Graduate Student Checklist

Confirm Your Information is Correct for your Diploma Mailing

Please make sure your mailing address is correct before the end of final exams. Addresses can be updated on the Warriors Connect portal. Delivery of your diploma or any other important information is dependent upon correct mailing information. Your diploma must be mailed to an appropriate “street” address. Mailing is done through US postal mail. If diploma is being delivered to a PO Box address, please check with your postal service for delivery procedures.

You have the option of using eShipGlobal Company if you need to have your diploma mailed outside of the continental United States.

If you have any holds on your account, your transcript and diploma will Not be released. Holds are posted to the Warriors Connect portal. Questions can be directed to the billing office at (570) 422-2804.

Please notify the Graduation Services Team at (570) 422-2815 or graduation@esu.edu when this hold has been cleared.

Name Pronunciation Options

We want to honor our graduates, and their families, by pronouncing their name correctly. Please fill out the Name Pronunciation Form to help us say your name correctly.

Note: All diplomas will display what degree a student has earned (i.e. Bachelor of Science, Bachelor of Arts, etc) and honor designation. The students specific major will be on their transcript for verification of degree earned as per State System guidelines.

FERPA Notice for Graduating Students

If you currently have a FERPA restriction on your record or wish to include a restriction on sharing your directory information, please note the following. FERPA restrictions or requests for confidentiality will exclude your directory information from the Commencement Booklet, press release and any Commencement Ceremony (virtual and/or in-person). If you wish to be included, you must remove your FERPA restrictions.

For additional information, please visit our FERPA page.

Graduation Checklist - Master's Degree

Special Instructions for Candidates for Master's Degree

MAKE AN APPOINTMENT with your Graduate Advisor or Coordinator to verify that all graduation requirements will be met as per the appropriate ESU Graduate Catalog and approved PLAN OF STUDY.

1. Plan of Study: An approved, signed Plan of Study must be filed for each student with Graduate and Extended Studies.
2. Comprehensive/Oral Exams: Must be satisfied and graded prior to graduation as described in the catalog.
3. Thesis: Thesis must be presented for binding before a degree can be conferred.
4. Grades and Transfer Credits: All “I”, “O” or “X” grades must be resolved and all transfer credits must be received and recorded before a degree can be conferred. To review your unofficial transcript, log on to your Warriors Connect portal and choose the “View Transcript” link.

Check Your Degree Progress

The degree audit outlines all of the program and university requirements for graduation. You can access your degree audit through the Warriors Connect portal. Please review your degree audit periodically to ensure that you are on track to meet all degree requirements by your intent to graduate date.

If you submit an Intent to Graduate application but will need to move your date to complete a requirement, please email the Graduate office at gradgraduation@esu.edu  to let them know when you will complete all of your requirements.

In order to have your degree conferred for December 2025 change of grades need to be completed by December 13, 2025.

Important dates to consider for the upcoming December 2025 graduate degree completion.

• December 13: Fall semester ends
• Decembner 19: Final grades are due from professors by 9 a.m.
• December 19: The final date to complete all outstanding deficiencies. Plan of study, comprehensive and/or oral exams, final approved thesis or dissertation with signature page and ESU Rights and Permission form must be received. It is important to ensure that all your outstanding deficiencies, including "C-" or lower are resolved, regardless whether they apply to the degree, and any "I" (incomplete grade), "X", and/or "O" grade, are completed by this deadline.
• December 19: Students transferring credits to complete their degree requirements must submit an official transcript to grads@esu.edu for processing before a degree can be conferred. Transcripts received in the Student Enrollment Center later than this date will not be counted toward the December 2025 graduation. Students should not submit a transcript if their transfer credits have been received, processed, and are displayed in their Degree Works. Students who miss this deadline will not be able to graduate with a December 2025 degree conferral.
• January 12: (Anticipated) Final review of graduation requirements. Students with outstanding deficiencies will be notified.
• February 10: (Anticipated) Begin production and distribution of diplomas. The conderral date on the diploma will be December 13, 2025.

If you have not completed the requirements for your degree after grades are posted, you will be notified. It is imperative to reapply for graduation at the beginning of the semester that you plan to graduate.

Special Instructions for Candidates for Doctoral Degree

MAKE AN APPOINTMENT with your ESU Graduate Advisor or Coordinator to verify that all graduation requirements will be met.

In order to be included in the commencement program book, the following information must be received in ESU’s Graduate and Extended Studies office no later than two weeks after the Intent to Graduate deadline:

1. Professional photo – (3” x 5”; high resolution digital format).
2. Biography (100 – 150 words max) Include current employment information, place of residency and spouse/children information if applicable.
3. Dissertation Title and Chairs.
4. Dissertation Abstract (200-250 words, maximum) MUST be approved by dissertation chair before submitting.