Graduation

College Graduation Application Information

Register for 2012 Commencement!

Graduation Policy

Candidates for degrees and certificates must apply for graduation through Enrollment Services. Applications are accepted for each quarter throughout the year. Students are encouraged to apply for graduation two quarters prior to completion of their degree or certificate.

Candidates may apply for graduation under the catalog in force at the time of their graduation, the catalog in force when they first entered South Puget Sound, or any subsequent catalog if they have missed no more than two quarters of enrollment in their program of study. Any student not in attendance for two or more quarters is required to complete the program requirements of the catalog in effect at the time of their re-entry to the college. To graduate under a previous catalog, a graduation application must be made within one year of completion of requirements. If you apply in a subsequent year, you must meet the new program requirements, which may be substantially different.

Graduation Application Process

If you are within two quarters of your anticipated graduation, fill out a graduation application and an optional publicity information sheet. You can also print a copy of Graduation Information for personal use. Applications will not be accepted earlier than two quarters prior to graduation or later than one calendar year after the quarter in which you would have graduated. Submit your completed application(s) to Enrollment Services. NOTE:A separate application is required for each degree or certificate applying for.

• PLEASE -  LOG INTO DEGREE AUDIT which indicates the courses already completed when you run a degree audit for your degree or certificate. In the "Notes" section of Degree Audit you may find more information regarding remaining needs if a "Note" has been posted. Please run a degree audit and review this unofficial evaluation of your needs with your program advisor to ensure all remaining requirements will be completed as you register for future quarters. A new graduation application is required if a degree or certificate is denied for any reason. If courses have changed or have not been offered and you have not met all requirements under one catalog, talk to your program advisor about course substitutions or waivers.

Additional Graduation Information

Diplomas are ordered after the degrees and certificates are posted to student transcripts. Printing diplomas occurs out-of-state and takes approximately eight weeks to complete. Once received, South Puget Sound Community College will mail diplomas to the students. Please make any address changes and inform Enrollment Services of your new "diploma mailing address."

Diplomas and transcripts will not be released if there are outstanding financial obligations to the college including, but not limited to, parking tickets and outstanding library materials.

Degrees and certificates are noted on your transcript approximately three to four weeks after final grades are posted. Your unofficial transcript online will reflect your degree posted and credits transferred in. When degree is posted, this is your notification that you have completed your requirements. If transferring to another college that requires an official copy of your transcript, you may order transcripts on college website through the National Clearing House and note that you would like transcripts sent after your degree has been posted to your transcript.

Graduation Commencement Ceremony

Students who completed a degree or certificate fall or winter quarter or who expect to graduate at the end of spring or summer quarter and have submitted an application by May 1st, will automatically receive additional information in mid-May regarding the graduation ceremony. To ensure a place in the ceremony and your name on the graduation commencement program, your graduation application must be received in Enrollment Services no later than the end of April. The graduation commencement ceremony typically is held the third Friday in June at 6:00 pm on the Soccer Field on the main campus, rain or shine. Watch for more information coming to our website mid-May. For graduation ceremony information, please call (360) 596-5520 for detailed information and/or visit the college bookstore. Graduation Honors - Students in degree programs who achieve cumulative GPAs of 3.75 to 3.89 in all college-level courses will be graduated with High Honors. Students in degree programs who achieve cumulative GPAs of 3.9 to 4.0 in all college-level courses will be graduated with Highest Honors.