Seminary Graduation | Northwind Seminary

Graduation and Academic Honors:

Students may request graduation after completing all unofficial transcripts and degree plan requirements, including clearance from the Writing Center and Financial Services.

NTS degrees are processed on the last working day of the month.

Graduation packets are shipped 3-6 weeks after the degree is processed.

NTS Degree Graduation Process

The Faculty Mentor submits the grade for the Final Degree Paper.
The Final Degree Paper is then forwarded to the Writing Center for a review of:
- Format based on Final Degree Paper Outlines
- Turabian 9th edition for abstract, footnotes, citation, and bibliography
- Grammarly Check (Including Plagiarism and AI Check)
The student then completes any required edits and resubmits the Final Degree Paper to the writing center using the SUBMIT YOUR PAPER button on the STUDENTS page.
If the student's resubmission is not approved, they will be referred to a developmental editor at Northwind Institute for assistance on a fee-for-service basis.
Students have the option of using an external editor. If the student chooses an external editor, NTS will only review one submission from external developmental editing. If additional reviews are required the student and external editor will be referred to a developmental editor at Northwind Institute for assistance on a fee-for-service basis.

If the student does not complete the developmental editing successfully, they will not pass the final paper for their degree and will be required to re-enroll in the Final Paper OLE (course).

MSMin Capstone Paper
DSMin Treatise Paper
MA/MAL Thesis
DMIN Project Paper or Dissertation
DThM / ThD Dissertation
After approving the Final Degree Paper, the Dean of Student Learning invites the student to submit the Graduation Application.

The Graduation Packet includes:

Graduation Letter
Padded Diploma Cover
Diploma
Unofficial Transcript
Official Transcript

NTS does not hold an annual in-person graduation ceremony.
Students are considered to be graduated when they receive the Graduation Packet shipment.

Students may request a Virtual Graduation Celebration at their church or a private event with family and friends.

A private graduation celebration is a personalized online celebration of your Northwind journey with your Faculty Mentor, family, friends, and key individuals from the seminary. If you select this option on the Graduation Application, an NTS Representative will contact you to arrange the details.

Students in an approved Cohort may request an in-person Graduation Ceremony in Florida.

NTS periodically holds a Gathering in Florida that includes lectures, fellowship, lunch, and an opportunity to reenact a graduation ceremony, complete with regalia, hooding, diploma presentation, and photo opportunities.

Students may request Honor Cords and/or Medallions based on their GPA

Honors: single braided honors cord

Honors: GPA. of 3.5 to 3.9

High Honors: double braided honors cord
High Honors: GPA. of 4.0

Distinction: Honors medallion

Distinction: GPA. > 4.0

Honors Society

In each Oxford Season, the Faculty may recommend, and the President may select a Valedictorian and Salutatorian from the students graduating with Distinction or High Honors. The President may also select a President's Award recipient for innovative work in their final degree paper OLE (Course).

Michaelmas from September to December

Hilary's term from January to April

Trinity term from May to August

Additional Information for students in Kairos Degrees

After the NTS Writing Center has approved the final degree paper

The NTS Dean of Student Learning invites students to submit their Graduation Application.
The student completes the Graduation Application below (this includes the payment of the graduation fee).
The Graduation Application triggers NTS to submit the Notice of Completion Form to Kairos.
Kairos will then complete a degree audit.
When the Kairos Degree Audit is complete, Kairos will open the Kairos section of the Continuing Well course on their platform, and NTS will send an invitation to complete the Northwind section of Continuing Well.
After completing the Continuing Well course on the Kairos platform (including submission of the required student & faculty assessment forms), Northwind will then submit the final Master Assessment Form to Kairos.
The student's fee subscription is canceled, and the student's status is changed to Alumni.
Invitations to join the Alumni Association and participate in a Postgraduate Publishing experience are emailed.
Kairos will process the graduation and ship the Diploma.

Graduate candidates are given the option of selecting how they would like to be recognized upon the completion of their degree program. A private graduation ceremony is a personalized online celebration of your Kairos journey with your mentor team, family, friends, and key individuals from the university. If you select this option, Kairos Representative will contact you to make arrangements after you have completed Continuing Well. Please note that partnership students who chose a private graduation ceremony will need to ensure a representative from the partnership is available to participate.

In addition to academic requirements for graduation, students must meet all financial obligations to Northwind Seminary and Kairos University.

Kairos degrees are processed on the last day of the month.
Kairos Diplomas are provided through Parchment, which is a third-party supplier. Diplomas are typically received within 6-8 weeks of the conferral date.

Academic Regalia for NTS Degrees

Academic Colors are Maroon & Gold

Masters Regalia includes a Master’s Gown with tapered sleeves and a Mortarboard cap with black or maroon tassel.

Doctoral Regalia includes a Doctoral Gown with maroon front panels, three maroon chevrons with gold trim on the sleeves, a Maroon and gold Hood, and a Tam cap.

Doctoral Degrees with approved cohorts have the option of designing a custom Doctoral Gown and using the standard Hood and eight-sided TAM cap with a gold tassel. Approval by the President is required for this option.

Students graduating with Honors may request Honor Cords/ Medallions.