Graduation Applications
Students who anticipate completing the requirements for an associate of arts degree, associate of applied science degree, associate of arts in teaching degree, associate of science in engineering degree, or a certificate are responsible for meeting with an academic advisor to preliminarily review an audit of the student's completion of degree requirements and to complete an application to graduate. The application to graduate is available on the office of records, registration, and veterans' affairs (RRVA) web page at howardcc.edu/rrvaforms. Upon the receipt of a completed application to graduate from the student, the office of admissions and advising submits the application to graduate to RRVA for final review and graduation clearance.
Commencement is held in May each year. Students who complete degree or certificate requirements and all other requirements listed below prior to the May ceremony, as well as those who need to complete up to two courses during the subsequent summer term, may participate in the spring ceremony. Students must fill out a graduation application form for each award requested.
The college has three degree graduation dates and one commencement. The deadlines for submitting graduation applications are:
| Degree Date |
Graduation Application Deadline* |
| Spring |
March 15 |
| Summer |
June 15** |
| Fall |
October 15 |
*Graduation application deadlines are subject to change. Students are encouraged to consult howardcc.edu/graduate for the application deadlines.
**Students who will graduate in the summer but would like to participate in the May commencement must submit graduation applications by April 15.
To be awarded a degree or certificate from HCC, students must:
- achieve the minimum of a 2.0 or greater GPA for all coursework taken at HCC;
- complete all the requirements of an approved area of study in the college catalog;
- be in good academic and financial standing with the college; and
- have their graduation applications initially cleared by an academic advisor and submitted by the advisor to RRVA.
During the final clearance process, students are notified of the status of the graduation through HCC student e-mail. Diplomas and certificates are mailed to all candidates who have fulfilled the requirements of their programs and who are in good financial standing with the college.
Students who do not complete area of study requirements for the term may apply for graduation in a future term.
Graduation candidates may be required to take a general education assessment examination prior to the date of graduation. The scores on the exam will be used for statistical purposes measuring student progress. The scores will not be part of a student’s record or used for graduation clearance.
Graduation with Honors
Students who have maintained a cumulative grade point average of 3.5 or above will graduate with honors. Those students with a grade point average of 3.75 or above will graduate with high honors. Those who have a 4.0 grade point average will graduate with highest honors.
Other Graduation Distinctions
Students who successfully complete all requirements of special programs such as (but not limited to) the Frederick K. Schoenbrodt Honors Program; Silas Craft Collegians Program; James W. Rouse Scholars Program; Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) Scholars Program; STEM Learning Community; Alpha Eta Honor Society; Lambda Nu; and Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society will have that distinction recognized in the commencement program.