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Graduation & Commencement

Accordion

Commencement Participation Policy

The following policy defines the requirements that must be met in order for students to participate in May commencement exercises or to receive a diploma.  All diplomas are mailed directly to the graduated student, after the commencement exercises, based on the address entered during the graduation application process.

Undergraduate Students

Only students who have completed all of the requirements for graduation prior to the date of commencement will be cleared for their diploma. Students in special circumstances who have four (4) credit hours or less remaining towards completion of their degree(s), can petition the Office of the Registrar for permission to participate in the commencement exercises but will not receive a diploma. These will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis but under no circumstances will students with more than four credit hours remaining towards completion of their degrees be allowed to participate.*

*Exception: Undergraduate students who have participated in the Co-op program and are in good academic standing, with no more than 12 credit hours remaining towards completion of their degree(s), can petition the Office of the Registrar for permission to participate in the commencement exercises but will not receive a diploma.

Graduate Students

For Graduate Students the eligibility requirements would be as follows:

  • PhDs would be required to have successfully defended their thesis and have submitted an approved final thesis to the Graduate School by a published deadline (to be determined) that would provide sufficient time for confirmation, in order to be cleared for their diploma. For special circumstances, students who have defended successfully, but have not yet submitted their final thesis to the Graduate School may petition the Office of the Registrar to participate in the commencement exercises, but will not receive a diploma. For these cases, a signed letter from the thesis advisor and the degree clearance officer would be required, along with approval of the Dean of Graduate Education in order for the student to participate in the commencement exercises.
  • Masters students completing a thesis or project - the requirements would be the same as those listed above.
  • MS students without thesis - Only students who have completed all of the requirements for graduation prior to commencement exercises will be cleared for their diplomas and be allowed to participate in the commencement exercises.
  • MBA students - Only students who have completed all of the requirements for graduation prior to the commencement exercises will be cleared for their diplomas and be allowed to participate in the commencement exercises. 
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Graduation Checklist

MAY 2024 GRADUATION CANDIDATES

Submit your Degree Application online through SIS (Student Menu, Graduation Information section) starting January 1st, 2024 until the March 8th, 2024 deadline.  If you do not complete the online application by the deadline, you will need to complete a hardcopy and obtain the signature of the degree clearance officer for your major, or the Associate Dean of the School, prior to submitting it to the Registrar's Office. The deadline for late applications is March 22nd, 2024.

Soon after the application deadline date has passed, your records will be sent to your Departmental Degree Clearance Officer for review; they will note any deficiencies in your degree requirements and notify you. If you have any questions, contact your graduation liaison in the Registrar's office.

Track the progress of your Degree Application and diploma name and address on SIS. On the Student Menu, there are menu items under Graduation Information. Be sure your diploma information is correct, and track your clearance status as the Registrar and your department review your records for graduation.

Verify that you are registered for the semester in which you intend to graduate. Check your registration using the Student Information System (SIS).

Clear up any holds. Your diploma will not be issued unless you have cleared all financial obligations. You can also check your account balance on the Student Information System(SIS).

Complete an Exit Interview if you have taken out any Rensselaer Institutional or Federal Perkins loans. You will receive an e-mail from the Student Loan office with all the instructions and details you need.

Submit your cross-registration grade on time. If you are taking a course in your final term through the Hudson Mohawk Consortia, you must submit your final grade to the Registrar by our graduation date. Keep in mind that if official transcripts from other colleges are not available by that date, you need to contact their Registrar and request a letter with your final grade on official college letterhead; it must be embossed with their school seal and sent to Rensselaer's Registrar's office in Academy Hall in a signed, sealed envelope PRIOR TO our graduation date.

Update your local address in the Student Information System (SIS) so we can contact you if necessary!

Submit your transfer credit grade and Transfer Credit Approval Form to the Registrar. If you are transferring coursework from another college in your final term, be sure that you have submitted this form and your official transcript to the Registrar's office BEFORE Rensselaer's graduation date.

Verify that you have met all Institute and departmental degree requirements. Please refer to the Rensselaer Catalog for complete requirements, details, and deadlines. Undergraduate students should review their DegreeWorks on the Student Information System (SIS) carefully. Meet with your Departmental Degree Clearance Officer if you have any questions.

Resolve any "I" (incomplete) grades. Your instructor must submit a final grade to the Registrar prior to our graduation date. Be sure to check the Student Information System (SIS) to see if you have any unresolved "I" grades.

Submit your Minor Approval Form to the Registrar prior to the semester in which you intend to graduate.

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Undergraduate Honors

If you are an undergraduate student with a cumulative grade point average of 3.50 or higher, you will receive special recognition with one of the following inscriptions included on your diploma and academic transcript:

Cum Laude 3.50 - 3.69
Magna Cum Laude 3.70 - 3.89
Summa Cum Laude 3.90 - 4.00
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Degree Verification

You can request enrollment verification to document your current or past enrollment at Rensselaer.

Your enrollment verification letter can only include any information that is included in your student record and is thus verifiable by the Student Records office. A standard enrollment verification letter contains the following information:

  • Student name
  • Rensselaer ID Number (RIN)
  • Degree being pursued
  • Major enrollment terms and dates
  • Student status (full time, half time, less than half time)

Insurance companies or scholarship sponsors may also provide special forms for completion by the Student Records Office.

You may request enrollment verification:

...in person

2000 level of Academy Hall

Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
Office of the Registrar
Academy Hall 2000 Level
110 8th Street
Troy, NY 12180-3590

...by email

to the Registrar's Office