Participation in the annual commencement exercises held in May is open to undergraduate students who have completed all requirements for the degree as verified by the Registrar and have been approved by the faculty bodies and the Vice-Chancellor to have their degree awarded. Additionally, students whose degree was awarded at the completion of the prior Summer or Advent term are invited to participate.

Students who have eight or fewer credit hours remaining to complete all degree requirements and who are in good social, academic, and financial standing at the time of commencement may elect to “walk” in the ceremony. To do so, students must notify the Office of the Registrar of their desire to participate in the ceremony no later than April 1^st. (Exceptions to the deadline may be made for students who fail a final course or two.) When notifying the Registrar, students will indicate whether they expect to finish their hours off-campus or on, as any off-campus study would have to be pre-approved by the Office of the Registrar. Students who are approved to walk will have their names included in the program, gradu probando (degree to be conferred), with no reference to possible honors which may be earned upon completion of the remaining degree requirements. Those who walk will not receive a diploma nor will a transcript reflecting the awarding of a degree be available until the conferral date following the completion of the remaining degree requirements. The eight-credit maximum is firm and not subject to petition.

Students who are participating in a recognized and approved 3/2 program may petition the Registrar to return to Sewanee to walk in commencement with their class cohort; otherwise they may fully participate and receive their diploma once they have completed all degree requirements.