Congratulations on your upcoming graduation from The Ohio State University. All students completing an application for graduation please read the information below before completing the application!

• Important Dates and Deadlines

Autumn Quarter: Deadline for Application for Graduation = 3rd week Winter Quarter

Winter Quarter: Deadline for Application for Graduation = 3rd week of Spring Quarter

Spring Quarter: Deadline for Application for Graduation = 3rd week of Autumn Quarter

Summer Quarter: Deadline for Application for Graduation = 3rd week of Winter Quarter

Submission of your Application for Degree according to deadlines does improve your priority for your assigned window time.  It does not impact your ability to secure a seat once classes are closed.

Preparing for Commencement

• Pre-Graduation To-Do List

1. Print your computerized degree audit and review your degree requirements with your faculty adviser.
2. Verify graduation deadlines for the College of Food , Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences.
3. Apply for graduation online.
4. Check your student center to be sure your name is listed correctly.
5. Update your local and permanent addresses on the University Registrar 's website to ensure you receive all pertinent information without delay. Check this address for mail as well as your OSU e-mail on a regular basis.
6. Any financial obligations you have (fees, tickets, fines, etc.) must be paid before commencement. You will not receive your diploma and may not order transcripts, or have other documents released if you have unresolved financial obligations to the University.
7. Any HOLDS must be removed prior to graduation in order to receive your diploma.
8. Use this website to answer all of your questions regarding Commencement. Graduating students will receive commencement related information via email in approximately the seventh week of their quarter of expected graduation. Additional information is available online at www.commencement.osu.edu.
9. Start the job search process at least two quarters prior to the quarter of graduation. Contact Career Services for uploading your resume`, interview schedules, prospective employers, and other career related help.
10. Visit the OSU Bookstore for your graduation announcements, University ring, cap, gown and tassel information.
11. Should your plans to graduate change, notify the College office, 100 Agricultural Administration, (614) 292-1734.
12. Complete the Career Services Placement Survey.
13. If required, complete a financial aid exit interview.
    - For Direct Loans: click here
    - For Perkins Loans: click here

• Curriculum Requirements

The Ohio State University requires its students to follow the curriculum within the degree that the student is earning. The curriculum consists of General Education, college and major requirements. Please pay particular attention to the bulleted items under the college requirements. You are responsible for understanding these requirements. To view the curriculum requirements for your degree within the College of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences click here.

• Degree Audit

Performing a degree audit is a tool to check your progress towards your degree. The audit will help you determine what requirement areas you need to fulfill, what areas you have already fulfilled and how many hours you have accumulated. The audit will calculate your cumulative as well as your major and minor grade point averages. By running a degree audit you will be better able to plan your course load for the subsequent quarters that you are enrolled. The degree audit should be reviewed in conjunction with your curriculum sheet for the Bachelor of Science Degree in the College of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences.

To view the CFAES Curriculum Sheets, click here.

To view your Degree Audit, follow these steps:

1. Enter The Ohio State University Registrar's site.
2. Click on "Degree Audit Report"
3. Enter your OSU username and password
4. Click on "View Audits" in the Run DARS screen
5. In the View DARS screen, select your degree then click on the "View Report" button
6. View your report and print it off for your reference

• Meet with your Academic Adviser

Late in your junior year or early in your senior year, you should schedule an appointment with your faculty adviser for a final evaluation of your requirements and to formulate a plan for graduation. By doing so, you will be able to put together a list of classes that you need to take during your last three quarters of enrollment. Having your degree audit with you at this time will be helpful for both you and your adviser to better understand what requirements you still need to fulfill in order to graduate. If you are not sure who your faculty adviser is, contact the Coordinating Adviser for your major within the College of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences. Click here to see a list of the college's academic advisers.

• Name on Your Diploma

The name on your diploma must match the name that you have listed on the University Registrar's Web site exactly. Please review your name on your advising report or degree audit . Should you want to change your name you must complete a "Request for Change of Record" form and provide appropriate documentation.

Documentation required for name changes:

• Marriage - Copy of driver's license with new name, social security card with new name, or marriage certificate or license.
• Divorce - Copy of Divorce Decree, court entry, or order of legal name change.
• Legal Name Change - Court order of legal name change.

No documentation is required if going from middle initial to middle name or vice versa.

The form may be submitted to 100 Agricultural Administration or 320 Lincoln Tower. Please submit the name change documents prior to completing the Application for Degree.

•  Application for Degree

The deadline for Application for Degree is two academic quarters preceding your intended quarter of graduation. For example; if you intend to graduate at the end of spring quarter, you must complete your Application for Degree at the beginning of autumn quarter. The application will be reviewed within one week of submission and an e-mail will be sent to you indicating approval or concerns that need to be addressed. It is your responsibility to check your e-mail in order to address these concerns immediately. Any changes in the course plan after application submission should be e-mailed to Lynn Mande and the changes will be added to the application. It is also your responsibility to understand the graduation requirements and the implications of changing the plan.
No paper Applications for Degree will be accepted.

• Senior Recognition Luncheons

In the College of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences, seniors are recognized the quarter they graduate for their accomplishments. Graduating seniors will be contacted via email to invite you to the celebration that is usually held just prior to rehearsal. Students graduating with Distinction and Latin Honors are also recognized at this luncheon.

• Graduation Rehearsal

Graduating seniors will receive an informational email approximately the seventh week of the quarter in which you intend to graduate with instructions including the date, time and place of practice. Graduation Rehearsal will typically be held the Friday before Commencement every quarter. You will be expected to stand with other students of the College of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences. You will not need to wear your cap and gown to the rehearsal, which lasts about an hour and a half.

• Commencement Ceremonies

Commencement ceremonies are typically held on Sunday afternoons. No tickets are required and there is no limit on the number of guests attending. During the ceremony, which will last about twoand a half hours, the president, the provost, and your cadet marshals will provide directions. Please listen carefully to their signals. OSU is one of the few institutions that distributes actual diplomas at commencement; therefore we ask that students participate in the ceremony or notify us of your plan to not participate. Should you decide not to participate, you must notify the College office, 100 Agricultural Administration, of your plan not to attend by the deadline set in your instructional email. Participation in the ceremony is reserved for graduates only.  The Ohio Stadium is the location for Commencement during Spring Quarter only. At this time, Autumn and Winter Commencements are held in St. John Arena and Summer Commencement is in the Jerome Schottenstein Center. For more information about Commencement, visit www.commencement.osu.edu.

• Career Services 

You should begin your search for employment after graduation at least three quarters prior to your intended quarter of graduation. Several companies visit campus to interview, plus you can make your resume available to prospective employers on the web through the College's Career Services Center and HireaBuckeye.

• Career Services Placement Survey

Career Services would like graduating seniors to provide employment information so that the College of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences may have accurate statistics on the extent to which its students are placed at graduation and an estimate of starting salaries. You will receive this survey in the packet of information you are sent during your quarter of graduation or you can print the survey and return it to Agricultural Administration 100. Its return is requested prior to rehearsal and if it is not received by then, you will be asked to complete it at rehearsal.

• Graduating with Latin Honors

Graduating students are granted degrees cum laude if the cumulative point-hour ratio is 3.50 - 3.69, magna cum laude if the cumulative point-hour ratio is 3.70 - 3.89, or summa cum laude if the cumulative point-hour ratio is 3.90 or above. Only students presenting at least 90 quarter hours of work completed while at this University are eligible for Latin Honors. Latin Honors is determined at the end of the quarter preceding the quarter of graduation. Latin Honors can be added or raised higher should your CPHR meet the minimum as of the last quarter.

• Cum laude
• Magna cum laude
• Summa cum laude

• Graduating with Honors Research Distinction - Honors Program Members

Distinction is granted to only those students participating in the Honors Program. Upon recommendation of the Honors Examining Committee and attainment of at least a 3.50 point-hour ratio, a graduating honors program student may be awarded the degree sought with distinction in the major field of study with the diploma so inscribed.

• Frequently Asked Questions Related to Graduation

Questions on Transcripts:

1. Where/how do I get my University transcripts? Visit the Registrar's ordering site.
2. Can I enroll in classes at another institution during my last quarter at OSU? Contact Dr. Pfister for details.

Questions on Commencement and Rehearsal:

1. Where is the French Field House? click here to view map
2. Where is the Jerome Schottenstein Center? click here to view map
3. How do I get my graduation cap, gown and tassel? Caps and gowns may be purchased from the Ohio State Bookstore, Student Book Exchange and Buckeye Books.
4. Where do I get invitations for my graduation? Graduation announcements are available for purchase from the Ohio State Bookstore and Tuttle Cop-Ez.
5. Can I attend graduation without going to the rehearsal the Friday before? Please contact Laurie Stokoe if you will be unable to attend rehearsal.
6. How many of my friends and family members are allowed to attend commencement? As many as you'd like.
7. Do my friends and family need tickets to commencement? No tickets are required; however, if any of your guests has a permanent or temporany disability that restricts their mobility, disability tickets can be requested.
8. What is the tassel color for the College? Maize (gold)

Questions on Honors:

1. How do I graduate with honors research distinction from the College of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences? View requirements listed above.
2. What are the requirements for Latin Honors? View requirements listed above.

Questions on Graduation Applications:

1. When do I need to have my application for graduation submitted? Dates are listed at top of page.
2. Where can I get an application for graduation? Click her for application
3. What if I change my mind about the quarter I want to graduate? E-mail Dr. Pfister
4. What if I change my plan for courses after I submit my application? E-mail Lynn Mande

If you have any additional questions about preparing to graduate, contact Dr. Jill Pfister.

Contact Information

Jill A. Pfister, Ph.D.

2120 Fyffe Rd. Columbus, OH 43210

Phone: 614-292-1734

E-mail: pfister.1@osu.edu