Graduation

Detailed graduation information is available on the Office of the Registrar website. This information includes important deadlines and eligibility requirements. Students should review this information carefully to ensure successful completion of the graduation process.

Kettering University awards degrees at the conclusion of each term; summer, fall, winter and spring.

Graduation Requirements

Students must apply to graduate to begin the graduation process. The time-frame to submit this application is at least six months prior to your expected graduation date.

In order for an undergraduate degree to be awarded and verified by the Office of the Registrar, the following requirements must be satisfied:

Academic Course Requirements: Meet all specified course work, design credits, earned hours, and project requirements of the degree.

Cooperative Education Requirements:

Students who complete their academic requirement in nine full-time terms or more must attain at least five satisfactory work evaluations at an authorized employer. Three of these five must occur after achieving Junior 1 status.
Students who complete their academic requirements in eight full-time terms (minimum of 16 earned credit hours per term) must attain at least four satisfactory work evaluations at an authorized employer. Two of these four must occur after achieving Junior 1 status.
Students transferring to Kettering University with 24 or more earned hours (sophomore status) must achieve at least four satisfactory work terms at an authorized employer (three after attaining junior status). The work experience terms must be earned while a Kettering University student.
Students transferring to Kettering University with 56 or more earned hours (junior status), without a baccalaureate degree, must achieve at least three satisfactory work terms at an authorized employer. The work experience terms must be earned while a Kettering University student.
Students transferring to Kettering University with a baccalaureate degree must achieve three satisfactory work terms at an authorized employer. The work experience terms must be earned while a Kettering University student.

Culminating Undergraduate Experience Requirement: Satisfactory thesis completion.

Academic Performance Requirements: Achieve a cumulative GPA of at least 2.0.

Financial Obligations

Diplomas are withheld until the student has satisfied all financial obligations with the University. Students cannot participate in commencement if they have not satisfied all financial obligations with the University.

Accelerated Pace to Graduate

It is possible to complete the academic portion of most Kettering degree programs in eight academic terms. Students who are interested in pursuing this possibility should contact their academic department to obtain an individualized accelerated plan and to determine if it is appropriate for them.

Final Degree Verification Letter

Students and their co-op employers may request a final letter when all requirements for graduation are met. Final letters will not be issued until all grades for the graduating term are submitted and posted to the student’s record. Final letters will not be issued once a degree has been awarded, students must request an official transcript.

Graduation Honors

Academic Honors

Summa Cum Laude: Highest distinction based on a cumulative weighted grade average of 3.90 or higher.
Magna Cum Laude: High distinction based on a cumulative weighted grade average of 3.70 or higher.
Cum Laude: Distinction based on a cumulative weighted grade average of 3.50 or higher.

Questions: Contact the Office of the Registrar

Institutional Honors

Outstanding Thesis Award: Recognizes exceptional performance in Kettering’s Senior Thesis Project. Candidates for this award must have received a grade of “Pass with Distinction” on their thesis and be nominated by their faculty advisers.

Questions: Contact the Academic Success Center-Thesis Office

President’s Medal: Recognizes graduating seniors who have excelled in scholarship, cooperative employment, and engagement in the Kettering community and in their home community. Students are nominated by employers, faculty, and staff and are selected by a committee appointed by the President of the University. The number of medals given is at the discretion of the President but generally will not exceed two percent of the graduating class.

Questions: Contact the Office of Student Affairs

Sobey Scholars: This award is made annually in memory of Albert Sobey, the founder and first president of GMI/Kettering University. It recognizes graduating seniors who have been elected to a national honor society and Robots [a Kettering honor society], or will graduate with academic honors. The following students receive the Albert Sobey Memorial Award:

Biochemistry students who are elected to membership in both Gamma Sigma Epsilon and Robots
Biology students who are elected to membership in both Beta Beta Beta and Robots
Business students who are elected to membership in both Sigma Alpha Chi and Robots
Chemistry students who are elected to membership in both Gamma Sigma Epsilon and Robots
Computer Engineering students who are elected to membership in Eta Kappa Nu and Robots
Computer Science students who are elected to membership in both Upsilon Pi Epsilon and Robots
Electrical Engineering students who are elected to membership in Eta Kapp Nu and Robots
Engineering students who are elected to membership in both Tau Beta Pi and Robots
Mathematics students who are elected to membership in both Kappa Mu Epsilon and Robots
Mechanical Engineering students who are elected to membership in both Pi Tau Sigma and Robots
Physics students who are elected to membership in both Sigma Pi Sigma and Robots
Students who earn summa cum laude, magna cum laude, or cum laude academic honors (as of the last completed grade period) and have been elected to membership in Robots

Questions: Contact the Office of Student Affairs