Commencement

The formal commencement ceremony of the college is held in May. Graduate students who complete the M.A.L.A. degree requirements at any other time are included in the May ceremonies and events. All graduating students will be charged a $100 graduation fee during their final semester, whether they participate in the commencement ceremony or not.

Class Membership

Graduate students who complete degree requirements by August are considered to be members of the class of that calendar year. Those students completing degree requirements between the day after the end of the summer semester and December 31 are considered to be members of the class of the next calendar year. Diplomas are issued in May to spring graduates and in January to summer and fall graduates.

Commencement Participation for Students Who Have Not Completed All Degree Requirements

A graduate student in the final semester who has not completed all degree requirements may choose from the options outlined below with regard to participation in a commencement ceremony. A student may participate in only one commencement ceremony and can be listed in only one commencement program. General questions regarding participation in a commencement ceremony should be addressed to the Graduate Institute Office.

Options

1. Delay participation until all requirements have been completed. If this option is chosen, the student’s name will not be listed in any earlier commencement programs. When degree requirements have been completed, the student may participate in the next commencement ceremony and the name will be included in the next commencement program.
2. Participate in the current ceremony. This option requires approval from the Associate Dean for Graduate Programs. If this option is chosen, the student’s name will be listed in the commencement program with an asterisk (*) denoting that the degree will be awarded “upon completion of requirements.” The student can process and recess with the other students, and the student’s name will be read by the Associate Dean for Graduate Programs along with the qualification “upon completion of requirements;” but the student will not walk across the stage to receive a hood or a diploma. Diplomas are dated in either January (for summer and fall completions) or May (for spring completions), whichever date immediately follows a student’s completion of degree requirements.
3. In the rare instance when a student wishes to participate in the commencement ceremony in Santa Fe, the student must petition the Associate Dean for Graduate Programs in Annapolis well in advance, if the petition is approved.

Timeframe for Degree Completion

Students must complete the requirements for the Master of Arts in Liberal Arts (M.A.L.A.) degree within eight years. Students who wish to return more than eight years after the date of matriculation must petition the Associate Dean for Graduate Programs. Any Graduate Institute classes taken more than eight years before graduation must be successfully repeated or approved by the Associate Dean for Graduate Programs to be applied toward degree requirements.

Transcripts & Enrollment Status

Transcripts or verifications of a student’s enrollment status may be requested from the Registrar’s Office online or in person.

Address Changes

Student address change requests must be in writing and signed by the student. They should be promptly submitted to the Office of the Registrar, GI Office, & Financial Aid Office.

Access to Academic Records

Students may access their academic records by contacting the Registrar’s Office.

Public Safety

To contact a Public Safety Officer in the event of an emergency, or for an escort to the parking lot at night dial 2000 from any campus phone or call 443-336-2348 from any other line.

Alcohol Policy

During the semester, we hope that you find many occasions to converse and socialize with each other outside of the classroom. When students gather spontaneously in the College’s public areas, the gathering may sometimes come to resemble a party even though there is no organizer. In such cases all college regulations are still to be observed. If alcohol will be served, please notify a Public Safety Officer in advance that such a gathering will occur.