Diplomas

GRADUATION REQUIREMENTS

GRADUATION

Degrees are certified and diplomas are awarded only when all requirements are fulfilled. 

Accordingly, a students’ date of graduation is based on the semester the last credit or course requirement is completed.  To qualify for the degree, a student must:

• be officially admitted to degree status;
• satisfactorily complete all the credit and course requirements prescribed for their major, related areas, and liberal arts;
• achieve a minimum grade point average of 2.0 for all work completed;
• and receive the recommendation of the faculty.

Students are required to apply for graduation the semester before they anticipate graduating. Toward this end, the Registrar’s Office mails an application for graduation to potential spring/summer degree candidates in early November, and to potential fall/winter degree candidates in early April.  An application for graduation needs to be filed for each degree level.

Upon receiving the completed application for graduation, the Registrar’s Office assesses the students’ academic progress and notifies them of their status in writing. Students determined to be on track to graduate by the date indicated on their application will have their names added to the list of commencement participants.

If you receive notice that you are not scheduled to graduate by the date indicated on your application, you should visit the Registrar’s Office as early as possible to meet with an advisor. 

At the end of each term, a graduation review takes place for those students whose application for graduation has been approved. If the student has completed all requirements to qualify for the degree, it will be certified and the diploma will be mailed to the student. Those students who do not complete all requirements by the anticipated date will be notified in writing that they are not eligible for graduation. No further action will be taken with the student's graduation review until the student notifies the Registrar of his/her plans to complete the degree requirements. The application for graduation fee is valid for one academic year (September - August).

COMMENCEMENT CEREMONY

Attending the commencement ceremony does not confirm that all the requirements have been met. Graduation will be confirmed and the diploma mailed only when all courses and credits required for the degree are completed.

Commencement exercises are ceremonial and symbolic; participation in this event is not to be confused with actual graduation from the college.  The commencement ceremony is held once a year in May; therefore all students who graduate in the academic year are eligible to attend the May ceremony.  For example: graduates in December, January, May and July attend the May ceremony. (Students who expect to graduate in the summer, i.e. July, must be approved in advance by the Registrar's Office).  Please note that diplomas are not awarded to students during the ceremony.  The December and January graduates have already received their diploma in the mail.  The May and July graduates will receive their diploma in the mail once graduation is confirmed. Students who file an application for graduation by the deadline date and are approved by the Registrar will have their names listed in the commencement booklet.
 

FORMER STUDENTS

Previously matriculated students who did not graduate and who are no longer enrolled, may request a graduation eligibility review. (Please see Request for Re-Evaluation form.) Written information will be provided to the student on his/her status toward meeting degree requirements. If the student wishes to enroll at FIT to complete the degree requirements, an application for re-admission must be filed with the Admissions Office and an admission decision must be rendered. Students who plan to complete the required courses at another institution, should submit the permission to transfer credit form.

All major/related required courses are valid toward the degree for up to ten years from the point of admission.  After ten years, those major courses previously completed must be approved to fulfill current degree requirements by the chairperson of the major department. It is the student’s responsibility to contact the department chairperson for a review of coursework and to obtain written permission for all courses approved to meet current degree requirements. A copy of the written permission must be submitted to the Registrar’s Office before any further graduation review will take place.