Completed Degree without Graduation

Wondering what protocol is with respect to presenting academic study when you've completed all requirements for a MA but have not been awarded the degree due to a requirement to attend graduation (or graduate in absentia)?

Potentially a "Covid" issue if one wants to attend graduation but needs to defer due to travel restrictions. Just curious at this point.

 

I've never heard of this requirement and, barring some references, I'm maintaining my current position that this isn't a thing.

But if you want to hear a bonkers requirement, at Cornell all undergrads have to pass a swim test to graduate. There have been cases where someone does all four years, walks at graduation and then years later discovers that they never officially graduated and just assumed their diploma was lost in the mail and never cared to follow up on it. My understanding is that the only way to waive it is if you absolutely and 100% cannot swim for medical reasons.

Imagine not getting your sheepskin because your breaststroke was weak.

 

Actually, I don't think it is that uncommon but to be clear.

The situation is that you may graduate at the ceremony OR in absentia (i.e. you do not need to be at the ceremony). However, if you decide to graduate in absentia, you cannot in the future graduate at the ceremony. Normally one finishes your degree requirements and walks across the stage a few weeks later...but what if you cannot get to the stage and don't want to graduate in absentia? How do you present on a resume?

 

In the U.S., there is no such thing as "graduate in absentia."

Once you meet the requirements for a degree, how things proceed differ. At CTU, graduation was automatic. As soon as I finished my last course and those grades posted, I graduated. I got a congrats email and my diploma was in the mail shortly thereafter. At Scranton, I had to file a request to graduate. If you don't fill out the form, you don't graduate.

The ability to "walk" at graduation is often separate. At Scranton, you could walk at Spring graduation even if you were taking Summer or Fall courses AFTER the graduation ceremony provided you needed less than some number. I think it was 9 or fewer or something like that at the time.

"Graduation" is not the same thing as the Graduation Ceremony. Going to the ceremony does not "graduate" you from college. It's symbolic. You aren't handed your degree. You're given a blank scroll. Your diploma comes in the mail whether you go or not. If you say you're attending the ceremony and then just don't show up, you've still graduated.

 

I think you're confusing graduating and going to a graduation ceremony. You graduate when you complete all the degree requirements. At that point you can write on your resume that you graduated and have a degree. The only thing the graduation ceremony does is offers an opportunity to take pictures with your family. It doesn't actually have anything to do with getting a degree or graduating.

 

AIK11,

With all due respect, I am not confused. There is some academic diversity in practice. My last graduate degree was awarded when the Chancellor of the University publicly declared that I had graduated, and the parchment was presented to me in a memorable red tube as I walked off the stage. I could have graduated in absentia, but the timing would not have changed.

 

OK then. Just tell us which university this was and I'll be happy to find the source myself. If you are correct then I am not so proud I won't acknowledge the truth.

 

https://www.ox.ac.uk/students/graduation/ceremonies?wssl=1

University of Oxford degrees are conferred at degree ceremonies, held in the Sheldonian Theatre. You may graduate in person or in absence, either straight after you've finished your degree, or many years later. If you choose to graduate in person, you will be presented by your college, hall or society.

Conferring your degree in absentia: Students who are eligible to have their degree conferred in the current ceremony cycle can select to have their degrees conferred in absentia on Self Service when invited to register for a ceremony. If you are a member of the University of Oxford’s alumni and would like to have your degree conferred in absentia, please contact your college who will arrange for your degree to be conferred at the next ceremony.

Hence, to my original post. How would you present a degree from Oxford if you have met all the requirements but the degree had not been conferred?

Of course, this is a highly unusual question related to distance learning and Covid 19.

 

From Adelaide...

Conferral
If your degree has been conferred, it means that you have been admitted into your award as a legal graduate of the University of Adelaide. In order to be conferred you must have completed all academic and practical requirements and have no outstanding debts to the University. From the moment your degree has been conferred, you are an official legal graduate of the University and can use any titles associated with that award.

You can find details of the University's conferral dates here.
Completion
Being marked as 'Completed' in your degree means that you have completed the academic requirements for your award. Completion will be useful if you are applying for further study, or need evidence while you are awaiting your conferral that you have met the academic requirements of your degree. This is an automated process, and will result in the 'Completed' row being added to your transcript in place of 'In Progress'. Shortly after this, you will receive a graduation status letter detailing whether you are eligible or ineligible to graduate.

 

I completed my degree from Troy University, but I did not attend the ceremony. I earned my degree online and non-traditional credit sources. The chances I would not know anybody at graduation. They just mailed me my degree diploma.

 

I added my own bold and underlining...

So, either Oxford is saying that it's quite normal to "finish your degree" and then wait years later to actually be considered a recipient of said degree or, as both of your sources actually indicate, the graduation ceremony is separate from you being considered a graduate of the program itself.

You are, contrary to your protests, quite confused.

 

Neuhaus,

I will try again.

At some universities, there is a "two-step" process for graduation. Step one is the completion of all the requirements for graduation (i.e. courses, grades, tuition, etc.). Step two is having the degree conferred, which occurs on a certain date accompanied by a ceremony.

In between step one and step two, you do not have the degree and you have not graduated. The ceremony is not simply a "celebration" but the date on which the degree is conferred. This is generally not an issue since degrees are conferred shortly after requirements are met.

However, things may be a bit more complicated under our circumstances (i.e. there could be a significant delay between completion and conferment due to Covid issues). My question is, how would one represent a degree on a resume if the degree had been completed but not conferred? Maybe, MA (completed).

I was just curious if anyone had seen anything like this in practice.

 

Okay. I understand. For example I finished my MEd sometime in May, but it wasn't conferred until June. I still listed my degree as earned in May. I don't think this was dishonest or fraudulent since for all intents and purposes, I have graduated. I would recommend doing the same for you. Once you finish all requirements for the degree, add it to your resume as an earned degree. If you'd like, ask the school when it will actually be conferred and if it's August 2020, list it on your resume as "anticipated August 2020". I don't think that's necessary though.