[OACRAO] Determining Student Eligibility to Participate in Commencement

Wed Mar 28 10:51:13 EDT 2018

Alex,

Union does the same.  We would not prevent a student from participating in commencement because of an outstanding balance.  They are given a status of "Grduated/Financial Hold" on their electronic record and we just withhold diplomas and official transcripts.  (We actually sometimes withhold unofficial transcripts, which I am not comfortable with, but that's a different argument.)
To my thinking, withholding the student's documents is sufficient incentive for them to pay their balance.  Commencement is just a party and a recognition that the student has earned their degree.

Chris McNay
Associate Registrar & PDSO
Union Institute & University I 440 East McMillan Street I Cincinnati, OH  45206
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From: OACRAO [mailto:oacrao-bounces+chris.mcnay=myunion.edu at lists.osu.edu] On Behalf Of Alex Siebert
Sent: Wednesday, March 28, 2018 10:38 AM
To: oacrao at lists.osu.edu
Subject: [OACRAO] Determining Student Eligibility to Participate in Commencement

Colleagues,

What are your policies surrounding how you decide if a student is eligible to participate in your commencement ceremony in a given semester? I know that everyone has their academic requirements (complete their degree, or exceptions based on if they are within x number of credits of completing). Do you take into account if they still have an outstanding balance with the school?

We traditionally have allowed students to participate if they have met the academic requirements, but may withhold their diploma and any transcripts they have requested if they still have an outstanding balance owed to the school. Once they have paid in full, we release their transcripts and diploma to them.

We've had some new personnel who would like to make some changes to our policies around commencement. If a student has an outstanding balance, they are not allowed to participate in commencement. I have my concerns about that, largely because we only have one ceremony a year, and I feel that it's important to the students to be able to walk with their classmates--they've earned their degree after all. I feel that withholding the official documentation to prove it is enough incentive to settle their balance.

I'd like to know what your school policies are around your commencement ceremony--particularly regarding any student scheduled to participate but has an outstanding balance.

Thank you.

Alex Siebert
Director of Registrar Services

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