Graduation

A graduation ceremony is held in May of each year for graduates of the Spring and preceding Summer and Fall terms in the Southern Union Arena on the Wadley Campus. Information concerning the ceremony is mailed to students wishing to participate in graduation.

No student may participate in graduation who has not (1) completed all degree and/or certificate requirements, and (2) purchased a cap and gown through the College bookstore prior to the date of the graduation ceremony.

Graduation Evaluations
Qualified students who wish to receive a diploma or participate in graduation ceremonies must complete an application for graduation through an academic advisor and pay the $5.00 non-refundable diploma fee by the deadline published in the College calendar found in the General Information section of the College Catalog. Although degrees are officially conferred in May, students may complete degree or certificate requirements and order after each term.

Degrees and Certificates Awarded
Southern Union State Community College awards the Associate in Science, Associate in Applied Science, and Associate in Occupational Technologies Degrees, and Certificates.

• The Associate in Science Degree is awarded to students completing the General Education Core (Area I-IV) and the pre-professional/pre-major courses (Area V) detailed in the Academic Division section of this Catalog.
• The Associate in Applied Science Degree is awarded to students who satisfy the requirements of any one of the specific career programs outlined in this Catalog.
• The Associate in Occupational Technologies Degree is awarded to students who satisfy the requirements of any one of the specific career programs outlined in this Catalog.
• A Certificate is awarded to students who satisfy the requirements of a specific certificate program outlined in this Catalog.

Degree Requirements
A student shall be awarded the Associate in Science, Associate in Applied Science, or Associate in Occupational Technologies Degree upon satisfactory completion of the requirements as specified by Southern Union State Community College and the Alabama State Board of Education. A student must:

• satisfactorily complete a minimum of 60 semester hours of college credit (from courses numbered 100 or above) in an approved program of study, including prescribed general education courses.
• earn a 2.0 cumulative grade point average in all courses attempted at the College. The calculation of the grade point average for graduation shall not include grades earned in institutional credit courses. A course may be counted only once for purposes of meeting graduation requirements.
• successfully complete English 101 and/or 102 or English 131 (AOT only) with a minimum grade of “C”.
• complete at least twenty-five percent of the total semester credit hours required for the degree at Southern Union State Community College.
• transfer only credit hours which represent collegiate course work relevant to the degree, with course content and level of instruction resulting in student competencies at least equivalent to those of “native” students.
• fulfill all financial obligations to the College. (The return of all college owned books and property is considered a financial obligation.)
   

Certificate Requirements
A student may be granted an award other than a degree upon satisfactory completion of the requirements of the specific program as specified by Southern Union State Community College in accordance with policies of the Alabama State Board of Education. A student must:

• satisfactorily complete an approved program of study.
• earn a 2.0 cumulative grade point average in all courses attempted at the College. The calculation of the grade point average for graduation shall not include grades earned in institutional credit courses. A course may be counted only once for purposes of meeting graduation requirements.
• successfully complete English 101 or English 131 with a minimum grade of “C” when English is a required course for the Certificate.
• complete at least 25 percent of the total semester credit hours required in the program at Southern Union State Community College.
• transfer only credit hours which represent collegiate course work relevant to the certificate, with course content and level of instruction resulting in student competencies at least equivalent to those of “native” students.

Graduation Honors
Southern Union State Community College provides selected academic honors to recognize and promote notable student achievement. These academic honors include: (1) Graduation Honors for Degrees to include Graduation with Honors, Graduation with High Honors, and Graduation with Highest Honors; and (2) Graduation Honors for Other Formal Awards (Certificates) to include Graduation with Distinction.

Graduation Honors for Degrees
Superior academic achievement by graduating students shall be recognized by the following designations on transcripts.

Graduation Honors for Certificates

NOTE: Calculation of the grade point average (GPA) for graduation honors shall be identical to the method used for calculating the GPA to fulfill graduation requirements for the degree or certificate being earned. In addition, in order to be eligible for a graduation honor, the student must have completed a minimum of 32 semester hours at Southern Union State Community College.