Items in this table should be submitted or held no later than the date given for the
term.
Degree completion task
Spring 2026
Summer 2026
Fall 2026
Application for degree / Exit survey
February 16
February 16* June 15
September 14
Request to schedule Oral Defense
April 17
July 3
November 13
Oral Defense
May 1
July 17
November 20
Graduation requirements Notification of completion received by Graduate School
May 8
July 26
December 4
University Commencement **
May 15
NONE
December 13
* Master's students planning to complete their degree in the summer, who file by the
spring deadline, will have their name printed in the spring commencement program and
the optional inclusion of their thesis title, if desired. ** Check online at wichita.edu/commencement for specific details about your commencement ceremony.
Note: Doctoral students must be hooded and their degrees awarded in the ceremony following
degree completion. So, summer doctoral candidates participate in the following fall
ceremony, rather than the preceding spring ceremony. Exceptions can be made if doctoral
students have successfully defended their dissertation and the defense paperwork is
on file in the Graduate School before the spring ceremony. Contact the degree Audit
Specialist at 316-978-3095 or email wsugradschool@wichita.edu for details.
Request to Schedule Oral Defense
When you're ready to schedule your oral defense, you must fill out the Request to
Schedule Oral Defense form to have your defense approved by the Graduate School. Submit
the form at least two weeks before your planned defense date. At the same time, you
should distribute copies of your thesis or dissertation to all members of your committee,
to allow them ample time to review your document. The Request to Schedule Oral Defense form is available on our website and in the Graduate School office.
Degrees are conferred at the close of the summer (July), fall (December) and spring
(May) semesters, although commencement ceremonies are held only in December and May.
