Graduation
What is the difference between graduation and commencement?
| What is... | Definition |
|---|---|
| Graduation | Graduation is when a student receives a certificate or degree once they have satisfied all certificate or degree requirements as verified by the Records & Graduation Office. After the verification process, the certificate or degree is printed, mailed and posted to the student’s PCC record. The mailing and posting process for certificates and degrees usually takes 4 to 6 weeks after term grades are recorded. |
| Commencement | Commencement is a ceremony that allows students, family and friends to celebrate in the student’s academic accomplishments. Participation in the ceremony does not mean the student has graduated and students do not receive their certificates or degrees at the ceremony. |
Steps to Graduation
- 1) Fill out and submit the Application for Graduation by May 18, 2012 if you want to participate in the June 2012 commencement ceremony. (All other applications should be submitted one term prior to your anticipated graduation term.)
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- You must file a separate application for each degree or certificate for which you are applying. Turn in the application at any campus Admission & Registration office or mail it to Student Records.
- If applicable, the Petition for Waiver or Course Substitution Form should be filled out and submitted with your Application for Graduation.
- Once an Application for Graduation has been evaluated, you will receive a response in your MyPCC email account notifying you of your eligibility to graduate.
- 2) RSVP by June 6, 2012 to let us know if you will be participating in the commencement ceremony.
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- If you are graduating in the current academic year (fall, winter, spring, or summer term), you are eligible to participate in the commencement ceremony. Commencement information will be emailed through MyPCC email accounts to students who have submitted their application by the deadline and have not been denied. For information on the 2012 ceremony, visit the commencement ceremony page.
- 3) Evaluating the Application
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- Transfer credit evaluations are not conducted until the graduation process, except when a Request for Evaluation of Transfer Credit is received prior to applying for graduation.
- All courses from PCC and transcripts from other institutions (if applicable) will be evaluated. Transcripts from other institutions should be sent to:
Student Records
Portland Community College P.O. Box 19000
Portland, OR 97280 - If you have credits from a foreign institution, see Evaluation of Foreign transcripts.
- Four to six weeks after we receive an application, you will be notified via MyPCC email of the application status, including any deficiencies.
- 4) Degree Awarded
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- When all requirements have been met, your degree will be awarded. Your diploma will be mailed to your address of record at PCC. (Please allow a minimum of 6 to 8 weeks for receipt of your diploma.) If you need to change your address after submitting your application, be sure to fill out the appropriate address change form.
Graduation Requirements
To earn an associate degree or a certificate, you must meet the requirements in the PCC Catalog that was current when you earned your first credit(s) at PCC, unless you choose to meet the requirements of a later catalog. An edition of the catalog is valid for six academic years. For example, a catalog that takes effect fall term 2010 is valid through summer term 2016. However, some programs may impose shorter time limits on accepting credits for degree or certificate requirements. All degrees require basic competencies of math and English.