Office of the Registrar
Diploma
About the Diploma
The college diploma is a ceremonial representation of the degree awarded, whereas the official transcript is the legal documentation of it. The diploma as a ceremonial document will not indicate the major or minor programs of study since the transcript, as the legal document, contains this information.
Graduates from the College of Liberal arts received diplomas written in Latin, continuing a tradition dating back to the earliest commencement ceremonies at Rollins College. This practice was suspended in 1954 but re-established by the Board of Trustees during the presidency of Dr. Thaddeus Seymour in honor of the College’s Centennial in 1985. Latin was once the language of scholars and the Latin diploma befits the liberal arts tradition of the artium baccalaureus and artium baccalaureus honoris degrees awarded by Rollins College.
Many prestigious institutions in the U.S. (and elsewhere in the world) continue to honor their historic traditions by issuing diplomas in Latin. The list includes Harvard, Columbia, Yale, and Princeton Universities; the University of Pennsylvania; Barnard and Radcliffe Colleges; and McGill University (Canada), among others. Faculty at Harvard reconfirmed their commitment to a Latin diploma as recently as 1999, and students at Seton Hall passed a Student Government Association Resolution during the late 1990s asking that their institution reinstate the Latin version of their diplomas, which had been changed to English the year before. Below is the English translation of the Latin diploma.
FROM THE PRESIDENT AND TRUSTEES OF ROLLINS COLLEGE TO ALL READING THIS DOCUMENT GREETINGS IN THE LORD
BE IT KNOWN THAT WE ARE PLEASED TO BESTOW ON
"NAME"
STANDING AMONGST THE CANDIDATES OF THE FIRST CLASS THE TITLE AND RANK OF BACHELOR OF ARTS ACCORDING TO THE RECOMMENDATION OF THE PROFESSORS AND ON ACCOUNT OF HIS/HER MERITS
AND WE GIVE TO HIM/HER ALL RIGHTS, PRIVILEGES, DUTIES, AND SYMBOLS PERTAINING TO THIS RANK IN WITNESS TO WHICH FACT WE SIGN OUR NAMES BELOW HAVING EMBOSSED THIS DOCUMENT WITH THE SEAL OF THE COLLEGE
GIVEN AT WINTER PARK IN THE STATE OF FLORIDA ON THE ___ DAY OF MAY IN THE ___ YEAR OF OUR ERA AND THE ____ YEAR OF THE COLLEGE
In Spring 2023 the College of Liberal Arts adopted the English diploma. Graduates who received their diploma in Latin can request a replacement diploma in English by completing the replacement diploma request form.
The diplomas from the Hamilton Holt School and the Crummer Graduate School of Business are issued in English and reflect the more recent additions of these programs in Rollins’ history.
Diploma printing services are completed through Jostens Inc. The size of undergraduate and graduate diplomas are 8 1/2 by 11 inches.
Diploma Delivery
Diplomas are issued three times a year. Spring graduates receive the diploma at Commencement. Summer and Fall graduates receive diplomas 2-3 weeks AFTER the term graduation date when the degree certification process is complete.
- Spring Graduates - at Commencement in May
- Summer Graduates - by early September
- Fall Graduates - by early February or at Commencement, if requested
Graduates who do not attend Commencement, will have the option to have their diploma mailed (via U.S. Postal Service) or the option to pick their diploma up. The Office of the Registrar will confirm via email, the graduate's preferred method. Timeframe will be at least 2-3 weeks after the ceremony. Please note if the provided address is international, shipping will take longer than domestic mailing.
May graduates who do not attend commencement cannot receive their diploma before the ceremony.*
Replacement Diploma and Apostille
To Order A Replacement Diploma for any Rollins College Degree:
Please complete and send the request form to registrar@rollins.edu. The form can only be submitted by the graduate and must be notarized. The cost is $45 and payments are submitted online. Once payment is received the order will be placed within 2-3 business days. For domestic mailing, please allow at least 2-3 weeks for diploma arrival and for international mailing, please allow at least 4-5 weeks. Contact registrar@rollins.edu, if the diploma does not arrive within the specified timeframe.
Apostille Diploma
Alumni and graduates who are requesting an Apostille Diploma have two options. The original diploma can be sent to the Office of the Registrar or a new replacement diploma can be ordered. The diploma will then be signed by the College Registrar and notarized by a Notary Public. There is no additional charge for the diploma to be signed and notarized by the Office of the Registrar.
Once completed, the diploma will be sent to the requestor in which they will need to send it directly to the Florida Department of State to be apostille.
For more information and instruction, please visit the Florida Department of State website:
https://dos.myflorida.com/sunbiz/other-services/apostille-notarial-certification/