Graduating Senior
Procedures and Deadlines

HUSOC Graduation Ceremonies

Graduation Applications

MFA GRADUATE

UNDERGRADUATE
NOTE: If you are using a Mac to fill in any of these documents, please ensure that you are using Adobe Reader and NOT Apple Preview.

Exit Interview

An Exit Interview is required for debt management counseling session for all borrowers who have received a Federal Direct Subsidized/Unsubsidized Loan disbursement. A borrower will need to complete an exit interview if any of the following conditions apply:

  • Enrolled in school with less than half-time student status:
    • 5 credits or below for undergraduate students
    • 3 credits or below for graduate / professional students
  • Withdrawing from Howard University.
  • Transfer to another school.
  • Graduating from Howard University.

Interest does not begin on the Subsidized Direct Loan until payments begin after a six month grace period. However, interest accrues on a continual basis on the Federal Direct Unsubsidized Loan from the time of disbursement. A borrower may either pay the interest or allow it to capitalize. Capitalized interest is unpaid interest that accumulates from the time of disbursement until payment begins and has been added to the principal balance of the total amount borrowed.

Three Exit Interview counseling online sessions are available at www.dl.ed.gov. Students with Direct Student Loans must conduct their exit interview via the web at https://www.myedaccount.com/. An assigned Office of Education PIN (personal identification number) is required to access this secure site. You may receive a pin number by accessing the website at www.pin.ed.gov.

Clearance for Graduation

Each candidate for graduation is personally responsible for obtaining clearance for graduation. You are urged to consult Ms. Bernadette Terry-Williams, senior academic counselor, to determine if you have met all academic and financial requirements in order to graduate. If you have not been financially cleared, you must report to the Office of Student Accounts/Student Financial Services to settle your account in order to be eligible for graduation. Only candidates with official University clearance by both the HU SOC academic counselor and the Office of Student Financial Services will be approved for graduation.

To obtain financial clearance, you must adhere to the following:

  • Payment of the graduation fee. Personal checks are not acceptable.
  • Recipients of University Emergency Loans must clear the Student Loan Office. Personal checks are not acceptable.
  • Recipients of Perkins, Health Professional Loans, Loans for Disadvantaged Students, Nursing, and/or Long Term University Loans are required to have an exit interview with the Student Loan Office. Contact the Student Loan Office for an appointment at (202) 806-2570.
  • Students with Direct Student Loans must conduct their Direct Loan exit interview via the web at www.dlservicer.ed.gov. You need your Department of Education Pin Number to access your account. If you experience problems, you must contact the Direct Loan office at (202) 806-2570 by April 19, 2010. Library fines must be satisfied at Founder’s Library or any branch library.
  • All outstanding obligations for tuition, room, meals and related fees must be satisfied in the Student Accounts Office. Personal checks are not acceptable.
  • Recipients of Stafford (GSL) or non-subsidized Stafford Loans are required to have a financial aid clearance exit interview. Contact the Office of Financial Aid and Student Employment for an appointment at (202) 806-2820. (Note: This is not the same as the Student Loan Office).

It is your responsibility to clear with each of the above offices before your name can be submitted to the Dean of the HU SOC as being financially clear. If you have any additional questions regarding your student account, please call (202) 806-2600 or (202) 806-2610.

Cap and Gown

The academic costume consists of cap, gown, hood, tassel, and black shoes.

The cap is an essential part of the academic costume and is to be retained on the head throughout the academic exercises, except during prayer and the singing of the Alma Mater. In particular, the cap is not to be removed at any point during the Conferring of Degrees. The hood is not to be worn until the actual Conferring of Degrees by the President of the University.

The University will issue souvenir academic costumes consisting of cap, gown, tassel, and hood. (See Distribution Schedule for Academic Costumes, released in the spring of each year.)

In addition, please be advised that an official Howard University Kente stole depicting academic excellence will be available for purchase at the time and place of distribution.

All graduate academic costumes are acquired at the Howard University Bookstore (The “HUB”). Each candidate must complete all academic and financial requirements and obtain clearance slips before acquiring academic costumes. Academic clearance slips are issued from the Academic Advisory Office. Candidates may receive further instruction via the HUB Graduation Center.

The HUB will host the Graduation Center Pick-up Fair. Graduates must present a valid ID and Graduate Clearance Slip before payment and receipt of caps and gowns. Details about the fair will be posted on the HUB website. Important: To assure receipt of a properly fitting academic costume, you should know your head or hat size, and your height and weight. A size chart will be provided at the HUB to assist you in selecting the appropriate costume size.

HU SOC Graduation Celebration Details

Recognition of Degrees

  • At the direction of the Dean, the candidates will rise, face the rostrum, and remain standing at attention.
  • The Chair presents the class to the Dean of the School.
  • The Dean recognizes the degree.
  • Names of all prospective graduates are called and prospective will walk across the stage.
    • Details of these celebration ceremonies will be released in 2010.

SPECIAL NOTE: Graduation ceremonies are a joyous and special occasion. It is a time for celebration and merriment. You are reminded, however, that Commencement is a formal University function. You are requested to maintain the order and solemnity of the proceedings. It is a courtesy we owe each other and our guests.

Tickets, Parking and Metro

Tickets

Tickets are not distributed nor required to attend the HUSOC graduation celebrations.

Parking

For those with special needs, parking may be available on a first come first serve basis. However, an arrangement to be dropped off on the main campus is strongly recommended.

Metro

The Green line on Metro has a stop for Howard University. A university shuttle will also be available to transport attendees onto campus. To access the Metrorail map, click here.