GRADUATION, COMMENCEMENT & Diplomas

Graduation does not occur until the completion of your degree requirements is certified by your college’s certification officer. Only after that happens will the Office of the Registrar post your degree completion to your transcript or begin the process of creating your diploma. Commencement is the ceremony held at the end of the spring and fall term prior to the issuance of final grades for that semester. Participation in commencement does not guarantee that you will graduate.

Apply for Graduation

Students must apply for graduation through PAWS. The application link is found under your Student tab in PAWS. You will select the term of your graduation, provide the address for your diploma and tell us exactly how you would like your name to appear. There will be a one-time charge of $40 per degree.

Apply for Graduation

Reapplication for Graduation Students may reapply for graduation through PAWS.

No additional fee is charged for reapplication. Reapplication should be done if you need to change your graduation term, the degree or major you are pursuing or want to alter the way your name appears or the address your diploma will be sent. Don’t reapply just because you want an updated degree checklist, contact your certifying dean's office for that. Reapplying will not generate another checklist.

 

Deadlines for Applying and Reapplying for Graduation and Deadlines for Applying for Participation in Commencement By Exceptionality  

  • Summer 2026 - June 24, 2026
  • Fall 2026 - November 3, 2026
  • Spring 2027 - March 24, 2027
  • Summer 2027 - June 30, 2027

Exceptionality allows students to walk at commencement early in certain circumstances. Students can now apply online by selecting the appropriate college link:

College of Education, Health & Human Services - https://www.eiu.edu/coe/machform/view.php?id=56801
                                                                                https://www.eiu.edu/chhs/forms/Exceptionality-Form.pdf
College of Liberal Arts and Sciences - https://www.eiu.edu/ahcolleg/machform/view.php?id=16629
Lumpkin College of Business and Technology - https://www.eiu.edu/lumpkin/machform/view.php?id=6770
Graduate School - https://www.eiu.edu/graduate/machform/view.php?id=41293

 

 

Graduation Honors Honors appear on your diploma and transcript.

Eligible students who have a cumulative grade-point average of 3.90 to 4.00 earn summa cum laude honors; those with a cumulative grade-point average of 3.80 through 3.89 earn magna cum laude honors; and those with a cumulative grade-point average of 3.65 through 3.79 earn cum laude honors.  Honors are calculated after final grades are in and the degree is certified, but students who otherwise qualify* and who have GPAs that qualify for degrees with distinction at the start of their final semester may wear an appropriate medal as part of their academic attire at commencement and their names will appear in the commencement program as being awarded Degrees with Distinction.

Completion of Degree Requirements Participation in the commencement ceremony does not mean you have completed degree requirements and graduated.

Your graduation is not official until your certifying dean's office has sent notification of completion of all degree requirements to the Registrar's Office and the degree has been posted to your record. If you are sending a transcript to finish your degree please notice this deadline. Students must have documentary evidence of completion of degree requirements (such as transcripts, EWP completions or completed grade changes) received by the Office of the Registrar by the following Academic Calendar deadlines:

  • Summer 2026 - August 21, 2026
  • Fall 2026 - January 8, 2027
  • Spring 2027 - May 28, 2027
  • Summer 2027 - August 20, 2027

If a student does not complete graduation requirements at the end of the grading period, a reapplication for graduation must be submitted through PAWS. No additional fees are charged for reapplying.

 

DIPLOMAS 

Font styles and sizes used for diplomas are determined by the President's Council.

Your EIU diploma includes the following information:

  • Your name
  • The degree you earned (ex. Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Science - majors and minors are not listed)
  • The date your degree was awarded

Diploma Address Changes When you apply for graduation you provide the mailing address for your diploma.

Any graduating student who needs to change the mailing address for their diploma should contact Em Carlen in the Office of the Registrar.  The office is located at 1220 Old Main, or she can be reached by email at emcarlen@eiu.edu. 

*Please note, changing your address in PAWS does not change the mailing address for diplomas, and changing your diploma address does not change your mailing address in PAWS.

Cap and Gown    

Commencement information, including how to order a cap and gown, can be found on the Commencement website here. 

 

Duplicate Diplomas    

If the original diploma was damaged in the mail, there is no charge for a replacement. Please return the damaged diploma along with the request form and the replacement will be mailed at no cost.

Students who need a duplicate diploma must provide our office with the following information filling out a Duplicate Diploma Request Form: 

  • EIU ID# if known
  • Name
  • Telephone Number
  • Email
  • Previous name (if applicable)
  • Birthdate
  • Degree earned
  • How you want your name to appear on the diploma
  • Address to send the diploma to

Duplicate diplomas can be ordered one of two ways:

If you wish to place your order online and pay by credit/debit card, please use the Online Duplicate Diploma Request Form.

If you would rather pay by cash/check/money order, you can use the Duplicate Diploma Request Form.

There is a $25.00 fee for each duplicate diploma you order. Duplicate diploma requests are processed once a month.

Diploma reprints will have the names of EIU's current president and chair of the Board of Regents.

Delivery of Diploma   Diploma covers are handed out at the commencement ceremonies.

The actual diplomas are mailed to the address listed on your graduation application approximately 8-12 weeks after you graduate.

Note: Participation in the commencement ceremony does not mean you have completed degree requirements and graduated. Your graduation is not official until your certifying dean's office has sent notification of completion of all degree requirements to the Registrar's Office and the degree has been posted to your record. See more here: graduation.php

Diplomas Held for an Outstanding Balance   Diplomas are held for students with an outstanding balance owed to the university.

EIU fully supports Public Act 102-0998 The Student Debt Assistance Act and the subsequent amendment, Public Act 103-0054, which includes provisions for releasing a diploma to students with a financial hold. If requesting your diploma based on one of the exemptions detailed in Public Act 103-0054, please complete and return this form to the Office of the Registrar.

 

Apply or Reapply for Graduation