St. Olaf Policies

Degrees and Degree Completion

Category: Registrar/ FERPA
Last updated: 12/03/2025

Statement

Guidelines for reviewing degree completion, senior audits, graduation application, participation in commencement, and diplomas.

Purpose

To provide guidelines for reviewing degree completion, senior audits, graduation application, participation in commencement and diplomas.

Audience

All members of the St. Olaf community.

Definitions

Policy

Degrees and Degree Completion

See The St. Olaf Curriculum, Graduate Requirements, and Degrees.

Senior Audit

Every fall, the Registrar’s Office conducts a degree audit review for each senior in order to track progress toward graduation. Students are notified of any outstanding degree requirements at that time.

Graduation Application

In January, students who anticipate completing all degree requirements during that calendar year must submit a graduation application to the Registrar’s Office through SIS.

Participation in Commencement

St. Olaf holds its annual Commencement ceremony each May. Only seniors may walk in Commencement, and only one time. Those students who have completed all degree requirements will receive their diploma at Commencement. Those students who walk at Commencement but have not yet completed all degree requirements will receive their diploma upon completion. Honor designation and graduating grade point average will be finalized on the date of official graduation.

Diploma

A diploma is issued to each member of the graduating class at Commencement under the following conditions:

1. All requirements for the Baccalaureate degree have been successfully completed.
2. The recipient has no outstanding financial obligations to the college.

There is a fee for replacing a diploma. Contact the Registrar’s Office to order a replacement diploma.

Exceptions to This Policy

Policy Implementation

The Registrar’s Office is responsible for verifying degree completion, printing diplomas, and monitoring participation in commencement each May.

Consequences of Violating this Policy

Related Information

https://catalog.stolaf.edu/academic-regulations-procedures/graduation-commencement/

History

The most accurate and up to date policy can be found in the current academic catalog and supersedes prior policy and definition.  Prior and original policy for degrees, degree completion, and diplomas can be found in archived academic catalogs.