Apply to Graduate

To be eligible for graduation at the end of a given semester, a student must be formally admitted to the degree or certificate program and submit an application for graduation through UAOnline. 

• Apply to graduate through your UAOnline account.
• Graduation application deadlines are in Registration Dates and Deadlines calendars.
• Catalog policy on Graduation governs this process.
• Students with a directory hold on their account will be removed from the commencement ceremony program prior to printing and will not be included in any other commencement-related publications.

• Step-by-Step Directions to Apply to Graduate

  1. Log in to UAOnline.

  2. Under Additional Links on your Student Profile, select UAA Application to Graduate.

  3. Under Curriculum Selection, choose either the CURRENT curriculum term or the FUTURE term in which you plan to graduate.

  4. Select the program you are ready to graduate from, then click Continue.

  5. Under Graduation Term Selection, select the semester you wish to graduate in from the dropdown menu, then click Continue.

  6. Under Diploma Name Selection, choose how you would like your name to appear on the commencement program and/or your diploma.

     • To use your standard name (first name, middle initial, last name), select Current Name.

     • To request an alternative version of your name, select New and enter the desired name. Requests for alternate versions will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis.

  7. Under Graduation Application Summary, review your information carefully, then click Submit Request.

  8. You will receive a degree audit email from Degree Services (uaa.degrees@alaska.edu) within 3–5 business days.

  You can view existing graduation applications anytime in your Student Profile under Graduation Information in UAOnline.

  See the university catalog for information and policies related to your application for graduation.

Diplomas

Diplomas are available for pick up at the Enrollment Services Center check-in counter during normal business hours 6-8 weeks after your official graduation date. Please have a valid government issue picture ID or your Wolfcard with you.

Students must satisfy all unpaid student account balances through the UAA Office of the Bursar before their diploma will be released.

Concentrations and minors will not be printed on the diploma. Minors are printed on the official transcript. Students earning a baccalaureate or master's degree may see their concentrations printed on their official transcript. If you and your advisor do not know if your concentration qualifies to appear on your official transcript per university policy, please contact uaa.degrees@alaska.edu.

At the end of one year, any unclaimed/returned diplomas will be shredded. If you believe that your diploma has been shredded, please contact uaa.degrees@alaska.edu for further instruction.

• Using a Preferred Name on Your Diploma
  Your diploma is a ceremonial document that celebrates your academic achievement. We are proud to recognize the name that best represents you while also ensuring that diplomas reflect the dignity of your academic accomplishment. Students may request that their diploma reflect a preferred first, middle and/or last name.
• How Your Name Appears on Your Diploma

  If no preferred name request is submitted, your diploma will be printed using your legal name as it appears in university records, formatted as:

  First Name, Middle Initial, Last Name

  Example: Spirit A. Seawolf

• What You May Request

  Preferred name requests should be submitted with your graduation application in UAOnline. Requests must be received before your degree is awarded. Changes after that require a replacement diploma fee.

  You may request:

  • A preferred first name
  • A preferred middle name
  • A preferred last name
  • Use of a middle name instead of a first name
  • Inclusion or exclusion of a middle name
  • Minor variations (e.g., shortened names, initials, commonly used names)
  • Standard punctuation (hyphens, apostrophes) and diacritical marks/tilde/accent marks and umlauts commonly used in names
• Review and Approval

  To preserve the integrity of the diploma as an official ceremonial document, all preferred name requests are subject to review. The following are not permitted on diplomas:

  • Honorifics or titles (e.g., Dr., Rev., Hon., Mr., Ms., etc.)
  • Academic or professional credentials (e.g., PhD, MBA, RN, Esq., etc.)
  • Decorative symbols, emojis, numbers or non-name characters (e.g., at sign, dollar sign, percent, number sign, etc.)
  • Profanity, sexually explicit language, or discriminatory language
  • Language that is objectively offensive
  • Names submitted for purposes of misrepresentation or fraud
    
    

  The University reserves the right to deny or request modification of a preferred name that does not meet these standards. If a requested name cannot be approved as submitted, we will contact you to discuss options.

• Important Notes
  • The name printed on your diploma may differ from your legal name as it appears on transcripts and other official academic records.
  • Graduates who wish to have their diploma reprinted with a different name must submit the Replacement Diploma form and pay the applicable replacement fee.
    
    

  If you have questions, please contact us at uaa.degrees@alaska.edu. We’re happy to help.

 

Frequent Questions

• Can I walk at Commencement?

  Students who complete certificate or degree requirements in the summer and fall semesters will be invited to participate in fall commencement ceremonies in December. Students who complete certificate or degree requirements in the spring semester will be invited to participate in spring commencement ceremonies in May. All students eligible to walk in Commencement will receive an invitation to RSVP to the ceremony about six (6) weeks prior to the event. The invitation will be emailed to students’ preferred email accounts. If students do not receive an invitation and believe they should have, or if they have any questions, they are encouraged to email Degree Services at uaa.degrees@alaska.edu. If a student reapplies to graduate in a later semester prior to the date of Commencement, they will not be on the list to walk. Exceptions to the walking policy should be directed to the University Advancement Office at 907-786-1013.

• When is the latest I can turn things in and still graduate?

  All paperwork, petitions, test scores, grades, etc., must be received by the Registrar's Office by the final grade submission deadline. This date is generally three (3) business days after the last day of the semester. Specific dates are available on the Dates and Deadlines page. Degree Services begins reviewing students’ audits for completion the day after the final grading deadline. If a student's paperwork is not submitted or complete when their degree is audited, their degree will not be awarded. These students will receive email correspondence at their preferred email address with information about their degree status.

• I know I'm not going to graduate. What should I do?

  Email uaa.degrees@alaska.edu from your preferred or student email account and request your application be moved to a future semester within one academic year of your original application. Include your student ID number, degree, and the semester to which you would like your application to be moved. This must be done before the final class day of the semester for which you applied to graduate. This is a one-time courtesy move.

• If my thesis isn't due until June, am I still a spring graduate?

  If a student completes their thesis in June, their degree will be posted in the summer semester, and the student will be considered a summer graduate. In order for a degree to be posted for spring, all paperwork/requirements must be completed and submitted by the final grading deadline (generally three (3) business days after the semester ends). You will need to contact Degree Services at uaa.degrees@alaska.edu to request a final audit mid semester; otherwise you will not be checked for completion again until the end of the semester.

• My advisor/instructor told me another class would count for that requirement

  In order for students to graduate from UAA, they must complete all university, general education and major requirements as published in the university catalog. If an advisor or instructor tells a student that a particular course can satisfy a major requirement or that a major requirement can be waived, the student needs to work with their advisor to ensure academic petitions are submitted to the Registrar’s Office. Students should access their DegreeWorks audit (found in UAOnline on the "Student Profile") to verify that all of their requirements are complete and to track academic petitions. If a petition is not documented in DegreeWorks, it is possible the petition was never received and will therefore not be considered when Degree Services completes the final audit.

• Incomplete Grades

  Your degree cannot be awarded if you have an incomplete grade in a course required for your degree. Change of grade forms must be submitted to the Registrar's Office by the last day of the semester in which you intend to graduate.

• Transfer Credit

  If you will be using transfer credit to complete your degree requirements, you must have an official transcript from that institution sent to the Registrar's Office as soon as your grade is available. All transcripts must be received by the last day of the semester in which you intend to graduate.

• CLEP and DSST (DANTES) Test Scores

  If you will be using test scores to complete your degree requirements, we must receive official test scores before the last day of the semester in which you intend to graduate. See more on the Transfer Credit site.

• Graduate Degree Requirements

  Graduate students must have a Graduate Studies Plan and final thesis project, or comprehensive exam approval from the Graduate School on file with the Office of the Registrar by the last day of the semester in which they intend to graduate.

• Degree Posted on Your Transcript

  Following the semester grading deadline, the Registrar's Office begins reviewing graduation applicants for completion. Once your degree audit is reviewed and staff determine that all degree requirements have been satisfied, your degree will be awarded. You can verify that your degree has been awarded by viewing your unofficial transcript in UAOnline and should do this before ever ordering your official transcript. There is no delay between the university awarding your degree and it appearing on your transcript.