Graduation at Wichita State is just around the corner and the advising staff urges students to make sure their paperwork and degree forms are submitted. 

Students without completed paperwork may not be allowed to attend graduation ceremonies, Ann Merrett, degree auditor in the liberal arts and sciences department, said. 

She approves students’ transcripts so colleges can be sure no remaining classes are needed for a student’s major. She also ascertains that students have completed their work and paid for their classes.

“If they have transfer work, I have to remind them to get that sent in to WSU,” she said. “If they have incompletes, those have to be addressed, too.” 

“There’s tons of those people,” she said. 

Merrett audits every student’s transcripts for the required coursework for their major. She said usually between 300 and 400 students graduate in the fall and typically 600 or more in the spring. About 10 percent of all who apply for their degree do not receive it for one reason or another, she said. 

“Students need to come in two semesters prior to graduation and get their senior forms done,” she said.

Devon Hummel, a senior graduating this fall, has been working on getting her paperwork done since last year. 

“The whole process was relatively easy,” she said.  “The school sent me information in the mail about graduation requirements and what I needed to do online.”

She said the most stressful part about graduating and stepping out into the world was trying to find a job. 

“The last few weeks of classes have been a little easier, but searching for a job has been incredibly time consuming,” she said. 

Sometimes students with the intent of graduating either do not pass their classes or realize they have missed a required class. Advisers recommend students schedule a meeting with them at least once a semester to ensure they are on track to graduate. 

“The hardest part is having to move someone to another graduation semester and have to call them and tell them that and they don’t respond,” Merrett said. 

She also recommended keeping mailing addresses up to date, which is crucial to receiving graduation information. With just one person combing through all of the charts, it can be easy to miss small details. Merrett said students need to know their graduation status so necessary adjustments can be made well before the commencement ceremony. 

When the time comes for the actual ceremony, students need to be sure they have registered and have purchased their caps and gown in the bookstore. Anna Weyers who is in charge of planning the commencement ceremony, can help with any questions about the graduation process. 

Students planning on walking across the stage must RSVP to the event and fill out a name pronunciation card. 

“You can RSVP online,” Weyers said. “It is important that all students arrive at Koch Arena for check-in an hour prior to the commencement ceremony.”

Students have until Dec. 10 to sign up to walk across the stage at graduation. However, if they are looking for their names to appear in the program, they must have their degree submission filled out by October. 

“Commencement is a time where a university can come together and recognize the success of its students that have completed their area of study and are earning their academic degrees,” Weyers said. “Being involved in the commencement ceremony planning process is truly rewarding because it is a day where we get to honor all the hard work and accomplishments of these graduates.”

Hummel says that while she is happy to be finishing up her Bachelor’s degree in business administration with a major in marking and management and a minor in international business, she is not sure if she is ready to be finished with school.

“I have been in school since I was 3 years old,” she said. “Part of me is ready to leave WSU and begin a new career and part of me is reluctant. Change can be scary and exciting.”

Weyers wishes the best of luck to all who are graduating in less than two weeks.

“We are so very proud of you and all your accomplishments,” she said.

Degrees will be available beginning Feb. 20 in the Office of the Registrar. The commencement ceremony is on Dec. 16 in Charles Koch Arena at 2:30 p.m.