were admitted to determine the number of credits you need. Q. What does "posted" mean?
A. When you have completed the requirements for your degree we place an earned flag on your record which indicates that your degree has been awarded.
Q. Why does it take so long to post my degree? A. Every application is individually scrutinized to ensure that all the requirements for the awarding of the degree have been met. Posting takes us an estimated four weeks after the grades are received.
Q. Can I take a course after my degree is posted and use this for that degree? A. Once your degree is posted any course you take will be counted toward your next degree, and will be reflected on your transcript under the status of Special Student. Back to top Q. Why can't I have any name I want on my diploma?
A. The diploma is an official, legal document and must reflect your true, and correct legal name. Name changes require a birth certificate, passport, naturalization documentation, marriage certificate, divorce decree and/or certified court order name change.
Q. How do I get my diploma? A. Diplomas are mailed to your diploma address which you can update online.
Q. Will my second major show on my diploma? A. No, only your primary major will be on your diploma. Your transcript will reflect both majors.
Q. Will my minor show on my diploma? A. No, only your major will show on your diploma. The minor will be reflected on your transcript.
Q. I finished my courses in Summer A, why do I have to wait 4 weeks after Summer C to get my diploma? A. Summer is considered one semester, even though it contains two mini-terms, so degree posting begins at the end of Summer C. Q. How can I get two diplomas?
A. The University issues only one diploma upon graduation. This is a legal document, similar to a birth or naturalization certificate, showing official proof that you have been awarded a degree by Florida International University. Back to top Exemptions and Waivers Q. Why do I need documentation to prove that I have been exempt or waived from a requirement? A. We need official transcripts from all your previous schools and official test scores. They will become part of your permanent FIU record. For undergraduates, CLAST exemptions are not automatic. Go to www.fiu.edu/~sass/page6.html for CLAST exemptions. For graduate students, an exemption to a requirement is only granted by the UGS and only under truly exceptional circumstances. (Any "Petition for Exception to Graduate Requirements" that is submitted to UGS for consideration must be accompanied by a memo of justification from the unit and relevant supporting documentation. The petition is available at www.fiu.edu/ugs/petition_for_exception_form.pdf.)
Q. If I fail a course, can I audit the class or repeat the course next semester and still graduate now?
A. No. You would need to change the term you are re-applying for graduation and then re-take the class. If you have not used all of your forgiveness policies, you might wish to use one for this class.
A. While all attempts at a course are recorded on your transcript, only the last attempt using the Forgiveness Policy/repeat course form is calculated in your final grade point average (GPA). All undergraduate students have three opportunities to use the Forgiveness Policy. Graduate students can use this policy twice. The Forgiveness Policy only applies to a repeat attempt of the exact same course (same prefix and course number, unless the number has been changed in the University Catalog). A. Apply online in Panthersoft through the academics link. You are encouraged to meet with your advisor to ensure that you experience no delays in the graduation process. Back to top Graduation Deadline Q. Is there a deadline to apply for graduation? A. We have a strictly enforced deadline to apply for graduation. These dates are posted in the academic calendar of the Student Handbook, the Catalog, and on the Web. Back to top Graduation Re-application Q. If I cannot graduate, why do I have to re-apply for graduation? A. Your graduation application is good only for the semester in which you apply. This means that until you have fulfilled the requirements for graduation, you must re-apply for the semester you think you will graduate. Q. I have received a "will not graduate" notice (typed letter). What do I do? A. A will not letter indicates your academic unit did not think you could graduate. As the letter states, speak with your advisor as soon as possible regarding your requirements. If the original information provided to the Graduation Office by the advisor is incorrect, the department will need to submit a new graduation certification. Should the advisor's paperwork be received by the deadline in the letter, you will be able to graduate, if not you may need to re-apply for graduation for the following semester. Q. I have received a graduation notification. What do I do? A. If you received a notification, your academic unit expected you to graduate but the graduation unit found something missing or needing to be completed.Follow the instructions in the notification by completing the items marked and/or noted. Once you have completed the items, confirm with the Graduation Office whether you have been cleared for graduation. Should you meet the deadlines on the notification, you may be able to graduate for the semester you applied. If you are not able to meet the deadline on the notification, you will need to re-apply for graduation since applications are valid for only one semester.
Q. My GPA is 3.499. Can I get honors?
A. You are not eligible for honors. Undergraduate honors start at 3.500. There is no upward rounding. You are also required to have a minimum of 40 credit hours at FIU (not including "P" or "AU" grades). Q. Why do graduate programs not award honors? A. Graduate students are expected to maintain a high GPA.
A. The form used by the academic units to notify the Office of the Registrar what credits, taken prior to a students' admission, are part of a graduate academic program. If you have taken any graduate courses as a non-degree seeking student , your advisor will need to review your records and inform us which are approved for your degree. Back to top Incomplete Grades Q. When are incomplete grades due?
A. If you have applied for graduation, you must hand in any outstanding work to the instructor, by the end of the semester for which you have applied. This will allow the instructor enough time to grade your work, turn in the change of grade form, and meet the graduation deadline. If you have not applied for graduation, you have two semesters (including summer) to submit all relevant coursework. You can not graduate (receive a diploma) with incompletes, even if the courses are not needed as part of your degree requirements. Back to top SASS Q. What is SASS?
A. SASS (Student Academic Support System) is an automated degree audit system that utilizes your academic coursework to create a report of the major's requirements. SASS reports are available only to undergraduate students at www.facts.org. Back to top A. To graduate with two undergraduate majors, you need to complete approximately 120-130 credits and will need to finish both majors concurrently. A diploma will be awarded for the first major and a notation denoting both majors will be reflected on your official transcript. For a second degree you will need a minimum of 150 credits and you will receive a second diploma. Back to top |
