Commencement 2012
Friday, May 4, 2012, 7 p.m.
Events Center at the Colorado State Fairground
 Welcome to the PCC Graduation site. If you applied for graduation and are eligible to attend the 2012 Commencement Ceremony as a candidate for a degree or certificate, then below is important information in regards to preparing for the ceremony. For students who are not yet eligible for graduation, please refer to the Graduation Requirements for valuable information as you get closer to reaching your educational goal at PCC. |
Applying for Graduation
Students may complete graduation requirements anytime during a term; however, the graduation verification does not begin until the last day of full-term classes or the last day of classes for the summer intersession. The officially recognized graduation date that is posted on the student’s academic record (transcript) is the last date of full-term/Summer Intersession classes for the term as listed in the Pueblo Community College Academic Calendar. Graduates should anticipate a three to four week delay following the end of a term before their graduation status is verified and posted on the college transcript and diplomas are mailed.
There is one formal graduation ceremony for all three terms which is held once each year in the spring semester. Please refer to the Commencement Ceremony section for more information.
To be considered a candidate for graduation, a student must complete the following steps:
- Verify that the course of study, and option or area of concentration where appropriate, are listed correctly as the Current Academic Program on the transcript. If not, the student should file a Change Course of Study form with Admissions & Records;
- Verify that transfer and Prior Learning credit have been posted on the transcript;
- Verify with advisor that previously requested course substitutions and/or waivers have been approved and posted to the student’s record;
- Schedule an appointment with the advisor to complete a Graduation Planning Sheet. The plan should be an ongoing process; however, it should be finalized by the deadline date the semester before graduation.
Graduation Application Deadlines:
To graduate In: Application must be submitted by:
Spring 2011 February 2, 2011
Summer 2011 June 5, 2011
Planning sheets submitted after the deadline date will be placed in the next term’s graduation file. Print the Graduation Planning Sheet now (PDF file)
Once the student has completed the Graduation Planning Sheet, it is the student’s responsibility to notify his/her advisor immediately of any changes to the plan. The student and advisor will complete the Request for Modification Form available from the advisor or the Office of Admissions & Records. Planning sheets can be rolled forward one time upon written request from the student or advisor. Thereafter, a new planning sheet must be completed.
If you have any questions regarding your status as a candidate for graduation, please contact Connie Madsen at 719.549.3017
Graduation Requirements
Associate Degree Requirements
All candidates for associate degrees must meet the following requirements:
Complete a minimum of 60 semester hours of credit.
Complete all program requirements for the associate degree.
Complete a minimum of 15 graded credits at PCC in a program area.
Satisfactorily complete all general education requirements.
Achieve a cumulative grade-point average of 2.000.
Be classified as a degree-seeking student.
Meet all financial obligations.
Candidates for a degree must complete the Graduation Planning Sheet with the assistance of their advisor. The advisor will obtain the department chair’s signature and forward it to the Records Office by the deadline date the semester before graduation. Candidates must notify their advisors of any changes made after the Graduation Planning Sheet has been submitted, and a Modification Form must be completed. Failure to complete this process may delay graduation.
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Certificate Requirements
All candidates for PCC certificate programs must meet the following requirements:
Complete the minimum semester hours of credit in approved certificate program.
Complete a minimum of 15 graded credits at PCC in a program area.
Meet the PCC minimum assessment scores in reading, English, and mathematics or successfully complete the prescribed remediation.
Achieve a GPA of 2.000 or higher for all certificate courses.
Be classified as a certificate-seeking student.
Meet all financial obligations.
Candidates for the certificate must complete the Graduation Planning Sheet with the assistance of their advisor. The advisor will obtain the department chair’s signature and forward it to the Records Office by the deadline date the semester before graduation. Candidates must notify their advisors of any changes made after the Graduation Planning Sheet has been submitted, and a Modification Form must be completed. Failure to complete this process may delay graduation.
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Specific Grade Requirements for Graduation
Associate of Arts/Associate of Science Degrees
Minimum grade of “C” in all coursework applying to the degree.
Associate of General Studies Generalist Degree
Minimum of 30 general education transferable credits, 15 of which must be in the Colorado Statewide Guaranteed Transfer Courses (GT Pathways) curriculum. No more than 30 credit hours in vocationally prefixed courses. Minimum grade of “C” in all coursework within the 30 credits of required general education courses.
Associate of General Studies Technical/Pre-Professional Degrees
Cumulative GPA of 2.000 or higher (3.000 or higher in the Accounting and Business Management transfer degrees to gain acceptance to CSU-Pueblo). Minimum grade of “C” in all coursework within the 30 credits of required general education courses.*
Associate of Applied Science Degree
Cumulative GPA or 2.000 or higher.*
Certificate Programs
Overall GPA for courses within the certificate program of 2.000 or higher.*
*Exception: If you are a Health Professions student, you must earn a “C” or higher in all required courses (general education, technical, and related courses).
If you earn a “D” in a general education course for the AA/AS/AGS Generalist degrees, you may continue in your program, but you will have to retake the course and earn at least a “C” before you can graduate.
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Graduation With Honors
Fall degree graduates and spring and summer potential degree graduates who have maintained high academic standards and who have met the following requirements at the completion of the fall semester prior to the Commencement Ceremony will be recognized at the commencement ceremony.
Summa cum laude: Cumulative Grade Point Average of 4.000*
Magna cum laude: Cumulative Grade Point Average of 3.750–3.999*
- Cum laude: Cumulative Grade Point Average of 3.500-3.749*
In order to be recognized, a student must earn at least 15 graded credits at PCC.
* The Grade Point Average (GPA) is carried to the third decimal as listed on the academic record (transcript).
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Commencement Ceremony
A formal graduation ceremony is held once each year in the spring semester. Students are eligible to participate in Commencement if they:
Are graduation candidates in a degree program,
Are graduation candidates in a certificate program that requires, at a minimum, 16 semester credit hours,
Are graduation candidates for the spring semester
Graduated the preceding fall semester,
Will be graduating at the end of the following summer session.
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The Ceremony
A formal graduation ceremony is held at the conclusion of each Spring semester. Candidates for graduation include both Certificate and Associate Degree seeking students. Commencement is held at the Colorado State Fair Events Center with administrators, faculty, and professional staff participating in academic regalia. Students who attend the Pueblo Campus and the Fremont Campus usually attend the Pueblo Campus graduation ceremony. A separate graduation ceremony is held at the Southwest Campus where administrators, faculty, and professional staff participate in academic regalia.
The College traditionally recognizes graduates who have achieved a cumulative 4.0 GPA. The commencement speaker is often a nationally-recognized individual. Each graduate’s name, degree, program, honors, and distinction is announced as the graduates receive their diplomas.
If you have any questions regarding the graduation ceremony, Pueblo and Fremont students should contact Shirley D. Carey at 719.549.3080. Southwest Center students should contact: Lisa Barrett at 970.565.7218.
Preparing for the Ceremony
Graduation Mailings
As a candidate for graduation, you will receive an initial mailing informing you of your status as a graduate candidate. This mailing will include a verification card for you to verify the spelling of your name, your degree or certificate, and a section for you to tell us whether or not you will attend the graduation ceremony.
If you indicate you will attend the ceremony, we will then send you further information regarding the ceremony.