Students must fall into one of these categories:
No, graduation refers to when your degree is officially awarded and your diploma gets mailed. Commencement is the graduation ceremony that is held once per year.
You are required to fill out this application to specify 1) how your name is printed on your diploma, and 2) the address where your diploma is mailed. Also, your application determines which semester you are reviewed for degree completion/graduation.
Note: If you're finishing internship or other credits in the upcoming summer or fall semesters, then you should select Summer 2026 or Fall 2026 on your Graduation Application.
You can choose to participate in this year's commencement or next year's. It's your choice (if you are not attending this year, no notice is required and you may disregard any reminders and invites you receive).
Some students choose to participate in commencement twice – now for their associate degree and again later for their bachelor's. Other students choose to wait to participate in commencement once when they're finishing their bachelor's degree. It's your choice (if you are not attending this year, no notice is required and you may disregard any reminders and invites you receive).
You will be reviewed for graduation (degree completion) at the end of the semester that's listed on your Graduation Application. The review process lasts approximately 30 business days. When degree completion is verified and your degree has been officially awarded, your diploma will be ordered at that time and mailed to the address that's listed on your Graduation Application. You will be notified via JWU email at the beginning and end of this review.
The digital printed program, available at commencement, outlines the order of exercises, ceremony details, and the names of eligible candidates for graduation. Names that are included in the program should not be used as an indicator of final degree completion. All graduation requirements must be verified as satisfied before a student is officially graduated and their diploma is mailed.