Sam Dubnansky said he made some assumptions this year that will prevent him from graduating in May.

Dubnansky (senior-recreation and park management) said he failed a class required for his major and was unable to make it up this semester.

In addition, when he tried to get an engineering design course to count as a general education arts course, he was denied and fell short of the required credits.

For these two reasons, Dubnansky said he will unexpectedly be staying at Penn State for another semester.

As graduation approaches, some seniors, like Dubnansky, may be unaware of basic things they must do to avoid problems with graduation.

If students have not met their credit requirements, a list of those who potentially might not graduate is sent to the Registrar's office, Cheri Gallagher, senior associate registrar, said.

In such a case, the office pulls the diplomas of those students. Even on the day of graduation, a final list is sent to the office and some diplomas are pulled and some are put back, she added.

Bob Mitchell, premedicine major director, said all the departments in the Eberly College of Science ask graduating students to attend an advising meeting at the end of the fall or beginning of the spring semester to make sure all required credits will be fulfilled.

Bonnie Benjamin, academic adviser for the College of Engineering, said the college also conducts similar interviews.

Mitchell said his college's staff members will check the remaining audits of students who do not schedule an adviser meeting by the fifth week of the spring semester, in addition to checking whether that student filled out the intent-to-graduate form on eLion, which seniors must do. If there is a conflict with either the audit or form, the student is notified via an e-mail message.

Tom Pilholski (senior-electrical engineering) said he was able to schedule his classes on his own without seeing an adviser, but he was required to set up a meeting to review his entire transcript this year.

John Merritt, division of undergraduate studies program coordinator for the College of Earth and Mineral Sciences, said some students might try self-advising on purpose.

"Some students also find ways to sabotage themselves because it is time to move on with life and it is pretty scary stuff," he said.

The English department leaves it up to the students to come in for advising because they are considered adults, said Diana Gruendler, an English department adviser.

She added that the advisers have a close relationship with their students and the department does not require a certain number of visits for students.

Jennifer Moore, English undergraduate staff assistant, said the department does require students who need to take their senior seminar class during the final year to see an adviser to make sure they have enough credits and to override the control on the class.

Penn State spokesman Matt McDonald said seniors will not receive diplomas or transcripts until their bursar accounts are paid in full; however, they can participate in the graduation ceremonies. "It is not a common situation at the university because most students' bills are paid beforehand," Penn State spokesman Bill Mahon said.

Parking Office Manager Jean Harris said if parking balances are not paid, the office does not hold up graduation for students. However, the students' transcripts will not be released to them for job applications or admissions until the balance is paid.