All students, including certificate seekers, who anticipate graduating must submit the Intent to Graduate form to the Office of the Registrar, via the Rush University Portal, by the published deadline or risk delayed graduation.
College program directors/coordinators are required to complete and submit the degree approval forms to the Office of the Registrar by the published deadline or risk delayed graduation of students. Thesis/dissertation students also require the signatures of the student's committee chair and the Center for Academic Excellence.
For additional information regarding the degree approval process, visit the Registrar's page. Contact the registrar’s office at (312) 942-5681 if you have any questions.
Commencement eligibility
Beginning with the fall 2024 term, all degree-seeking students are invited to participate in the commencement ceremony if they graduated in or will graduate in:
- The fall or spring term immediately preceding the current academic year’s ceremony.
- The summer term immediately following the current academic year's ceremony.
PhD students completing a dissertation must provide the title of their work to the Office of the Registrar by the published deadline in order to have that title included in the commencement program.
Participation in commencement or publication of a student’s name, academic credentials and dissertation title in the commencement program does not indicate that a degree has been officially conferred by Rush University.
Students must be registered for the term in which they graduate.
Appeal process
A program director who feels an exception should be made to the above policy must submit an appeal in writing to the dean of her or his college. In addition, the program director must inform the Office of the Registrar that an appeal has been submitted so that the Office of the Registrar can inform the college of any reason why the request should be denied. The final decision rests with the dean of the college. The dean must inform the program director and the Office of the Registrar of the decision.
Diplomas
Rush University confers degrees and mails diplomas/certificates within three weeks from the end of each term. Please visit Diplomas link for more information.