This is an excellent question.  There is a tool available to you in AC Connect that will help you track your progress for all of your active academic programs and it is a good idea to review your status each term to help you set goals and prepare for upcoming terms. 

In AC Connect, navigate to the Self-Service Menu on the left side of the screen and follow the navigation path:

Self Service>For Students>My Progress

You should now be on your “My Progress” screen in AC Self Service.  From here, you can page through your programs* and see where you are in each program using the navigation arrows just below the “My Progress” title.  In each program, you can view all of the requirements for the program and your current status (Not Started, Planned, Registered, In Progress, Completed, etc.) for fulfilling each requirement section also called “blocks”.  For Associate degree programs, there will be general education requirement (Core Requirements) blocks and a Major Requirement block(s).

You will graduate in the term that you take your final courses for all requirements in your program.  Your advisor can help you with any questions you have about degree requirements and your status in each requirement block.

*Note that if you have ever taken general Continuing Education courses or Adult Basic Education courses at AC, these programs may show in this window but do not apply to specific programs in the Academic Inventory. Page through by clicking the navigation arrows until you get to your academic program(s).

No, AC students do not apply for graduation.  Each term, the Registrar’s Office will evaluate all students enrolled for the term to identify the students who are on track to meet all requirements for their active programs.  At the time the students are evaluated, their progress must show the student has completed, is currently taking, or will take all coursework required for their program in the current term to be considered a potential graduate and invited to attend commencement.  Additionally, students must meet all institutional requirements listed in the course catalog. 

Once a student has been evaluated as meeting all requirements for the program in each term, the student will typically receive a minimum of 3 communications in their student email from the Registrar’s Office.

1. Notification to Potential Graduates:  Students will be notified that they have been identified as a potential graduate and invited to attend the commencement ceremony. This email will go out in the first week of the 2^nd 8-week session.
2. Preparing for Commencement: All students who have been invited to participate in the commencement ceremony will be emailed instructions for preparing for the commencement ceremony including purchasing their regalia, registering with photographers so they may receive photos proofs (purchase is optional), and who to contact if special assistance is needed. This email will go out about a month prior to the end of term.
3. Final Instructions: About 10 days prior to commencement, students will receive specific instructions for the day of the ceremony including where to park, where to report, and what time to arrive. 

After all potential graduates have been notified of their graduation status, an email to all enrolled students for the term will go out to let students know that if they did not receive an email and feel they are on track to graduate for the term, they need to contact their advisor by the provided deadline.

Summer graduates: Because there is no ceremony in the Summer, students who are on track to graduate in the Summer are invited to participate in either the Spring or Fall ceremony.  Students must be registered in all of the planned courses for the Summer by the Spring commencement ceremony deadline to be added to the Spring graduate list.  Official Summer graduates will also receive an invite to participate in the following Fall ceremony if they did not participate in the previous Spring Commencement Ceremony.

Many students are enrolled in both certificates programs as well as their Associate degree programs so you may be getting this notice because you are graduating from a certificate program that is a stackable award under your Associate program.  Please check with your advisor for more information about the different programs in which you are active.  Pay close attention to your email as it will indicate the award level you are on track to complete for the current term.

Because AC does not require students to apply for graduation, commencement ceremonies are reserved only for students who are potential graduates for the term. 

Students graduating with Associate level awards are honored if their GPA is 3.6 or higher.  If your official GPA meets the requirements below, by the end of the 1^st 8 weeks for the term from which you are on track to graduate, the below recognition is given at Commencement.   The graduation GPA is calculated by dividing the total number of grade points earned by the total number of credit hours attempted, excluding remedial/developmental course grades and all but the highest grade assigned where courses have been repeated.

3.60-3.79: Honors, Students with this GPA are recognized by the word “with Honors” when their name is read at the commencement ceremony.

3.8 or higher: Highest Honors, Students with this GPA are recognized by the word “with Highest Honors” when their name is read at the commencement ceremony and the student will receive a gold honor cord during the ceremony.  Please note: honor cords are only given to students attending the commencement ceremony.

Other than your cap and gown, the type of clothing you wear under your regalia is your choice as long as your attire does not violate the code of conduct outlined in the Student Rights and Responsibilities and does not distract from the proceedings during the commencement ceremonies.  Most students wear something along the lines of what is considered business casual.  

Graduates will typically receive an email 5-10 days following the ceremony indicating when official diplomas and transcripts will be ready for pickup.