GEMS Blog for Advisors

August 12, 2022

Summer 2022 Graduation Tips

Graduation Deadlines:

  • August 23: Grades due from faculty at 5 p.m. via GradeBook/GradePage
  • August 24: Graduation recommendations due from GPAs/GPCs at 5 p.m. via MyGrad for priority graduation
  • September 9: Graduation recommendations due from GPAs/GPCs at 5 p.m. via MyGrad

Graduation Training:

We encourage advisors to review the Graduation Training for Graduate Advisors  (webinar & PDF) in advance of Spring graduation.

Master’s Degree Code Update Process 

We encourage advisors to check their students’ degree codes now. If the student will graduate in a different degree pathway, use the “update” button on the student detail page to change the degree. Updating Degree Code Help file.

If the student’s degree pathway is updated before the student submits their Master’s request, the Master’s request will have the correct pathway.

However, if the degree pathway is not updated before the Master’s request is submitted, departments should enter a departmental comment on the Master’s Request before recommending the student for graduation, such as “ATTN GEMS: Update Degree code to MUSIC-20-25.

With this new process, GEMS can correct the code, then return to the record in two days to process and approve the graduation. This process delays graduation and the student’s degree posting.
Sample Master’s Request Correction

Student Petition: Extend Time Limit 

Students may need their time limits on their degrees extended before their graduations can be processed. If your student’s degree audit shows a red flag for time limit, review MyGrad Help Files for Graduation: Processing Exceptions to Degree Requirements.

Degree Audit: New Help Files

GEMS’ Graduation Best Practices: Degree Audit instructs departments to “verify that all requirements appear OK by running the Degree Audit from the Student Detail Page in MGP.”
Here are some new help files if you need to troubleshoot NO flags on the degree audit.

How to Allow a Different Course 

How to Override a Grade Requirement

How to Waive a Course

How to Reject a Course and Substitute Another Course