ATTENDING A COMMENCEMENT CEREMONY DOES NOT MEAN THAT YOU HAVE OFFICIALLY GRADUATED.
Once all of your final grades appear on your transcript, your record is evaluated to verify that you have met all degree requirements. If your graduation has been denied, you will receive e-mail notification as soon as possible. Email letters confirming graduation will be sent closer to the degree conferral dates for each term.
Once your degree is conferred, it will appear on your official and unofficial transcripts. For Winter (April/May) graduates, degrees are conferred in early June. For Summer (August), degrees are conferred in early September, and for Fall (December) graduates, early January.
If you need verification of your graduation after classes end, but prior to degrees being conferred (for an employer or graduate school, for example), contact the Honors Auditor: honors.auditor@umich.edu. After degrees are conferred, however, only the Registrar's Office can provide letters of graduation verification. If your degree has been conferred and you need verification, contact the Office of the Registrar at 734-763-9066.
Degrees with Distinction
Degrees with distinction are awarded on the basis of rank, which is determined by the cumulative GPAs of the LSA graduates. Students who rank in the top 3% of the class receive a degree with "Highest Distinction," those in the top 10% receive "High Distinction," and those in the top 25% receive "Distinction." Levels of distinction are noted on both the diploma and the transcript. The GPA ranges for the distinction notations are determined each May, based on the cumulative GPAs of LSA graduates of the Winter degree period. Those same numbers are used for the August and December degree periods of that calendar year. Link here to Historical Distinction Levels for more details.
