Graduation Certification Process

The Process

1. Meet with a counselor/advisor
2. Submit documentation if required
3. Submit graduation application online
4. Receive email notification of application status
5. Receive diploma by postal mail

1. Meet with a counselor/advisor

Students are strongly advised to meet with a counselor/advisor prior to submission of the application to insure that all requirements can reasonably be completed by the last day of the semester/term for which the student has applied.

2. Submit documentation by deadline

• Transcripts - If needed, candidates must provide:
  • Official transcripts from other institutions
  • Submit the request form online for an Evaluation of Previous Educational Experiences (if any)
• Approved course credits and/or course substitutions, any other relevant documents
• Computer competency
• Insure that the student mailing address, as noted in SIS, is current and accurate.
  • Commencement information and diplomas are mailed to the student’s mailing address, as recorded in SIS.
  • To make revisions, students will need to complete and submit a Student Data Change form to any campus Enrollment Services Office, or may make the changes online in the Personal Portfolio section of SIS.
• Additional graduation requirements

3. Submit graduation online application by the deadline

Students wishing to graduate with a degree, certificate, or career studies certificate are required to complete and submit an online Application for Graduation.

• The application deadlines are firm.
• Carefully complete the application, leaving blanks only when necessary or not required.
• Everything requested on the application is needed by the Central Records Office to process your application and to provide needed data to other offices.
• Note that you must include your SIS/Empl ID and TCC E-mail account!
• Print confirmation page
  • Upon submission of your application, you will receive a confirmation page.
  • Please print the confirmation page and retain a copy for your records.
  • If you do not receive an automatic confirmation, please attempt to submit the application again. Please also notify the Central Records Office immediately by emailing graduate@tcc.eduso that a staff member can investigate possible technical malfunctions.
  • Note that applications submitted electronically after the deadline for submission will be moved to consideration for the following semester/term.

IMPORTANT

• Please don't submit an application if you cannot reasonably expect to graduate by the end of the term for which you applied.
• If you apply after the deadline, your application will be moved for processing and consideration during the following semester/term.

4. Graduation application status notification

Upon review of the student's application and approximately one to two months prior to the degree conferral date, the student will receive one of the following three status letters from the Graduation Team directed to their TCC E-mail account.

NOTE: Students who have an inactive TCC E-mail account may expect a status letter to be mailed to the address of record in the College's Student Information System.

• APPROVED: Indicates that the student has met all of the graduation requirements and has been approved for graduation.
• PENDING:  Indicates that, upon successful completion of courses in which he/she is currently enrolled and/or upon completion of the College's computer competency requirement, the student will have met all curriculum requirements.
  • Once grades have been submitted for the semester/term, Central Records will begin its final review for students in Pending status.
    
    NOTE: Pending students should not expect any additional correspondence from us at this point.
• INCOMPLETE: Indicates that student has outstanding requirement(s) and does not appear to be ready to graduate.  If the student will be submitting additional documenation and/or believes the decision has been made in error, the student should respond to the e-mail and provide supporting information.  If the student will not be graduating, the student must reapply for graduation for consideration during a future semester/term. 
  • Students who receive an Incomplete letter should contact a counselor/advisor to determine what curriculum requirements they may be lacking.
  • After meeting with a counselor/advisor, if the student and student’s counselor/advisor believe an error has been made by Central Records (mistakes can happen!) or if additional documentation is expected, immediately e-mail Central Records at graduate@tcc.edu within 10 working days.  If the supporting information is helpful to the student’s case and the student is indeed expected to meet graduation requirements, the student will then be updated to PENDING or APPROVED status. NOTE: Students must use their TCC E-mail account to communicate with Central Records personnel via E-mail.

5. Diplomas mailed

Diplomas for approved applicants will be mailed to the student's current mailing address, as recorded in SIS, within 4 to 6 weeks of the actual conferral date.

Questions about your application? E-mail graduate@tcc.edu.

Questions about commencement? Call the TCC Information Center at 757-822-1122.