Expedited Degree Conferral

Upon completion, New Mexico Tech graduates qualify for a “Letter of Completion” which certifies that the individual has completed all of the requirements for their degree, but that the degree will be awarded at the end of the next semester.  Except for Federal agencies (notably the Department of Defense) and the State of New Mexico this letter will suffice for the job application process and initial period of employment.  For those potential employers who will not accept a “Letter of Completion,” New Mexico Tech has adopted a policy to facilitate the expedited transcription of degrees for graduates.  The expectation is that such approvals would take approximately one month. 

The process:

1. Nomination by the Department – Initiation of the process for expedited degree conferral must be initiated by the student’s major department or program.  A form is provided for the nomination process.  Part of the responsibility of the department or program is to establish and report on the need for expedited conferral.
2. Submission of Completion Materials - The student must have an Intent to Graduate form on file.  Students are encouraged to submit completion materials immediately, but to qualify for expedited handling all required completion documents must be on file with the Registrar (in the case of undergraduates) or the Graduate Office (in the case of graduate students) no later than 5:00 pm on the day two weeks prior the next scheduled meeting of the NMT Regents or at the close of registration for the Summer semester, if it is summer. 
3. Degree Audits - The Registrar and Graduate Office will process completion documents on a highest priority basis.  It is expected that this process will take no more than one working day.  Once judged to qualify for completion, the name(s) of student(s) completing will be sent to the Office of the Vice President for Academic Affairs.
4. Faculty Senate Approval - Names received by the Office of the Vice President for Academic Affairs will be posted to a web page as completing students and electronically mailed to all members of the Faculty Senate.  Members of the Faculty Senate are encouraged to review the names of completing students immediately and to notify the Office of the Vice President for Academic Affairs no later than one week after posting if there are perceived problems with the completion of a student.  Such notifications should contain details as to the problems related to completion for that student. 
5. Challenges to Degree Completion - Challenges to the completion of a student registered by faculty will be examined by the Registrar and Graduate Dean.  Should the issues identified not be resolved, the case will be referred to the Faculty Senate. 
6. Submission to and Approval by the Regents - The names of students approved by this process will be immediately presented to the New Mexico Tech Regents.  The date of degree for those approved will be the date when approval was made by the Regents. 

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