Graduation Tips & Forms (for B. A. students)
Charting Your Progress To Graduation
To keep on track for graduation, check in periodically with a faculty advisor in your concentration or program. Please remember that advisors are there to suggest plans of action and to help you find information: ultimately, you are responsible for keeping track and charting your own path to graduation.
The English Department does not assign advisors to students; instead, find a faculty member in your concentration (Literature, Creative Writing, Single Subject) whose office hours fit your availability. Please check with the staff in the English Department Office (Nichols 362) for a list of current faculty advising hours, or you can also find a link on this site here. Some students prefer to see one faculty member throughout their time here, while others find it's helpful to check in with a variety of faculty members. For general advising, you may also wish to use the resources of the Arts and Humanities Advising Center.
As you work through your classes, you must keep up with your progress by checking your Academic Requirements Report (ARR). Instructions on how to access your ARR can be found here. Please note that as of May 10, 2013, the ARR will be the main document used to prove completion of major courses for graduation. Be sure to work with faculty members and to consult with the department office if there's any trouble with your ARR. This is a new system as of Spring 2013 and there may be some need for care and revision as the university adapts to the process; please be in touch with any concerns.
Also, make sure to remember to take the WEPT as early as possible during your junior year.
For additional information about both University- and Department-level requirements, you can consult the current catalog.
Applying for Graduation
As you prepare for graduation, be sure to consult the graduation timeline set by the registrar. Generally, you should plan to submit your graduation paperwork to the department at the beginning of the semester before the semester you plan to graduate; that is, if you're planning to graduate in the spring, you should submit your paperwork in the early part of the fall semester. Note that there is both a Priority Filing Date and also a final deadline. The English Department strongly recommends that students file their graduation forms by the Priority Filing Date:
Admissions and Records Graduation Timeline
When you're ready to submit your graduation paperwork, come to your faculty advisor with 1) a filled-out copy of your concentration form, and 2) your Graduation Application form and 3) a current print-out of your ARR that shows completion of your major courses. Please bring all relevant forms and prinouts. Your advisor will sign the forms and pass them on to the department office, who will route them to Admissions and Records.
For more information about registration policies, progress to degree, and enrollment, please see the homepage for the SSU Office of the Registrar: