Graduation verses Commencement
by Johnna Williams | February 6, 2009
It happens daily: a learner calls in and asks about the process involved for graduating with their PhD. This is an exciting time, and rightfully so! Still, there are processes involved, and from my experience, some clarification is required for nearly every learner who is at this stage.
Learners are eligible to apply for graduation when they have completed Milestone 8 of their dissertation – this means they have completed milestones 1-7, and have a mentor- approved Chapter 4. At that time, there is an application available on iGuide. The learner fills it out, submits it, and once approved by the Registrar, they are notified that their application has been approved. The notification includes the information the learner needs to apply for commencement. You need to be approved for graduation before you can be eligible to walk in the commencement.
Wait a minute! Apply for commencement? There is another, separate process? YES! If a learner is approved for graduation, that essentially means the Registrar has confirmed they are indeed completed through milestone 8. This also means that there is now an established expected date of graduation. And, it means that if the learner wants to, they can participate in the commencement ceremony. Commencement is just that: a ceremony. It is not the completion of the dissertation or PhD, and learners are not able to use any title or credential after walking across that stage. It is an opportunity to celebrate the achievements and progress in their program, and share that with their loved ones. Capella currently holds two commencement ceremonies each year.
Graduation only occurs after the degree has been conferred. This can occur at the end of any month, but it is only after the learner receives a notification indicating that their degree-conferred transcript is ready, that they are considered graduated. It is at this time that the credentials may be used.
A word of caution here: use of credentials includes adding “PhD” behind your name, or representing yourself as a PhD. The use of “ABD” and/or “PhD Candidate” is inappropriate, as they are not earned credentials. Only a regionally or nationally approved certification (not certificate) or a completed degree should be included behind any learner’s name. I add this because we see this type of issue frequently!
In summary, if you are working on your dissertation and are collecting data and writing your Chapter 4, you should be having a conversation with your advisor about applying for graduation!
11 Responses to "Graduation verses Commencement"
Donna Reid says:
This is very helpful information. I was unaware of such a process that must take place before recieving the final degree.
Johnna Williams says:
Donna:
Thank you for your honesty. I think that most of us believe that we know most of the parts of any process or program, but it is always a good idea to verify each individual step. The devil is in the details – that is really where this process is made or lost.
I don’t always remember the exact way to hook up my digital camera to download pictures to my computer – I don’t do it everyday, so I forget parts of it. So, I need to review the important steps that are salient each and every time, to be sure that I don’t overlook something critical. The doctoral and dissertation processes are the same – always be sure what you should be doing! I tell learners it’s like your job – you certainly aren’t going to assume you know a new process!
I am glad I could provide you useful information!
Johnna Williams
Cathy Sherwin says:
Johnna, thank you for the helpful clarification. Here’s one way I think about it…the difference between “commencement” and “graduation” is similar to the nuance separating a “wedding” and “marriage.”
Most of us think of both subjects synonymously because they often happen together. However, they’re very different. The “wedding\commencement” is a ceremony that celebrates the paper certificate that you get with a “marriage\graduation.” You CAN have one without the other, though it doesn’t happen often.
This isn’t a bullet-proof comparison, but it helps me keep them straight!
Great topic–thanks!
Cathy
Johnna Williams says:
Cathy:
This is a great analogy! I think of the two as completely separate events, but certainly there is a ton of overlap, as they relate to each other intimately. You are correct: you can commence without graduating, and you can graduate without commencing. Most people want to attend the commencement, though, (I think) so that they can give something back to their support system – their family! It really is an awesome event.
Thanks for your feedback!
Johnna
Cynthia Sheppy says:
Hello All,
Three of my friends are graduating in March, I plan on being there to support them. Does anyone know what the protocol is for Capella Learners to attend the ceremonies?
Cynthia
Johnna Williams says:
Cynthia:
The protocol for attending Capella’s commencement is that each learner who is participating (walking) is allowed 4 tickets. Any additional tickets must be requested by the learner in advance, as space is limited for this occasion. Here is the policy/process from iGuide:
To ensure that there is room for all graduates to have guests in attendance at the Commencement ceremonies on Saturday, we need to limit each graduate to four guest tickets for a ceremony. Attendees will receive their guest tickets when they check-in for the commencement weekend. Please note the commencement schedule to ensure that you are checked-in for the event in time to pick up your guest tickets. If tickets are not picked up by the ceremony’s check-in deadline, they will be given out to waiting guests on a first come, first served basis.
So, if one of your friends provides you a ticket, you are set! If not, you may be able to get one of those that aren’t picked up. Unfortunately, there is no way to predict how many of these there may be.
Johnna Williams
Joyce Walden says:
Ms. Williams,
You wrote: “The use of “ABD” and/or “PhD Candidate” is inappropriate, as they are not earned credentials….”
Where can I find CU’s specific policy or guidelines that support your assertion that CU learners cannot refer to his or her academic status through use of such titles? I perused the course catalog and the policy handbook to no avail, or maybe, I overlooked the information. Thanks.
Jonathan Gehrz says:
Joyce,
Our apologies, Johnna Williams is no longer advising (is now actively engaging her own internship and working towards dissertation completion) and it appears your question went unanswered. Previously, the use of terms, such as “ABD” and “PhD Candidate” and their inappropriate use was found in the University’s Code of Conduct policy. Today, Capella has broadened that policy to be more inclusive of all degrees and programs, stating “Learners may not intentionally provide false information or forge, alter, or falsify university documents. Learners may not misrepresent their academic record or status (which includes referring to oneself publicly as a “doctor” prior to the conferral of an earned doctoral degree). Learners may not present the academic work of others as their own…” While it no longer “policy,” Capella does not currently recognize or make use and further discourages the use of such terms. You will find some programs (example: the School of Education’s Instructional Design for Online Learning program, discuss such matters in relation to etiquette, http://www.capella.edu/IDOL/etiquette.aspx.) Certainly, as doctoral education continues to mature, we can expect further dialogue on the “ABD Phenomenon”/debate to continue, as there strong recognition that a myriad of factors contribute to such an outcome (financial difficulties, relationships with mentors, advisors and/or committees, research problems, personal or family related issues, employment or economic interference, family demands, loss of interest or motivation, etc.) But today, I would discourage the use. With all due respect to those who have come close, but not finished, such designations are reflective of a credential that has not been earned and therefore, represent no credential at all.
Margaret Varro-Tharpe says:
Regarding “All-But-Dissertation (ABD)”
If Capella has a policy that ABD (Ph.D. candidate), etc. not be used, I have no problem accepting and following that policy. However, there are two issues here: One that pertains to looking forward (Capella’s position), and one that pertains to looking backward (the position apparently followed in other corners). The first has already been discussed. The second recognizes that a person who has passed comprehensives, has written 3 chapters of a dissertation, and has gone through the process of arranging for research, editing a paper, posting documents on IRBNet, and has received approval to proceed with research has certainly achieved beyond what is achieved by those who have earned Education Specialist degrees. (How this pertains to fields other than education is something the reader will need to extrapolate for him/herself.) One may even question whether or not the mere completion of comprehensives at the Ph.D. level exceeds that which is accomplished at the Ed.S. level. While it may be true of other fields as well, it is definitely true that the field of education is very hierarchical. The possession of a degree (or credential) sometimes gives one voice beyond what s/he would have otherwise. Consequently, the argument could be made that the educator who has accomplished all-but-dissertation and who is working under someone who holds an Ed.S. may deserve to allow that to be known, particularly when the one with the Ed.S. has decision-making power, and the ABD educator has the expertise of her/his field. Titles have never been an important issue with me, but if subtly making it known what one has accomplished in order to have one’s position heard is what is needed to help students, then it is difficult to fault. Then there is the issue of being paid at the level of one’s accomplishment. When approvals drag on and on while those with the Ed.S. are paid at the higher level, then one can easily begin pondering the fairness of standing on the principle of “ABD is no degree at all.” Oh, well.
Meme Watson says:
I understood that once comprehensive examinations were completed with a pass, doctoral students could then be called a doctoral candidate. Apparently I was misinformed.
John Martin says:
I just completed my Milestone 15 and have finally earned the title Dr. I have been involved in academia for over a decade teaching during graduate school. The term ABD is commonly used in employment postings at the college level. While many of Capella’s graduates are working in the business sector, and I realize few may be aiming towards acedmic positions, the use of ABD is common.
I believe it may be uniquely accepted in academia because the interview process typically starts with November applications, interviews in January-March, with the position actually starting in August, nearly a year after the applications began. Due to this it is reasonable to allow someone who has nearly completed their PhD to use the term ABD, because they have plenty of time to actually graduate.
I do agree that the graduation rate is low at the PhD level. In my first program at ISU I saw at least 50% of the PhD’s leave the program. The Stanford Review once stated that 5 out of 6 PhD students do not complete their degrees, but I wonder what the graduation rate is for individuals who achieve the ABD level. I should think it is much lower.
I would also think that at Capella the gradaution rate is higher since the common problems of committee infighting, department political issues, professors who refuse negative results, and other problems occur less at Capella than some of the more cut-throat research oriented universities.