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Pipers perform at American University Commencement

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Preparing to Graduate

  1. Apply to Graduate on  and go to Graduation Overview. Connect with your advisor if you have any questions about your graduation application. Students must submit an application to graduate on Eagle Service by October 21. Applications for graduation will not be accepted after the deadline.

  2. Order Regalia. Students made eligible to participate in Commencement will be able to order regalia beginning on October 1. Your regalia order serves as your registration to participate in the ceremony and signs you up for your tickets and parking pass. At Commencement, all graduates must be in regalia unless they are active military in uniform. Regalia includes gown, mortarboard or tam, stole, and/or cords. Anything other than regalia will not be permitted.

  3. Diploma Name Verification. Even if your chosen name has not changed since you first applied to AU, please take a moment to check your application to graduate on Eagle Service to verify the spelling (José Rodríguez or Jose Rodriguez), punctuation (Al Shamsi or Al-Shamsi), spacing (La Barge or Labarge), and capitalization (Dewitt or DeWitt) of your diploma name. If any of the above are incorrect, please correct the diploma name field so that it will appear accurately on your diploma and in the commencement program. Updates must be made no later than October 21 (updates made after October 21 should be emailed to Graduation Services).

  4. NameCoach and Recognition of Graduates. NameCoach will create a professionally recorded reading of your diploma name, which will play when you cross the stage at Commencement. Eligible graduates will receive a unique NameCoach registration link in Ocotber. The link allows each graduate to record their name to ensure it is pronounced correctly. If a student made eligible for graduation does not submit a recorded name pronunciation, NameCoach name readers will pronounce their diploma name as accurately as they can.

  5. Complete the Grad Census. This annual survey asks main campus graduate and undergraduate students about experiences at AU and their postgraduation plans. This provides a basis for improving services and support for students and alumni. We hope you will complete the Grad Census you receive by email invitation or .

  6. Honors Cords and Alumni Association Medals. Undergraduates eligible for Latin Honors (3.67 cumulative GPA and 60 of 120 credits at AU) can pick up their gold honors cord during on-campus regalia pickup Mary Graydon Center. Latin Honors are subject to verification at the time of final degree clearance. Alumni Relations will distribute Alumni Association Medals to students who make a gift.

  7. Collect your Tickets. An allotment of electronic tickets and one (1) parking pass will be distributed to students who have registered to participate in Commencement by ordering their cap and gown. Registered students will receive a unique link to their AU email to access their electronic tickets and parking pass in November. Tickets are required for admittance to the Commencement ceremonies.

  8. Check back for more updates on plans to celebrate our graduates.

International Grads & Guests

Students participating in Commencement or their guests who are not in the U.S. at the time of graduation and do not have a U.S. passport may require documentation in order to secure a visa to attend commencement. All requests must be submitted by the graduate via a written request to the Registrar's Office with the following information:

  1. Name of the graduating student

  2. Major or course of study

  3. Date of ceremony

Submission Options

Mail:
Degree Clearance Team, Office of the Registrar
American University
4400 Massachusetts Avenue NW
Washington, DC 20016

Fax: 202-885-1016

Email: graduation_services@american.edu
(Email submissions must have a PDF attachment of the request which includes the student's signature)

This page will be updated as additional Commencement details become available.