Office of the Registrar

Degree Information Academic Year 2008-2009

Degree Dates for 2008-2009:

November 4, 2008
March 10, 2009
June 6, 2009

Application/Confirmation

All prospective degree recipients must file a Degree Application/Confirmation in the Office of the Registrar by August 15, 2008, for the November degree, December 3, 2009, for the March degree, and March 17, 2009, for the June degree. Late applications are subject to a $25.00 late fee. Failure to submit a degree application/confirmation may result in the omission of your name from the official degree lists. We will be unable to guarantee that your degree will be voted. A fee of $25 will be charged if the degree application/confirmation is not filed. Please do not fail to file this important document.

Grades

All grades must be in the Office of the Registrar no later than 5:00 p.m. on Thursday, September 25, 2008, for November degrees; Thursday, January 29, 2009, for March degrees; and Friday, May 22, 2009, for June degrees. Courses in which you still have a grade of "INC" or "Absent" after the appropriate date cannot be counted toward degree requirements. Be sure your instructors are aware of the above deadlines – YOU ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR INCOMPLETE GRADES. Do not submit work at the last minute and expect your instructor to grade it. Allow extra time for cross-registered courses, as grades must come through the other schools' Registrars to this office.

Commencement Information

The Student Affairs Office will distribute commencement information to all students in April. If at the end of April, you have not received commencement information, please call the Student Affairs Office at 617-495-8035.

Loans

If you have received student loans from Harvard while at HGSE, you must schedule an exit interview through the Financial Aid Office. Be alert for announcements or mailings, which will tell you when these interviews take place. Any student who does not complete this interview will have his/her diploma withheld. If you have any questions or concerns about this interview, please call the Financial Aid Office at (617) 495-3416.

Bills

No diplomas are awarded to students with any outstanding debts to the University. If you still have an unpaid student bill as of October 31, 2008 (November degrees), February 27, 2009 (March degrees), May 22, 2009 (June degrees), the University will not award your diploma. In such cases contact the Office of the Registrar for information regarding the receipt of your diploma.

Transcripts

Transcripts showing the award of your degree can be sent approximately one week after the degree conferral dates shown above. Please indicate on your transcript request forms if you wish your transcript held either for your degree or for final grades.

Any other questions? Please call the Office of the Registrar at 617-495-3419.