Getting Started

1. How do I receive a graduation packet?

Call 303-556-2717 and request that a graduation packet be sent to you. Or drop by NC 5012 and pick up a packet directly from Sue Green.

The graduation packet includes:

--an Application for Admission to Candicacy Form, with a list of all courses in your program of study;

--a comps form, indicating that you're completing a portfolio for comps; and

--a diploma card, indicating how you'd like you name to appear on your diploma.

2. When are the deadlines for submitting my graduation packet?

Request this packet before the semester begins, and submit it to your advisor the first week of the semester you plan on graduating. This means the last week of May for summer graduates. You may sign up for 1-4 hours of masters project credit, to reflect the work of compiling your portfolio and completing projects. This can be done over the telephone now, but you need a call number from your advisor.

3. When is the portfolio due to my advisor?

Deadlines are:

Summer..........July 10

Fall..................November 6

Spring..............April 2

Submit the portfolio to your advisor, who then shares the portfolio with the ILT faculty as a whole. All incomplete grades must be resolved by the time you turn in your portfolio.

4. Why is the submission deadline so early in the semester?

Everything is dictated by the Graduate School deadine. They want exam decisions on all graduating students by a certain date. This means our staff person needs reports from faculty a couple of weeks ahead of that date. Faculty members need a couple of weeks to review the projects. ILT faculty like at least a week--and hopefully two--to review the project.

The Portfolio

5. What is allowed to go into the portfolio? Must it come directly from a class?

Any professional ILT products and projects developed during the course of the program may be included as portfolio items. This includes work accomplished as part of your job, from courses, independent study, or volunteer activities. Guidelines for compiling your portfolio are provided in Chapter 10 or the ILT Student Handbook, available online at:

http://www.cudenver.edu/public/education/ilt/Handbook.html.

Your portfolio includes a masters project (see Chapter 9 of the handbook).

Criteria used by faculty in assessing portfolios are available online at:

http://www.cudenver.edu/public/education/ilt/portfol.html.

We recommend that you review these criteria carefully and use them in assembling your products.

6. How will I know if I passed the portfolio review process?

Each semester, the ILT faculty meet and review portfolios. If your advisor or the committee detect a problem, you will be contacted and asked to resubmit your portfolio--either quickly for immediate review, or for review the next semester.

If you don't hear from your advisor, it may mean that the portfolio was well-received by the committee, and no changes are in order.

After several weeks, you receive an official letter from the School advising you of having either passed or failed comps.

7. Who keeps the portfolio?

In normal circumstances, you are entitled to keep your portfolio. Occasionally, your advisor may ask your permission to keep your portfolio for a length of time, for use as a model and for consideration in giving awards.

Graduation Forms

8. On the Application for Admission to Candidacy form, do I need to fill out the section entitled, "Thesis/Dissertation Hours"?

No, that's only for doctoral students.

9. Do I need to fill out the white "Comprehensive Exam Registration Form"?

Yes. The university requires all students to complete "comps." In your case, your project and portfolio constitutes the comprehensive exam.

10. On the "Application for Diploma" form, what is my "Major Code" and "Option Code"?

Leave both of those codes blank; our staff support can fill them out.

11. Do I need a Transfer of Credits Form?

On your course of study, you write down courses totalling 36 hours. If any of those 36 hours come from outside UCD, you need to complete a "transfer of credits" form.

12. Some of my hours were UCD hours completed before I was admitted into the program. Is that okay?

If more than 9 of your 36 hours are UCD hours completed before you were formally admitted, then your advisor needs to complete a form, requesting special consideration and a waiver of the 9-hour rule.

13. Do I have to worry about getting the division coordinator's signature?

No. Your advisor reviews, signs, and forward the forms through the system.

14. Anything else?

Just one thing. Please enclose a copy of an unofficial transcript of your coursework. This will help your advisor review your plan of study.