March 27, 2020: Updates from the Office of Graduate Education

Dear DU Graduate Students,

We hope that despite the global unrest, you found some comfort in friends and family this spring break. The University is committed to your success and academic progress. As we prepare to begin (and continue for Sturm College of Law students) the virtual Spring 2020 term, the Office of Graduate Education is offering many services and resources remotely. This message contains important information regarding extended deadlines, electronic processes, and dissertation/thesis procedures.

During this time of remote work and distance learning, the Office of Graduate Education will accept all forms and form signatures electronically. Find all forms on the Office of Graduate Education website. Send relevant Office of Graduate Education forms and signatures to gradservices@du.edu.

Students graduating in the Spring 2020 Term, completing a dissertation or thesis:

• Students defending a dissertation or thesis in the spring term will be permitted to conduct their oral defense by video (via Zoom or Microsoft Teams) for all committee members to view. In-person defenses will also be permitted as long as they adhere to any federal, state, or local mandates regarding the pandemic. For video conferencing support, please visit the IT support webpage.
• All oral defense paperwork and signatures including the Oral Defense Committee Recommendation form and the Schedule of Oral Defense form can be submitted electronically.
• The Schedule of Deadlines has been updated for the spring term and all deadlines have been extended one week.

Students graduating in the Summer 2020 Term:

• The application to graduate in the summer 2020 term has been extended to Monday, April 13, 2020. If you plan on completing your degree requirements in the summer term, please apply to graduate via PioneerWeb by this date. Detailed instructions on how to apply can be found here.
• Please note if you are pursuing two programs, such as an academic certificate and a master's degree, you must submit a separate graduation application for each program.

The Office of Graduate Education staff is available if you have any questions or concerns. Relevant information for graduate students will be shared on the DU Graduate Life Twitter account. Follow us on social media for timely updates. Please don't hesitate to reach out to gradservices@du.edu.

Sincerely,

Keith Miller
Interim Associate Provost for Graduate Education