Recognizing that undergraduate and graduate students complete the requirements for their degree(s) at various times throughout the year, and that the date of completion of all requirements should be recognized at the earliest practical date on students' diplomas, the Board of Trustees, at their meeting on September 17, 1986 empowered the president to grant degrees at the end of each quarter. This is done upon the recommendation of the academic deans, with the approval of the faculty and certification by the Director of Student Information and Records.

A list of prospective degree candidates for each term is generated based on the application for degree forms submitted by students who expect to complete their degree requirements in a given term. This list is used by the colleges to clear students for graduation which is done at the end of each term's grading cycle. The timeliness of this process is imperative to avoid unnecessary billing and record-keeping functions.