Graduation is a time of celebration for all that you have accomplished and we want to make it a special moment for you. While the pandemic has challenged our normal structure of events, we've heard you loud and clear that you'd like to celebrate with in-person small group ceremonies.
Graduates will be split into academic groups of roughly 40 students to celebrate at an in-person ceremony in the Community Concert Hall in late November, before in-person instruction ends. We will be wearing masks and staying distanced, while participating in the ceremony that represents the gravitas of what you have accomplished. However, to address density and COVID safety requirements, no guests – family or friends – will be permitted. Each ceremony will be live-streamed so all family and friends can watch you get individually recognized for your amazing accomplishment. We know this is extra challenging, as you’ll want to celebrate in person with those closest to you. But, as in all of our actions over the last six months of the pandemic, we’ll pivot and make the best of each day. All of us at Fort Lewis College are honored to celebrate with you virtually, and your faculty are looking forward to seeing you at commencement in November.
Graduation: At FLC, you have not officially "graduated" until the Registrar confirms that you have completed all of your degree requirements and the College awards your degree. This process is not generally complete until about 6-8 weeks after the semester has ended.
Commencement: Commencement is the ceremony where we celebrate students who are graduating. Graduating students invite their friends and families, wear their caps and gowns, walk across the stage, shake hands with the College president, and celebrate. Participating in Commencement is sometimes called "walking", which refers to tradition of walking across the stage to be recognized for your achievement.
The commencement ceremony has been postponed but we will still be awarding degrees to graduating students. The Registrar’s Office will determine whether each student has fulfilled their degree requirements once final grades have been submitted and processed for the Spring 2020 semester. If you have completed your degree requirements, your final transcript and diploma will be mailed to you eight weeks AFTER the end of the semester (unless you have holds on your account).
If you have not completed all of your degree requirements, you will be notified by email.
You can check the status of your application for graduation on WebOPUS:
Graduating students will pick up their free Fort Lewis College alumni t-shirt and mug at the Countdown to Graduation event date to be announced soon.