If you are a graduate student, please visit the Graduate School website for information regarding graduation.
All undergraduate students must apply to graduate. Students should apply for graduation at the beginning of their senior year or when having only 35-37 hours left to complete in their degree program.
The application deadlines can be found below.
Graduation |
Application Deadline |
|
Summer 2023- Monday, August 14, 2023 |
February 1, 2023 (after this deadline a late fee will be applied) |
|
Fall 2023- Saturday, December 16, 2023 |
February 1, 2023 (after this deadline a late fee will be applied) |
|
Spring 2024-Saturday, May 4, 2024 |
September 15, 2023(after this deadline a late fee will be applied) |
To apply for graduation, go online to Wingspan (see instructions).
Students will be charged a $50 application fee, plus an additional late fee of:
$25 for applications submitted after the deadline
$50 for applications submitted after the deadline and during the graduation term
If you previously applied for graduation and need to change your graduation date,
please e-mail UGgraduation@winthrop.edu to update your application.
Note: Diploma orders are based on the information provided on your application. For special instructions on your diploma name (such as accents), please contact Records Team in the Office of Records and Registration.
Failure to apply for graduation may result in the following:
Not being cleared for graduation, resulting in the degree not being awarded
Not having your name printed in the Commencement program
Not being able to participate in the Commencement ceremony
Not having a diploma available
Not being admitted on a timely basis to graduate programs, or at all if missing requirements
Graduation applicants will receive a PRECLEAR REVIEW E-MAIL from the Office of Records and Registration during the semester prior to their final term reminding them to review their degree audit (Degree Works worksheet). During this step, you should meet with your advisor to prepare for registering for your final semester, using the e-mail as a guide. In order to graduate, students must successfully complete all requirements for their respective degrees.
Once your preclear review letter is sent, your graduation status in Degree Works will appear as follows:
Graduation applicants will receive a GRADUATION TERM CHECK E-MAIL from the Office of Records and Registration during their final term notifying them of any unmet or "Still Needed" degree requirements. During this step, if you are notified of any pending issues related to your graduation, please contact your advisor or Student Services Office for assistance.
Once your graduation term check is completed, your graduation status in Degree Works will appear as follows:
In the fall and spring, degree candidates will be cleared for graduation during the week of Commencement. The deadline to complete all degree requirements is that Thursday. In the summer, degree candidates will be cleared on the day of graduation; the deadline to complete all degree requirements is that day.
Graduation |
Deadline to Complete Degree Requirements |
|
Summer 2023- Monday, August 14, 2023 |
Monday, August 14, 2023 |
|
Fall 2023 - Saturday, December 16, 2023 |
Thursday, December 14, 2023 |
|
Spring 2024 - Saturday, May 4, 2024 |
Thursday, May 2, 2024 |
During the clearing process, the Records Team in the Office of Records and Registration
will contact students if there are any issues related to their graduation.
Once your final grades are reported and you are successfully cleared for graduation, your graduation status in Degree Works will be checked off, appearing as follows:
During your final semester at Winthrop, you will be invited to attend the Grad Finale hosted by the Alumni Office. The Grad Finale, held at the Winthrop Bookstore, is a celebration during which graduating seniors may order their academic regalia (caps and gowns) and graduation announcements, learn about alumni resources, and more.
In this video, seniors will learn more about the graduation process from start to finish, including the steps to graduation, honors eligibility, awarding of degrees, diplomas, and more!
During your final semester at Winthrop, you will be asked to complete the Senior Survey. The purpose of this survey is to collect information about seniors' experiences at Winthrop. The survey will be e-mailed to all graduation applicants during the week of graduation.
If you have had a Perkins Loan at any time while enrolled at Winthrop University, you MUST complete a Perkins Loan Exit Interview during your final semester. This will be separate from any other exit interviews that you complete. Contact the Perkins Loan Accountant at 803/323-2439 with any questions.
Pursuant to Winthrop University policy, students with a balance on their account will not be allowed to receive their diploma, grade report, or transcript until the account balance is paid in full. Remember to check your account frequently in the weeks leading up to graduation in case any miscellaneous charges are made to your account (e.g., print quota purchases, parking tickets, etc.). This will ensure that you have enough time to pay your balance prior to graduation.
If you have a balance, payment may be made in the Cashier's Office by cash, check or money order. Payments can also be made by e-check or by credit card online, through Wingspan at Account Summary and Payment Gateway. MasterCard, American Express, Visa and Discover are accepted.
Honors awards will be indicated on the graduate's diploma and official transcript.
Any undergraduate student who completes their degree requirements with a final grade-point average of:
3.500 to 3.740 shall be granted a degree cum laude
3.750 to 3.890 shall be granted a degree magna cum laude.
3.900 or higher shall be granted a degree summa cum laude.
If a student has taken courses at another institution, whether those credits transferred to Winthrop or not, the student must meet the GPA requirement in both of the following:
All courses taken at Winthrop (including courses lost due to academic forgiveness)
All courses taken at Winthrop in combination with all coursework completed at other institutions (whether those courses transferred to Winthrop or not)
Note: The lower of the two GPA's will determine the Latin Honors received. Therefore, courses taken at other institutions cannot raise a graduate to a higher level of academic honors.
Any undergraduate students who complete their degree requirements with a final GPA of 3.75 and earns a minimum of 48 quality hours (on a regular letter grade basis) at Winthrop University who does not qualify for Latin Honors will receive Honors Recognition.
Graduates who receive Latin Honors or Honors Recognition will receive an e-mail from the Office of Records and Registration during the week of graduation notifying them of their honors award.
Diplomas for December graduates will be given out at the end of the fall Commencement ceremony. Those that are not picked up at the ceremony will be available for pick up from the Office of Records and Registration the following week after the ceremony -beginning at noon on that Monday until Wednesday.
Diplomas for May graduates will be given out at the end of the spring Commencement ceremonies. Those that are not picked up at the ceremonies will be available for pick up from the Office of Records and Registration the following week after the ceremony -beginning at noon on that Monday until Friday.
Diplomas for August graduates will be available for pick up from the Office of Records and Registration the day after August graduation- beginning at noon on that Tuesday until Friday.
Diplomas that are not picked up will be mailed to the graduate's permanent mailing address listed on Wingspan.
If you will not be picking up your diploma, please check to make sure that your permanent mailing address is up to date: Login to Wingspan, select Personal Information TAB >> Personal Information Dashboard
>> Personal Information, and enter your current permanent address.
Each graduate will receive a digital diploma e-mailed from our vendor Parchment the week following graduation. This e-mail will contain instructions on claiming your digital diploma. See more on digital diplomas.
Note: Graduates with financial holds will not receive their diplomas (printed or digital) until after their account balances are paid.
Winthrop celebrates its graduates during the Commencement ceremonies.
May graduates are invited to paricipate in the spring ceremony.
August and December graduates are invited to participate in the fall ceremony.
