Diplomas and Certificates

Your first and last names on your diploma/certificate must match your official name on your university records. For your middle name, you may choose to include your full middle name, your middle initial, or no middle name. You may also include suffixes, such as Jr., Sr., II, etc. Any changes to your diploma/certificate name must be made before the commencement date.

Information about changing your name with the university can be found here. 

Diplomas include the degree earned, name of your major(s), and academic honors (if applicable). If your major has a major option approved by the Missouri Department of Higher Education, the major option will also appear on the diploma. Major areas, concentrations and minors do not appear on the diploma.

Students who complete a double major will be issued one diploma with both major names listed. Students who complete a double degree will be issued one diploma per degree. Students completing double degrees must apply for each degree separately when applying for graduation.

Certificates include the name of certificate only.

Diplomas/certificates will be mailed approximately six to eight weeks after the degree conferral date to the diploma/certificate address on file in the Registrar's Office.

The address indicated must be good for that time frame. Diplomas/certificates will not be forwarded by the Post Office. This address is only used to mail your diploma/certificate. If you update your primary/local mailing address it will not change your diploma/certificate address. 

You can make changes to your diploma/certificate mailing address in MyCentral.  Be sure to update the diploma mailing address (and not one of the other address fields).  If you move to an address other than the one on file in the Registrar's Office and fail to notify the Registrar's Office, we cannot guarantee you will receive your diploma/certificate. Returned diplomas will incur a $10 fee to be mailed again. A fee is required before a duplicate will be ordered.

If your diploma or certificate is damaged in mailing please contact your local Post Office. A fee is required before a replacement can be ordered.

The University does not have a copy of your diploma/certificate on file. If you find an error on your diploma or certificate, you have up to one year to report this to the Registrar's Office and request a free replacement. Before a replacement may be ordered, the original document must be returned to the UCM Registrar's Office. All other requests for replacements are considered a special order and cost $25.00 per document. There are no express services available for diplomas/certificates. Replacements may only be requested by and issued to the graduate. 

Replacement documents will have the name of the university as "University of Central Missouri."  

To order a replacement diploma e-mail, mail, or fax (660- 543-8400) this form to the Registrar's Office. 

To request an apostilled diploma/certificate, please contact the Registrar's Office at 660-543-4914.

Information from the Missouri Secretary of State: https://s1.sos.mo.gov/Business/Notary/notary/certify.

The apostille is a specific form of authentication that is prepared pursuant to an international treaty known as "The Hague Convention Abolishing the Requirements of Legalization for Foreign Public Documents". The convention eliminates the need for authentication above the level of the Secretary of State and is only accepted by countries that have signed the treaty. The country in which the documents will be used determines the type of certificate that this office will attach to the original document.

Procedures for obtaining an apostille, authentication, or certification

• School Documents - must be certified copy from the school (see Missouri Notary Handbook for example). The face of a diploma should not be altered. The registrar will sign a statement, which is typed on the BACK of the diploma or transcript. The wording is this statement says the diploma or transcript is either the original record issued by the school or a copy of the original document issued by the school and the date is was issued. The signature of the registrar is witnessed by a notary public.
• Notarized Documents - must have the proper notarization on the document including the notarial paragraph, notary's signature and seal (see Missouri Notary Handbook for information).

Once the document(s) have been notarized by UCM, they should be sent to:

Commissions

Secretary of State's Office

600 West Main, Room 322

Jefferson City, MO 65101

Note: A letter stating what country the documents will be sent to, a return address, and a contact phone number and e-mail address must also be included with the documents sent to the Secretary of State's Office.

The Secretary of State's fee for certifying documents is $10 per certification or authentication. Examples of fees charged: If one document contains multiple notarizations all by the same notary the fee is $10; if multiple documents all contain notarizations by the same notary the fee is $10 per document; if one document contains multiple notarizations by different notaries the fee is $10 per notary. The Secretary of State's Office accepts checks and money orders made payable to the Director of Revenue; Mastercard; Visa; American Express; and Discover. Credit card payments will incur a small convenience fee (see more information here). To pay by credit card, the following must be included in your letter:

• Your name exactly as it appears on the credit card
• Credit card number
• CVV code on the back of the card
• Billing zip code for the card
• Approval fo the office to charge the account

Documents sent by special delivery using a credit card for payment must include a completed air bill. Documents will be returned regular mail unless there is a prepaid envelope with an addressed air bill included with the documents.

UCM does not charge for apostille or notary.

A great way to show your Central Missouri pride and to let the world know about your accomplishment is to frame your diploma or certificate. A variety of custom frames and mats are available from the University Store. Shipping and handling charges apply to orders placed via the web or phone. Check the website for the complete assortment.