Preparing for Graduation
Students should begin preparing for graduation prior to their final semester/session at VPCC by ensuring that the classes they are enrolled in each semester completes requirements needed for their program.
We have created this Checklist for Graduation to help guide you.
Graduation Checklist:
- Review your Academic Requirements for program progress and schedule a meeting with your Academic Advisor prior to the graduation application deadline.
- Confirm your major is correct and ensure the courses you have taken match up with your program requirements and the catalog year being used.
- Have all official transcripts, CLEP, AP scores and requests submitted for your transfer evaluation process to be completed.
- Have any course substitution requests submitted to your Academic Advisor and/or Program of Study Division office for review.
- Submit your Graduation Application in your SIS Student Center.
Graduation Application Deadlines
Fall – July 15 to September 15
Spring – December 15 to February 15
Summer – March 15 to May 15
- Monitor your VCCS student email for communications from our Graduation Specialist. Your graduation application review will be sent to your VCCS student email once it is completed.
For Graduation approval a student must meet the following criteria:
- Meet the general education competency requirements for their program.
- Completed all courses and credit-hour requirements applicable to their program(s) associate degree, certificate or career studies certificate.
- At least 25% of your program credit hours must be completed here at the college.
- Must have earned a grade point average of at least 2.0 or higher on all coursework applicable toward graduation in their curriculum.
- Program catalog used for graduation cannot be over 7-years old.
- IT and AST majors have a 5-year time limit on IT and AST courses.
- Participation in additional activities of the academic program as required. Some academic programs may require students to complete internships, take part in exit interviews, complete surveys, take license exams, prepare portfolios or to complete some other activity to demonstrate the acquisition of programs. These requirements must also be met to graduate.
- Applied for graduation by submitting your Graduation Application online in your My VPCC Student Center account by the deadline for your graduating semester.
- Resolved all financial obligations to the college and returned all materials, including library books or loaned items.
Second Degree or Certificate: In awarding students an additional certificate or degree, the college may grant credit for all previously completed applicable courses that are required of the additional certificate or degree. However, the awards must differ from one another by at least 25% of the credits required in the curricula.
Latin Honors:
Cum Laude (3.2-3.4 GPA)
Magna Cum Laude (3.5-3.7 GPA)
Summa Cum Laude (3.8-4.0 GPA)
Graduation Review and Posting
The Graduation Team begins final graduation reviews approximately 3 business days after the end of the semester and grades have been posted. The posting/conferring process will take an additional 4 weeks to complete. Graduation candidates will receive email notifications at their VCCS student email as each step in their graduation process has been completed.
Transcripts and Degree Delivery
Final Transcripts will be available 30-45 business days after the semester ends.
Students who have earned a degree, certificate or career studies certificate will receive a notification at their VCCS Student email once all awards have been posted and when official transcripts will be ready to order.
Degrees, certificates and career studies certificates are shipped to graduates approximately 10 weeks after the end of each semester. Graduates will receive an email notification once their item(s) has been ordered and shipped.
Diploma Delivery after Graduation
Diplomas for Fall graduates are shipped in March
Diplomas for Spring graduates are shipped in July
Diplomas for Summer graduates are shipped in October
Ensure that we have the correct mailing address. This can be done by checking your Student Center in your MyVPCC.
Visit our Parchment Storefront to order your final transcripts or to place a diploma reorder.
https://www.parchment.com/u/registration/32898/institution
Course Substitution Form and List of Programs with Academic Divisions
Course Substitution Form-
https://www.vpcc.edu/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/508_Course-Substitution-Request1.pdf
Academic Divisions for Programs of Study-
https://www.vpcc.edu/academics/programs/
If you have any questions about graduation, please contact the Graduation Team at graduation@vpcc.edu