University to award more than 5,600 degrees

With the recent completion of the 2020 spring semester, Ohio University is in the process of awarding more than 5,600 graduate and undergraduate degrees.

On March 18, OHIO President M. Duane Nellis announced the postponement of the 2020 Spring Commencement Ceremonies due to the COVID-19 pandemic. When a new Commencement date is chosen, it will be widely publicized and posted on the University’s Commencement webpage.

“I am so proud of our students for their adaptability and perseverance during these historic times,” Nellis said. “I am looking forward to the day that we can all be together safely to honor the accomplishments of our Class of 2020.”

According to the Office of the University Registrar, there are more than 4,100 undergraduate degree candidates and more than 1,000 graduate degree candidates this spring. 

The totals don’t include the 154 Bachelor of Science Nursing degrees or 223 Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine degrees awarded on April 18, 2020. One additional medical degree will be awarded on May 9, 2020.

Brenda Cox, assistant registrar for academic records, said most of the doctoral degrees were awarded on Friday, May 1, but all other degrees should be awarded and posted to the students' records by Tuesday, June 2.

“Remember these are candidates and there will be students who will be denied their degrees,” Cox said. “The alternative grading process this semester has delayed degree conferral by about a week.”

Cox said students have until Wednesday, May 13, to opt for the conversion of their instructor’s original grade to a “satisfactory” grade. Colleges will have until noon, Friday, May 15, to review the requests and contact students if they feel a different choice should be made.

She said the grades will convert to “satisfactory” for those who opted in and final spring semester grades will be available to the students on Monday, May 18 – the same day that the reports to confer or deny degrees will be sent to the colleges.

Degree decisions from the colleges are due back to the Registrar’s Office on Tuesday, May 26. The colleges will have until noon, Friday, May 29, to finalize any degrees that could not be completed by Tuesday.

During a typical year, Cox said the master’s, bachelor’s, and associate degrees are posted to the students’ records about four weeks after the end of the academic term, but this year that process will be delayed a few days. Diplomas will be ordered and sent directly to the students beginning June 17.

“The Office of the University Registrar would like to congratulate everyone on their accomplishments and wish them much success,” Cox said.

Dr. Joseph Shields, OHIO’s vice president for research and creative activity and dean of the Graduate College, gave special recognition to this year’s graduate degree recipients.

“Completing a graduate degree is a challenging undertaking under normal circumstances, and the COVID-19 pandemic has subjected our graduate students to a host of additional obstacles and stress,” Shields said. “I commend our students who have completed their degrees for their perseverance under such difficult circumstances. Their accomplishments, already impressive, stand even higher as a result.”