2024-2025 College Catalog

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Graduation Requirements

BSS220- Professional Transition    

 

All students must complete BSS220 during the final semester of coursework in the program award for which they intend to graduate. This institutional course provides final preparation for graduation and entry into the new career field chosen by the student. Student must apply for graduation and pay graduation fees to be eligible for graduation.   

 

Associate in Arts, Associate in Science and Associate in Applied Science Degrees  

 

A student shall be awarded the Associate in Arts, Associate in Science, or Associate in Applied Science degree upon satisfactory completion of the requirements of the specific program as specified in the program outline.  A student must: 

  1. Satisfactorily complete 60-76 semester hours of college credit in an approved program of study, including prescribed general education courses.
  2. Earn a 2.00 overall cumulative GPA in all courses attempted at the College. The calculation of the GPA for graduation shall not include grades earned in institutional credit courses. A course may be counted only once for purposes of meeting graduation requirements.   
  3. Complete at least 25 percent semester credit hours at the College granting the degree.
  4. Be enrolled during the semester in which the degree is earned; or, with approval of the Dean of Instruction, within a calendar year of the last semester of attendance; or receive the degree by transferring from a regionally accredited institution no more than the last ten hours required for completion of the program with a minimum grade of "C" in the courses transferred. Those students enrolled in linkage programs explicitly approved in writing by the Chancellor who have successfully completed a prescribed program mutually acceptable to the colleges involved are exempted from this requirement.
  5. Make sure that the program instructor submits a recommendation for graduation to the Dean of Instruction.
  6. Fulfill all financial obligations to the College.
  7. Pay the graduation fee to participate in the graduation ceremony.    

The Dean of Students will review the recommendation for graduation submitted by the program instructor for compliance with school standards. The Dean will either approve or disapprove the recommendations; if disapproved, a reason will be given and corrective action needed by the student will be indicated.

 

Certificates  

 

A student may be awarded a credential other than a degree upon satisfactory completion of the requirements of the specific program as specified in the program outline.  

A student must:

  1. Satisfactorily complete an approved program of study.  
  2. Earn a 2.00 cumulative GPA in all courses attempted at the College. The calculation of the GPA for graduation shall not include grades earned in institutional credit courses. A course may be counted only once for purposes of meeting graduation requirements.    
  3. Complete at least 25% of the semester credit hours at the College granting the award.
  4. Be enrolled during the semester in which the award is earned; or, with approval of the dean of instruction, within a calendar year of the last semester of attendance; or receive the award by transferring from a regionally accredited institution no more than the last ten hours required for completion of the program with a minimum grade of “C” in the courses transferred.  
  5. Make sure that the program instructor submits a recommendation for graduation to the Dean of Instruction.    
  6. Fulfill all financial obligations to the college including the payment of the graduation fee.    

The Dean of Students will review the recommendation for graduation submitted by the program instructor for compliance with school standards. The Dean will either approve or disapprove the    

recommendations; if disapproved, a reason will be given and corrective action needed by the student will be indicated.

 

Award of Achievement

 

Students who complete one or more courses and are not interested in meeting the requirements of higher awards, will qualify for this award which simply indicates completion of the courses taken.    
A student must: 

  1. Complete one or more courses. 
  2. Request that the registrar issue the “Award of Achievement.”
  3. Fulfill all financial obligations to the college including payment of the fee for issuing the award.    

Graduation Honors  

  
Graduation Honors for Associate Degree Awards    

 

Superior academic achievement by graduating students shall be recognized by the following designations on transcripts:  

     

Designated Honors GPA

Graduation with Highest Honors 3.90-4.00

Summa Cum Laude

Graduation with High Honors 3.70-3.89

Magna Cum Laude

Graduation with Honors 3.50-3.69

Cum Laude

Graduation Honors for Certificate Awards
 

Graduation with Distinction 3.50-4.00

 

GPA Calculation Procedures for Determining Honor Graduates  

 

Calculation of the GPA for graduation honors shall be identical to that method used to calculate the GPA to fulfill graduation requirements for the degree or certificate being earned. In addition, in order to be eligible for a graduation honor, the student must have completed 32 semester hours at the College conferring the degree or other formal award.  

  

Conferring of Degrees  

 

Please allow processing of two to three weeks after the end of each semester for conferred degrees to appear on transcripts.