Graduation Information

Graduation Information

Graduation Audit

The School of Music, at the request of the student, will perform a graduation audit.  The optimum time to schedule this audit is 2-3 semesters prior to the planned graduation date.  The student must schedule an appointment for this audit with the Hayes School of Music  Departmental Academic Advisor.  The Advisor will identify the remaining coursework, proficiencies, University requirements, etc. the student must complete prior to graduation.  The School of Music strongly recommends that each student request a graduation audit at the appropriate time in order to be informed of any existing graduation deficiencies.

Graduation Audits can be scheduled with the Departmental Academic Advisor here:  Schedule an Appointment

*You will be given the option of an online or in-person appointment.  Please select graduation audit in the drop down box that asks, "What type of appointment?"  Once you have selected a time on the calendar please return to the previous webtab and hit submit on the form.

Appyling to Graduate

Students who have enough earned hours to be eligible to apply for graduation will receive an email at the beginning of the term alerting them that the application for graduation is open.  Students are required to apply for graduation during the term immediately preceding the one in which they expect to complete all coursework and requirements for graduation (including internships, study abroad, etc.).  Even if you do not plan to attend the Commencement ceremony, you must still apply to graduate.  For instructions on submitting your application, see the Online Degree Application tutorial.  A $15.00 degree application fee will be posted to accounts of graduating seniors during the semester they apply to graduate.  You should select the term that represents when you will complete ALL requirements for graduation, not the term you plan to participate in commencement.  Based on your formal application to graduate, the Dean's Office of your major college will review your student record and notify you by email whether you have met the requirements to be awarded your degree.  If you have not met all degree requirements for that term, you will need to reapply to graduate for the future term in which you anticipate completing all remaining requirements. Your degree will not be awarded until you have been cleared by the College as meeting the requirements for graduation, and have an active graduation application for the term in which you are cleared.  The graduation check-out is what prompts the Office of the Registrar to award your degree once the College confirms all requirements have been met.  Students who do not submit an application for graduation will not have their degree awarded and will not receive a diploma.

Students Not Currently Enrolled

Students not currently enrolled at Appalachian may submit an online degree application through their AppalNet account by clicking on the Self Service tab - Student' tab - Student Records - Apply to Graduate.

How to Apply

You may complete your degree application in AppalNet by clicking on the Self Service tab - Student tab - Student Records link - Apply to Graduate.  Make sure you review and then select the appropriate major(s) and degree(s) with which you are graduating.  Failure to submit the correct information by the application deadline will result in you not being awarded your degree in the specified term.  An undergraduate graduation application fee of $15 will be applied to your student account for each term you apply to graduate and for each distinct degree.

Making Changes to Your Application

Please contact the Office of the Registrar at graduation@appstate.edu if you need to make any changes on your degree application after it is submitted.  If the term you will meet your graduation requirements changes, you must contact the graduation unit to have your current application removed.  This will allow you to submit another online degree application for the appropriate term at a later date. You will be charged an additional $15 application fee each time you apply.

Ceremony Information

  • Notification & Advertisement
    • Students will be sent an e-mail containing important information pertaining to the Commencement Ceremony.  Examples of information included will be: Time you should arrive for their ceremony and place to pick up name announcement card.  Students graduating from multiple colleges may select the ceremony they wish to attend.  These students are invited to participate in all college ceremonies under which they will receive a degree.
  • Archived Cerimonies
    • Copies of commencement ceremonies can be purchased from University Archives.  University Archives can be contacted at 828-262-4041.
  • Graduation Rehearsal
    • There will be NO REHEARSAL prior to graduation.  However, the Graduation Unit has developed a Virtual Commencement Rehearsal to help provide you with detailed information about the ceremony, what to do, where to go, and what to expect from the day.  We hope you will use this helpful resource as you prepare to participate in Commencement.  Candidates for graduation will enter the Holmes Convocation Center through the ticket box entrance on the lower level.  Contact tables, sorted by last name, will be staffed by members of the Office of the Registrar.  Candidates will pick up their pre-printed name cards at this location.  Just before walking across the stage, the candidate will hand the card to the ceremony name reader.  These cards will be used by the official commencement photographer, Grad Images, to expedite mailing of photograph proofs taken during the ceremony.
  • Photos/Live Broadcast
    • Information on purchasing photos will be sent to the student's permanent address.  Only authorized press and University photographers are permitted on the floor to take pictures after the ceremony is in progress.  Official photographs taken by GradImages, 1-800-261-2576 or http://www.gradimages.com.  You can view the ceremony through our live broadcast at http://commencement.appstate.edu.
  • Processional & Recessional
    • After students leave the staging area for the processional, they will not return to that area.  Students will recess through the guest seating into the concourse area.  Please plan to meet your guests in a specific section of the concourse (see map of Holmes Convocation Center).

For complete graduation & commencement information please visit the Office of the Registrar's Commencement and Graduation webpage.