Graduation

  Graduation Requirements

In the final semester of enrollment, students should apply for graduation. It is the responsibility of the student to know and to observe the requirements of his/her declared program of study and the rules governing academic work. Students should meet with their student services specialists consistently throughout their MCC tenures to ensure they stay on track towards graduation. The graduation policies and procedures of MCC are as follows:

To graduate from MCC, students are required to:

• Complete the general education requirements of the program.
• Complete the required program core courses, support courses, and prerequisite requirements.
• Acquire a minimum of one third of the required 100-level or above credit hours at MCC to earn a degree; these hours must count toward the degree being earned.
• Acquire a minimum of one third of the required 100-level or above credit hours at MCC to earn a certificate of proficiency; these hours must count toward the certificate being earned.
• Meet MCC’s ongoing enrollment  requirements in order to be subject to the catalog of initial enrollment. Students not meeting MCC’s ongoing enrollment requirements will fall under the catalog requirements currently in effect.
• If a course substitution is required for graduation, a student must meet with a student services specialist in order complete a Course Substitution form. The Course Substitution form must be approved and submitted by the appropriate associate dean or program director to the Office of the Registrar for final posting.
• Earn a cumulative 2.0 or higher grade point average (GPA) on a 4.0 scale. Some specific programs have higher grade requirements for graduation. It is the student’s responsibility to be aware of these program requirements. No degree (or course) is transferable to an in-state university unless students earn a “C” or better in each course.  
• Resolve any indebtedness to the college before the degree/certificate can be awarded.

Note: Students who apply to graduate and do not complete all requirements by the end of the term for which they applied must reapply to graduate.

Graduation Application and Commencement

In the final year of enrollment, candidates for graduation must complete the following steps to ensure successful graduation. Candidates are required to do the following:

• Meet with the local campus student services specialist for initial review of the degree/certificate of proficiency program requirements at least one semester before applying for graduation.
• Complete the on-line application for graduation during the anticipated semester of completion which will initiate a graduation evaluation by the Registrar’s Office to determine if the requirements of the degree/certificate have been met.
• Complete requirements for graduation in the term for which they applied.
• Indicate on the application for graduation their intent to participate in the annual commencement ceremony.
• Complete the graduation survey.
• Submit the completed on-line application for review by a student services specialist.

Important dates are:

*Note: April 11, 2016, is the deadline for spring and summer graduates planning to attend the annual commencement ceremony in May. Students who submit applications after that date will have no guarantee of their name in the commencement program.

**Graduation applications submitted after the application deadline will be subject to a late application fee of $30.00.

MCC conducts one formal commencement ceremony each May. Students who have filed a graduation application by the appropriate deadlines may participate in the ceremony. Students must purchase a cap and gown to be eligible to participate in the commencement ceremony. Caps, gowns, and commencement announcements are available through the MCC bookstore. Participation in the commencement ceremony does not guarantee graduation.

 Evaluation of Graduation Applications

The registrar evaluates the Graduation Application by reviewing a student’s MCC transcript, applicable transfer credits, and cumulative grade point average. Transfer classes do count toward total credits earned for graduation, but are not calculated in the graduating student’s cumulative GPA.

If a student has met all degree/certificate of proficiency requirements, approval is given by the registrar to award the degree/certificate and the degree/certificate is posted on the student’s transcript. Diplomas are mailed by the Office of the Registrar. AGEC certificates of completion graduates do not receive a diploma; however, the certificate will be posted on the transcript. Students should allow a minimum of 10 weeks after the end of the graduation term for applications to be processed and diplomas mailed.

Any students seeking a degree verification may print an unofficial copy of his/her transcript or request an official copy of the transcript showing the degree awarded and date granted. Prior to the end of the term, official transcripts may be ordered for delivery after grades and graduation status is finalized.

MCC reserves the right to evaluate a student’s MCC transcript, applicable transfer credits, and cumulative grade point average to determine if they have earned a degree/certificate of proficiency without a graduation application.

Graduation with Honors

A student’s transcript is evaluated by the registrar for program requirements and the student’s cumulative Grade Point Average (GPA).

To graduate with Honors, degree program students must:

• Complete a minimum of 30 semester hours of their degree program at MCC.
• Achieve an overall cumulative 3.75 GPA for all MCC courses completed by the end of the semester in which they have applied for graduation.

To graduate with Honors, Certificate of Proficiency students must:

• Complete a minimum of one half of their certificate program at MCC.
• Achieve an overall cumulative 4.0 GPA for all MCC courses completed by the end of the semester in which they have applied for graduation.