Apply to Graduate + Degree Conferral

The Office of the Registrar processes degree conferrals and is here to support you as you prepare to embark on the next chapter of your life. Our team is dedicated to ensuring a smooth and accurate degree conferral process, so you can confidently celebrate your hard-earned achievement. On this page, you will find all the essential information you need regarding your degree conferral, ensuring you have a seamless and enjoyable transition from student to graduate.

Information here is applicable to students on the Chicago, Online, and Vancouver campuses.

The page does an excellent job of being extremely detailed, so for Chicago and Online: Contact us if you have questions regarding the graduation application, the degree conferral process, diplomas, and diploma reorders that are not covered on this page.While the Office of the Registrar doesn’t oversee the University’s commencement ceremonies, if your graduation application is not submitted, your degree cannot be conferred, regalia cannot be ordered, and your name will not appear in the commencement program. Please do not contact the Office of the Registrar about the commencement ceremonies. E-mail Student Affairs (Chicago | Online) or Student Services (Vancouver) with questions.

The degree conferral process is ongoing and not restricted to one time of the year, but it can take up to 30 days from the date your last grade was posted or degree requirement was completed. Please allow up to 12 weeks from the date you receive the degree conferral confirmation email from the Office of the Registrar to receive your diploma.

Please note, diplomas and certificates are sent to the mailing address on record. All students should verify their mailing address before documents are mailed to avoid significant delays in receiving documents.

If you have questions regarding the graduation application, degree conferral process, diplomas, and diploma reorders that are not covered on this page, e-mail your campus Registrar.


Applying to graduate

Once the graduation application is available, all eligible students will receive an email from the Office to the Register to their Adler email address. It will contain information about the process as well as the due date. 

The graduation application is available in Colleague Self-Service under Graduation Overview.

You will receive an auto-reply email once you submit your application. Please keep this email in your records as it contains important information and can answer most questions students have. 

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Degree conferral

Auditing for your degree conferral will occur once you’ve submitted your graduation application and:

  • All final grades have been posted by all of your instructors.

  • All degree requirements have been filled, including any intern/externships, practicum(s), and the SJP.

  • If applicable: Your final dissertation has been submitted and approved by your academic department. You will receive an email from your academic program when your final uploaded dissertation has been approved

  • All outstanding balances are paid. This includes library fines and returning past due library books or assessment materials. These will prevent the release of your transcript and the ordering of your diploma.

    Payment should be resolved with the Office of Student Accounts. Once holds are resolved, e-mail the Registrar so we can order your diploma.

Most Adler students complete their degree requirements during the Summer Term, which means graduation audits for both the Chicago and Online campuses can take some time. The degree conferral process may take up to 30 days from the date your final grade is posted or your last degree requirement is completed.

Degree Conferral Dates:
Both the degree completion and conferral dates reflected on your transcript will reflect the date all degree requirements were satisfied, including the last dates of attendance posted by your instructors for each of your courses, completion dates of your intern/externships, practicum(s), and SJP, submission of your final dissertation to your academic department, and confirmation from your academic program your final uploaded dissertation has been accepted.

Licensure and Degree Verification:
Please submit your licensure and degree verification paperwork only after you have been notified your degree has been conferred.

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Receiving your diploma

The Office of the Registrar orders diplomas and certificates from an outside vendor at the end of each month. They are mailed directly from the vendor via UPS to the address listed in your profile in Self-Service. Please allow at least 12 weeks from the date you are notified your degree has been conferred to receive your diploma in the mail.

Students with an outstanding balance will not have their diploma ordered until their balance is paid in full. Contact the Office of Student Accounts for questions regarding your balance or to make payment arrangements. Once you clear your balance, email the Office of the Registrar so we can order your diploma.

Content + Size

Adler University diplomas contain the name the student indicates on their graduation application. Diplomas contain a student’s degree name (e.g., Master of Arts in Psychology), the date of degree conferral, the University seal, and signatures of Adler University’s president, chair of the Board of Trustees, and the respective campus executive dean.

  • Doctoral – 14 (W) x 11 (L).
  • Masters and Certificates – 11 (W) x 8 1/2 (L).

Replacements

If your diploma is returned by the mail to the Office of the Registrar due to an incorrect or outdated mailing address, the Office of the Registrar will notify you. To have your diploma re-mailed, you will be required to provide an updated mailing address or pick it up during business hours.

Damages:
If you receive a diploma that has been damaged in transit, please email a photo of the damaged diploma and envelope to the Office of the Registrar of the campus you attended.

Replacements
Please complete the Degree Replacement Order Form for the campus you attended:

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Final grades and coursework

  • Chicago Campus: Instructors are required to post grades no later than five business days after the end of the course period.   
  • Online Campus: Instructors are required to post grades no later than two business days after the course period ends.  
  • Vancouver Campus: Instructors are required to post grades no later than two weeks after the end of the term. 

Once an instructor posts final grades, the grades are immediately available for the student to view in Student Planner. Students are also required to have all intern/externships, practicum(s), SJP requirements complete before their degree is conferred.

Please do not contact the Office of the Registrar with questions about final grades or intern/externships, practicum(s) or the SJP. Students with questions regarding grades or where documentation should be sent from their training sites should connect directly with the instructor of record. Please see your schedule for this information. Since faculty are responsible for posting final grades, the Office of the Registrar does not have knowledge regarding the status of a student’s missing grade and has no involvement in training-related courses.

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