Today some students could cry because of a missed deadline.
Yesterday was the last day for seniors graduating in December tofile their intent to graduate form.
"I had students come into my office crying, saying they havemissed their deadline," said Ella Daniels, nursing schoolgraduation analyst.
All students have to go through someone like Daniels to gettheir transcript scrutinized, checked and double-checked in orderfor students to graduate.
"I do use scare tactics" to get students to meet thisall-important deadline, second only to the freshmen's admissiondeadline, said Daniels.
Most students, said Angie Hollis, College of Communication andFine Arts graduation analyst, had already been advised in thespring to graduate in December, but as always, she has had a fewstragglers.
For those few students reading this article who have not yetfiled their forms, the first thing to do is contact the TestingCenter in Wilder Tower to sign up for the Senior Exam. Graduationanalysts can't do anything with out proof of registration for thisexam.
When some of Daniels' students do come in after deadline, "I sitthem down, buy them a Coke, and see what I can do." Usually she cando many different things. "We do have a heart," she said.
But she stresses that students should make deadline because ifthey don't, it not only puts pressure on her but also on thedifferent channels through which a graduation request has togo.
"When you leave The (U of M), there are deadlines you have tomeet, and this a good way to start," Daniels said.
Hollis advises students who have missed deadline to "please callimmediately," because usually if students call right away, they canstill graduate on time, although each student will be taken on acase-by-case basis.
Students who wish to avoid the rush and pain of not knowing whatthey need until it is too late can start the process before theirsenior year even starts.
"After they finish their junior year, they can start takingtheir senior test," said Daniel J Poje, director of academicprograms and assessment.
Once seniors sign up for the test, they can take it untilgraduation. While the test has no minimum or failing grade,students are encouraged to do well, Poje said.
But taking the senior test does not guarantee graduation if thestudent misses the intent to graduate deadline, said Karen Jackett,University College graduation analyst.
"Missing deadline can postpone graduation until the next term"Jackett said, but as always, "it depends on the situation."
