Office of the Registrar

Commencement Website

Commencement Ceremony Deadlines

Frequently Asked Commencement Questions

Qualified Attendees

Graduates from the prior Summer through the upcoming Summer and Fall term may attend the Spring commencement. For example, commencement being held at the close of Spring term 2013 welcomes graduates from Summer 2012, Fall 2012, Winter 2013 and pending graduates for Spring 2013, Summer 2013, and Fall 2013. Detailed information is sent to eligible students in April of each year. This information will be sent to their current mailing address.

Reserve a Seat at Commencement

It is a university tradition to provide each student their own diploma at the commencement ceremony. To have their diploma available we have to know who is coming, therefore attendees are required to RSVP for the event. Students can RSVP their intention to attend via Online Services.

Degrees with Distinction

High achieving students are recognized through the posting of a title of academic distinction to their degree award and through the wearing of an academic honor cord as part of their graduation regalia. Grade point averages are computed on the basis of all work attempted at OSU. Graduates who have completed at least 90 credits at OSU or 60 upper-division credits at OSU, and who have an OSU cumulative GPA of 3.5 or higher, are awarded an OSU degree with distinction as follows:

Candidates who have completed their degree in prior terms are eligible to wear Honor cords based on their completed OSU GPA and credit hours. For candidates pending Spring term graduation, eligibility to wear cords is based on the OSU institutional GPA and credit hours completed through Winter term. Candidates for Summer and Fall term graduation are not eligible to wear Honor cords at the Commencement Ceremony. When Spring term ends and final grades are posted, the Honors distinction will be evaluated and posted to eligible transcripts. If necessary, your diploma will be reprinted to reflect the Honors distinction. Honor cords may be purchased at the OSU Bookstore.

Preliminary Grades

Commencement is held the Saturday following the conclusion of finals week. Spring term final grades are not yet available, however, we strive to provide diplomas to as many students as possible at commencement. The Registrar’s Office collects preliminary grades for pending graduates during the 7^th week of the term to be utilized for a preliminary review of degree requirements.

Pending graduates who meet degree requirements based on preliminary review will receive their diploma at the commencement ceremony. Students who do not meet preliminary review requirements are welcome to attend the ceremony but will not receive their diploma at that time.