Graduation Prep

The conferral of a degree upon successful completion of all academic requirements. There are three graduation cycles in an academic year: Fall, Spring and Summer.

The ceremony held in honor of completion, or anticipation of fulfillment of, all academic requirements. There are two commencement ceremonies in an academic year: December and May. Commencement does not equal graduation.

Participating in a commencement ceremony before the term of graduation. Participating or “walking early” in a commencement ceremony does not necessarily mean you are graduating. Commencement does not equal graduation.

You can access your Academic Advising Report (AAR) on your MyNevada account. See Understanding your Academic Advising Report on MyNevada Help for instructions on how to find and read your report — using the “Student Center Classic” version is recommended, as it gives more detail with less clicking.

The AAR will load your course history, including your in-progress courses (current and future enrollment) and check against degree requirements for your declared program(s).

• If every academic requirement in the degree framework shows as “satisfied” on the AAR, then you can apply for graduation.
• If one or more academic requirement on your AAR shows as “not satisfied,” do not apply for graduation. Schedule an appointment with a College of Engineering academic advisor for review.

All course substitutions and requirement waivers must be submitted to the Office of Admissions & Records on the appropriate substitution / exception form by an academic advisor or designated individuals. Admissions & Records will update your student records or AAR in MyNevada to reflect the approved substitution / waiver.

Substitutions / waivers for requirements in engineering majors or minors must be approved by the appropriate department. Meet with your academic advisor if you have questions about a substitution or waiver.

If you were approved for a substitution / waiver, but this is not currently reflected on your AAR, contact your academic advisor immediately for review.

If your AAR or Transfer Credit Report shows previous enrollment from another institution where the courses have “IP” (in-progress) grades, you must send an updated official transcript to the University of Nevada, Reno showing the final grades for the coursework or that the courses were dropped. A degree cannot be conferred with IP transfer work on your student record.

If you are taking relevant courses at another institution during the semester you intend to graduate, you must submit an official transcript to the University of Nevada, Reno showing enrollment in the course as soon as possible — this is necessary to allow your AAR to show requirements as satisfied. A second official transcript will be needed immediately after final grades are available for the transfer courses.

Students who were given an “I” (incomplete) in a previous course must resolve the unfinished coursework with their instructor. The instructor must submit a final grade report for the incomplete to Admissions & Records.

Warning: An “I” will automatically convert to an “F” grade if the course is not successfully completed by the end of the next regular semester.

• Fall Graduation Cycle: When fall enrollment appointments begin (typically on or shortly after April 1)
• Spring Graduation Cycle: When spring enrollment appointments begin (typically on or shortly after Nov. 1)
• Summer Graduation Cycle: When summer enrollment appointments begin (typically during or shortly after spring break)

• Fall Graduation Cycle: Oct. 1
• Spring Graduation Cycle: March 1
• Summer Graduation Cycle: June 1

If you have applied for graduation and your graduation status shows “program in review,” there is a discrepancy on your AAR. This means at least one of the degree requirements is not showing as satisfied and your graduation application cannot proceed forward to “pending.” For more information on graduation status terminology, please see “Step 5” below.

All discrepancies on the AAR must be cleared by the reconciliation deadline for the graduation term. If a discrepancy cannot be resolved, you will not be eligible to graduate during the term listed on your application. It is your responsibility to change your graduation application date prior to the deadline.

• Fall Graduation Cycle: Oct. 1
• Spring Graduation Cycle: March 1
• Summer Graduation Cycle: June 1

You can access your Academic Advising Report (AAR) on your MyNevada account. See Understanding your Academic Advising Report on MyNevada Help for instructions on how to find and read your report — using the “Student Center Classic” version is recommended, as it gives more detail with less clicking.

Review Applying for Graduation on MyNevada Help for detailed instructions. (If you are pursuing multiple majors or multiple degrees, you may need to repeat the process for each major / degree).

Update your contact information on MyNevada, and remove anything outdated — review Updating your Personal Info on MyNevada Help. Enter a “degree name” to ensure your name displays exactly as you want it to appear on your diploma.

Pay the $95 nonrefundable graduation application fee. The fee will be due with other term registration and fees (or will appear on your account within about three business days if your application was submitted after the term began).

The top section of the traditional AAR will note your graduation application status. Graduation status is updated weekly.

• Eligible: Students that have 99 units completed or in-progress and have at least 2.00 cumulative and University of Nevada, Reno GPAs. Eligible status does not necessarily mean that you are ready to graduate — review your AAR before applying.
• Applied: You have applied for graduation and your application has been received, but the application has not yet been reviewed.
• Needs to finish pending work: This is “the good status.” Upon successful completion of in-progress coursework, your degree will be conferred at the end of the expected graduation term.
• Program in review: Your AAR has at least one discrepancy, meaning not all degree requirements are satisfied. See a college advisor immediately.

Visit the commencement webpage and review the commencement ceremony checklist.

The Order of the Engineer (Order) is the roster of engineers in the United States who have participated in the Engineer's Ring Ceremony and who have publicly accepted the "Obligation of an Engineer."

Based on the Canadian Ritual of the Calling of the Engineer, the Order was initiated in the United States to foster a spirit of pride and responsibility in the engineering professions and to present to the public a visible symbol identifying the engineer (the ring).

Inductees publicly accept and recite the "Obligation of an Engineer," making a formal statement of public and professional ethics and responsibilities, similar to the Hippocratic Oath of medical professionals.

For more information on Order of the Engineer visit the College's Order of the Engineer webpage.

Forms related to graduation can be found on the Admissions & Records forms page. Be sure to read the forms carefully before submitting. Paper versions of these forms should be submitted to Admissions & Records.

• If you want to participate in a graduation ceremony outside of your official graduation term you will fill out an “Application to participate in a commencement ceremony prior to your official graduation term” form.
• If you missed the deadline to apply for graduation, you can fill out an “Undergraduate graduation application deadline appeal” form.
• If you want to move your graduation ceremony to a different term, you will fill out an “Undergraduate graduation date change” form.
• If you need to cancel your graduation application, you will fill out a “Request to cancel graduation application” form.