Diploma Mailing Schedule

Recent Ceremony Diplomas

Diplomas 

• I am a recent graduate. How long does it take to receive my diploma? Diplomas are mailed 4 months after each semester ends.
• How long does it take to receive my duplicate diploma? Diploma processing and orders take 4-6 weeks. Diplomas are not kept in the office. 
• Clearing a Financial Hold: If you clear your hold, do not expect to receive your diploma immediately. Diplomas have to be processed and will take several weeks before they are ready. We appreciate your patience and understanding.
• Financial Holds: The University policy is to hold any diplomsa for any graduate that has any financial obligation to the University in any amount.  Therefore, you need to clear your financial hold with the Bursar's Office prior to us releasing your diploma. All accounts are checked prior to any diploma being processed. 
• Mailing Timeframe: Diplomas are mailed 4 months after each semester ends.
• Updating Addresses: A graduate has 1 (ONE) month to update their address with the Commencement Office directly. Do not simply update your address with the University. We only send diplomas to the address listed on the graduation application.
• Have not received diploma: You have up to on year to notify us of your diploma not received. If a graduate informs us after one year of the graduation date, the graduate is responsible for ordering the diploma by paying the diploma fee https://www.memphis.edu/commencement/diplomas/index.php. 
• Reorder Duplicate Diplomas: To order duplicate copies of your diploma, visit https://www.memphis.edu/commencement/diplomas/index.php.
• Digital Diplomas: We do not have digital diplomas. Please contact the Registrar's Office. 
• Diploma processing and orders take 4-6 weeks. Diplomas are not kept in the office. 
• We answer most messages within 24-48 hours, standardly.  All diplomas are mailed from the Processor and not available for pick up at anytime.
• Verification of Degree: Some graduates need confirmation that they have graduated from Employers, Agencies, and other Organizations. In most all cases, the organization or employer is not asking for your diploma specifically. Even if the wording says diploma, they simply need proof that you have graduated. Thus, you can simply to your MyMemphis account and find your Unofficial Transcript and locate the information on the transcript that states you have graduated. It even says the date. Continue to read on about the diploma process and how to update addresses, if needed.

Diplomas

Upon successful review, your degree will be certified, and diploma processed. Diplomas are mailed 4 months after each commencement and not available earlier. You should ensure we have your correct address on your Graduation Application. We only use the Address on Step 3 of your Graduation Application to mail diplomas. Only contact us after 4 months if you do not have your diploma. Peers may receive their diploma before you do, but this does not mean your diploma is not mailed. Postal practices differ in various locations. If you need proof of graduation or confirmation of graduation for Employers, Agencies, and other Organizations, the organization or employer is not asking for your diploma specifically. Even if the wording says diploma, they simply need proof that you have graduated. Thus, you can visit your MyMemphis account and find your Unofficial Transcript and find the information on the transcript that says you have graduated at the time this becomes official. 

Updating Diploma Mailing Address

• You have one (1) month after Commencement to update your address with our office. To update your office, email us at commencement@memphis.edu no later than one month after the commencement date. On the email include Name, Unumber, Major and New Address (Street, Apt #, City, State, Zip Code) to mail your diploma. It is your responsibility to update your address with The Commencement Office. Your receipt of this email is confirmation of your understanding. Simply updating your address on the portal does not update your diploma with this office. Update your diploma address with the Commencement Office directly as said in this email. It is your responsibility to understand this and comply. Failure to update your address one month after Commencement: If you do not update your address within the time indicated, you will be responsible for ordering a copy of your diploma on our website (There is a cost of $20.00). All diplomas are mailed standard USPS. If you do not receive your diploma and contact us with a new address-different from the one of your graduation application-you will be sent the reorder link and upon processing the diploma will be sent to the new address, you provide to us on the form. It is your responsibility to understand this.

Diplomas: What do they look like? What is on them? 

Diplomas will only reflect the degree name, any undergraduate honors distinctions, and undergraduate departmental honors. Majors, Minors and Concentrations are available on your transcripts and will not be placed on the diploma. Graduate Students do not have honors distinction. 

• Student’s name as listed on Step 3 and Step 4 of the application. 
• College or School Name 
• Degree Name 
• University Name 
• Date of Graduation 
• Undergraduate Academic honors, if earned 
• Undergraduate College honors, if earned 
• Undergraduate Departmental honors, if earned 
• No, we do not have digital copies. Contact Registrar. 
• For more information, revisit https://www.memphis.edu/commencement/apply/index.php. 

Damaged Diplomas

• If your first diploma arrives damaged that we will mail to you, please contact us, and send photographs of the damage (diploma, mailer, etc. must be visible in the photo and damage must be easily seen and unfiltered, etc.). We will replace the diploma and send it back to the same address it was mailed originally. 

Understanding Second Majors & Graduate and Undergraduate Certificates

• Second majors do not take part in the ceremony. Second majors do not receive a second diploma.
• The University recognizes degrees. Although a student has a major area, we award degrees specifically. If your major falls within the same degree area or under the same degree name, this is considered a second major. If you or your Advisor do not clearly understand this process, contact your Graduation Analyst who are the experts in the area. Examples: If you obtained a Bachelor of Arts from the College of Communication and Fine Arts in 2000 with a major of Journalism, and then, you return to put more work into a major in History in 2025, this is considered a second major. Why? Although history is under the College of Arts & Sciences, both Journalism and History would earn a student a Bachelor of Arts degree (same degree type).
• You cannot receive more than one degree in the same name. Therefore, the Bachelor of Arts diploma earned in 2000 is the diploma that stands. The additional/second major would be on the transcript only. A second major allows a student to have two different majors while overlapping coursework generally requiring less coursework than a dual/double major. 
• Double Degrees do call for a second diploma:  The other major must be under a completely different degree type and unlike second majors, dual/double degrees will require additional coursework —most times doubling the coursework of an individual who only obtains a second major since the coursework is typically in common for the second major. Majors are not listed on the diploma. 

Graduate and Undergraduate Certificates

• Graduate and undergraduate certificates are mailed at the same time as diplomas.
• Graduates receiving only the graduate certificate, or the undergraduate certificate do not take part in the ceremony.
• The Commencement ceremony is for those obtaining degrees only.

Where is my diploma?  

• If you do not have your diploma by the 4-month date after Commencement, you have until 1 year to let us know.
• Individuals who do not contact us by our deadline awill be charged the duplicate diploma fee of $20.00 for a copy of their diploma.
• It is the graduate's responsibility to contact timely. 

More on Diplomas

• Diplomas are mailed 4 months after each Commencement. They are not available for pick-up. 
• The address on your Graduation Application is what we use. 
• If you have an update to your address, email us one month after Commencement Day. Do not simply update your address with the University. Again, the address we use is the address that is listed on our graduation application. 
• If you do not update your address by our deadline above, you will be charged for any reprints, if necessary.
• We do not have digital copies. Please contact Registrar. 
• If you have a financial obligation with the University, your diploma will not be processed or mailed until after we are notified that the fees are paid in full. To pay off any financial obligations visit student business services. 
• Unofficial Transcripts can be found on your MyMemphis account and include your degree/conferral of degree information.
• The official document of your degree is the Transcript and Degree Verification. The Registrar oversees Transcripts and Degree Verification for schools and jobs. You can reach them at 901-678-2810 or online at https://www.memphis.edu/registrar/. 
• For academic related questions and overall certification of your degree, contact your Advisor or Graduation Analyst https://www.memphis.edu/commencement/graduates/graduation-analyst.php. 
• Diplomas are mailed standard USPS. No tracking is available.

No diploma will be released to any student that has a financial hold or has not completed requirements for certification.

Individual Diploma Orders and Duplicate Reorders 

• Clearing a Financial Hold
  • If you have recently cleared a hold, contact us via email ONLY at commencement@memphis.edu with your Unumber, Major and Full Mailing Address. The information will be checked. If the hold is cleared and no further issues, the diploma will be processed and mailed 4-6 weeks from day of inquiry.

• Individual Diplomas
  • Diplomas reordered for any reason will be available 4-6 weeks from the day of inquiry, excludes holiday schedules, vacations or scheduled maintenance.
• Duplicate Reorders
  • Once we receive your diploma or duplicate diploma reorder request, it will take approximately 4-6 weeks. The diploma will then be mailed to the address provided.