Student Responsibilities
Graduation at NWF State College is an automatic process, streamlining the necessary steps for students and ensuring their transcripts reflect the degree or certificate earned. Students will be automatically graduated upon completing all degree requirements, and diplomas will be mailed to the address on file. Degree notations on transcripts will include academic terms in which all of the requirements were completed. Students may opt out of the automatic process with the registrar’s office. Students opting out of auto-graduation understand the Registrar’s Office will not award the certificate or degree. Students opting out of auto-graduation will need to complete a graduation application when ready to graduate. During the months of October (Fall), March (Spring) and June (Summer), the College will conduct a preliminary review of each currently enrolled student’s degree audit. Students who will be “100% program complete” at the end of the term will be eligible for graduation. An email will be sent to eligible students informing them of their graduation status and inviting them to participate in the commencement ceremony.
To be eligible for graduation, a student must have a complete admission file, including all certificate programs as well. We must receive all official transcripts before the program completion can be posted to the transcript. If a student has an incomplete file or is completing the remaining courses as a transient student at a different institution, we must receive the official transcript by the current semester’s deadline. Refer to your student email account for notifications regarding the deadline.
Students are responsible for selecting courses which meet program requirements and for earning the required minimum grades in those courses. Contact your adviser no later than two semesters prior to the anticipated graduation date to schedule an appointment and confirm all requirements. Students may review their graduation progress through the degree audit component of RaiderNet.
Effective Catalog Policy
Students must follow the requirements in effect at the time of initial enrollment in a program of study and are expected to complete the program within five catalog years. A student who is not continuously enrolled and is required to be readmitted must complete requirements for graduation under the catalog in effect at the time of re-entry. A student who does not complete the requirements within five catalog years will be evaluated for graduation using current catalog requirements.
Continuous enrollment is defined as enrollment in at least one course per major semester (Fall, Spring) during an academic year.
Additional Degrees
A student who earns a degree may be granted a second or additional degree under the following conditions:
- No more than one Associate in Arts degree may be granted.
- A Bachelor of Science, Bachelor of Applied Science, Associate in Science, and/or Associate of Applied Science degree may not be earned in the same program.
- The written degree plan for an additional Bachelor of Science or Bachelor of Applied Science degree shall specify the prerequisite and core courses for the additional degree. In meeting these requirements, the student may use courses completed for a previous degree. However, the student must complete at least 30 additional credits. The additional 30 credits may be core credits and/or general education credits but are usually technical courses that support the specific program of study. The degree plan including the additional courses must be approved in advance by the appropriate Department Chair, the college Registrar and the Vice President of Academic Affairs.
- The written degree plan for an additional Associate in Science degree shall specify the prerequisite and core courses for the additional degree. In meeting these requirements, the student may use courses completed for a previous degree. However, the student must complete at least 15 additional credits unless otherwise approved by an approved program of study. The additional 15 credits may be core credits and/or general education credits but are usually technical courses that support the specific program of study. The degree plan including the additional courses must be approved in advance by the appropriate Department Chair, the College Registrar and the Vice President of Academic Affairs.
- Students who have been awarded a State of Florida Associate of Arts degree, a baccalaureate degree from a regionally accredited institution or a comparable international institution may meet some of the graduation requirements by virtue of their previous degree. This may include Gordon Rule and general education requirements. Although, prerequisites for the major are still required. Students should contact their Academic Advisor or Registrar for additional information.
- All other requirements for graduation remain in effect for students pursuing additional degrees.
The Graduation Process
At the end of the term, graduates are reviewed for final program completion. Graduation will be posted to the official transcript within 10 business days of the final grade reporting date for instructors. Incomplete grades for the graduation term must be completed within 3 weeks of the end of the term. Transient transcripts with course work for the graduation term must be received within 3 weeks of the end of the term. Unsuccessful graduates must reapply for graduation in the future term they plan to graduate. Diplomas are mailed 6 – 8 weeks after the close of each term.
Graduation Honors
For students enrolled in a degree program (Baccalaureate and Associate) at the time of graduation, a student’s total academic record is included in the calculation to determine recognition of outstanding academic achievement. If the student’s cumulative grade point average for all college and vocational courses completed at NWF State College and at other transfer institutions meets the standards, and if the student meets all other graduation requirements, he or she will be graduated with the appropriate level of honors. The honors will be posted on the diploma and the transcript. Honors for students enrolled degree programs include:
Cum Laude |
Magna Cum Laude |
Summa Cum Laude |
Cumulative GPA of 3.50 – 3.79 |
Cumulative GPA of 3.80 – 3.99 |
Cumulative GPA of 4.00 |
For students enrolled in a certificate or diploma program (Career and Technical, Vocational, College Credit or Applied Technology Diploma) at the time of graduation, all coursework pursued for the certificate or diploma will be included in the calculation to determine recognition of outstanding academic achievement. If the student’s grade point average for the certificate or diploma course meets the standards, and if the student meets all other graduation requirements, he or she will be graduated with the appropriate level of honors. The honors will be posted on the diploma and the transcript. The honors for the students enrolled in certificate or diploma programs include:
Honors |
High Honors |
Highest Honors |
Cumulative GPA of 3.50 – 3.79 |
Cumulative GPA of 3.80 – 3.99 |
Cumulative GPA of 4.00 |
Graduation Ceremony
NWF State College hosts two graduation ceremonies at the end of Spring semester. The ceremonies honors graduates from the previous Summer and Fall semester as well as potential Spring semester graduates. Students participating in the ceremony must RSVP prior to the ceremony. For more information regarding the Commencement Ceremony and to RSVP, please refer to the Graduation webpage.
Graduation Regalia
Graduation regalia to include cap, gown, tassel, and baccalaureate stole are available at the Barnes and Noble College Stores located on the Niceville campus approximately four weeks prior to graduation. Graduation regalia are required for participation. Honor cords are provided by the College and are given out at the commencement check-in. Borrowed regalia is not permitted. For more information regarding graduation, please refer to the Graduation webpage. For additional information concerning graduation regalia, please call the Niceville Barnes and Noble College Store at (850) 729-5384.
Diplomas
Diplomas are mailed 6-8 weeks after the close of each term to the address on the graduation application. Diplomas are issued in the name provided on the graduation application.
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