Congratulations, Graduate
Below is a list of next steps to help you with the process and answer any questions you might have. If it's not covered here, please contact the graduation office by email at graduation@asu.edu
- Confirm that you are ready to graduate.
- Undergraduate Students: Review your degree audit (DARS) to ensure that you will be meeting degree requirements by your conferral date. You may request a degree audit via MyASU. Any issues or concerns should be directed to your academic advisor or department (the graduation office cannot make changes to your audit).
- Graduate Students: Review your iPOS via My ASU and contact your committee chair or department if you have questions about your eligibility to graduate.
- Verify your name. Your name will appear on your diploma and in the commencement book as it is recorded in ASU’s Student System. Any name changes must be made through the Outgoing Transcripts Section of University Registrar Services. This includes lower/upper case corrections. Special characters may be noted on the Diploma Name form.
- Check your address. Diplomas are mailed to the address on file with the university. If this address is incorrect, your diploma may not find you. It is your responsibility to keep your address updated. The posting of degrees begins shortly after the conferral date and generally diplomas arrive 4-6 weeks after the conferral date.
- Get what you need to graduate. You will receive your diploma case at your college convocation, but here is what you need to get:
- Academic Regalia (Cap and Gown): Visit the Sun Devil Campus Stores for information about purchasing regalia for commencement activities.
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Undergraduate Honor Cords: Undergraduate students who have completed at 56 semester hours of resident credit at ASU qualify for graduation with academic recognition based on the GPA requirements below:
- Cum Laude (3.40 - 3.59 GPA)
- Magna Cum Laude (3.60 - 3.79 GPA)
- Summa Cum Laude (3.80 - 4.00 GPA)
Cords are for ceremonial purposes only and are awarded based on your current GPA at the time of your request. Honors designated on your diploma will reflect your final cumulative ASU GPA. Please send an email to registrar@asu.edu to request honor cords.
ASU Online Students will receive an email with additional information about honor cords and ceremonies.
- Celebrate your achievement. Visit graduation.asu.edu for a complete schedule of commencement activities and further information about various college and cultural convocations.
Commencement & Convocation FAQs
What is a conferral date?
This the date recorded on your transcript of when your degree was officially posted. Dates are published in the University's Academic Calendar.
What is the difference between “walking” and graduating?
Graduating refers to completing all degree requirements. Your degree is conferred, meaning it is recorded as an official record in ASU’s database so that it displays on properly on all academic records, including your ASU transcript. Walking means you are participating in a graduation ceremony, such as commencement or convocation. These ceremonies are an opportunity for families, friends, and the ASU community to celebrate your academic accomplishments. Participation in commencement does not mean that a student has graduated and students do not receive diplomas at commencement or convocation (you will instead receive an empty diploma cover). Generally, students will participate in the ceremonies that correspond with the semester in which they are graduating, but summer graduates may elect to walk in spring or fall as there are no ceremonies in summer. Students that only wish to "walk" should contact the convocation coordinator in their college to get additional information.
What if I graduate in summer?
There is no commencement ceremony in Summer. Students who finish their degree requirements in Summer will have their names listed in the Fall commencement book but are free to participate in either the Spring or Fall ceremonies. Contact your college convocation coordinator for further information.
Are tickets required for graduation ceremonies?
Tickets are required for ceremonies held at Grady Gammage Auditorium. Please check with the dean’s office of your college for details. Special interest convocations held in Gammage Auditorium will also require tickets. Please contact the University Ceremonies Office at 480-965-3565 for contact information for special interests convocations. Ceremonies held at Wells Fargo Arena or other venues currently do not require tickets.
Where is disabled parking at Commencement?
Lot 58 will be open for disabled parking. A drop-off site for elderly guests will be located at the northeast corner of Wells Fargo Arena. For more parking information, please call Parking and Transit Services at 480-965-6406. Additional information available online at graduation.asu.edu .
Where is disabled seating at Commencement and Convocations?
Grady Gammage Memorial Auditorium has disabled seating located at the back of the hall on the symphony level. Wells Fargo Arena’s disabled seating is located on the interior concourse level of the arena. One additional guest may accompany the disabled guest in this area. To assure disabled seating for all who need to be accommodated, we ask that other guests be seated in the rows directly in front of the disabled seating areas. Students who require special seating or assistance at University Commencement or any of the college convocation ceremonies should contact the University Ceremonies Office at 480-965-3565 for more information.
Where do the graduates sit inside the arena?
Graduating students will be seated on the arena floor and in the first level of bleacher seating. Graduates are divided by college. You can download a general seating chart for Commencement at graduation.asu.edu.
