Overview
Morehouse College permits students who have not yet satisfied all degree requirements to petition the Office of the Provost for permission to participate in Commencement ceremonies. Participation is not a right and approval is not automatic.
Participating in Commencement is not the same as receiving your degree. The degree is conferred only after all requirements have been fully satisfied.
Who Can Apply and Approval Standard
Students must demonstrate a credible, documented, near-term path to degree completion. To be eligible, the outstanding requirement must be limited in scope, resolvable within a defined period following Commencement, and the student must have a specific, verifiable plan for completing it. Students who have multiple unresolved requirements, have not engaged with their advisor or department/program, or whose timeline is speculative are unlikely to receive approval.
The Provost will weigh: (1) the nature and scope of the requirement; (2) steps already taken to resolve it; (3) the realism and verifiability of the completion plan; (4) whether third parties whose action is required have been identified and contacted; and (5) any extenuating circumstances the student discloses.
Extenuating circumstances are considered as context. They do not override academic policy and do not independently justify approval.
What You Must Submit
Two documents are required before an appeal will be reviewed. Both must reach the Office of the Provost by the published deadline:
- Commencement Participation Appeal Form (Student) Completed and signed by the student. The form asks you to describe the outstanding requirement (including course numbers and department), summarize steps already taken, provide a detailed completion plan with a realistic timeline, identify any third parties whose action is required, and optionally describe extenuating circumstances. Attach any supporting correspondence.
- Advisor / Department Confirmation Form Completed independently by your faculty advisor or the department chair responsible for the outstanding requirement — not by you. That person submits the form directly to the Office of the Provost. It asks the confirmer to independently describe the requirement, assess your plan's feasibility, and state whether the division/department supports your appeal. Do not wait until the submission deadline to ask your advisor or department chair to complete their form. Your appeal will not be reviewed until both documents have been received.
Forms at a Glance
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Student Appeal Form — Section
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What It Addresses
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Section 1: Student Identification
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Name, student ID, major, division, advisor, and contact information
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Section 2: Outstanding Requirement
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Type of requirement; course(s), credit hours, and department; plain-language description (150 words or fewer)
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Section 3: Current Status
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Steps already taken; parties contacted; supporting documentation attached
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Section 4: Plan for Completion
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Specific steps; anticipated completion date; third-party dependencies and confirmation
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Section 5: Extenuating Circumstances
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Optional context for the Provost's consideration
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Section 6: Student Attestation
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Signature affirming accuracy and acknowledging conditions of approval
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Advisor Confirmation Form — Section
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What It Addresses
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Section 1: Student Reference Information
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Student name, ID, major, division, and expected graduation term
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Section 2: Confirmer Identification
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Confirmer name, title, department, and relationship to student
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Section 3: Confirmation of Requirement
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Independent description of the outstanding requirement; accuracy assessment of the student's account
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Section 4: Feasibility Assessment
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Whether the student's plan is realistic; any departmental action required and availability to act
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Section 5: Department Position
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Whether the division/department supports the appeal, with or without concerns
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Section 6: Confirmer Attestation
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Signature affirming independent and accurate assessment; submitted directly to the Provost's office
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Important Conditions
Approval to participate in Commencement is not a guarantee and not an entitlement.
- Participation in Commencement does not constitute degree conferral. The degree is conferred only when all requirements are fully satisfied.
- Students approved to participate must complete all outstanding requirements by the date in their approval letter. Failure to do so may result in rescission of degree conferral.
- Providing false or incomplete information on either form may result in denial of the appeal or rescission of any prior approval.
- Decisions of the Provost are final.
Additional Information
Direct questions about the appeal process to the Office of the Provost. Students are encouraged to consult with their faculty advisor before completing the forms.