Mar 19, 2024  
2012-2013 Undergraduate Catalog 
    
2012-2013 Undergraduate Catalog [ARCHIVED CATALOG]

Graduation


The Office of the Registrar is located in the Student Success Building, suite 160. They are responsible for making approved adjustments to students’ CAPP reports, performing final degree checks, preparing for the fall and spring commencement ceremonies, and distributing diplomas.

Curriculum, Advising and Program Planning (CAPP)

The CAPP system produces a Compliance Report, an advising tool that should be used by students and their advisors throughout the student’s academic career at MSU Denver. CAPP Compliance Reports can be printed in the student’s major department or by logging on to ConnectU, connectu.msudenver.edu. Departments approving adjustments to the CAPP Compliance Report must submit the adjustments as soon as possible to the Office of the Registrar.

Graduation Procedures

Students who anticipate completing all degree requirements within the next two semesters should review the following sections of this catalog: “Requirements for All Bachelor Degrees” and “Academic Policies and Procedures” (pertaining to “Curriculum, Advising and Program Planning [CAPP],” “Graduation,” “Diplomas and Commencement,” and “Honors and Awards”).

After students have earned 90 credit hours, including approved transfer credits, at MSU Denver, they should obtain a CAPP Compliance Report by requesting one from their major department or by logging on to ConnectU, connectu.msudenver.edu. Students should then review their CAPP reports with a faculty advisor. If any adjustments are needed, the department will submit an adjustment form to the Office of the Registrar. Once adjustments are made, an updated Compliance Report will be mailed to the student.

Degree-seeking students formally declare their degree candidacy by filing an Application for Graduation with the Office of the Registrar just prior to their anticipated semester of graduation, but no later than the deadline stipulated in the Academic Calendar section of this Catalog and on MSU Denver’s website, msudenver.edu/MetroCal/tools/acal.jsp. The Application for Graduation should be filed only by students who intend to complete all degree requirements by the end of the upcoming semester and should be filed in consultation with the student’s major department. If a student does not graduate, another Application for Graduation must be submitted for a subsequent semester.

After submitting the Application for Graduation, students will have their academic records reviewed for completion of all degree requirements. All degree applicants will be mailed a CAPP Compliance Report indicating their graduation status and any discrepancies that exist. Students will be given a deadline by which to explain these discrepancies to the graduation office. Students will not be eligible as graduation candidates if they do not comply with this deadline. As graduation candidates, students will receive information about the final steps in the graduation process and the commencement ceremony. Students should ensure that their current address is on file with the Office of the Registrar through their MetroConnect email account.

Graduation Checklist

  • Review the Requirements for All Bachelor Degrees.
  • Review the Academic Policies and Procedures (pertaining to CAPP, graduation, diplomas and commencement, and honors and awards).
  • Obtain a CAPP Compliance Report from the major department.
  • If necessary, correct any discrepancies on CAPP report.
  • File an Application for Graduation by the deadline listed in the 2012-2013 Academic Calendar, msudenver.edu/MetroCal/tools/acal.jsp.
  • Ensure correct address is on file with the Office of the Registrar.

For a complete graduation checklist and details refer to the Office of the Registrar website, msudenver.edu/registrar. Select “Student” and “Graduation.”

Diplomas and Transcripts

Diplomas are issued approximately three weeks after the semester ends. Students may pick up their diplomas or make arrangements for them to be mailed. Information will be sent from the Office of the Registrar to graduating students about these arrangements.

Transcripts with the posted degree will also be available approximately three weeks after the semester ends. Students may request transcripts as early as the middle of their last semester and indicate that it is to be held until the degree is posted. There is no charge for transcripts. Transcripts may be requested in person at the Office of the Registrar, SSB 160, by fax at 303-556-3999, or via the Office of the Registrar’s website, msudenver.edu/registrar/student under transcripts. Diplomas and transcripts will NOT be issued if money is owed to MSU Denver. If you owe any money to MSU Denver, please contact the Office of the Bursar, SSB 150, 303-556-6188, to arrange payment.

Commencement Ceremony

Commencement ceremonies are held at the end of the fall and spring semesters. Graduates are encouraged to attend one of the two ceremonies. The commencement program lists candidates, degrees, and degree honors, if any. Although no commencement ceremony is held in the summer, students may still graduate at this time. Summer candidates are asked to attend the fall commencement ceremony. Their names, degrees and honors, if any, will appear only in the fall commencement program. Check MSU Denver’s website for complete, up-to-date information about the commencement ceremony, msudenver.edu/commencement.

To qualify for graduation honor recognition at the commencement ceremony, a student must have the specified GPA and must have completed a minimum of 50 semester hours of academic credit at MSU Denver by the end of the term of graduation. UCD Pooled classes and other transfer credits are not considered when determining honors. Recognition at the commencement ceremony does not guarantee final honors designation on the official record. Honors announced at the commencement ceremony will be based upon a preliminary calculation not including grades from the term of graduation.

Students who qualify for recognition at the ceremony will be sent a letter from the dean’s office of the School in which their major is located. This letter authorizes students to purchase honor cords at the time they rent their caps and gowns.

Graduates with an Individualized Degree Program major will be identified for honors purposes within the School most prominent in their major.

Graduation Rates

MSU Denver’s latest, six-year graduation rate for the 2005 cohort of first-time, full-time, degree-seeking students is 21.36%. MSU Denver has a six-year graduation rate of 43.79% for the 2005 cohort of full-time, transfer, degree-seeking students.