Policy Number: I-16
Last Reviewed: July 25, 2024
Responsible Dept.: Vice President of Academic & Workforce Solutions; Vice President of Student Affairs
A signed copy of this policy is available in the President’s Office.
Graduation Requirements
Individuals are eligible for graduation with an associate’s degree, certificate, or career studies certificate when they have fulfilled all of the course and credit hour requirements of the degree or certificate with at least twenty-five percent of the total credit hours acquired in residence at Virginia Western Community College. The individual must also:
- Be certificated to graduate by an appropriate college official
- Earn a curricular grade point average (GPA) of at least 2.0 in all courses which are applicable to graduation in the curriculum
- File an application for graduation with the Records Office (which is waived for the General Education Certificate)
- Resolve all financial obligations to the college and return all library and college learning materials
- Meet any other competency requirements established by Virginia Western
16.1 Multiple Degrees
Students may be eligible to graduate with multiple degrees or certificates, provided the content of the curricula differ by at least twenty-five percent of credit hours. However, students are not eligible to receive more than one degree in the same curriculum. For example, a student earning an AS in Engineering: Computer Science will be ineligible to receive an AS in Science: Computer Science.
For a list of curricula NOT eligible for Multiple Degrees, please visit this webpage: Multiple Degree Eligibility – Graduation – Virginia Western Community College.
16.2 Catalog Year
The Catalog Year (also known as Requirement Term) used to determine graduation eligibility is the one in effect at the time the student declared the program or any Catalog Year thereafter, as long as the student has maintained active status. If the student has a break in enrollment that results in discontinuance, the Catalog Year in effect at the time of the student’s re-admission or any Catalog Year thereafter, is the Catalog Year used to determine graduation eligibility. Upon re-admission after discontinuance, students may only declare programs of study in active status. A student cannot be re-admitted to a program that has been inactivated.
In the event that a student remains in active status, but their program of study is inactivated, the academic school responsible for the inactivated program will notify the student of their options, including the time period required for completing the program.
The Catalog Year used to determine graduation eligibility cannot be more than five years prior to the time of graduation.
16.3 Graduation with Honors
Students who have fulfilled the requirements of degree or certificate programs (with the exception of career studies certificates) are eligible for graduation honors. Appropriate honors based on scholastic achievements are recorded on the student’s permanent record as listed below:
| Minimum Cumulative Grade Point Average (GPA) | Honor |
|---|---|
| 3.2 | Cum laude (with honor) |
| 3.5 | Magna cum laude (with high honor) |
| 3.8 | Summa cum laude (with highest honor) |
16.4 Non-Credit (Workforce) Students
This policy does not apply to non-credit (workforce) students.
