Graduate Graduation

/https://siu.edu/search-results.php

Last Updated: Aug 14, 2024, 08:42 AM

Application for Graduation

A student must submit a formal graduation application even if the student is not planning to participate in the commencement ceremony. Applications should be submitted via SalukiNet.

Graduation applications may also be found on the Graduate School website if unable to apply through SalukiNet. Paper Applications (pdf) should be submitted to the Graduation Office or scanned and sent to grad.graduation@siu.edu. Payment of graduation application fees must be made with check or money order when using the paper application.

The deadline to apply for graduation is the fourth Friday after the semester begins in fall and spring and the second Friday of the semester in summer.

SalukiNet

Paper Applications (pdf)

Reapplications

Graduation applications are good for two semesters. If a student does not graduate within two semesters, their file will be queued/expired. After the application has expired, it is the student’s responsibility to reapply for whichever graduation term they anticipate completing their requirements.

Commencement Ceremony

The place and time of the spring and fall ceremonies are available on the commencement website. Master's students who graduate in August can participate in the May ceremony if they are within 6 hours of completing their degree and they obtain approval from their department. Doctoral students who graduate in August cannot participate in the May ceremony; however, they can participate in the December ceremony.

Commencement

Letters of Completion

Official letters of completion may be requested via email to grad.graduation@siu.edu. This is an official letter from the Graduate School stating that the student has completed all requirements for the degree and will receive the diploma upon graduation. The Letter of Completion contains the Graduate School Dean’s signature and the university seal. Therefore, the letter may only be written after the graduation clearance process is completed, not at the time the paper is submitted. Students should allow up to two weeks for this process.

If a student is completing a master’s program and wishes to begin a Ph.D. program or a second master’s program, the student will not be able to register in the new program until clearance by the Graduate School in the first program has been processed. Again, the student should discuss this when the final paper is submitted to the Graduate School and procedures can be explained.

Outstanding Thesis Award

Each master’s program that has a thesis option may nominate one thesis annually for this award. Nominations are to be prepared by the thesis project director with the student’s approval.

Guidelines/Forms for the Oustanding Thesis Award may be found on our forms page under “Outstanding Thesis Award Materials”.

The nomination deadline is preannounced by a memo/email from the Graduate Dean sent to all departments and is listed on the Graduate School Resources Page.

Nomination for Outstanding Thesis Award

A department must submit the following for a complete nomination:

  1. Nomination Form (typed and signed by the thesis director).
  2. Statement of the Nature and Importance of the Thesis Research/Creative Activity (350 words maximum).
  3. Supporting statements from other members of the Thesis Committee or other faculty at SIU familiar with the thesis research.
  4. Independent, outside evidence of the significance of the Thesis Research/Creative Activity (e.g., report from reviewers, editors, or referees of journals to which the thesis research has been submitted for publication, outside evaluations from faculty not on Thesis Committee or at SIU) (as available and appropriate).
  5. One copy of the thesis or record of the thesis project, including abstract and student vitae.

Outstanding Dissertation Award

Each doctoral program may nominate one dissertation annually for this award. Nominations are to be prepared by the dissertation adviser with the student’s approval.

Guidelines/Forms for the Oustanding Disertation Award may be found on our forms page under “Outstanding Dissertation Award Materials”.

The nomination deadline is preannounced by a memo/email from the Graduate Dean sent to all departments and is listed on the Graduate School Resources Page.

Nomination for Outstanding Dissertation Award

A department must submit the following for a complete nomination:

  1. Nomination Form (typed and signed by the dissertation director).
  2. Statement of the Nature and Importance of the Dissertation Research. This puts it in a disciplinary and societal context. The committee finds this information particularly important (350 words maximum).
  3. Supporting statements from other members of the dissertation committee or other faculty at SIU familiar with the dissertation research.
  4. Independent, outside evidence of the significance of the dissertation research (e.g., outside evaluations from faculty not on dissertation committee or at SIUC, report from editors or referees of journals to which the dissertation research has been submitted for publication) (as available and appropriate).
  5. One copy of the dissertation, including abstract and student vitae.