Understanding Your University of Alabama Diploma: A Comprehensive Guide

Graduation marks the culmination of years of dedication and hard work. This article provides a comprehensive guide to understanding the University of Alabama diploma process, from application to receipt and beyond.

Degree Conferral and Diploma Ordering

Degrees are conferred at the close of each fall, spring, and summer semester. Diplomas are ordered after all degrees have been awarded for the semester. Degrees are awarded once all grades have been turned into the Office of the Registrar. Awarding Degrees take approximately 1-2 weeks after all grades have been processed. It takes approximately 6-8 weeks to receive your diploma.

Applying for Graduation

To graduate, all students must submit a Degree Application through myBama by the deadline published on the Academic Calendar. The Degree Application should be filed for the term in which all degree requirements are expected to be completed. One to two semesters before you plan to graduate, submit your degree application on the Student tab of your myBama. You need to apply to graduate whether or not you intend to participate in commencement.

Academic Record Audit and Degree Requirements

After the Final Grade Entry deadline published on the Academic Calendar, all degree applicants will be audited for completion of requirements. Once awarded, degrees are immediately viewable on the transcript. Students have until the Degree Completion Deadline published on the Academic Calendar to resolve any outstanding issues related to their academic record and ensure they have met all requirements for degree. This includes issues related to transfer work, substitutions/exceptions, grade changes, withdrawals, late registration, etc.

If all requirements are not met by the published deadline, the Degree Application will be denied and the student will be required to submit a Degree Application for a subsequent term. Degrees will only be awarded at the end of the term in which the student earned the necessary credits to satisfy all degree requirements. No degrees will be awarded after the published deadline.

Students are required to complete degree requirements as stated in the catalog for the academic year during which they begin earning baccalaureate credit as a degree-seeking student at The University of Alabama. Transfer students will be held to the same standard regardless of when baccalaureate credit may have been earned at other institutions. If students do not complete degree requirements within seven years from the date they began earning baccalaureate credit at The University of Alabama, they must change to a current or more recent catalog, under which they will have seven years from the start of that catalog year to complete their degree.

Bachelor’s degrees awarded by The University of Alabama require a minimum of 120 hours; some degree programs require more than 120 hours. It is the responsibility of the student to be familiar with the degree requirements of the student's chosen program.

Residency Requirements

To be eligible for a baccalaureate degree in any school or college, a student must earn in residence at The University of Alabama at least one-fourth of the semester hours required for the degree. The schools and colleges may specify that advanced course work and additional course hours in the major and minor fields be taken in residence. Students should review the individual college residency requirements found in each college or school section of the undergraduate catalog.

A student who is within one semester of graduation and plans to complete coursework at an institution other than The University of Alabama must seek the approval of the student's dean's office to ensure compliance with University degree requirements.

GPA Requirements

In order to qualify for a degree from The University of Alabama, a student must earn a GPA of at least "C" (2.0 on a 4.0 grading system) for all work attempted; transfer students must also earn GPAs of at least 2.0 ("C") for work attempted at The University of Alabama. In addition, the student must earn an average of "C" or higher for all work applying to the major.

Read also: History of the Block 'M'

Exceptions and Substitutions

A student wishing to deviate in any way from program requirements defined in the catalog must seek an exception/substitution with the college of enrollment. Authority for granting exceptions to major and minor requirements resides with the Dean of the student's college of enrollment. Requests for exceptions to core/general education requirements will be submitted by the college of enrollment to the Office for Academic Affairs for review. Final authority for granting exceptions to core/general education requirements resides with the Office for Academic Affairs. Approved exceptions to major and minor requirements will be posted to the student's audit in Degree Works by the college of enrollment following Dean's approval.

Diploma Name and Accuracy

The name on the diploma will appear as it does on the academic record in the student information system. On the Degree Application, students will have the option to edit middle name and suffix. These edits are for the diploma only and do not change the official name on the academic record in the student information system.

To ensure your diploma is shipped to the correct address, click on Student Records on the Student Services Card. Update information, paying attention to the "valid until" box. If this is set to a specific date, your diploma might not get shipped to the correct address.

Financial Obligations

Diplomas are not released until the student account has been paid in full and any past due balances cleared with Student Account Services. Students who satisfy financial obligations after the published diploma ship date are responsible for notifying the Office of the University Registrar that the student account has been cleared.

Diploma Storage and Re-issuance

The diploma will be held for one calendar year after the graduation date. Diplomas will be held for one calendar year after the graduation date and will then be destroyed. The student must then order a re-issued diploma at the cost of a replacement diploma. Once received, a new diploma will be shipped at no charge to the student.

Read also: Legacy of Fordham University

Damaged Diplomas

Students have 60 days after the diploma ship date published on the Academic Calendar to report a damaged diploma.

Duplicate Diplomas

The University of Alabama issues only one diploma to each graduate at the time of graduation. The University of Alabama issues only one diploma to each graduate at the time of graduation. Duplicate diplomas are issued using your full name on your academic record while in attendance at the University of Alabama. Duplicate diplomas are issued in the current format and will include the signatures of current University officials, no exceptions. Requests for duplicate diplomas will be processed for delivery within 14 business days of completion of the order. Requests for duplicate diplomas with a graduation date prior to 1983 will require an additional 7 business days processing time. No orders are processed on weekends or during holidays when the University of Alabama is closed.

Post-Graduation Record Closure

Once a degree has been conferred and posted to the student’s academic record, the record is considered closed. A University of Alabama degree is a public credential and the quality of the education, the integrity of the degree, and the reputation of the institution must be preserved. “Rare and extenuating” circumstances would include the withdrawal of a degree awarded in error, withdrawal of a degree due to misconduct [investigation, hearing pending at the time of commencement], action based on a grade appeal, etc.

Steps to Ensure a Smooth Graduation Process

Visit Your Advisor: See your academic advisor every semester to be sure you are staying on track to graduate.
Check DegreeWorks: Make sure your curriculum in DegreeWorks includes all of your majors, minors, and /or specializations/concentrations. If it is not in DegreeWorks, it will not be on your transcript.
Submit Your Application: One to two semesters before you plan to graduate, submit your degree application on the Student tab of your myBama. You need to apply to graduate whether or not you intend to participate in commencement.
Get Approved: When your graduation application has been submitted and you are registered for your last semester of classes, the Culverhouse Registrar will audit your academic record.

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