Everything You Need to Know About Diplomas

Receiving Your Diploma. If you graduate in the fall or spring semesters, you'll be able to receive your diploma immediately following the commencement ceremony if the following conditions have been met:

• All of your final grades have been submitted by faculty and your degree has been certified.
• Your account balance has been cleared with Chrissy Bottiglia in the Business Office.
• You have completed the Financial Aid Exit Interview if you've received federal loans.

Spring graduates: In order to meet the first condition, your professors must submit your final grades to the registrar's office early. This means that you must connect with your professors well in advance of the commencement weekend to arrange for an early due date for your final assignments. Your professors must allow time for grading and grade submission. While Western Seminary makes every effort to certify spring degrees in time for the commencement ceremony, the possibility remains that your degree may not be certified prior to the ceremony, even if you have submitted your work early. More details are available on the "Odds & Ends" page.

Summer graduates: You'll receive your diploma in the mail once the above conditions have been met. Summer grades are due at the end of August, and the certification process can take several weeks due to the high volume of work at the beginning of the school year. Thus, summer diplomas are generally mailed out in mid- to late-September.

Using Your Legal Name. Like your transcript, your diploma will be an official document. Therefore, we will be using your full, legal name. If you legally change your name before you graduate, you must submit a Name Change Form prior to the last day of the semester in which your degree will be certified.