Degree Application and Commencement Participation

In order to graduate, students must submit an application for a degree at least 30 days prior to the end of the term.  See the current class schedule for specific deadline dates.  Those who do not complete the graduation requirements in time must file another application for a later graduation.  Students completing their degree requirements are encouraged, but not required, to participate in commencement.

Commencement ceremonies constitute public celebrations marking the completion of education requirements.  Students indicate their intention to attend commencement when they apply to graduate.  Dayton Campus students indicate their intention to attend commencement through WINGS.  Lake Campus students indicate their intention to attend commencement by responding to an invitation from Lake Campus Student Services.  

Commencement ceremonies are held before final course grades for a semester are reported.  In some instances, students may participate in a commencement ceremony but find that they have not successfully completed coursework required in their program of study  Such students should participate in only one commencement ceremony per degree and thus are not eligible to participate in a second ceremony for the same degree.

Wright State University offers separate commencement ceremonies for students graduating from either the Dayton or the Lake Campus.  The Dayton Campus holds two ceremonies annually, one in the spring, and one in the fall.  Students at the Dayton Campus completing program-of-study coursework in the summer or fall term are eligible to participate in the fall commencement ceremony.  Students at the Dayton Campus completing program-of-study coursework in the spring term are eligible to participate in the spring commencement ceremony.  

Lake Campus holds one annual commencement ceremony, at the completion of the spring term.  Students completing program-of-study coursework in the preceding summer, fall, or spring term are eligible to participate in the ceremony.  Students completing Lake Campus programs of study or the programs of study authorized by the Ohio Department of Higher Education to be offered at Lake Campus are eligible to participate.

Students who are unable to attend a commencement ceremony due to military obligation or documented emergency are eligible to attend the first commencement ceremony following the end of the obligation or emergency.  Such students must inform the Dayton Campus registrar's office or the Lake Campus dean's office of their intent to participate, including documentation showing cause for the exception, before the normal deadline for application for graduation/commencement participation.