Grace Semester and Late Completion

The semester you defend or re-defend a Plan B report/project, Plan A thesis, or doctoral dissertation, take final oral examinations (or complete all coursework as a Professional/Plan C student), you must be registered for at least one graduate level credit. You will be given until the last day of the next semester (Spring, Summer or Fall) to resolve any incomplete grades, degree requirements and final edits to your report/project, thesis or dissertation. This is known as a Grace Semester.

  • If you successfully defended in the Spring semester, your Grace Semester is the Summer semester.
  • If you successfully defended in the Summer semester, your Grace Semester is the Fall semester.
  • If you successfully defended in the Fall semester, your Grace Semester is the Spring semester.

Student Services (library, Box, VPN, University WiFi, etc.) are deactivated 21 days after your last registered semester. See the Library Access/Student Services During Grace Semester section below for information about retaining services.

Domestic Students

  • Domestic students are not required to register for any courses during the Grace Semester. Keep in mind, Students Services will not be available unless it is paid for. See the Library Access/Student Services During Grace Semester section below for information about retaining services.
  • If your degree requirements are not completed by the end of the Grace Semester, you will be charged a $100 late completion fee for each semester, including summer semesters following the Grace Semester. This fee is not assessed until all degree requirements are complete. You will be notified by the Graduate School when the fee is assessed.

International Students

  • International Students are required to maintain registration to meet visa requirements and should contact the Office of Global Engagement to complete a Reduced Course Load Form to register for USU 7777 during the Grace Semester. There is no registration fee or tuition associated to USU 7777.  International Students will still need to maintain insurance and charged the $125 International Student Fee.
  • If degree requirements are not completed by the end of the Grace Semester, per Graduate Catalog, International Students must register as a full-time student each semester until complete. USU 7777 is only used once. Also, please contact the Office of Global Engagement to review your options.

Library Access/Student Services During Grace Semester

Students who wish to retain access to IT and library services during their grace semester should register for USU 7777. Students who wish to use university facilities in addition to IT and library services, can pay the fees associated with the 5-credit tuition amount at the Registrar’s Office.