Spring 2020 Commencement Postponed

What's going on with Commencement?

Spring 2020 Commencement was postponed a few weeks ago because it was scheduled to take place just days after Colorado's current stay-at-home order was to be lifted. However, we're excited to announce:

  • Virtual Commencement! This virtual ceremony will take place on May 29, 2020. More details to come! In the meantime, keep an eye on your mailbox for a little package from your friends at FLC. After you receive your package, go to our Virtual Graduation page to upload your video. 
     
  • New in-person Commencement date! We are in the early stages of planning the in-person Commencement ceremony for the weekend of August 29-30, 2020, as long as it is safe to do so when the time comes. We will keep all graduates in the loop with details about this special event. 

View the students who are approved as candidates for degree completion for Spring & Summer 2020.

What's the difference between graduation and Commencement?

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.  

  • “Walking”-- participating in Commencement -- is strictly ceremonial, and does NOT guarantee that a degree will be awarded. A student becomes a graduate only once they have successfully completed the requirements of their degree program and their degree is conferred by the Registrar's Office. 

Degree Conferral and Diplomas 

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.

Approved for Graduation? 

You can check the status of your application for graduation on WebOPUS:

  • Log in to WebOPUS
  • Click "Student Services"
  • Click "Student Records"
  • Click "Advising Information"
    • Select the term during which you are intending to graduate
    • Your status will be listed under "Status of Application to Graduate"

Alumni T-Shirt and Mug

Graduating students were supposed to be able to pick up their free Fort Lewis College alumni t-shirt and mug at the Countdown to Graduation event. However, since that even has been canceled, we will be sending them to each graduate in the mail. We don't yet know when, but stay tuned!