Registrar Overview | Graduation | Integrative Master's Project | Independent Study | Certification and Licensing
Bank Street College will graduate students upon completion of all program requirements. In order to ensure that this takes place in a timely matter, be sure to read the following information carefully.
We advise you to keep careful track of your progress throughout your program, but we will need to check your file to ensure you are on track for graduation. To initiate a review of your file, fill out the Graduation Application form by the appropriate deadline and submit it to the Registrar's Office. Please see the Graduation Application Deadlines. Indicate the month and year that you intend to graduate. This form is also used to order your diploma and call your name at commencement so please keep this in mind when filling out the form. Commencement of an Independent Master's Project will initiate a file review as well. Please note that this review does not take the place of advisement or your own familiarity with your program requirements! It is your responsibility to stay on top of your situation. Be sure that you discuss all program requirements, including the appropriate credits required for your program, with your advisor so that you are not notified in your final semester about missing requirements.
When your file is audited, we will be checking for the following:
An audit letter will be sent to you and a copy will be sent to your advisor detailing the results of the review. Please pay careful attention to the information in the audit letter. You will not officially graduate until all outstanding issues are cleared up and your Independent Master's Project is accepted.
Dual Degree students must complete all requirements for Bank Street College and either Columbia or Hunter in order to graduate. Be sure to apply for graduation at both institutions.
Students enrolled in programs requiring an Integrated Master's Project (IMP) must adhere to the appropriate deadlines depending on the choice of IMP. Click here for the information regarding the Independent Study timeline and procedure.
Portfolio and Independent Study students please note that a library Acceptance Form is required.
When you officially graduate, a packet of materials is sent including information about applying for New York State Certification. Step by step instructions for completing the state's new online certification application via the TEACH system are included, as well as a personalized information sheet indicating the information you will need to enter into the TEACH system to apply for the appropriate certificate(s). Be sure to enter the information from the form exactly as it appears on your information sheet. Your program code is listed in Step 1 of the Student Application Information form. It is the five digit code preceding the NYSED name of the program you completed at Bank Street. Failure to select the appropriate program in the system will cause the TEACH system to determine that you are ineligible for the certificate(s) for which you are applying. Go to http://www.bankstreet.edu/gs/cert.html for complete requirements and instructions.
Be sure that you complete all of the other requirements for certification including exams and fingerprinting! Certificates are not issued until all requirements are met. Please go to (link to certification and licensing page) for more information.
If you already had certification before attending Bank Street and will be using your Bank Street degree to meet the master's degree requirement for professional certification, you must follow a separate procedure for obtaining that certificate. Please visit (link) to find out what steps you will need to take.
You must settle your financial obligations to Bank Street College with the Business Office, return books borrowed to the Library, clear any Library fines and complete a Library Orientation before you graduate. If you are a financial aid student, you must complete an Exit Interview for your Stafford Loan or Direct Loan with Louis Palefsky or with Cathy Coleman in the Business Office (7th floor) for a Perkins Loan. A hold will be placed on your record should you fail to complete these requirements and your diploma and/or transcripts will not be released until all obligations are met.
Diplomas are printed off site and take approximately three months from the date of gradation to be returned to Bank Street. Diplomas are not distributed at Commencement. All diplomas are mailed to the address indicated on the Application for Degree Completion form at least three months after your official graduation. If you change your address with the Registrar's Office after submitting the Application for Degree Completion form, the diploma will be sent to that address. Questions regarding diplomas should be sent to Bettina Tillman at blt@bankstreet.edu .
Bank Street has one Commencement ceremony in May. Students who graduate between June and May are invited to the ceremony. Those who anticipate completing requirements in the spring semester are invited to May Commencement as well, however, only those completing all requirements before the ceremony will be permitted to participate in Commencement. There are no exceptions!
Invitations to Commencement are sent during the spring semester. We ask that you reply promptly even if you will not be attending so that we can plan accordingly. You will be able to purchase a cap and gown if you wish, however they are not required. Please submit cap and gown forms as soon as possible so that we can order your size if necessary. You can download the cap, gown and ticket request form here. You will be notified by mail when your cap and gown are ready for pick up in the Registrar's Office. Please note you will need to show photo ID or inform the office that someone else will be picking up your materials. A signature is required verifying receipt of the packet.
Graduates are allocated six (6) tickets each but we ask that you only request the number of tickets you will actually use. Requests for additional tickets must be made in writing to the Registrar≠s Office and will be considered only if space permits based on the number of graduates attending and guest tickets requested. Please note that we are unable to notify students about extra tickets until two weeks prior to the ceremony. Tickets will be included with your cap and gown if you ordered them, or, if you do not order a cap and gown they will be mailed to you.
Approximately one month prior to the ceremony, a letter explaining the details of Commencement is sent. It is imperative that you pay careful attention to these details.
Graduation 2011 will occur on May 26, 2011 Students who complete their degree requirements between June 2010 and May 2011 will be invited to the Graduation Ceremony. Students who complete their degree requirements between June 2011 and May 2012 will be invited to the May 2012 Graduation Ceremony.
Questions about this information should be addressed to the Registrar's Office.