EGC REGULATION

GRADUATION AND COMMENCEMENT

SECTION ONE: PURPOSE AND ALIGNMENT

1.01 The purpose of this regulation is to define graduation and program completion, outline graduation requirements for students, and define student and institutional policies regarding graduation and degree completion.

SECTION TWO: DEGREE AUDIT

2.01 In accordance with Section 51.9685 (b) of the Texas Education Code, after completing 30 semester credit hours students should review their degree audit with a Success Coach in the Office of Academic Success. The degree audit will list all courses required for graduation. The audit should be used to determine which courses to take each semester to ensure on-time completion and avoidance of excess credits.

2.02 It is highly recommended that students see their academic advisors to review their degree audits within their last 15 hours before graduation to verify they are meeting the appropriate degree requirements including coursework and grade-point averages. If any of the grade-point averages are below the minimum required for graduation, the degree audit can be used in deciding how to raise the averages in the remaining coursework.

2.03 The College Registrar has the final approval for awarding a degree or certificate, including but not limited to degree audits, grade point average, courses, prerequisites, graduation application, transfer credit, Angelina College (AC) coursework, catalog time limit, and designation.

SECTION THREE: PROGRAM COMPLETION AND GRADUATION DEFINED

3.01 Graduating and participating in commencement are distinct activities. “Graduation” is defined as a student receiving a degree or certificate. “Commencement” is the commencement ceremony held in the spring of each academic year.

3.02 Students who graduate are not required to participate in commencement. Students who wish to participate in commencement must complete the graduation application. Once accepted for graduation, students will receive an email invitation to participate in the commencement ceremony. Students must follow the instructions in the email to be included in the commencement ceremony.

3.03 Participating in the commencement ceremony and having one’s name in the commencement program does not mean that a student has completed the requirements for graduation. Ultimately, the final awarding of degrees, honors, and mailing of a diploma or certificate is contingent upon satisfactory completion of the appropriate requirements by each candidate and the Registrar’s final certification.

3.04 AC reserves the right to award a diploma or certificate without the student completing an application.

3.05 AC reserves the right to “reverse transfer” credits earned after a student transfers to another institution and to award the degree or certificate without the student completing an application.

SECTION FOUR: PROGRAM COMPLETION REQUIREMENTS

4.01 The College confers degrees and certificates in accordance with Legal Policy EFBA and Texas Administrative Code Title 19, Part 1, Chapter 2, Subchapter D.

The Vice President of Academic Affairs is responsible for reviewing and updating this regulation. Policy reviews are made in accordance with the Office of Institutional Effectiveness Policy Tracking document.

Document History:
Adopted: 6/2024
Revised: 09/2024