The degree evaluation outlines the graduation requirements for your program. With the help of your advisor, you can review your progress and plan for the completion of your requirements. See Advising's Degree Evaluation Website for more information about how to review your degree evaluation.

You will need to contact your advisor. If approved, your advisor will request a substitution/waiver with the department. If approved by the department chairperson, you will receive a confirmation in your Southern email once your degree evaluation has been updated.

 No. An estimated graduation term will be listed on your degree evaluation when you are at least 75% complete (60% for graduate programs) with degree requirements. Your degree auditor will monitor your progress and award your degree/certificate once all requirements are successfully completed. See Diplomas for more information about receiving your diploma.

 Students may log into Banner Student (see Records and Registration) to review their degree evaluation.  Students may select the 'Graduation Checklist' view to verify outstanding requirements as they prepare for their final semester(s).  All program requirements will be listed as either complete, in-progress, or not complete according to the legend below.  

Here are the steps required to complete your last class(es) at another institution:

1. Submit a Leave of Absence Form to remain an active matriculated student at Southern (for the Spring/Fall semesters only).
2. Submit a Transfer Credit Request prior to registering for the course(s) at the other school to ensure it will be approved.
3. Send an email from your Southern account to your degree auditor to inform them if you are completing your last course at another school.

Your degree auditor closely tracks your program requirements as you get closer to 100% completion. A series of graduation status emails will be sent leading up to graduation to ensure you are aware of your remaining requirements, as follows:

1. Students receive an “On Track” email when at least 75% (undergraduate) or 60% (graduate or post-baccalaureate) complete.
2. Students receive an “Almost There” email when the percent complete increases but outstanding requirements still remain.
3. Students receive a “Cleared” email once successfully registered for all remaining requirements.

For students who are graduating in the current or upcoming semester, before making any changes, please discuss your degree requirements with your advisor. If the change will impact the estimated graduation term listed on your degree evaluation, please email your degree auditor to update your record.

Students may not graduate with Incomplete (I) grades on their transcript.

A final grade has not been submitted for the course. Please contact your instructor.

Once you have successfully completed all requirements (i.e. final grades have posted) the degree evaluation will read 100% complete. If you have registered for all remaining requirements, please review your degree evaluation to ensure you do not have any Incomplete grades and you do not have any outstanding requirements marked: .

The Registrar’s Office begins awarding degrees once grades are posted at the end of each term or part-of-term. Once the degree has been awarded (estimated time: 2-4 weeks), students are notified in their Southern email with instructions on how to access their official transcript and e-diploma. See Diplomas for more information about receiving your diploma.

You may request an official transcript via Parchment at any time, free of charge which will list your degree/certificate awarded and the date. 

 You can also check your unofficial transcript to verify that your degree/certificate has been awarded prior to requesting an official transcript: 

Graduation is the successful completion of all degree requirements and the awarding of your degree/certificate. 

See Diplomas for more information about receiving your diploma.

Commencement is a ceremony to celebrate and recognize recent and upcoming graduates in the current academic year. 

Please note that participation in commencement is not a confirmation of graduation from your program and diplomas are not issued at the event.