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Diplomas

General Diploma Information

Following commencement in May, college registrars retain diplomas for approximately two weeks. Any student who did not receive his or her diploma at commencement may pick it up at their college registrar office during this period.

On the second Monday following commencement, all diplomas that have not been distributed to students (with some exceptions) are returned to the Office of the University Registrar in B7 Day Hall. The diploma will be processed for mailing.

We must re-order diplomas returned to the University Registrar for the addition of honors. They will be available for mailing by mid-August.

The official graduate's name on the diploma must be reflected on their official student record. Any changes must be recorded in the PeopleSoft Student Records system prior to graduation. Name changes are only made for currently enrolled students who provide specific identification. Only official government issued documents are accepted for name changes, such as a passport, birth certificate or court-issued legal document. A driver's license is not acceptable for proof of name. Replacement diplomas are issued in the name that the student used while attending Cornell.

August and January Degrees

If you are receiving your degree in August or January, diplomas will be mailed to your home address. Please make sure that you have updated your home address in Student Center. This must be done before your degree is awarded. Diplomas cannot be sent to post office boxes. Diplomas of students receiving degrees in August are not available until late October. Diplomas of students receiving degrees in January are not available until late March.

Ordering a Replacement Diploma

If you would like to order a replacement diploma, please include the following information in your request:

• name while attending Cornell University is the name that will appear on the diploma
• graduation date
• type of degree
• major
• Social Security number
• student ID number
• telephone number
• address where you would like the diploma sent (we cannot mail a diploma to a Post Office box)*
• email address
• telephone: day and evening

*We now require signature delivery on all diplomas that we send out.

Mail requests to:
Office of the University Registrar
Attn: Diplomas
B7 Day Hall, Cornell University
Ithaca, NY 14853

Effective November 1, 2008 the fee for replacement diplomas is $350. Make checks payable to Cornell University. Please allow approximately 8 to 10 weeks for the diploma to arrive after you have placed your order.