CLEVELAND STATE COMMUNITY COLLEGE Graduation Newsletter Spring 2017 Edition Cleveland State Community College Important Dates Graduation Information Ceremony Details Check List Frequently Asked Questions
Important Dates Exit Exam Testing February - May (Spring) May - August (Summer) All Associate degree graduates are required to take the Exit Exam. In order to test at the Cleveland campus, you must make a reservation through your CougarNet account. In order to test at the Athens campus, you must contact their Testing Center at 423-472-7141 ext. 463. You should complete this requirement in the same semester you plan to graduate. Please do not test early. Be sure to take a photo ID to the Testing Center on your test date. Graduate and Career Expo Wednesday, March 22, 2017 from 10:00 am - 1:00 pm Students may order invitations, rings, and other items regarding graduation. This is also the first day that caps and gowns, Phi Theta Kappa regalia, and honor cords will be available. The event will be located in the L. Quentin Lane Gymnasium. Commencement Rehearsal Thursday, May 4, 2017 at 3:00 pm Rehearsal for the 2017 Spring Commencement Ceremony will be located in the L. Quentin Lane Gymnasium. Please make every effort to attend. Commencement Ceremony Saturday, May 6, 2017 The college will host its Spring Commencement Ceremony at 10:00 am in the L. Quentin Lane Gymnasium. Governor Bill Haslam will be the speaker at the May 6, 2017 Cleveland State Community College Commencement. Doors will open for guests at 8:45 am. Graduates should report to the Humanities Building no later than 9:15 wearing their regalia. Graduates will line up alphabetically within their degree. Please leave your personal belongings with your family/ friends during the ceremony. We will NOT lock the classroom doors! Also, please note that graduates will not be permitted to have small children with them in the Humanities building or during the ceremony and therefore they should remain in the care of family/friends. Diplomas Monday, June 5, 2017 (Spring) Tuesday, September 5, 2017 (Summer) If all requirements have been met, Spring graduates diplomas will be ready June 5th and Summer graduates diplomas will be ready September 5th. If you requested to have your diploma mailed, but your address has changed, please complete the Update Address or Phone Number Form on your CougarNet account by May 4th (Spring) or August 1st (Summer). Diplomas are not distributed at the ceremony. Commencement Reception Thursday, May 4, 2017 at 3:45 pm Graduates, their families, faculty, and staff are invited to the reception located in the L. Quentin Lane Gymnasium.
Graduation Information Caps and Gowns Caps and gowns will be available at the Graduate and Career Expo. If you are unable to attend that day, you can pick up your cap and gown from the Bookstore during their normal hours March 23rd - May 6th. You do not need to pre-order your cap and gown. There is no charge for caps and gowns. The Bookstore will be open May 6th for graduates to pick up their regalia, however it is better to pick up prior to this day. All regalia must be picked up no later than 9:10 am on the day of graduation, Saturday, May 6th. Diploma Covers Diploma covers are only available to those who participate in the Commencement Ceremony. Degree Completion Please note that participation in the Commencement Ceremony does not guarantee that you will receive a diploma. You will not receive your diploma until all degree requirements and obligations are met. Please check your CougarNet account to verify that you do not have any holds. Directory Information Updates The information we have in our system is the information we will use when printing your diploma. If your name has changed you will need to complete the Update Name, SSN, or Date of Birth form on CougarNet. This ensures your name is correct on your diploma as well as in the commencement program. All name changes must be submitted no later than March 24th. If your address has changed you will need to complete the Update Address or Phone Number form on CougarNet. If you request to have your diploma mailed we will mail it to the address we have in our system. All address changes must be submitted no later than May 4th (Spring) or August 1st (Summer). Grade Point Averages (GPA) The grade points received for all college level credits earned at Cleveland State are averaged to determine eligibility for graduation and for honors status. Transfer courses do not count toward the GPA. A minimum grade point average (GPA) of 2.00 is required to qualify for graduation. Teaching degrees (AST degrees only) require a minimum grade point average (GPA) of 2.75. Degree-seeking students with a GPA of 3.30 or higher at the end of the Fall 2016 semester are eligible for honors status. (See Honor Cords section.) Graduation Website Please view the graduation website throughout the semester: http://mycs.cc/graduation It includes the most up to date information, as well as information about discounted hotels, directions, parking and maps. Holds Any holds on your account will prevent you from receiving your diploma/certificate and transcript. It is recommended that you check your CougarNet account for any possible holds as soon as possible.
Honor Cords Graduates are eligible for an honor cord if they are earning an AA, AS, AFA, AST, or AAS degree and their overall GPA at the end of the 2016 Fall Semester is at least 3.30. Certificate students are not eligible for an honor cord. Honor cords will be available at the Graduate and Career Expo. They may also be picked up at the Bookstore during normal hours March 23rd - May 6th. Graduates must show photo ID in order to pick up their honor cord. should take 6 credit hours of foreign language. For the AS, students should also take 6 credit hours of foreign language if they are planning on taking a second year of foreign language. A maximum of 9 credit hours from the list may be transferred to CSCC from another college. A minimum of 9 credit hours, therefore, must be completed at CSCC. 3.80-4.00 Highest Honors White & Gold 3.60-3.79 High Honors Light Blue & Gold 3.30-3.59 Honors Navy & Gold Alpha Delta Nu Nursing Honor Society Students maintain an overall 3.0 GPA and 3.0 in all their nursing classes, will receive this honor at their Pinning Ceremony. 3.00 Honors Apricot Cord International Achievement Students completing the course requirements listed below with an overall GPA of 3.0 or better, while meeting the associate degree (AA, AS, or AFA) requirements, will receive an International Achievement notation on their transcript. If you think you may qualify for this recognition, please notify the Enrollment Services Center during the semester you intend to graduate. ENGL 2310 - World Literature I ENGL 2320 - World Literature II HIST 1110 - World Civilization I HIST 1120 - World Civilization II HUM 2780 - World Religions Foreign Language *INTL 1911 - International Studies Travel may be substituted for any of the above-listed courses. For the AA, students Ceremony Details Commencement Photographer GradImages will be at the Commencement Ceremony taking professional photographs. Proofs will be sent to your home and via email within three to five days after graduation. Pictures can be ordered online, by phone, or by mail. GradImages can be contacted at 800-261-2576 or via email at www.gradimages.com. Registering with GradImages provides them with the information they need to deliver your graduation proofs to you in a timely manner. Giving them an accurate mailing address and email address will allow them to get your proofs to you on the first try. You may also provide them with email addresses of up to six friends and family members to allow them to celebrate in the accomplishment.
ΦΘΚ Regalia Phi Theta Kappa will have a table at the Graduate and Career Expo to purchase regalia. If you need PTK regalia after this date, Phi Theta Kappa graduates can also purchase items from the Bookstore during normal hours. Stoles are $24 and tassels are $10. Exact change is preferred. A limited number of these items will also be available May 4th at the Commencement Rehearsal. Special Accommodations Graduation is held in our gymnasium with stadium seating. Any student or guest(s) that requires special accommodations should contact: Juliann Mathis Coordinator of Disability Support Services 423-473-2427 jmathis02@clevelandstatecc.edu ** If you or a guest are in need of interpreting services please notify Juliann Mathis no later than March 23rd. Any questions or concerns about special parking accommodations should contact: Mike Hodges Chief of Police 423-478-6236 or 423-618-1720. mhodges@clevelandstatecc.edu Webcast/Ceremony DVD For family and friends of graduates who are unable to attend the Commencement Ceremony, it will be broadcast live on the CSCC website at 10 am. About a week after the ceremony, DVD copies will be available in the Library. Previous graduation recordings are available on our YouTube channel. Additional Information For additional information regarding commencement, please contact the Assistant Registrar/Graduation Coordinator: Lindsey Mowery 423-472-7141 ext. 250 lmowery@clevelandstatecc.edu
Check List Graduates should check their CougarNet email for their official evaluation. Check your name. The name we have in our system will appear on your degree and in the commencement program. Any changes must be submitted through CougarNet by March 24th. Check your address. If you requested for your degree to be mailed, it will go to the address we have in our system. Any changes must be submitted through CougarNet by May 4th (Spring) or August 1st (Summer). Check the major/certificate. Make sure that you have declared the major for the certificate or degree you are seeking. Check the courses listed. All courses listed on your official evaluation must be successfully completed in order to satisfy graduation requirements. Please review your Degree Works to see your current status on course requirements. You must have a cumulative grade point average in all college credit coursework of at least 2.0. Teaching AST degrees require at least a 2.75. (Transfer courses excluded.) Substitutions. Be sure to take care of any course substitutions or additional degree requirements with your advisor. Complete the Graduate Needs Analysis Form. This form is located on your CougarNet account under My Account Graduation. Graduate Exit Exam. All Associate degree applicants are required to take the Exit Exam as a prerequisite for graduation. Testing for Spring graduates begins in February and testing for Summer graduates begins in May. Students earning a certificate only are not required to test. Please note, some departments require a separate program exam which does not fulfill the Exit Exam requirement. Frequently Asked Questions Exit Exam How do I make an appointment for the Exit Exam? You can make a reservation by going to your CougarNet account and clicking on the Academics Tab. Then, look for the Testing Center Reservations link at the bottom left of the screen. If you would rather test at the Athens Campus, please contact their Testing Center. How long does it take to complete it? It is approximately 45 minutes long. How do I study for the exam? There is no need to study for this exam. Although you will want to do your very best, there isn t a certain score you have to make. You just have to complete it. However, if you do not take the exam seriously you will be asked to retest. Commencement Ceremony How much does it cost to participate in the Commencement Ceremony? The cost of the cap and gown is included in your tuition. The only additional costs you would have to pay would be if you wish to purchase any extra items (class ring, invitations, souvenir tassel, etc.) Diplomas When will I get my diploma? As long as all requirements are met and you do not have any holds on your account, Spring graduates diplomas will be ready June 5th. Summer graduates diplomas will be ready September 5, 2017. Those that requested to pick up their diploma can come with a photo ID on the appropriate day or any day after to the Enrollment Services Center during normal hours. The Graduation Coordinator will notify you if diplomas are ready early. Can I have someone else pick my diploma up for me? Yes, but they will have to have a signed letter from you stating it is okay for them (state their name) to pick up your diploma. They will also have to show photo ID.
I need proof that I graduated before my diploma is ready. What do I need to do? Degrees will be posted to students transcripts (excluding any issues) within a couple of weeks after grades are processed. Once posted, your transcript will show that you have graduated. You can print an unofficial transcript or request an official copy on your CougarNet account. Transcripts How do I request an official transcript? Transcript requests are made through your CougarNet account. Click on the My Account tab, Transcript Information, and Request Printed Transcript. Once the request is submitted, you can view the status by clicking Transcript Request Status link. Transcripts are provided and mailed free of charge. Please note you must notate that you would like your transcript after your degree is posted. Otherwise, it may be sent before the degree is posted to your transcript.