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Which December 2026 graduation candidates can participate in the commencement ceremony?

December 2026 graduation candidates whose Fall 2026 coursework is expected to complete all remaining degree requirements may participate in the December 2026 commencement ceremony.

A student officially graduates only after all degree requirements have been completed. If you do not expect to complete your requirements by the end of the Fall 2026 semester, please withdraw your graduation application by emailing registrar@lewisu.edu from your Â鶹´«Ã½¸ßÇå student email.

Any issues that could affect graduation candidacy must be resolved by November 13, 2026. This includes, but is not limited to, waivers, substitutions, and unresolved “I” (Incomplete) grades from prior semesters. Students with unresolved degree requirements after this deadline will not be eligible to participate in the ceremony.

When will the final record review take place?

Final grades are due December 15, 2026. Candidate records will be reviewed after final grades are posted. The final record review is expected to be completed by Friday, January 15, 2027.

What happens after the final record review?

If all degree requirements have been met, the degree and official graduation date will be posted to the student’s transcript, which is the official academic record. Students who do not meet all requirements will not have the degree posted and will be notified.

What is the official graduation/conferral date?

The official graduation/conferral date is December 18, 2026. This is the date that will appear on the diploma and transcript for December 2026 graduates.

Please note: December 18, 2026 is NOT the commencement ceremony date.

When are the commencement ceremonies?

Commencement ceremonies will be held on:

• Friday, December 11, 2026
• Saturday, December 12, 2026

Ceremony times and college assignments will be determined by October 16, 2026.

Will I receive my diploma at the ceremony?

No. Diplomas are not distributed at the commencement ceremony. For graduates whose accounts are clear, diplomas are typically mailed within 8–10 weeks after the December 18, 2026 conferral date.

Diplomas are mailed to the address listed on the graduation application. Students should check their myÂ鶹´«Ã½¸ßÇå portal under Student Account for any outstanding financial balance.

How will I receive my diploma?

Diplomas are mailed through the United States Postal Service (USPS) to the mailing address provided on the graduation application. Diplomas cannot be mailed to international addresses, Â鶹´«Ã½¸ßÇå University residence halls, or other University offices, except the Office of the Registrar as described below.

Updating your address on your general student record does not automatically update the diploma mailing address on your graduation application. If your diploma mailing address changes, email registrar@lewisu.edu from your Â鶹´«Ã½¸ßÇå student email as soon as possible so the graduation application can be updated.

Candidates may request to have their diploma mailed to the Office of the Registrar for pickup. Email registrar@lewisu.edu from your Â鶹´«Ã½¸ßÇå student email to make this request. You will be notified at your Â鶹´«Ã½¸ßÇå student email when the diploma arrives. The standard diploma processing timeline still applies.

What will appear on my diploma?

For December 2026 graduates, the diploma will display the degree earned at Â鶹´«Ã½¸ßÇå University and the honors designation for qualifying students. Majors, minors, concentrations, and specializations are not printed on the diploma; they are reflected on the official transcript.

How will my name appear in the commencement booklet and on my diploma?

Â鶹´«Ã½¸ßÇå University will use the legal name on file for the diploma and commencement booklet. If your legal name needs to be changed, email registrar@lewisu.edu and submit the required Change of Name form and supporting documentation.

If you use a preferred first name, email registrar@lewisu.edu for information about the preferred-name process. Submit any requested name changes as early as possible to allow time for commencement materials and diploma records to be updated.

What are the requirements for graduation honors?

Bachelor’s degree recipients may graduate with honors based on their cumulative grade point average:

• Cum Laude: 3.500–3.749
• Magna Cum Laude: 3.750–3.899
• Summa Cum Laude: 3.900–4.000

Honors at graduation are indicated on the diploma and transcript. At commencement, eligible students are recognized with an honor cord. Honors do not apply to graduate, associate, or certificate recipients. To qualify, a bachelor’s degree recipient must have earned a minimum of 56 credit hours at Â鶹´«Ã½¸ßÇå University, excluding credit earned by examination or prior learning assessment.

How are commencement ceremony honors determined?

Commencement honors are considered unofficial because final Fall 2026 grades have not yet been reviewed. The honors designation recognized at the ceremony may therefore differ from the final honors designation recorded on the diploma and transcript.

Commencement honors will be based on the cumulative GPA available before the December 2026 ceremonies and will follow the University’s catalog honors policy. Final graduation honors will be determined after all final grades are posted and the final degree audit is completed.

What do I need to participate in the commencement ceremony?

To participate in the December 2026 commencement ceremony:

• You must be a December 2026 graduation candidate with a “Clear” graduation status in Degree Works.
• You must have the official Â鶹´«Ã½¸ßÇå University cap and gown. Ordering information is available through Herff Jones at . Please follow the ordering deadline communicated in official commencement information.
• You must arrive one hour before your assigned ceremony start time to check in and receive your line card. All candidates must be checked in and lined up in their assigned position at least 15 minutes before the ceremony begins. Late candidates may not be able to participate.

Who needs a ticket for the commencement ceremonies?

All guests, including infants and children, need a ticket for the commencement ceremony. The graduation candidate does not need a ticket for their assigned ceremony.

How do I request an invitation letter for international guests?

Visit the International Student and Global Scholar Services webpage and follow: Inviting Friends & Family to the U.S.

For additional questions about invitation letters, contact the Office of International Student and Global Scholar Services at ISGSS@lewisu.edu.

What is a “Registrar–Graduation Hold”?

A Registrar–Graduation Hold is placed on a graduation candidate’s record during the graduation audit once the candidate has a cleared graduation status. The hold prevents future registration activity in the graduating term.

If you need to make a registration change during the current term, first review the change with your advisor to understand how it could affect your graduation eligibility and status. Then contact registrar@lewisu.edu for assistance processing the registration change.

The Registrar–Graduation Hold does NOT prevent transcript release, commencement eligibility, diploma mailing, or ticket eligibility.