Graduation

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Additional Degrees Commencement Ceremony Commencement Regalia Diplomas Effective Catalog Changes Graduation Honors Graduation Process Institutional Residency Posthumous Degrees Reverse Transfer Degrees

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 the student has earned at the College. As such, once grades are posted at the end of each semester, NWFSC conducts an auto-graduation review to identify students that have met all requirements for their program of study. The student will only be reviewed for completion of programs that are listed on the student’s official Degree Works audit at the time the auto-graduation review is conducted. If a student is pursuing a program that does not appear on their Degree Works audit, they need to contact Student Success Navigation at (850) 502-2895 or studentsuccess@nwfsc.edu. It is the student’s responsibility to notify the College if their program of study is incorrect within Degree Works. Students who are identified as meeting all program requirements will automatically be awarded the applicable credential. Students are not permitted to delay the receipt of their earned credential for which they have already completed all requirements nor may they request that it be removed from their permanent record.

If a student has an incomplete admissions 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. Applicable Graduation deadlines will be sent to each student’s NWFSC student email account. If the student fails to submit all outstanding items by the deadline, they will not be reviewed for graduation again until the subsequent term’s auto-graduation process. Students may not request to have their Graduation Date back-dated to a previous term.

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 Degree Works degree audit component of RaiderNet.

Upon completion of the auto-graduation process, students awarded their credential will be notified via their NWFSC student email account.

Transcripts will not be released, nor a degree verification be completed, for students with an incomplete admissions file or outstanding financial obligation to the College.
 

Effective Catalog Policy

Students must follow the program requirements outlined in the College Catalog in effect for the term in which the student is admitted to that program (for example, students admitted into a program for Fall 2023, Spring 2024, or Summer 2024 will fall under the 2023-2024 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 the requirements for graduation under the College Catalog in effect for the term of re-admission. Students who broke enrollment because of extenuating circumstances or who were within one semester of graduating at the time of separation may request an Effective Catalog Appeal by submitting a Request for Exception: Records Form. Students are encouraged to speak with a Student Success Navigator prior to submitting the request to ensure that a change in Effective Catalog will not inadvertently delay the student’s degree progress. 

Institutional Residency

Students must complete a minimum of 25% of the required coursework for each credential at NWFSC to meet the institutional residency requirements.

Additional Degrees

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

• A student may only be awarded one Associate in Arts (A.A.) degree. Students who have already received an A.A. from another institution are not eligible to receive the A.A. degree from NWFSC.
• A second Bachelor of Science, Bachelor of Applied Science, or Associate in Science degree may not be earned in the same degree if that degree program offers more than one emphasis. 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, even though 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 aligns with the student’s future educational and career goals. Students are encouraged to work closely with their intended program’s Department Chair/Program Director to ensure that the student is taking the most beneficial coursework. 
• An additional Associate in Science (A.S.) 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 align with the student’s future educational and career goals. Students are encouraged to work closely with their intended program’s Department Chair/Program Director to ensure that the student is taking the most beneficial coursework.
• Students who have been awarded a prior degree from a regionally accredited institution or 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 Transfer Credit Appeal Form. Please note that pre-requisites for major courses are still required.
• All other requirements for graduation remain in effect for students pursuing additional degrees.
   

Posthumous Degree

The College, upon recommendation of the President, may award a “Degree in Memoriam” in honor of an associate or baccalaureate student who deceases while enrolled, provided all requirements are met pursuant to Board of Trustee Policy TL 19.00:

• The award of the degree is requested by a member of the student’s immediate family,
• The request is received within two years of the student’s death,
• The student was enrolled at the time of death (summer excluded), or their continuous enrollment was interrupted by their injury, illness, deployment, etc.,
• The student was in good academic standing at the time of death, and
• The student had completed a substantial part of the academic program (>75%).

A member of the student’s immediate family should contact the Office of Academic Records and Enrollment to nominate their student for a posthumous degree. The College will notify the nominating family member of the final decision in writing. Posthumous degrees may be presented to appropriate members of the student’s immediate family at a Board of Trustee Meeting or at a Commencement Ceremony.

Graduation Honors

At the time of graduation, for students enrolled in an associate or baccalaureate degree program, the student’s Undergraduate (UG) Institutional Cumulative Grade Point Average (GPA) will be used to determine recognition of outstanding academic achievement. If the student’s UG Institutional 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 College Credit Certificate, the student’s Undergraduate (UG) Institutional Cumulative Grade Point Average (GPA) will be used to determine recognition of outstanding academic achievement. If the student’s UG Institutional 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 Career Certificate or Applied Technology Diploma, the student’s Vocational (VC) Institutional Cumulative Grade Point Average (GPA) will be used to determine recognition of outstanding academic achievement. If the student’s VC Institutional 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:

Commencement Ceremony

NWFSC hosts Commencement Ceremonies at the end of the fall semester and spring semesters. The Fall Commencement Ceremony honors graduates from the previous summer and potential fall semester graduates. The Spring Commencement Ceremony honors potential spring semester graduates. Students participating in the ceremony are strongly encouraged RSVP prior to the ceremony. Students will be contacted via their NWFSC email account with instructions on how to RSVP. For more information regarding the Commencement Ceremony, please refer to the Commencement webpage. 

Commencement 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 is 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 current semester, potential graduates will have honor cords assigned based on the honor designation as of the last completed semester. Once final grades are posted, the final honors designation according will appear on the student’s official transcript. For more information regarding graduation, please refer to the Commencement 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 all degree awards have been posted for the semester. It may take up to 8 weeks for the diploma to be shipped. The diploma will be mailed to the mailing address on file with the College. 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. A student can update their address information within RaiderNet. If a student needs assistance updating their address, they can contact Student Success Navigation at (850) 502-2895 or studentsuccess@nwfsc.edu.

• 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 Student Name Change request to the Office of Academic Records and Enrollment and provide appropriate supporting documentation as applicable. Please contact the Office of Academic Records and Enrollment at (850) 502-2895 or registrar@nwfsc.edu for specific information regarding the Student Name Change request. If a student would like their diploma to reflect a name other than the full legal name, they 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.
• Diplomas may not be released to students with an incomplete admissions file or outstanding financial obligation to the College.

Reverse Transfer Degrees

Reverse transfer is the process of awarding the Associate in Arts (A.A.) degree after a student has transferred to a four-year institution and completes the remaining degree requirements.

Reverse Transfer Between NWFSC and State Universities

In 2021, the State Board of Education and the Board of Governors adopted the Statewide Reverse Transfer Articulation Agreement between the Florida College System (FCS) and The State University System of Florida (SUS). This agreement sets forth the conditions regarding statewide reverse transfer between the SUS and the FCS and provides the procedures whereby member institutions of the FCS and SUS participate.

Eligibility Criteria

To be eligible for reverse transfer under this agreement, a student must meet the following criteria:

•     Be currently enrolled in a state university (find a list of SUS institutions here)
•     Earned at least 30 college credits at NWFSC
•     Transferred to a SUS institution before earning the A.A. degree
•     Earned at least 60 college credits overall
•     Completed all general education requirements
•     Met the Civic Literacy Requirement per F.S. 1007.25
•     Met the Foreign Language Requirement per F.S.  1007.25
•     Met the Communication and Computation Requirement per F.A.C. 6A-10.030
•     Be in Good Academic Standing at both NWFSC and the SUS institution
•     Cleared all financial obligations at both NWFSC and the SUS institution
•     Have not earned a baccalaureate degree
•     Consented to allow the SUS to transmit the necessary information to NWFSC
•     Have met all other NWFSC graduation requirements for the A.A. degree

Reverse Transfer Process

 1. The SUS institution will contact students they have identified as eligible for reverse transfer and provide an opportunity for the student to opt-in to the process. Students should contact their SUS for specific details on the eligibility identification process. A list of SUS reverse transfer contacts is available on the FLDOE reverse transfer webpage.

2. Each SUS will provide NWFSC with a list of eligible students who have opted-in to be reviewed for A.A. degree completion.

3. NWFSC will review each student provided by the SUS for A.A. degree completion. Students will be reviewed under the catalog requirements in place at the time of the graduation review. For example, students being reviewed for degree completion during the Fall 2023, Spring 2024, or Summer 2024 semesters must meet graduation requirements as outlined in the NWFSC 2023-2024 Catalog. Students who do not meet graduation requirements under the current catalog may be reviewed under their assigned catalog during their last semester in attendance at NWFSC, only if they meet the following criteria: the student enrolled at the SUS within 3 semesters of leaving NWFSC and has been continuously enrolled at the SUS (NWFSC defines continuously enrolled as no more than 2 semesters with zero enrollment).

4. NWFSC will award the A.A. degree to students who have met all graduation requirements. The degree will be posted to their official transcript with a graduation date equal to the date the degree review was completed (NWFSC will not back-date the degree award).

5. NWFSC will notify each student of the result of the A.A. degree review. NWFSC will notify the SUS of the result of each student review.

Other Reverse Transfer Opportunities

Students who transfer to a four-year institution that is not a part of the SUS may also be reviewed for reverse transfer eligibility. Students should submit the Reverse Transfer Request Form to initiate the review process. Official transcripts will need to be on file for the A.A. degree review to be conducted.

Students with questions regarding reverse transfer may contact a Student Success Navigator at (850) 502-2895 or studentsuccess@nwfsc.edu.