Commencement Participation
An All-University Commencement is held in May for students enrolled and on schedule to complete degree requirements during the spring term. If you are enrolled and on schedule to complete all degree requirements during the following summer session, you may also participate in the University Commencement, although your degree is not conferred until August. You may also participate in departmental or school ceremonies following the University commencement according to the policies of the departments or schools.
An All-University December Commencement is held each year for students completing degree requirements during the fall term. If you complete degree requirements during the previous summer session you may also participate. If you are on schedule and enrolled to complete all degree requirements during the following Jan Term (January) intersession, you may also participate in the December ceremony, although your degree is not conferred until January.
You may participate once in either the All-University Commencement in May or the All-University December Commencement for a given degree, but not both.
To participate in a ceremony, you must apply online and file with your school's records office an Application for Candidacy to Graduate or Intent to Participate Form.
Doctoral candidates must complete all degree requirements prior to participation in a Commencement ceremony.
To Apply for Graduation:
Applications for Candidacy to Graduate are made available through your school of record. Please contact your graduation adviser. Apply for graduation online through the Student Dashboard in my.SMU. You will be contacted by your school of record informing you that you are eligible to apply for graduation. If you have any questions, please contact your school of record.
A $30 late fee may be applied to your account when the Registrar’s Office receives an Application for Candidacy to Graduate (ACG) after the last day to file for graduation.
The last day to file for graduation for each conferral term is the census date of the expected graduation term. Please refer to the Official University Calendar
Degree Certification and Apostille
International companies or institutions may require a certified copy of a diploma for the purpose of employment or to attend educational institutions. The University Registrar’s Office can assist you in obtaining the degree certifications. SMU degree certifications are accepted both domestically and internationally. You can order a Degree Certification (Apostille) or Transcript certification through the RO MarketPlace.
If you have possession of your diploma:
You may bring your diploma to the University Registrar's Office located in the Laura Lee Blanton Building, Room 101. The University Registrar’s Office will provide a set of three notarized copies of your diploma for a fee of fifteen dollars ($15.00) (order and pay through the RO MarketPlace). The documents include the signature of the Associate Registrar, the Notary’s seal, signature, and expiration date of the Notary. If you cannot bring the diploma in, please mail the diploma to either address below.
USPS Mailing Address
University Registrar
Southern Methodist University
PO Box 750181
Dallas, TX 75275-0181
Delivery Address
Southern Methodist University
Laura Lee Blanton Building, Suite 300
6185 Airline Rd
Dallas, TX 75205
If you do not have access to your diploma or it's no longer available:
A replacement diploma will need to be ordered through the RO MarketPlace. It may take 2-3 weeks for the new diploma to arrive. Once the University Registrar’s Office has received your diploma, we will then begin the degree certification process.
The Apostille seal is affixed to the documents by the Secretary of State’s Office in Austin, Texas. For the mailing address and price information for the Apostille, please visit the Texas Secretary of State Office website and complete forms 2101 and 2102 listed on item 2 - Authentications Unit.
Once the certifications have been processed and notarized by the University Registrar’s Office, the following options are available for obtaining the Apostille:
- The documents can be returned to you from the University Registrar’s Office and you can forward with your instructions to the Texas Secretary of State’s Office.
- With written consent, the documents can be released to a third party as specified on the “Student’s Consent for SMU to Release Information to Student’s Specified Third Party” form who may then forward documents to the Texas Secretary of State's Office.
For additional assistance please contact the Graduation and Certification team at desrodg@smu.edu or 214-768-5555.
Diploma Names
You have the option to request a Diploma Name to be printed on your diploma. This can be accomplished through the Student Dashboard in my.SMU. If you do not have access to my.SMU, please contact the Registrar’s Office and we will update the Diploma Name. This is not applicable to international students. Please refer to last bullet point below.
It is important to note:
- You may request a name change of your choice on your diploma provided it is not profane, explicit, or vulgar in nature. Diploma Name changes that do not adhere to these criteria will not be processed and the Primary Name (aka legal name) will be used.
- Updating your Diploma Name only updates the name printed on your diploma. Your academic records (for example, the transcript) will still display the Primary Name.
- If your diploma and transcript need to be presented for international purposes, there is the potential for delayed confirmation due to the discrepancy.
- If no Diploma Name is specified, your Primary Name will appear on the diploma.
- International Students - All name changes will be reviewed and must comply with federal regulations. Names must match documents with the International Student and Scholar Services (ISSS) office. The ISSS will have final authority to approve or deny any and all name changes for International students.
Diploma Mailings
Current Students: Graduation candidates who successfully complete degree requirements are awarded degrees through their academic school of record. The University Registrar orders diplomas at the conclusion of each academic term. Diplomas are mailed directly from the vendor to the candidate’s address that is provided in my.SMU. Diplomas will be mailed to your Diploma address on record if provided. If no Diploma address is listed, the diploma will be mailed to the Home address on record. Students are notified via e-mail from the vendor when their diplomas have been shipped.
It is important to verify that your address in my.SMU is current to avoid any unnecessary delays.
Diploma Mailing Schedule
Fall Diplomas: late January
Spring Diplomas: mid-June
Summer Diplomas: late August
NOTE: If you owe money to the University, you will not receive your diploma until your account has been cleared.
Diploma Information and Size
Diplomas contain your name, degree name, conferral date, signature of the academic Dean(s), and the officials who are currently in office.
Majors are printed on the diplomas along with earned degree honors when applicable.
Diplomas are printed in the two sizes below:
Undergraduate diplomas are 8 ½ x 11.
Graduate and Professional diplomas are 11 x 14.
Degree Honors
The minimum graduation honors GPA's are announced in October for each academic year. The minimum GPA's represent the top 5 percent, 10 percent, and 15 percent in the five undergraduate schools – Cox, Dedman, Lyle, Meadows, and Simmons. Click HERE for more information about Degree Honors.
Statute of Limitations for Degree Plans
A student who has been readmitted to the University following an absence of more than three years will be expected to meet all current requirements for graduation.