Admission’s Committee

1. If a certificate involves more than one graduate program, the certificate proposal must outline the composition and procedures of an admissions committee. Each relevant graduate program must be represented on this committee.

1. Students are admitted as Certificate students. Each certificate program will be identified by a separate “major” code. If applying only for a graduate certificate, the student must pay the application fee.

2. Students pursuing a certificate program who subsequently decide to apply for a graduate degree program would complete a new application, but would not be charged an application fee if the degree was within the same department(s)/school(s) as the certificate program. However, if a student applies for a graduate degree program after the certificate is completed, they will need to complete a new application and pay the application fee.

3. Students pursuing a graduate degree program could be awarded a certificate while completing the degree but would need to complete a new application to be admitted to the certificate program; however, they would not be charged an application fee if the certificate was within the same department(s)/school(s) as the graduate program in which they were enrolled. However, if a student applies for a certificate program after the graduate degree is completed, they will need to complete a new application and pay the application fee.

4. Readmission policy for certificate students–Same as current policy, except, you cannot be re-admitted to a certificate program once you have completed the certificate.

   NOTE: With this process, departments/schools will get credit for the certificates &students are eligible for financial aid.

1. Each certificate program will be defined in SIS degree audit. Students would receive a copy of the degree audit/plan of study when admitted to the certificate program (same as if admitted to a degree program). Departments/schools have viewing access to the plan on SIS.

2. A student would need to submit a change in plan of study to revise their certificate plan of study (same as in a degree program). A copy will be sent to the department/school and student after final approval.

3. Each student would complete a Certificate Completion Application form and turn it in at the Graduate Studies Office–$5.00 fee (to pay for the certificate)–the deadline for submission of the Certificate Completion Application Form would be the same as the deadline for the Application for Graduation (as set by the Registrar’s Office).

4. The Graduate Studies Office would check that all requirements for the certificate have been completed.

5. Each semester, the Graduate Studies Office would inform the Registrar’s Office which students have completed a certificate program & which program they’ve completed, for inclusion on their transcripts.

6. The Certificate would be signed by the same people who sign diplomas.

7. The Graduate Studies Office would mail the certificates to the students after all other obligations to the university are satisfied (i.e. parking and library fines, student accounts balance, and financial aid).