April 1 is the deadline for NIU undergraduate students planning to graduate in May or August to apply to take part in the graduation ceremony.

Due to April 1 being a Sunday, the application and $29 fee must arrive at Registration and Records by 3 p.m. Monday, April 2. If individuals graduating in August do not apply by the deadline, they will be invited to the December ceremony.

Students must have at least 90 semester hours after the fall semester to be eligible to graduate.

Applications can be completed and mailed to Registration and Records with the payment, or brought to Williston Hall, Room 220. Applications can be found at http://www.reg.niu.edu/regrec/graduation/application.shtml.

The $29 required fee is used to cover ceremony-related matters.

“The graduation fee is used for processing the degree, the diploma, diploma cover, commencement ceremony and cap and gown rental,” said Suzanne Warber, assistant director of Registration and Records. “The undergraduate degree candidate must pay the undergraduate graduation fee by the application deadline to be eligible to participate in the commencement ceremony.”

The fee can be paid by check, money order, Visa or Mastercard. Once students apply for graduation for the current term, Registration and Records will review the student’s record, including the courses for which they are registered, and send an e-mail to the student’s Z-ID address regarding standing for graduation. Students are advised to review their DARS report and contact their adviser with questions.

The final graduation check determines if students have met the requirements for and are eligible to receive their degree. This process begins as soon as grades are processed, and is normally completed within 14 days after the official graduation date. If students are unable to do this within the 14-day period, they must notify Registration and Records immediately with their new graduation date.