Graduation / Commencement Information

All candidates must submit an Application for Graduation through your WINGS account at least three semesters before you anticipate completing degree requirements. Please click here for instructions to apply.

Please access your WINGS account through MyGeorgiaSouthern to enter a Diploma Address (DA) that is valid six to eight weeks after commencement for delivery of your diploma. If there is no Diploma Address (DA), the Permanent Home Address (MA) is used for mailing your diploma after all requirements are completed.

Your last name as it appears on your academic record must be used on your application. If your current academic record name needs to be changed, please click here to access the official Name Change Form.

Georgia Southern University currently holds commencement ceremonies at the end of Fall and Spring semesters. Candidates may walk at the Commencement ceremony only after they complete all of their coursework including internships. The only exceptions are the candidates completing in the Summer semester.  Summer candidates completing all of their degree requirements at the end of Summer semester are expected to walk in the Spring (May) Commencement ceremony. Doctoral candidates who complete all requirements at the end of Summer semester are expected to walk in the Fall (December) Commencement ceremony.

Spring and Summer Candidates

• All candidates must submit a graduation application in WINGS by the last Friday in January if they plan to complete their graduation requirements in Spring or Summer. 
• Doctoral Students completing during Summer semester will walk in the Fall ceremony.

Fall Candidates

• All candidates must submit a graduation application in WINGS by the last Friday in August if they plan to complete their graduation requirements in Fall.

Every student receiving a degree must pay a graduation fee of $35. This may be paid online by logging into MyGeorgiaSouthern, or in person at the Cashier’s window in Deal Hall on Southern Drive (Statesboro Campus) or at Victor Hall (Armstrong Campus).

To pay online, Sign into MyGeorgiaSouthern, choose Financial Resources, $ View/Pay Your Tuition Bill.  A pop-up window will appear with the Touchnet bill + pay interface.  Click My Account, Current Activity, View your Term Balance.  For details expand the term using the arrow on the left.  To make a payment, from the menu bar, select Make Payment and pay by Term balance.

If you do not see the graduation fee posted on your account, please email the Office of the Registrar at graduation@georgiasouthern.edu. Candidates completing two degrees on the same date will only pay $35. Your degree will not be awarded if you have not paid the graduation fee.

It is the student’s responsibility to follow-up with their advisor to ensure that their degree requirements are being met. The actions listed below could prevent a student from satisfying their graduation requirements in the desired term of completion:

1. Withdrawing from (“dropping”) a required course.
2. Receiving a failing grade in a required course or receiving a grade below that required by the program.
3. Changing one’s major or degree program.
4. Withdrawing from Georgia Southern University.
5. Failure to meet any degree requirement(s) as specified and in the time stipulated.
6. Incurring a disciplinary action affecting the student’s enrollment.
7. Academic and Financial obligations such as holds, parking tickets, obligations to the Library, National Direct Student Loan (NDSL) and the Business Office not met before the end of the graduation term.

After applying for graduation, if a student changes their completion term, either to move it forward or to delay it to another term after application, the Registrar’s Office must be notified of the change.  Candidates must contact their academic advisor and have them contact our office to update their graduation term. If you have asked for your graduation term to be updated from your original graduation application, you will see the change in DegreeWorks but not in WINGS.

A student who takes their last coursework for a degree as a transient student may not be eligible for graduation that term. The student is responsible for requesting an official transcript from the other institution (which reflects all final grades) to be forwarded to Georgia Southern University: regrecords@georgiasouthern.edu. It is the student’s responsibility to follow-up to ensure the transcript has been received by the Registrar’s Office before the awarding deadline, which is 60 days after grade processing.

All grade changes for incomplete and in-progress courses must be submitted to the Registrar’s Office within 60 days after grade processing of the graduation term. It is the student’s responsibility to contact the instructor in order to complete the requirements for the course. Any “I” or “IP” grade(s) will prevent degree conferral

Students who have applied for graduation but have not registered for classes for three consecutive semesters, including Summer semester, will have their graduation applications removed. After three consecutive semesters of no registration, students returning to Georgia Southern University will need to complete a Former Student Application which can be found here.

Upon readmission to the university, any former student with a prior graduation application who plans to complete degree requirements should send an email to graduation@georgiasouthern.edu that includes their name and EagleID so that a new graduation application can be submitted on their behalf.

Candidates can order their caps and gowns from Herff Jones. Please give your height, weight, degree, and major. Measurements must be received by Herff Jones at least six weeks before commencement. Cap and gown fees can be paid directly to the Herff-Jones Company when you place your order.

NOTE: Since there may be multiple ceremonies, please be sure of the day and time of your commencement ceremony before ordering announcements. Announcements are available at the University Store, Eagle Print Shop, and Herff Jones.

Commencement is a celebratory event to acknowledge your academic achievements. However, attendance is not required.

Below are the circumstances that are appropriate to request to walk one semester out of term:

Reasons or circumstances for requesting to walk out of term:
If the student is registered for a 12 hour internship in the Fall or Spring semester and cannot be present for the ceremony due to work requirements, distance from campus or the student is not returning to campus.

If the student is registered for a 3/6/9 hr internship and has NO other courses on campus that term.

If the student is registered for ALL online courses or is transient the final term and their permanent home address is out of state and/or more than a five hour travel commute.

If the student has to attend a funeral, birth of child, wedding, medical issues that would affect their participation in the ceremony and the student can provide documentation.

Please remember if you are completing degree requirements in the summer semester, you should plan to participate in the spring commencement ceremony and do not have to complete a request to walk out of term.

If you meet one of the reasons or circumstances above, please click HERE to request to walk out of term.