Steps to Your Graduation
Track Your Degree Progress
Your Academic Advisement Report (AAR) compares your course work with the requirements for your degree. Review your report with your academic advisor.
Undergraduate bachelor degree-seeking students who have completed 90 hours of course work are highly encouraged to apply for graduation. Undergraduate students seeking an associate degree or a certificate need to apply before their last semester.*
Graduate students need to apply before their last semester.*
* Application deadlines
Fall - May 1
Spring - Dec 1
Summer - August 1
Submit Your Graduation Application
Your student profile should be up-to-date before you submit your application. This includes information on your major (including any concentrations), minor and certificate(s). Contact your advisor if the information is incorrect. However, changes can still be made to your record after you apply, so if a deadline is near, getting the appication submitted is your priority.
You will need your SOLAR ID for the application. It is also good to note your ID so you have it if you need to order an official transcript.
Submit your application by completing the online Graduation Application. A one-time $50.00 non-refundable fee is applied to your student account in SOLAR and must be paid within 10 working days.
| Graduation Term |
Application Deadline |
Ceremony |
| Fall 2025 | May 1, 2025 | December 13, 2025 |
| Summer 2025* | August 1, 2025 | December 13, 2025 |
| Spring 2026 | December 1, 2025 | May 16, 2026 |
*Summer graduates participate in the following December graduation ceremony unless otherwise requested using a Commencement Petition to Walk Form.
Students who wish to participate in a Commencement Ceremony other than the one appropriate to their graduation date may do so by submitting a Commencement Petition to Walk Form.
If you need to change your graduation date, simply resubmit the application and indicate "I'm changing my graduation date." There is no additional charge to change your date.
UW Flexible Option Undergraduate Program students may request a Graduation Audit. More information about Flexible Option Graduation.
Monitor Your UW-Parkside Email
After submitting your application, a degree audit will be completed for you and it will be emailed to your Ranger Email account. The audit will let you know if you are on-track to be able to earn what you have declared on your record. Depending on the time of the year, it may take a month or longer before you receive this audit.
Be sure to check your UW-Parkside email for the degree audit results and other graduation information. If you do not receive your audit by the beginning of your final semester of classes, send an email to graduation@uwp.edu and let them know you haven't received it.
Get Your Cap and Gown
All candidates must wear appropriate regalia in their entirety to participate in the commencement ceremony. You may not participate in the ceremony without full regalia.
Information about cords can be found in the "GRADUATING WITH UNIVERSITY ACADEMIC HONORS" in the MORE INFO section below.
Read more about obtaining regalia on the Graduation Send Off page.
Commencement Details
Saturday, December 14, 2024
Keep an eye on your Ranger Mail and visit the Ceremony Information page for more information.
Name and Address for Your Diploma
You provide your degree name and diploma address when you apply to graduate. Once your application is processed, you can view these in your Profile tile in your SOLAR account. (See "DIPLOMAS AND OFFICIAL TRANSCIPTS" in the MORE INFO section below for more details.)
If your name or address changes after you apply for graduation, contact graduation@uwp.edu.
Complete Your Financial Aid Exit Interview
If you have student loans, you need to complete an online exit interview.
For an overview of your federal loan balances and payment options, you can manage your federal loans all in one place.
Pay Your Bill
You will need to pay all your financial obligations to Parkside (such as library fines, parking tickets, rent) before the university will issue a diploma or transcript for you. You can makes payments on your SOLAR account.
Graduation Send Off
Graduation Send Off is an opportunity to tackle the important details regarding your upcoming graduation. You can find everything you need online.
MORE INFO
DIPLOMAS and OFFICIAL TRANSCRIPTS
Diplomas
Diploma covers will be handed out at commencement. The diplomas are mailed to the address listed in SOLAR, usually 10 - 12 weeks after commencement.
View the address here in SOLAR:
Profile tile > Addresses > Diploma Address
If your adress changes send an email to graduation@uwp.edu
Official Transcripts
Degree conferral begins approximately 3 weeks after the semester ends. You will receive an email from the graduation office once your conferral(s) has been posted. You should wait to place the transcript order until you have received that email.
GRADUATING WITH UNIVERSITY ACADEMIC HONORS
University Baccalaureate and Associate Degree Academic Honors GPA Requirements
(including all transfer courses):
Cum Laude 3.500 – 3.699
Magna Cum Laude 3.700 – 3.899
Summa Cum Laude 3.900 – 4.000
University Graduate Degree Academic Honors GPA Requirements
(including all transfer courses):
With Distinction 3.830 – 4.000
- University Academic Honors for commencement are based upon grades earned PRIOR to your last semester.
- The Parkside cumulative GPA in SOLAR is based on Parkside coursework only and is NOT used for academic honors.
- Undergrad students: In your AAR, look for Combined/Degree GPA in the University Requirements section for the GPA used to award Academic Honors.
- Graduate students: In your AAR, look for the section that has the name of your program followed by "GPA".
- Only University Academic Honors Cords will be distributed to eligible graduates at commencement check-in.
- Other cords may be distributed by the department/organization recognizing the honors.
- Final official University Academic Honors are determined during the final degree audit after final grades are posted and will appear on your transcript and on your diploma.
GRADUATION VS. COMMENCEMENT
COMMENCEMENT
The ceremony is recognition by the University, family, and friends of the expected degree achievement. A.K.A - “Walking across the stage.”
GRADUATION
To be awarded an official degree, candidates are required to apply for graduation. A final degree audit must be completed before a degree is officially awarded and this will not happen until AFTER the commencement ceremony. (Grades are not due for the term until after commencement.)
Details:
Notifications regarding graduation status will begin approximately three weeks after the commencement ceremony (we have to wait until grades are submitted and processed). Students will be notified via Parkside email of their graduation status. Diplomas are mailed approximately two months after the commencement ceremony. Students must use official transcripts for graduate school and employment. Official transcripts with degree information are available immediately after the degree or certificate has been posted.
Invite a special faculty or staff member to commencement
Many of our graduates have told us that there is a special person at Parkside who has really made a difference in their education. If someone has made your educational experience special, please consider sending a thank you note to those faculty or staff members.