Future Graduation Application Deadline:

January 15, 2009 application deadline for May 2009 graduation

CHECK OUT OUR NEW GRADUATION VIDEO

(less than 2 minutes in length)!

The Central Records Office is responsible for the review of a graduation applicant's academic records to determine eligibility for graduation.  CRO is also responsible for posting academic awards to student records and for mailing and/or distributing diplomas to students.  Students who believe they are close to meeting curriculum requirements should meet with a counselor or academic advisor to verify this.  Upon this verification, students are urged to apply for graduation.  Filing an application for graduation is a necessity, and the application deadlines are firm. 

Graduation Application Deadlines

Applications not received by the deadline will be considered for graduation during the following semester/term.

Graduation Certification Process

1. 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, as specified above, are firm.   

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. 

 If needed, candidates must provide official transcripts from other institutions and submit the request for an Evaluation of Previous Educational Experiences form to the Central Records Office by the application deadline.  In addition, submission of approved course credits and/or substitutions, and other relevant documents are also required by the application deadline if needed for graduation certification.

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 Email account!

Students who intend to complete a curriculum in excess of 45 semester credit hours must demonstrate competency in word processing, spreadsheet, database management, network information resources (Internet) and telecommunications software (e-mail) by the last day of the semester/term for which the student has applied.  Information regarding this requirement may be accessed online.

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. 

2. Upon submission of your application, you will receive a confirmation page.  PLEASE PRINT THIS CONFIRMATION PAGE AND MAINTAIN A COPY OF IT 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.edu so 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.   

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. 

3. 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 Center.)

• 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.  NOTE:  Students must also meet the College's additional graduation requirements (e.g., 2.0 in-plan minimum GPA, no outstanding debts to college, residency requirement) as specified in the College Catalog.

• 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 err, 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 requirements they may be lacking.

If after this meeting the student and student’s counselor/advisor believe an error has been made by Central Records (mistakes can happen!) or if additional documenation 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 moved to PENDING or APPROVED status.  NOTE:  Students must use their TCC E-mail account to communicate with Central Records personnel via E-mail. 

4. 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.  

5. Approved applicants will be mailed their diplomas approximately 4 to 6 weeks following the conferral date.  Diplomas will be mailed to the student's current mailing address, as recorded in SIS, within 4 to 6 weeks of the actual conferral date. 

Graduation Requirements

Details regarding graduation requirements are contained in the College Catalog, and students are encouraged to consult this resource for a full description.  Provided below is an overview. 

Submission of a Graduation Application by the Advertised  Deadline

Students wishing to be considered for graduation must submit an application by the deadline, as established and advertised by TCC. 

Catalog Determination and Degree Designation

The catalog you use to determine graduation requirements is the one in effect at the time you are admitted to a curriculum, or any subsequent catalog you select that is not more than six years old. Only the degree major will appear on the diploma. The degree major and specialization, if any, will appear on the permanent record.

Students who intend to complete a curriculum in excess of 45 semester credit hours must demonstrate competency in word processing, spreadsheet, database management, network information resources (Internet) and telecommunications software (e-mail).

Read more about computer competencies for graduation.

Program Requirements

You must also fulfill the requirements of your specific program by the end of the semester/term in which you have applied. Contact your campus Counseling Center or Student Development Office for information on the ways in which you may fulfill these requirements. Students with disabilities that may be related to achieving and documenting computer competencies should contact the Disability Services representative at their home campus.

You may be required to take tests or complete a survey designed to measure achievement in general education or selected major areas prior to graduation, for the purpose of evaluating the college's academic programs. No minimum score or level of achievement is required for graduation. Test results will remain confidential and will be used for the sole purpose of improving the college's programs.

Degree and Certificate Requirements

To be eligible for graduation with a diploma from the college, you must meet all of the following requirements:

1. Fulfill all of the course and credit hour requirements of the diploma curriculum, with a minimum of 25 percent of the credit hours earned in course work taken at Tidewater Community College.
2. Earn a grade point average of at least 2.0 in all studies completed which are applicable toward graduation in the curriculum.
3. Complete one course designated "international." (Applies to AA and AS graduates only.)
4. Submit an Application for Graduation to Enrollment Services at any of the campuses or to the Central Records Office at least one semester before completing graduation requirements (deadlines are published in the TCC Schedule of Classes and are linked from above as well). Note that you must fulfill the requirements of the certificate or degree by the end of the semester/term in which you have applied. Students lacking in any area must reapply for consideration during a future term. 
5. Satisfy computer competency requirements.
6. Resolve all financial obligations to the college and return all learning resources and other college materials.
7. Be certified by appropriate college officials for graduation.

In awarding you an additional certificate, diploma, degree, or career studies certificate, the college may grant credit for all previously completed applicable courses which are requirements of the additional degree, certificate, diploma, or career studies certificate.  However, the awards must differ from one another by at least 25% of the credits. 

Commencement

The Central Records Office is not responsible for the coordination of commencement, but does record a student's plans for attendance at commencement, as noted by the student on the graduation application.  

Participation in commencement does not assure that a student has been been cleared for graduation. Clearance for graduation takes place after final grades for the semester/term have been entered and reviewed.  Diplomas are mailed approximately four to six weeks following the degree conferral date.  They are mailed to the current mailing address, as recorded in the College's Student Information System (SIS). 

Commencement Attendance

Commencement ceremonies are held in May and December.  There is no summer graduation ceremony.  Students who expect to graduate in the summer (typically August) should plan to participate in the December ceremony.  The names of August graduates are published in the December commencement program. 

Students are strongly encouraged to participate in commencement. Students unable to participate due to extenuating circumstances should make this notation on the Application for Graduation at the time of submission. If plans change from what was indicated on the Application for Graduation, students should E-mail the Graduation Team at graduate@tcc.edu with this notification. TO MISS COMMENCEppa

December 2009 Commencement Information for Students

Commencement will occur on Friday, December 19, 2008.  A letter with details regarding December commencement will be mailed in November to each applicant who filed a graduation application by the deadline. 

Academic Regalia

The Barnes and Noble at TCC Bookstores hold Graduation Fairs in November and April. Students may purchase caps and gowns, announcements, class rings, and diploma frames during the fairs. Notice of the fair dates will be sent to graduation applicants approximately one month before the graduation date. For additional details, you may contact Barnes & Nobles at Tidewater Community College Bookstore. 

Honors and PTK

Students graduating with honors will have their grade-point averages verified on the evening of commencement.  Eligible students may exchange a black tassel for a gold one prior to commencement and at check-in. 

For PTK members:  PTK regalia is the PTK member's responsibility.  Regalia is not sold at the bookstore or by the local chapter, but may be purchased online at: http://www.ptk.org/recognitions/catalog .  Enhanced members should contact their chapter president. 

Guests

There is no limit on the number of guests you may invite to the graduation ceremony, and tickets are not required. 

Diplomas

Diplomas are ordered by the Central Records Office.  Every attempt is made to insure that the wording of the student's name on the diploma is ordered exactly as an applicant indicates on the graduation application. Thus, it is of critical importance that applicants are careful when responding to this item on the graduation application.  In most cases, diplomas are mailed to the address of record in SIS approximately four to six weeks following degree conferral. 

Contact Us

Students with questions concerning commencement should contact the College's Help Desk by calling 822-1122.  Questions concerning graduation certification should be referred via e-mail to graduate@tcc.edu.  This account is checked frequently throughout the day during regular business hours.


 

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