Skip to Main Content
Commencement
oneColumn

Checklist

  • Distinguish between graduation and commencement.

    • Graduation is the official confirmation that you have met all the requirements for your degree by adding it to your official transcript and issuing your diploma. 

    • Commencement is the ceremony that celebrates the completion of your coursework and degree requirements.

    • While commencement and graduation are related, they are separate points on the academic timeline. Every student must apply to graduate, but participation in the commencement ceremony is optional.

  • Contact your advisor. Review and verify completion of all degree requirements with your advisor.

  • Submit any external transcripts. If you have completed courses at other institutions, One-Stop Student Services must receive official transcripts by January 17, 2025. If you were enrolled at another institution while also enrolled at UNF, a Concurrent Enrollment form must be on file with One-Stop Student Services.

  • Update your personal and contact information.To ensure the receipt of time-sensitive degree information and an accurate diploma, check the "Personal Information" tab in "Banner Self-Service" within myWings to view your legal name and address(es) on file.

    • Mailing and email address updates can be made in-person at One-Stop Student Services or by sending a completed personal information update form with a picture of a government-issued photo ID to records@unf.edu.

    • The legal name on file is your default diploma name. Diploma names may only vary from your legal name on file in these ways:

      Diploma Name Options

      Option

      Legal Name on File

      Acceptable Variants

      First name or initial

      Francis Scott Fitzgerald

      Francis Scott Fitzgerald
      F. Scott Fitzgerald   

      Including or omitting the middle name or initial

      Francis Scott Fitzgerald

      Francis Fitzgerald
      Francis S. Fitzgerald
      F.S. Fitzgerald

      Including proper capitalization or spelling

      Antoine De saint exupery

      Antoine de Saint-Exupéry

    • You can request any of the above variants of your legal name to appear on your diploma by emailing commencement@unf.edu.

    • Need to update your current legal name on file? Send a completed personal information update form with a picture of your government-issued photo ID to records@unf.edu.

    • Diplomas are mailed to your mailing address on file via Parchment on January 24, 2024. Visit the diplomas page for further information about your diploma.

  • Apply for graduation in MyWings (required). Deadline to apply is October 4. 

How to apply for graduation:

1. Log into your myWings account.

2. Under My Resources, select Student and then Banner Self Service.

3. Under the Student Services tab, select Student Records and then Graduation Application.

4. Use this link to access a video of the process: How to Apply for Graduation. 

5. Tell us about your UNF experiences and future plans by completing the brief "Graduating Student Survey" section of your Graduation Application. 

Late applications: If you are applying after the deadline, please contact your academic advisor to complete a graduation application on your behalf. Failure to apply for graduation may delay the conferral of your degree and the receipt of your diploma. It may also affect your number of commencement tickets and prevent your name from appearing in the ceremony program.

Canceling an application: To cancel a previously submitted application, contact your academic advisor.

  • Clear your academic record. Previous incomplete or non-reported grades must be converted to satisfactory letter grades before you can graduate. Incomplete or non-reported grades received in your final term will prevent you from graduating. Contact One-Stop Student Services for guidance.

  • Satisfy all financial obligations. Pay any university fines, tickets, fees, etc. Outstanding debt may delay release of your diploma and/or any official transcript.

  • Complete any exit loan counseling. If you have an RL hold (Loan Exit Counseling) on your record, make sure to complete an online exit interview. For additional help, contact One-Stop Student Services. Failure to complete this requirement will delay the release of your academic records.

  • Plan your next move. Contact Career Services for help writing your résumé and other career-related resources.

  •  Log in to MarchingOrder and claim your tickets. If you are participating in commencement, you will receive an email with login information to create an account in MarchingOrder. Be sure to include your mobile phone number. Once logged in, claim your commencement tickets and verify the information that will be read and displayed at commencement. Claim your tickets by November 12 (11:59pm). 

    • Submit a phonetic spelling of your name in MarchingOrder for the reader to pronounce during your stage-crossing. Deadline for submission is November 12 (11:59pm). Here are some examples of how to spell names phonetically: 

      Standard vs. Phonetic Spelling
      Standard Spelling Phonetic Spelling 
      Wolfgang Mozart VOOLF-gahng  MOT-sart
      Rihanna  ree-AH-nah
      Mikhail Baryshnikov mi-KYL buh-RISH-ni-koff

       

  • Order your academic regalia. If you are participating in commencement, place cap, gown, and announcement orders by November 8. Late pre-orders are accepted through November 15 and a late shipping fee is assessed. 

    • The Commencement Resource Fair is October 16 and 17 from 12 –3pm in the UNF Bookstore. Representatives from Herff Jones and UNF Commencement will be there to take orders, answer questions, and raffleoff a free diploma frame.

    • If ordering after November 15, please contact the UNF Bookstore at (904) 620-2665 or unf@bkstr.com.  Graduation announcements and college rings are also available.

  • Stay connected with fellow Ospreys. Join the UNF Alumni Association.

  • Stay tuned. Refer to the Commencement webpage for questions about commencement, including how to check in and line up for the processional. Monitor your UNF inbox for regular communications from UNF Commencement.