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  5. P1 - Letters of Certification

P1 - Letters of Certification

Policies

Procedure

  1. Requesting a Letter of Certification (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 J. Jeffrey and Ann Marie Fox 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 International Student and Scholar Advising (ISSA) and the Penn State Global on all letters of certification for international students.
    6. Processing Time
      1. Requests for such certification letters from the Fox Graduate School will be fulfilled in approximately 1-2 weeks.

Further Information

Information Sheet for Requesting a Letter of Certification

Revision History

  • Revised by the Fox Graduate School, Dec. 1, 2025. Effective immediately.
    • Removal of letters of certification types for passing comprehensive or final oral exam.
  • 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.
  • Editorial revisions to reflect the new name of the Fox Graduate School, July 19, 2024