Commencement
Diplomas are issued six times each year, and a formal commencement ceremony is held once each year in Fayette, Iowa in May. UIU encourages you to participate in its formal commencement ceremony even if your graduation date falls earlier in the academic year. If you graduate in June or August, you may elect to participate either in the preceding May commencement or the following May commencement.
Note: Learners at military installations or International Center Programs should contact their center coordinator for commencement information regarding both Fayette Campus and local graduation ceremonies.
Application for Graduation
As a candidate for graduation, regardless of whether you plan to participate in the commencement ceremony, you must file an application for graduation with your program office or academic advisor (applications are available from your program). Processing of academic transcripts and diplomas are prioritized by the date the applications are received by your program office. Deadlines for submitting applications for graduation are as follows:
| Graduation month | Application due |
| May or June | February 14 |
| August | June 24 |
| (If participating in preceding May ceremony) | February 14 |
| October | July 24 |
| December | September 24 |
| February | November 5 |
Applications received after the deadline will be honored at the next graduation date. There is an application fee of $65. The application for graduation is valid for one year.
Note: You must complete an application for graduation when receiving an associate degree.
Graduation Honors
Graduation with honors signifies recognition of your achievement in scholastic excellence as the baccalaureate program of study is completed. Your diploma will bear one of the following inscriptions to recognize this excellence: Summa Cum Laude, if your grade point average (GPA) is at least 3.8; Magna Cum Laude, if your GPA is at least 3.6 but less than 3.8; or Cum Laude, if your GPA is at least 3.3 but less than 3.6. A total of 60 graded semester credits must be earned at Upper Iowa University before Magna Cum Laude or Summa Cum Laude honors may be granted.
If you are a transfer student who has not completed 60 graded credits at Upper Iowa University, you will graduate Cum Laude if you attain at least a 3.3 grade point average and have completed a minimum of 30 graded credits with Upper Iowa University. Experiential learning credit does not apply to the 60 graded credits for Magna or Summa Cum Laude honors. Grades earned in courses accepted for transfer will not be included in the GPA maintained for purposes of determining graduation honors at Upper Iowa University.
Transcripts must be requested in writing. The request must include: your printed name, your signature, your social security number for verification, and the address where you would like it sent. A transcript request form may also be obtained at www.uiu.edu. An official transcript cannot be issued if there is an unpaid University account balance. Transcripts cannot be ordered by telephone or e-mail. Transcripts sent to you will be stamped "Issued to Student".
There is a $5 processing fee per copy for transcripts that are mailed and a $8 fee per copy for transcripts that are faxed. If you are faxing your request, include an address where you can be billed.
Mail transcript requests to:
Registrar's Office
PO Box 1857
Fayette, IA 52142
Fax transcript requests to: 563-425-5287
(Be sure to include a billing address for the processing fee.)
Career Services
Career Services, located on the Fayette Campus, is available to help learners from all programs explore graduate school or career opportunities with an employment advisory service providing bimonthly listings of employment opportunities, credential files and job-finding resources. Learner referrals are not based on direct contact. A program is available for personal assessment to help plan your career. Neither Career Services nor Upper Iowa University guarantees employment. For further information, call 563-425-5208. Career Services information is also available through Upper Iowa University's home page, located at www.uiu.edu or careers@uiu.edu.
