Graduate diplomas are mailed approximately 10 to 12 weeks after your graduation date.

Diplomas are produced by an off-campus commercial printer and mailed via first class mail to the address designated as your mailing/billing address unless a diploma mailing address has been declared. There is no tracking information for first class standard mail. International shipping can take up to a month or longer. Diplomas will be withheld for those with an outstanding balance of $50 or more with the University.

University of Connecticut diplomas include the following:

• the University of Connecticut school seal;
• the school or college from which you are graduating;
• the name you have chosen to appear on your diploma when you apply for graduation;
• honors you have earned; and
• the signatures of the President of the University, the Dean(s) of your college(s), and the President of the Board of Trustees.

Minors and/or concentrations are not included on the diploma.

Diploma Name & Address

The default name to be printed on a diploma is the Primary Name on your academic records. Students are allowed to edit first and middle names through the Diploma Name option in the Student Administration System, however any changes to last name will require an official name change request and appropriate documentation to facilitate the change. It is the student’s responsibility to review their name and make updates in a timely manner. Any diploma printed with an incorrect name will be subject to the standard replacement fee and timeframe. This includes spelling, capitalization, punctuation, and spacing. Please note there may be implications of having your name on your diploma differ from the name on your record, such as an inability to verify your degree or change in licensure or VISA status.

If you have questions about diplomas, contact the Degree Audit Office at (860) 486-6214.

Students who have borrowed a Federal Perkins, Federal Stafford or Federal Graduate PLUS Loan are required to complete Exit Counseling shortly before graduating, leaving school, or dropping below half-time status. Please view the Office of Student Financial Aid Services Student Exit Counseling website for more information. 

Focused Area of Study Process

Students who wish to petition for a Focused Area of Study should first review the requirements to determine if they met all criteria. If all criteria is met, students should then fill out the Focused Area of Study 2018-2019 Form by Friday, March 15, 2019. If you are petitioning for multiple Focused Areas of Study, please submit a separate form for each.

Requirements for the Focused Area of Study will not be reviewed until after grades have been posted. Those that have fulfilled the requirements will receive a letter via mail early summer. The Focused Area of Study will not appear on your degree, it is verified through the letter sent.

Focused Areas of Study | 2018-2019

Focused Area of Study 2018-2019 Form

You cannot sit for the LMSW exam until the conferral date on your transcript. We encourage you to continue to check your transcript for the posting of your conferral. Once conferred, if you wish to request an official transcript please review the information at the following link http://registrar.uconn.edu/transcripts/.

For important links on Connecticut’s social work licensure, please refer to the SSW Career Services website.

Tickets will be available for pick up on the day of Field Advising Seminar, Friday, March 8, 2019. If you have not done so already, please follow the instructions below to ensure your tickets are ready for you to pick up on that day.

Complete the Recognition Ceremony Response Form

We will reserve your pack of 4 tickets in the order that the response forms are submitted. Tickets will be issued consecutively from the front to the back of the Bushnell Theater. Please note some ticket sets may be in pairs instead of 4 in a row, but will be close to each other.

Ticket Pick Up

• You must pick up your tickets in person at the Office of Student and Academic Services, room 106, of the School of Social Work building. If you are not able to pick up your tickets on Friday, March 8, please see the section below regarding alternate pick up times.
• You must bring a picture ID – UConn ID or license will be acceptable. You will not be able to pick up ticket without a picture ID.

Babes-In-Arms

All patrons, regardless of age, must have a ticket in order to gain entry into the venue. This means every single physical body needs a ticket, even infants.

Special Accommodations

If any of your guest(s) will be needing special accommodations, you must indicate so in the Recognition Ceremony Response Form. Special accommodation requests must be received no later than April 5, 2019. Accessible seating arrangements cannot be guaranteed if requests are not submitted by this date.

Alternate Pick Up

For those who are unable to pick up your tickets the day of your field advising seminar, please come to OSAS during normal business hours: 9:00 am – 4:30 pm anytime up until March 29. All steps above still apply.

Extra Tickets

In the event that extra tickets are available, we will randomly select students who indicated they were interested in extra tickets within the Recognition Ceremony Response Form. Those selected will be notified via e-mail and are expected to respond in a timely manner. Extra tickets are not guaranteed and will not be near the initial 4 seats that you have received.

Lost Ticket/s

If you happen to lose a ticket that was issued to you for graduation please be prepared to provide your name and the number on your envelope, as well as the numbers of the other tickets you have in your possession. Please contact the Office of Student and Academic Services as soon as possible at 959-200-3687 if you lose a ticket/s.

MSW students who plan to attend the SSW Recognition Ceremony must obtain a reader card when they pick up their tickets and leave the completed card with the Office of Student & Academic Services. Please complete by printing your information clearly on the card. This card will be used to help the announcer pronounce each student’s name correctly.

The company that will be taking photographs throughout the ceremony is Defining Studios Photo and Video. You will receive an email on how to obtain photographs from the ceremony.

https://bushnell.org/content/directions-and-parking

Please be mindful to give yourself enough time for the evening community and parking.

https://bushnell.org/security

Please remind your guests to give themselves enough time as they will have to go through security prior to entering the theater.

Can I wear a graduation stole?

Students are able to wear a stole of their choice. The School does not facilitate this process. However, GSO interest groups may be collecting money to place an order. Please refer to the GSO website for the leader listing.

Does the School recognize academic honors?

No, academic honors are not recognized.

How long does the ceremony last?

Approximately 2 hours

What time should I arrive?

Please plan to arrive no later than 5:15 p.m. The Bushnell Café will be open if you wish to purchase light refreshments.

What should I bring with me to the ceremony?

Limited items should be carried since there will be no place to store items. Please leave personal items with family.

What should I do when I arrive?

Students should report to the Great Hall located on the second floor to check in at the registration table to pick up your reader card. Please be sure to be in your regalia since photos will be taken to use for marketing purposes. PhD students do not pick reader cards. Proceed to the Great Hall room to mix, mingle and take pictures with your peers. Family and friends are not allowed in this area.

How will the graduates be lined up for the processional?

Students will be lined up by concentration (administration; community organization; group work; individuals, groups, and families; and policy practice). Once that is done, there is no particular order students need to be in for the processional.

Where will the graduates be seated during the ceremony?

The students will be located in the front of the theater audience.

How will students be recognized?

PhD students will be recognized by the Zachs Director and MSW students will be called by concentration and will be recognized. You will give the announcer your reader card that you will receive upon check-in. As you are being announced you will be hooded by faculty. Staff will be available to assist with this process.

What time should my guests arrive?

Admission for seating of guests is at 6:00 p.m.

By participating in either the Recognition or Commencement ceremonies, you are required to wear the appropriate cap, gown, and hood that correspond with the University of Connecticut graduate degree being conferred. We ask that all orders are placed no later than April 15, 2019.

Students have several options when it comes to purchasing their cap & gown:

1. Purchase your cap & gown online through the Oak Hall Regalia Website.
2. Beginning April 6, 2019 – Purchase your cap & gown at the UConn Hartford Bookstore.
   • Bookstore’s Hours
     • Monday – Friday: 8 am – 8 pm
     • Saturday: 10 am – 8 pm
     • Sunday: 11 am – 6 pm
3. Purchase your cap & gown at the Grad Fair taking place on Wednesday, April 10, from 10 am – 6 pm at the UConn Hartford Bookstore.

You should retain receipt of regalia, as it will be needed to obtain tickets to the Commencement Ceremony. Please go to the “How do I obtain my Cap, Gown and Guest Tickets?” tab on the Commencement Student Preparation website to view further instructions on how to obtain tickets for the Commencement Ceremony.

Master's participants will be hooded by faculty during the Recognition Ceremony. The hood should be neatly folded over the candidate's left arm for the processional and before walking to the stage.