Graduation

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Additional Degrees Diplomas Effective Catalog Changes Graduation Ceremonies Graduation Honors Graduation Process Graduation Regalia

Graduation Process

The goal of the graduation process at Northwest Florida State College (NWFSC) is to ensure that a student’s official transcript reflects every credential for which the student has earned here at the College. During the months of October (for the fall semester), March (for the spring semester), and June (for the summer semester), the College will conduct a preliminary review of each currently enrolled student’s degree audit. Because many of the College’s associate and baccalaureate degrees contain embedded certifications that students can earn as they are taking courses toward their degree, students within an associate’s or bachelor’s degree will also be reviewed to see if he or she has met all requirements to receive the embedded certificate(s). Students who are expected to be “100% program complete” at the end of the term will be identified as eligible for graduation and the student will be notified of their eligibility via the student’s NWFSC email account. This email will provide instructions on how to submit the Graduation Application. To be awarded an associate’s or bachelor’s degree, a student MUST submit a Graduation Application. Students in a College Credit Certificate, Career Certificate, or Applied Technology Diploma program will automatically be awarded the applicable credential once all requirements are met. If a student desires to delay the receipt of their earned associate or baccalaureate credential and fails to submit a Graduation Application by the deadline, the Office of Academic Records and Enrollment will not award the credential until such time as a Graduation Application is received during the normal award deadline for the semester in which the student applies to graduate (the student may not request that the award be back-dated to a prior semester). Once a credential is awarded, a student may not request that it be removed from his or her permanent record.

To be eligible for graduation, a student must have a complete admission file. If a student has an incomplete file or is completing the remaining course(s) as a transient student at a different institution, the Office of Academic Records and Enrollment must receive all outstanding items by the graduation deadline. Students should always check their NWFSC student email account for notifications regarding relevant deadlines. 

Students are responsible for selecting courses that meet program requirements and for earning the required minimum grades in those courses. Students are encouraged to meet with a Student Success Navigator each semester to confirm that the student is progressing toward degree completion as expected. Students may review their graduation progress through the DegreeWorks degree audit component of RaiderNet.

At the end of the semester, all eligible students will be reviewed for a final check of program completion. Unsuccessful graduation candidates will be notified of which outstanding requirements prevented the student from graduating for the current semester and will be instructed to follow-up with a Student Success Navigator to determine the best path forward to degree completion.

Effective Catalog Policy

Students must follow the requirements outlined in the College Catalog in effect for the term in which the student is admitted (students admitted into a program for Fall 2021, Spring 2022, or Summer 2022 will fall under the 2021-2022 College Catalog). A student who breaks enrollment (i.e. fails to register for three consecutive semesters) is required to re-apply, at which time they must complete requirements for graduation under the catalog in effect for the term of re-admission. 

Additional Degrees

A student who earns a degree at NWFSC may be granted a second or additional degree under the following conditions:

• No more than one Associate in Arts degree may be granted.
• A second Bachelor of Science, Bachelor of Applied Science, Associate in Science, and/or Associate in Applied Science degree may not be earned in the same program. For example, a student may only receive one Bachelor of Applied Science in Project Management degree and one Bachelor of Applied Science in Management and Supervision degree, despite the fact that these programs have several emphasis options for a student to choose from. An additional Bachelor of Science or Bachelor of Applied Science degree will require at least 30 credits in addition to the new program’s standard coursework requirements. The additional 30 credits may be core credits and/or general education credits but it is recommended that these additional credits be technical courses that support the specific program of study and the student’s future educational and career goals. Students are encouraged to work closely with their intended program’s Department Chair/Division Director to ensure that the student is taking the most beneficial coursework. 
• An additional Associate in Science degree shall require at least 15 credits in addition to the new program’s standard coursework requirements. The additional 15 credits may be core credits and/or general education credits but it recommended that these additional credits be technical courses that support the specific program of study and the student’s future educational and career goals. Students are encouraged to work closely with their intended program’s Department Chair/Division Director to ensure that the student is taking the most beneficial coursework.
• Students who have been awarded a State of Florida Associate in Arts degree, a baccalaureate degree from a regionally accredited institution, or a comparable international institution may have already met some of the graduation requirements through coursework taken as part of the previous degree. This may include general education requirements or other program-specific graduation requirements. However, numerous NWFSC graduation requirements are specifically mandated by Florida Statute and/or Florida Administrative Code and therefore must be met prior to the award of an NWFSC degree. Students who would like their previous degree coursework reviewed to see if additional graduation requirements can be waived should submit a Request for Exception: Records appeal. Please note that pre-requisites for major courses are still required.
• All other requirements for graduation remain in effect for students pursuing additional degrees.

Graduation Honors

At the time of graduation, for students enrolled in an associate or baccalaureate degree program, the entire academic record is included in the grade point average (GPA) calculation to determine recognition of outstanding academic achievement. If the student’s cumulative GPA meets the standards, and if the student meets all other graduation requirements, he or she will graduate with the appropriate level of honors. The following honors will be posted on the diploma and the transcript as applicable:

At the time of graduation, for students enrolled in a certificate or diploma program (College Credit Certificate, Career Certificate, or Applied Technology Diploma), all coursework pursued toward the certificate or diploma will be included in the GPA 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 graduate with the appropriate level of honors. The following honors will be posted on the diploma and the transcript as applicable:

Graduation Ceremony

NWFSC hosts two graduation ceremonies at the end of each spring semester. The ceremonies honor graduates from the previous summer and fall semesters, as well as potential spring semester graduates. Students participating in the ceremony must RSVP prior to the ceremony. Once identified as eligible to participate in the ceremony, students will be contacted via his or her NWFSC email account with instructions on how to RSVP. For more information regarding the Commencement Ceremony, 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 Store 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 station on the day of the ceremony. Please note that because the Commencement Ceremony normally takes place prior to the posting of final grades for the Spring semester, potential Spring graduates will have honor cords assigned based on the honor designation as of the completed fall semester. Once final grades are posted, the final honors designation will appear on the student’s official transcript. 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 semester. The diploma will be mailed to the address provided on the Graduation Application. If a diploma address is not provided via the Graduation Application, the diploma will be mailed to the mailing address listed on the student’s record. If no mailing address exists, the diploma will be mailed to the permanent address listed on the student’s record. It is the student’s responsibility to make sure the College has the most up-to-date contact information on file. Addresses can be updated through the Student Tab in RaiderNet or by completing the Update My Personal Information Form. 

• Educational records are maintained under a student’s full legal name and this is the name that will appear on the student’s NWFSC diploma. Any desired changes to the student’s legal name will require the student to submit a name change request to the Office of Academic Records and Enrollment via the Update My Personal Information Form and provide appropriate supporting documentation as applicable. If a student would like his or her diploma to reflect a name other than the full legal name, he or she must submit a request in writing to the Executive Director of Academic Records and Enrollment for consideration. Approval to use a name other than the student’s legal name is up to the discretion of the Executive Director of Academic Records and Enrollment.