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Graduation

RISD holds its annual commencement ceremony on the Saturday following Memorial Day  and this date is the only official graduation date for all students who complete degree requirements between September 1 and commencement day.

Normally, a student must have their degree requirements completed by the eve of the ceremony in order to participate. A student who completes graduation requirements after commencement but by September 1 will officially graduate on the commencement date that just passed. A student who takes additional course work after September in order to complete degree requirements will earn the degree as of the commencement date following the completion of this course work.

Student academic transcripts are sealed upon graduation and no changes or additions to that record will be entertained once a student officially graduates. 

Diploma Pick Up 
Diplomas are available for pick up immediately after the commencement ceremony. They will be available at Market House until 5 p.m. on Commencement Day. Diplomas will not be available for students who are graduating with honors since the diploma has to be sent out in order to add the honors designation. Honors diplomas should be available approximately a week after commencement and may be picked up at that time or they will be mailed, per instructions below. 

On the Monday following commencement, diplomas may be picked up in the Registrar’s Office in 20 Washington Place from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. for approximately 7-10 days. If not picked up by then, the diploma will be mailed to the diploma mailing address designated on the graduation application. Contact registrar@risd.edu if there are any questions.

For students who will NOT have degree requirements complete by the eve of commencement
Students who do not complete or do not expect to complete their graduation requirements in time may petition the Office of Student Affairs for permission to participate by filing the Petition to Participate in Commencement Form. It is available on paper from the Office of Student Affairs and the Registrar or online.

The form requires approval from the student’s academic advisor and department head (sometimes just the department head). The petition must be approved and then submitted to Student Affairs no later than two weeks before commencement. If the petition arrives after the deadline, the student’s name may not appear in the printed commencement program because of printing deadlines.

Students must be within 12 credits of degree attainment to file a petition. Normally, a student needing 12 credits will have to complete their course of study at RISD, as will a student needing required studio classes.