Why should I submit a Declaration to Graduate?

So, why is the declaration to graduate form so important?  Foremost, it lets the registrar’s office know that your graduation is imminent so we can begin evaluating your degree requirements and validating your student record information.  It also only takes about 5 minutes!

• “Section 1: Student Information” 
  • Information in this area helps us check your full legal name to make sure all spellings are correct on the official transcript and diploma.
  • We also ask for the phonetic spelling (and suggest you email a recording of your name) to help the readers pronounce your name during the commencement ceremony.  We've come up with some "interesting" pronunciations when left to our own devices! 

• “Section 2: Graduation Term, Degree, Major/minor Information” 
  • This section lets us know when you plan to participate in the ceremony and when you anticipate completing your degree requirements. These two dates are not necessarily the same. For instance, some graduates will walk with their class in May, but not finish their requirements until the following August or December.We don’t know if there is a difference unless you, the student, tell us.
  • On occasion, a student’s major or minor is not up to date on their record. If a major/minor has not been declared, it will not be evaluated by the relevant department, approved or listed on a student's transcript. We ask each student to checks eSaint to ensure their major(s)/minor(s) are properly listed before submitting the declaration form. The declaration serves as our final attempt to iron out any discrepancies before graduation.
  • Please keep in mind that there is a limitation regarding minors. Page 20 of the University College states, "A student who has declared a single major may elect one OR two minor fields; a student who has declared a double or combined major may elect ONLY one minor field."

• “Section 3: Commencement Participation” 
  • This information tells us if you plan to participate in the commencement ceremony as is expected. Non-participants must inform the registrar’s office in writing with an explanation of the circumstances that prevent their attendance. An area is provided on the form for non-participants to explain their case to the Registrar.
  • This section also informs us if you are a 3/2 student. These students spend three years at St. Lawrence and finish their final two years at a different university with which SLU has a pre-arranged agreement. 3/2 students receive both a St. Lawrence diploma and diploma from the second institution.  They generally walk with their class at commencement and receive their diploma the following year once all requirements have been satisfied.

• “Section 4: Are you related to someone at St. Lawrence?” 
  • Information here lets us know of any child/spouse/partner relations at St. Lawrence University so they can be recognized at the ceremony. 

Now that you understand just why this submission is so important as a senior, please complete it if you haven't already by clicking here.