Official Certifiers
- Overview
- What is an Official Certifier
- When to contact an Official Certifier
- Updates and Changes
- Official Certifier by Academic Program
Overview
The conferring of degrees is one of the most significant activities performed at Rice as an institution of higher education. Ensuring that students meet the requirements of their selected degree, major, minor, and/or certificate program is an important process performed each semester and each academic year. (For an overview of the Graduation Certification Process, please see this page.)
The certification (or Approval of Major) process is performed using the university’s degree audit system, Degree Works. Each program or department has identified faculty assigned to review and electronically “sign off” and confirm student completion of the program or department's academic credential requirements. These assigned faculty members, known as Official Certifiers, also have the ability, in certain situations, to make course substitutions. Using this Degree Works tool, course substitutions and exceptions, along with all credential certifications, are performed electronically each semester.
What is an Official Certifier?
An Official Certifier is a faculty advisor who has the ability to apply course substitutions and/or exceptions and certify that a student has met the requirements of their selected degree, major, minor, and/or certificate towards the completion of their degree(s). An Official Certifier generally serves in this capacity for a minimum of one full academic year. This includes the certification of degree candidates for December (Fall), May (Spring), and August (Summer) degree conferrals for that academic year. The Office of the Registrar requests that each academic department/program provides the name(s) of the Official Certifier in a ‘roll call’ early in the fall semester each academic year.
When to contact an Official Certifier?
Students should work with their faculty advisor throughout the academic year to review their progress towards the completion of their degree(s). The faculty advisor will assist the student in understanding the courses and credit hours needed to fulfill the requirements of their major, minor, and/or certificate program. The faculty advisor will also work with the Official Certifier when course substitution or exception is needed. The Official Certifier will submit the course substitution or exception via a petition process within Degree Works. The Office of the Registrar will apply the course substitution or exception as requested. In some instances, and in certain situations, additional approvals may need to be obtained. (For example, the Office of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies (GPS) has final approval authority over graduate-level degree/program course substitutions or exceptions and reviews all petitions submitted by graduate-level Official Certifiers. The Office of the Registrar will coordinate with GPS as necessary.)
Updates and Changes
Please note that this list may change due to changes with faculty advisors. Please contact the Office of the Registrar via email (registrar@rice.edu) if an update is needed, or if you have questions about an Official Certifier. All Official Certifiers must have a current security agreement and complete FERPA training.
Official Certifier by Academic Program
The following table lists the Official Certifier for each department and/or academic program for the current academic year: