Q: How can I contact my advisor?
A: Centralized academic advising is provided to students majoring in the Lumpkin College of Business and Applied Sciences. Incoming freshmen majoring in Family and Consumer Sciences, Industrial Technology, Career and Technical Education, and Career and Organizational Studies and all Pre-Business majors are advised through the Academic Advising Center.

Academic advisors provide guidance to students but it is the responsibility of the student to know and to observe the requirements of his/her curriculum and the rules governing academic work. Although the advisor will attempt to help the student make wise decisions, the ultimate responsibility for meeting the requirements for graduation rests with the student. Please refer to the Undergraduate Catalog for policies and procedures governing academic work, requirements for the bachelor's degree, requirements for specific programs, and course descriptions, including course prerequisites.

Lisa Canivez , Renee Stroud, and Kathy Schmitz are the advisors for junior/senior business majors admitted to the School of Business . These majors include Accountancy, Business Administration,Management Information Systems (concentrations in General MIS, Business Programming, or Network Technologies), Finance, Management (concentrations in General Management, Human Resource Management, or International), and Marketing.

Donna Dawson is the School of Technology academic advisor for students majoring in Career and Technical Education (emphasis in Business Ed, Family & Consumer Sciences Ed, Industrial Technology Ed), Industrial Technology (concentrations in Automation & Control, Construction, Digital Printing, Imaging & Web Technology, or Production), and Career and Organizational Studies.

Rose Myers-Bradley is the School of Family and Consumer Sciences academic advisor for students majoring in Family and Consumer Sciences, including Family Services , Dietetics, and FCS in Apparel and Textiles, Consumer Studies, Hospitality, Merchandising.

Q: When should I apply for graduation?
A: Students who have completed 60 semester hours or more (business majors must also be admitted to the School of Business ) are eligible to apply for graduation on-line. It is strongly recommended that eligible students apply for graduation at least one full year before they intend to graduate. (See published deadline dates)

Q: How do I apply for graduation?
A: To initiate this process, a student must sign on to their PAWS account, click on "Student and Financial Aid," then "Apply for Graduation." Once a student is on the Applications and Degrees page, click "New Application" listed under Graduation Term and follow instructions given on that page. Be sure to click "Submit Application" when finished. Students will need to know certain information when filling out the Application for Graduation. A worksheet is available to help prepare students for the on-line application. Once the application is submitted on-line, the student can expect to receive an official Degree Audit in the mail approximately 4-6 weeks after submission of the application. The Degree Audit will indicate graduation requirements completed as well as those still remaining. Students can access their Degree Audit on-line through PAWS. However, the on-line audit is not official until after the student has applied for graduation and their records reviewed by the certification officer.

Q: When should I reapply for graduation?
A: Students who have applied for graduation, but need to change their date of graduation, or diploma information, must reapply for graduation on-line (see published deadline dates). No additional fees are charged for reapplying. Students only wanting to change their major, minor, concentration, option, or catalog year MUST notify their certification officer (Mary Hennig) so that a revised audit can be sent to them. There is no need to reapply for graduation.

Q: How do I reapply for graduation?
A: This is done through the same process as the initial Application for Graduation detailed above. However, when on the "Applications and Degrees" page, click on the previous application submitted which is listed by graduation term directly above the "New Application" link. After changes are made on the application, click on "save changes" and the reapplication will be submitted.

Q: What are the deadlines for applying/reapplying for graduation?
A: Students must apply or reapply for graduation prior to the deadlines established for any given semester. Those deadlines are:

DEADLINES TO APPLY/REAPPLY FOR GRADUATION  

• For Fall 2008 graduation - November 4, 2008
• For Spring 2009 graduation - March 25, 2009
• For Summer 2009 graduation - July 8, 2009

Q: Who do I contact if I have questions about my Degree Audit or graduation certification?
A: Questions should be directed to Mary Hennig, Certification Officer for the Lumpkin College of Business and Applied Sciences, Lumpkin Hall 4815, (217) 581-6902, mbhennig@eiu.edu.

Q: Can I participate in the commencement ceremony even though I am not completing requirements this semester?
A: Requests for participation in a commencement ceremony by exceptionality, may be granted according to the following guidelines:

•  Students who have applied to graduate summer term and are able to complete all to participate of their degree requirements by the end of the summer term may be granted permission in the preceding spring commencement ceremony;

•  Students with only student teaching, internship, or practicum to be completed may be granted permission to participate in the commencement ceremony preceding their final term.

Those who qualify for participation in a commencement ceremony by exceptionality must complete a request form available from Mary Hennig, Lumpkin Hall 4815, prior to the following deadlines:

• Fall 2008 Ceremony - November 4, 2008
• Spring 2009 Ceremony - March 25, 2009

Q: Where can I find information regarding the commencement ceremony?
A: The Commencement Office will mail a postcard to the home address of students whose names appear on the official graduation list and also to those approved to participate by exceptionality. The postcard will indicate the date of the ceremony and will refer students to the Commencement link on EIU's homepage for further information regarding graduation times, tickets, cap/gown ordering information, etc. Questions concerning the commencement ceremony should be directed to the Commencement Office at (217) 581-6892.

Q: What do I need to do if I am completing my last graduation requirement(s) at another institution?
A: It is the student's responsibility to notify the Office of the Registrar and the college certification officer (Mary Hennig) for the Lumpkin College of Business and Applied Sciences at (217) 581-6902 of any courses being taken at other institutions which will complete the requirements for graduation. Documentary evidence (official transcripts) that all degree requirements have been completed must be in the Records Office (600 Lincoln Avenue, Charleston, IL 61920 ) no later than the following dates:

• For Fall 2008 completion - January 9, 2009
• For Spring 2009 completion- May 31, 2009
• For Summer 2009 completion - August 21, 2009

The diploma will not be given to the student and the conferral of the degree will not be recorded on the student's permanent record until all such documents have been received. If the student does not complete all graduation requirements at the end of the grading period, he/she must reapply for graduation on-line for a later semester/term.

Q: When will I be certified for graduation?
A: At the end of each semester, or summer term, and once all graduation requirements have been verified by the college certification officer, the student's name is forwarded to the Office of the Registrar as having completed all graduation requirements. The degree/major/option/ concentration/minor information, plus any honors designation, is then entered on the student's transcript in the Office of the Registrar. An official transcript can be requested by the student through the Office of the Registrar when verification of graduation is needed.

Regardless of participation in a commencement ceremony, no student will be certified for graduation and awarded a degree and diploma until the college certification officer has provided the Office of the Registrar with official verification of the completion of all degree requirements.

Q: How soon after graduation can I expect to receive my diploma?
A: After all graduation requirements have been verified by the college certification officer, the student's official diploma is mailed to the student, at the address indicated on the Application/ Reapplication for Graduation, approximately 6-8 weeks after the semester ends. Inquires concerning diplomas should be directed to the Office of the Registrar at (217) 581-3511.