If you are in "graduating" status, that is, if you have no more than 12 units left to enroll in the AA program, you may apply for graduation.  Application for Graduation is required for you to be considered as a Candidate for graduation for that term.  If you do not apply for graduation on or before the deadline, you will have to wait for the next term in order to become a Candidate for Graduation.


When a student applies for graduation, the Faculty Office looks at the student records and evaluates it if indeed the student is in his or her last term.  If this is true, then the student records are evaluated for completeness and the FICs are alerted as to whether the grades from the previous terms are already in.  


At the end of the term, the names of all the Candidates for graduation are presented to the Faculty Councils, first to the Faculty Council of the Faculty of Education, then to the University Council of the UPOU.  The Councils then decide on whether to recommend the candidates for graduation based on their academic standing.  This is also when deliberations for Latin Honors are held.


A list of the recommended Candidates for Graduation are then passed on to the UP Board of Regents for approval.  If approved, the candidate is now considered a Graduate of the UP Open University.


The process for conferring a degree is a long and complicated one, so it really is important for the student to take the first step by applying for graduation.  The process is actually very simple:


  1. Start by reading this.
  2. Download and fill up the Application for Graduation.  Some clarifications:
    1. Under "Educational Background", list the colleges/universities that you have attended thus far.  Write N/A under Date Graduated if you did not graduate from the course.  This facilitates the records section in creating your Transcript of Records.
    2. Under "Change of Name", indicate if you have changed your surname (i.e, upon getting married), so that your old records (i.e., transcripts and birth certificate) in your former name are reconciled with your new name.
  3. Email the signed and scanned form to your Faculty Office (fed@upou.edu.ph) cc the records@our.upou.edu.ph.  Make sure that the scan is very clear.
  4. There is no fee for Application for Graduation.
  5. Wait for the Faculty office to advise you on their initial evaluation of records.


If the Faculty Office evaluated your record and found that you need more than 1 term to graduate, it is ok, no harm done.  You will just have to apply again in the next term (when you are hopefully truly on graduating status).