Catalog for Graduation

A student has six years from the date of initial enrollment to fulfill the graduation requirements outlined in the College catalog in effect at the time of his/her first enrollment. A student may choose to meet the graduation requirement stated in the catalog in effect at the time of his/her initial enrollment or any subsequent valid catalog during the six-year period. If a student has not fulfilled the requirements within the six-year period, he or she is subject to the requirements in effect at the time of graduation. The student must remain consecutively enrolled during this period. A break in consecutive enrollment occurs when a student is not enrolled at college for a period of two or more years. If a student is unable to complete his/her requirements within six years, an appeal to use a different catalog may be made to the appropriate academic dean or the Vice-President of Academics and Student Services. When an enrollment break occurs, the student is subject to the degree requirements in the catalog in effect at the time of re-enrollment.

Students may be required to follow degree requirements outlined in later catalogs when certificates, degree programs, or courses have been extensively modified from previous catalogs.

Graduation requirements

The College reserves the right to administratively award degrees/certificates upon completion of any program.

Degree Programs

To be eligible for the associate in arts, associate in science, associate in liberal studies, associate in engineering science, associate in fine arts, or associate in applied science degree at SVCC, a student must fulfill the following requirements:

1. Satisfy all admissions requirements;
2. Complete a minimum of 16 semester hours at SVCC toward a degree; complete 16 hours in the major field for A.A.S. degree;
3. Complete no fewer than the required semester hours in a prescribed program of study;
4. Achieve a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.00;
5. Fulfill all financial obligations to the College;
6. File an "Intent to Graduate" form with Admissions and Records. Deadline to file this form is midterm week of the semester which the student intends to graduate;
7. If the student wishes to participate in the commencement ceremony, he/she must pay a commencement fee by a designated date of the graduation year.

To be eligible for a second associate degree a student must complete, in addition to the above requirements:

1. All course requirements necessary for the second degree, and
2. A minimum of 16 semester hours at SVCC in addition to those credits applying to the initial degree.

Certificate Programs

To be eligible for a certificate, a student must fulfill the following requirements:

1. Satisfy all admission requirements;
2. Complete the prescribed program of study;
3. For certificates of 30 hours or more:
   complete a minimum of 16 semester hours toward the certificate at SVCC;
4. For certificates of fewer than 30 hours:
   complete a minimum of one-half of the total credit hours toward the certificate at SVCC;
5. Achieve a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.00;
6. File an "Intent To Graduate" form with Admissions and Records for the program from which the student intends to graduate. Deadline to file is the end of the fourth week of the fall or spring semester or the second week of the summer semester in which the student intends to graduate.
7. If the student wishes to participate in the commencement ceremony, he/she must pay a commencement fee by a designated date of the graduation year.

GECC Credential

SVCC offers a credential for completion of the GECC (General Education Core Curriculum.* This General Education Core Curriculum (GECC) credential indicates the satisfactory completion of GECC course requirements and will satisfy the lower-division general education requirements at the participating Illinois college or university to which they transfer. The GECC courses embedded within the credential will transfer to participating Illinois institutions of higher education as part of a transferable degree.  The GECC credential is not a workforce certificate nor an industry-recognized credential.

Graduation Procedures

Intent to Graduate

Degree and certificate-seeking students must apply for graduation at the beginning of the semester in which they will fulfill their graduation requirements. It is recommended that the student apply for graduation the semester prior to graduation to verify that all requirements are met or are in progress. Proper notification of intent to graduate must be on file in Admissions and Records by mid-term of the fall, spring or summer semester in which students intend to complete their award. The College reserves the right to administratively award degrees/certificates upon completion of any program.

Commencement

A College-wide commencement is held once each year in May. Students completing degree and certificate graduation requirements at the end of the fall or spring terms and those students who will complete their requirements at the end of the summer term following commencement, are invited and encouraged to participate in the spring commencement ceremony. All participants in the May commencement ceremony should have an "Intent to Graduate" form on file in Admissions and Records by the mid-term of the spring semester prior to commencement. A non-refundable fee is required by a designated date of the year of graduation to participate in the commencement ceremony. This fee entitles the student to participate in the commencement ceremony, including cap and gown, graduation tassel, and diploma cover.