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Registration and Graduation Policies
P1 - Letters of Certification

Policy

Letters of Certification (In Progress)

Procedure

  1. Requesting Degree Requirements Completion Letters (Master’s and Doctoral students).
    1. Once a student has satisfied all necessary requirements as listed in the process section of the policy and has filed their intent to graduate in LionPATH, the student initiates a request for a Letter of Certification in LionPATH.
      1. If any of the requirements are not met, the request cannot be processed. The student will receive a message with the reason that they are not eligible for a Letter of Certification.
      2. The student will need to submit a new request in LionPATH if a previous request was deemed ineligible and the requirement has since been satisfied.
    2. After confirming the student has satisfied all necessary program requirements and the student is approved for graduation in LionPATH, the graduate program head or Director of Graduate Studies approves the request for Letter of Certification in LionPATH.
      1. If determined that requirements have not been satisfied, the request will not be processed. The student will receive an email with an explanation as to why the request has been denied.
      2. The student will need to submit a new request in LionPATH if able to satisfy the requirements after being denied.
    3. Graduate Enrollment Services verifies in LionPATH 1) that all necessary requirements for the letter of certification request have been satisfied and 2) the date on which the final requirement was completed.
      1. If determined that not all requirements have been satisfied, the request will not be processed. The student will receive an email with an explanation as to why the request has been denied.
      2. The student will need to submit a new request in LionPATH if able to satisfy the requirements after being denied.
    4. The request is submitted to the Senior Associate Dean of the Graduate School for final approval and certification. Approved requests result in a signed letter of certification, which includes the student’s name, degree, major, the date that the final requirement was satisfied, and the date that the degree will be conferred.
    5. Graduate Enrollment Services informs the student that the letter of certification is ready for pick up or has been sent to the address listed on the Letter of Certification form.
      1. Graduate Enrollment Services sends a copy of the letter to the appropriate graduate program head.
      2. Graduate Enrollment Services copies DISSA and the Office of Global Programs on all letters of certification for international students.
    6. Processing Time
      1. Requests for such certification letters from the Graduate School will be fulfilled in approximately 1-2 weeks.
  2. Requesting Final Oral Examination Passed Verification Letter (Doctoral Students Only).
    1. Once a student has successfully passed the final oral examination the student initiates the Request for Letter of Certification in LionPATH.
    2. Graduate Enrollment Services verifies that the student has passed the final oral examination and the date on which the examination was completed. Requests for such letters from the Graduate School will be fulfilled in approximately 1-2 weeks.
      1. Denied requests will be returned to the program with rationale for denial.
      2. Approved requests result in a signed letter for the director of Graduate Enrollment Services, which includes the student’s name, degree, major, and the date of the examination.
    3. Graduate Enrollment Services informs the student that the letter is ready for pick up or has been sent to the address listed on the Letter of Certification form.
  3. Requesting Comprehensive Examination Passed Verification Letter (Doctoral Students Only).
    1. Once a student has successfully passed the comprehensive examination the student initiates a request for a Letter of Certification in LionPATH.
    2. Graduate Enrollment Services verifies that the student has passed the comprehensive examination and the date on which the examination was completed. Requests for such letters from the Graduate School will be fulfilled in approximately 1-2 weeks.
      1. Denied requests will be returned to the program with rationale for denial.
      2. Approved requests result in a signed letter for the director of Graduate Enrollment Services, which includes the student’s name, degree, major, and the date of the examination.
    3. Graduate Enrollment Services informs the student that the letter is ready for pick up or has been sent to the address listed on the Letter of Certification form.

Forms

Letter of Certification Student Desktop Guide

Further Information

Information Sheet for Requesting a Letter of Certification

Revision History

  • Revised by The Graduate Council, Nov. 17, 2020. Effective immediately.
    • Changes to accommodate LionPATH form delivery.
  • Approved by The Graduate School, Jan. 3, 2019. Effective immediately.
This page was generated on April 16, 2024 at 9:23 AM local time. This may not be the most recent version of this page. Check the Penn State Graduate School website for updates.