You must file an Application to Graduate to request a final audit on your record and provide information for your diploma. Filing this application is the first step to receiving your degree. The link to the online gradaution application is found in the menu on your Student Profile, accessed via Banner Self-Service.
Graduation Application deadlines occur throughout the year. Please refer to the Graduation Application Dates & Deadlines accordion below for this important information. As you complete your Graduation Application, please thoroughly review your DegreeWorks record (via myPlymouth, Tools, Student Services) to ensure that you have:
Certificates are available for view– use the Degree drop down in DegreeWorks to change to CERT.
As soon as you know when you will be finished with all of your degree requirements, file a graduation application for your completion date. Upon receipt of the application, the auditors in the registrar’s office will review your records and let you know where you stand regarding graduation. It is imperative that you read and follow the direction in this email. You may need assistance from your advisor to complete any outstanding steps.
If you would like to talk through with someone prior to filing your application, please schedule an appointment with Beth Wichland in the Academic and Career Advising Center, Speare 108, for a Degree Review to make sure you will have all your requirements complete to graduate.
If you have questions or need assistance, please contact us at psu-degreeinfo@plymouth.edu.
Registrar’s Office Auditing Team
Degree WorksEnrolled students at Plymouth State University have access, through myPlymouth, to a computerized assessment of their progress toward completion of degree requirements. Degree Works pairs the courses a student has taken (or officially transferred) to the general education requirements and the specific requirements of their major. In-progress coursework is noted as such. Degree Works also notes the area of study, credits earned, and grade point average as well as all courses taken or transferred to Plymouth.
Degree Works is an important tool for students as they begin to plan their academic schedule. When students process an audit, they also have the option of choosing different majors and options for assessment against the courses they have taken. This feature is known as the “What-If” Analysis. It provides an opportunity to see the influence that any potential change(s) may have on a projected completion date.
(Requires PSU Username/Password)
Need help with Degree Works? Contact your academic advisor, the Academic and Career Advising Center, or the Registrar's Office.
Graduation Application Dates & DeadlinesDegrees and certificates are awarded and the student receives a diploma or certificate only after the Registrar’s office has certified successful completion of all degree and institutional requirements.
Plymouth State University graduates students and prints diplomas/certificates five times per year— January, May, June, August and December. After all degree and institutional requirements have been satisfied, degrees/certificates will be awarded at the next available date. Conferral dates coincide with the last date of the term except June, which will be June 30th.
Students who are eligible for spring degree conferral should apply to graduate by the first Friday in December. If you will not have ALL of your degree requirements completed by the end of the spring semester, do not apply for May. The next available date is June.
Students who are completing a certificate will have both programs audited for the same completion date.
The link to the online graduation application is found in the menu on your Student Profile, accessed via Banner Self-Service.
Graduation Applications due dates:
Previous degree audits for readmitted students are no longer valid; a new audit will be conducted when a student files a new Graduation Application. The official degree audit of a student who does not graduate expires when that student’s catalog expired. The academic student advocate and policy support, the registrar, and the chair of the major department will consider appeals for an exception to this policy.
Graduation Requirements
All students are responsible for meeting the academic standards established for the course of study in which they are enrolled. These standards are the only basis for evaluating students’ academic performance. Students are responsible for completing all work required for graduation and scheduling all necessary courses.
Students have the personal responsibility for making sure that, by graduation time, they meet the General Education, major field, grade point average (cumulative, major/minor), and total credit hour requirements defined by the University and their major.
Major, Minor and Certificate Grade Point Averages
All students must earn a minimum grade point average of 2.00 in their major by the time of graduation. Some programs stipulate a higher major grade point average that must be earned in the main academic discipline of the major program. A student’s major grade point average will be based on all specific courses listed as required (except EN 1200 and EN 1400), any other courses elected beyond the required minimum number from an identified group, plus any others in the central discipline which are elected.
Some majors also require a minimum discipline grade point average.
Students must earn at least a 2.00 grade point average in their minor. One exception is the Pre-Law minor, which requires a 3.00 grade point average.
Students must earn at least a 2.00 grade point average in their certificate.
Degree Completion
To complete degree requirements at Plymouth State University, students need to do the following:
Be sure all appropriate paperwork has been submitted to the Registrar’s Office; see degree-related forms
Be sure to take care of any financial obligations.
Graduation Honors
Please Note: There is a distinction between receiving your degree and participating in the Commencement Ceremony.
Diplomas are not handed out on stage.
Plymouth State University awards degrees five times per year: January, May, June (graduate students only), August, and December. After all degree and institutional requirements have been satisfied, degrees will be awarded at the next available date. Conferral dates coincide with the last date of the term except June, which will be June 30th.
Students’ eligibility to participate (walk) in the Commencement ceremony is determined separately from the completion of their degree requirements. Students may participate in a Commencement ceremony only once for a specific degree. Their name will be printed in the Commencement program the same year they participate.
Students will be invited to participate in the the May Commencement Ceremony based on their eligibility. Invitations will start after the graduation application due date has passed and will be first-come, first-served by application receipt date, and only after the student’s degree audit has indicated that they qualify to walk in the ceremony.
Students may choose to participate in an upcoming Commencement ceremony, knowing that they have not completed all degree requirements, as long as they meet the participation criteria, agree to follow up on outstanding requirements and respond to communications in a timely manner. Students may choose, as an alternative, to wait to participate the year they complete their degree requirements.
Students must apply for the date in which they will have ALL their degree requirements completed. Do not apply for May unless all degree requirements will be completed by the end of the spring semester. The next available date is August.
Graduating students can visit plymouth.edu/commencement to access Commencement ceremony information.
Academic Honors: Green and white tassels will distinguish honors graduates. Seniors eligible for honors will be noted on the official bookstore list and given a green and white tassel when they are issued their cap and gown. Honors listed in the Commencement program and announced at the ceremony will be based on a student’s grade point average (GPA) at the end of January of the Commencement year. Honors indicated on the diploma and transcript will be based on a student’s complete academic program, after all grades have been reported. Bachelor’s degree candidates must have accumulated at least 30 credits at PSU to be eligible for honors. There are three levels of honors:
