Graduation and Diplomas – BC Knowledge for Students https://students.brooklyn.edu Search for answers to your questions Wed, 17 Sep 2025 20:37:43 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.9.4 https://students.brooklyn.edu/files/2022/03/cropped-favicon-3-32x32.png Graduation and Diplomas – BC Knowledge for Students https://students.brooklyn.edu 32 32 How to: Update Your Diploma Name https://students.brooklyn.edu/knowledge-base/diploma-names-request/ Fri, 02 May 2025 12:17:02 +0000 https://students.brooklyn.edu/?post_type=ht_kb&p=14246 At Brooklyn College, you have the option to personalize your diploma by choosing a diploma name that’s different from your legal first and/or middle name. Whether you want to include a middle initial, drop one, or reflect the name you go by every day, it’s up to you!

This is completely optional and only affects the name printed on your diploma – it won’t change your name in CUNYfirst or on official records.

Just a heads-up: if you’ve added a preferred name to your student record, it won’t automatically carry over to your diploma. Be sure to submit your diploma name if you’d like it to appear!

Types of Names in Your Student Record

Legal Name
This is the name that appears on your government-issued ID, social security card, and birth certificate. It’s the official name Brooklyn College uses in your CUNYfirst record, transcript, and any formal documents.

Want to update it? You’ll need to submit legal documentation to the Office of the Registrar. For information on how to update your legal name, please review these resources.
Preferred Name
Your preferred name is how you’d like to be known around campus whether it’s a nickname, middle name, or something that better reflects your identity. It shows up on class rosters, your BC student email account, in campus communications, and in many student-facing systems, such as CUNYfirst, DegreeWorks, and Schedule Builder.

Just keep in mind: it doesn’t replace your legal name on things like your transcript, diploma.

For information on how to update your legal name, please review these resources.
Diploma Name
Your diploma is a celebration of you, and we want the name on it to reflect that! You can request a diploma name that’s different from your legal name – maybe you want to include a middle name or use the name you go by every day.

Just note: it won’t affect your official records, and using a name that’s too different from your legal one might cause issues with things like licensing or jobs down the line. See below for more information.

Key Things to Know Before You Submit

  • No action needed? No problem. If your legal name is correct in CUNYfirst and that’s what you want on your diploma, you’re all set—no need to fill out this form.
  • Preferred name ≠ diploma name. Even if you’ve added a preferred name to your student record, it won’t be used for your diploma unless you specifically request it here.
  • First and middle name only. You can update your first and/or middle name or initial – whichever feels right for you.
  • Last name stays the same. Your last name must match your legal last name as listed in CUNYfirst.
  • Diploma-only change. This update is just for your diploma. It won’t change how your name appears on your academic records.

Take note!

Choosing a name for your diploma is a personal decision, but it’s important to consider how it might impact you down the road. Using a name that differs from your legal name can lead to complications in certain situations:

  • Professional Licensing: Some licensing boards may require that your diploma name matches your legal name and ID.
  • Employment Verification: Employers often request both your diploma and transcript, expecting consistent names across documents.
  • International Use (Apostille, visas, etc.): Mismatched names can delay international processes or authentication.
  • Name Discrepancies: Any mismatch between your diploma and legal documents may lead to verification delays.
  • Official Records: Your legal name will still appear on your official transcript and in CUNYfirst.

Take a moment to consider whether these situations might apply to you before submitting your diploma name request.

Ready to Request a Diploma Name?

If you’d like a different name on your diploma, enter it exactly as you wish it to appear using the form below.

Please note: Submitting this form does not change the way your name appears in CUNYfirst, on official documents (like transcripts), or in Commencement materials (such as the program booklet). It only affects the name printed on your diploma after your degree is officially awarded.

To access this form, you must sign in using your CUNYfirst login credentials (e.g., firstname.lastname##@login.cuny.edu).

Do not use your student email address (e.g., firstname.lastname##@bcmail.cuny.edu) — it will not grant you access and you will not be able to submit this form. 

Request your Diploma Name Here

When should I expect my diploma?

  • Fall Candidates
  • Winter Candidates
  • Spring Candidates
  • Summer Candidates

Please expect communication regarding your official graduation/degree conferral and diploma from our Degree Audit team by early-mid January each year. All emails are sent to your Brooklyn College student email account. 

For Fall candidates, this form must be submitted by December 31 for consideration. 

Please expect communication regarding your official graduation/degree conferral and diploma from our Degree Audit team by early-mid February each year. All emails are sent to your Brooklyn College student email account. 

For Winter candidates, this form must be submitted by February 1 for consideration. 

Please expect communication regarding your official graduation/degree conferral and diploma from our Degree Audit team by early-mid July each year. All emails are sent to your Brooklyn College student email account. 

For Spring candidates, this form must be submitted by June 1 for consideration. 

Please expect communication regarding your official graduation/degree conferral and diploma from our Degree Audit team by early-mid October each year. All emails are sent to your Brooklyn College student email account. 

For Summer candidates, this form must be submitted by September 1 for consideration. 

Need support?

For any questions on diploma names, please contact us at registrar@brooklyn.cuny.edu. We are here to help!

]]> How To: Order a Replacement Diploma https://students.brooklyn.edu/knowledge-base/how-to-order-a-replacement-diploma/ Wed, 06 Mar 2024 17:59:40 +0000 https://students.brooklyn.edu/?post_type=ht_kb&p=6941 If your original diploma has been damaged or lost, you can order a new diploma. Alumni that have changed their legal name and would like an updated diploma to reflect their new legal name may also order a new diploma.

If you are ordering a new diploma due to a legal name change, the legal name change request must be submitted and processed prior to ordering a new diploma.

Effective August 2, 2022, Brooklyn College now provides Diploma Reorders through Parchment. Students may place a diploma reorder online through their Parchment account.

Video Guides

This video guide explains how to create an account with Parchment.

This video guide explains how to order a replacement diploma with Parchment.

Important Notes

Please be mindful of the following:

  • Be sure your graduation status on CUNYfirst is listed as “Awarded” before placing a Diploma Replacement request. Orders made prior to your conferral date will be cancelled. These instructions describe how to view your graduation status.
  • $30 payment for a replacement diploma covers one degree type (i.e., bachelor’s or master’s degree).
  • If you graduated prior to 2012, your order may take longer to process.
  • Plan ahead and submit your Diploma Replacement request with enough time to meet your deadlines.
  • Contact a Parchment learner support representative for payment discrepancies.

Questions?

For questions on this process or to follow up on your request, reach out to degreeaudit@brooklyn.cuny.edu.

]]> How To: Apply for Graduation https://students.brooklyn.edu/knowledge-base/how-do-i-apply-for-graduation/ Fri, 09 Jun 2023 17:56:12 +0000 https://students.brooklyn.edu/?post_type=ht_kb&p=3869 Instructions

Students are responsible for filing for graduation in CUNYfirst during the semester they plan to graduate.

  • Login to CUNYfirst.
  • Select the Student Center tile.
  • Select the Graduation tile.
  • Select Apply for Graduation from the sidebar on the left
  • Click on the Apply for Graduation link for the academic program you intend to complete at end of the term
  • From the Expected Graduation Term dropdown menu, select the term you intend to complete for your requirements
  • Select Continue to verify data and then click Submit Application.

You will receive a message that you have successfully applied for graduation.

Graduation Application Deadlines

*If you anticipate completing your degree requirements during the winter intersession, contact us to let us know that you anticipate a February 1 graduation date.

If you have missed the deadline to file for graduation, file for the next available graduation date. After you have filed, contact us to alert the Office of the Registrar that you believe you are eligible for the graduation date you missed. Requests are processed according to graduation date and in the order they are received. If you missed the deadline, we cannot guarantee you the graduation date you are seeking.

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