If you still have questions about graduating or commencement, review this list of frequently asked questions.

If you cannot find the information you need, please contact the Registrar’s Office at (573) 651-2250.

Yes, you must apply for graduation after you have enrolled for your final semester. You must apply for the semester in which you complete your final requirements. For example, if you are taking a summer class/internship to complete your degree, you will apply for summer.  

You may apply for graduation through the mySEMO portal > Search "Apply to Graduate" > click Apply to Graduate Tool.  

Once you have applied for graduation, please make sure to regularly check your Southeast email account as all further graduation-related communications will be sent there. 

You are encouraged to apply for graduation as soon as you have completed enrollment for your final semester. The deadline to submit the graduation application is: 

Fall Graduation: Due the last day of the preceding summer semester 

Spring Graduation: Due the last day of the preceding fall semester 

Summer Graduation: 

  • To walk in the spring ceremony: Due the Friday of first week of summer registration 
  • To walk in fall ceremony: Due the last day of the preceding spring semester  

Graduation applications are not accepted for a semester until registration has begun for that semester. 

There is a non-refundable fee charged to your University account for every approved graduation application. It covers administrative costs of processing applications, preparing diplomas, postage, etc. You may also be charged late fees if you apply to graduate or complete your candidate information after the deadline.

Finally, if participating in the commencement ceremony, regalia (cap and gown) must be purchased and worn.  If you want announcements or diploma covers/frames, they can be purchased separately through the Southeast Bookstore.

Apply through the mySEMO portal. 

If you have attempted to apply for graduation via the mySEMO portal and were not successful, you may complete the PDF application and email it as an attachment to graduation@semo.edu. 

In order for your graduation application to be approved, you must submit proof of enrollment in your transfer course. This could be an official schedule or a screenshot from the other institution’s portal, but it must include your name, the institution’s name, the class you are taking, and the term you are taking the class. This document is used to determine if your transfer class fulfills your remaining requirements.  

Once you have completed the course, you will need to request an official transcript to be sent from the other institution to our Registrar’s Office. The official transcript must be received and credit posted before your degree can be awarded. Candidates for graduation have three weeks after the date of the commencement ceremony for our office to receive the official transcripts from the other institutions. 

If you are approved as a candidate for graduation, you will have three weeks after commencement to finish classes that have incomplete grades, submit official transcripts from other institutions, and verify the accuracy of grades received. If a failing grade is received in a course that is required for graduation, you will need to enroll in suitable coursework in a subsequent semester and apply for graduation for that semester.    

You may pick up your diploma during the specified pick-up period (of which you'll be notified by email); otherwise, it will arrive in the mail about eight weeks after the end of the semester in which you complete graduation requirements.  

Diplomas are mailed to the address you verify as correct when submitting your candidate information and will arrive in a flat cardboard mailer with approximate dimensions of 10x13". If your mailbox will not accommodate that size mailer, speak with your local post office to make arrangements for delivery.  

The package you receive will include the diploma, a complimentary copy of your official transcript, and, if possible, a copy of the commencement program from your graduation ceremony term that includes your name. Diplomas will show your name as indicated on your graduation application, your degree, honors if applicable, and the date of graduation. 

If you are an undergraduate student, in order to graduate with Latin honors (cum laude, magna cum laude, or summa cum laude) you must have a minimum cumulative 3.5 GPA, in all grades earned, including original grades in repeated courses. Your honor GPA may be different than your overall GPA. Honors are not awarded to students earning graduate degrees. 

Graduation refers to the administrative awarding of your degree, after the final semester is over, all grades have been turned in, and if all requirements have been completed. Commencement is the ceremony.  

In order to participate in commencement, students must be approved as a candidate for graduation (that is, a degree-seeking student with all requirements for their degree in progress).  While students graduate three times per year (at the end of each semester: mid-May, early August, mid-December), commencement only occurs twice per year, in May and December. Since there is no summer commencement, summer graduates who meet the requisite deadlines may participate in either the preceding spring or following fall ceremonies. 

No; however, you do still have to apply for graduation, fill out candidate information by the deadline, and meet all graduation requirements. 

Every effort should be made to attend the assigned ceremony. However, if you have a documented conflict, you may make a written request to the commencement committee to be allowed to participate in a different ceremony in the same semester. Requests for such exceptions must be made at least three weeks in advance of commencement so that, if granted, the necessary arrangements can be made. 

As a spring or fall candidate, you only participate in the semester in which you are approved for graduation. Since there is no summer commencement, summer graduates who meet the requisite deadlines may participate in either the preceding spring or following fall ceremonies. On the summer graduation application, there is a place to mark your ceremony preference.   

All participants are required to wear academic regalia: 

  • For undergraduate students: cap, bachelor’s gown and tassel 
  • For master’s degree students: cap, master’s gown, tassel, and appropriate hood 
  • For specialist degree students: cap, specialist gown, tassel, and appropriate hood 
  • Beneath the gown, professional dress is recommended, but not required. 

No, there is no rehearsal. An overview of the ceremony and instructions will be emailed to your Southeast email account prior to commencement day. There will also be faculty marshals to direct you during the ceremony. 

As a candidate for graduation, you are expected to check in 45 minutes prior to the ceremony’s scheduled start time. It is recommended that your guests arrive no later than 30 minutes before the beginning of the ceremony. 

No, however we ask that you limit your number of guests to no more than eight.

The ceremony is streamed live. Please note that this is a live stream and is not available to view once the ceremony is completed. 

While the length of the ceremony depends on several factors, we suggest allowing a minimum of two hours for the ceremony. 

After the ceremony concludes, we aks that graduates remain in the seating area to allow the stage party to safely exit. The graduates may then exit the arena through the front doors of the Show Me Center in an orderly manner. Graduates and guests are welcome to take photos at outdoor locations around campus. 

It is yours to keep. This allows you to get as many pictures as you desire, even with people who could not attend commencement. 
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