Policies Related to Graduation Requirements and Participation in Commencement

Category: Student Affairs
Title: Policies Related to Graduation Requirements and Participation in Commencement
Approved by: Board of Trustees
Date Approved: December 7, 2017
Date Revised: May 22, 2020
Related Polices: CMC Bylaws, Articles I and VII
                            Statement of Academic Policy
                                                                    Student Code of Conduct   & Student Conduct Process
  Civil Rights Policy
Additional References:
Responsible Official: President of the College

Contents of this Policy:

Policy Statement
Entities Covered by this Policy
Contacts
General Principles
Academic Requirements
Student Conduct Requirements
Good Financial Standing Requirements
Transcript Notations

Policy Statement

This Policy outlines Claremont McKenna College’s requirements to earn an academic degree, obtain a diploma and degree-bearing official transcript, and be eligible to participate in Commencement.

Entities Covered

All units of the College.

Contacts

Direct any questions about this policy to your department’s supervisor. You may direct questions to the following departments concerning these specific issues:

Academic Requirements
Office of the Registrar
(909) 621-8101

Conduct Good Standing
Dean of Students
(909) 621-8114

Financial Good Standing
Student Accounts
(909) 621-8116

General Principles Related to Actions by the Faculty and the Board to Confer Degrees, Graduation Dates, and Eligibility to Participate in Commencement

Academic degrees at Claremont McKenna College are conditionally conferred upon

Conditional action by the faculty to recommend to the Board of Trustees students who have completed, or who are expected to complete, all relevant Academic Requirements for a degree by the next respective Graduation Date;
- Such action by the faculty is conditional upon the student’s actual satisfaction of all relevant Academic Requirements on or before the relevant Graduation Date.
Conditional action by the Board of Trustees to confer degrees based on:
- Receipt of foregoing recommendation from the faculty; and,
- The student being in Good Financial and Good Conduct Standing, as defined below, as of the relevant Graduation Date.

Graduation Dates

The College maintains three Graduate Dates during each Academic Year at which time academic degrees are conferred:

Fall (August or September)
Winter (December), and
Spring (May).
The specific dates within any of these time periods may vary and are announced in the College’s Academic Calendar.

Effective Graduation Date

A student’s academic degree is conferred upon the student’s Effective Graduation Date, which is the first Graduation Date that follows the student’s successful completion of all Academic Requirements and where the student is also in Good Financial and Good Conduct Standing.

Participation in Commencement

The College holds a Commencement Ceremony in May of each Academic Year to recognize those students who have graduated during the relevant Academic Year.
Except as provided below, a student may participate in the Commencement Ceremony that aligns with the Academic Year of the student’s Effective Graduation Date; provided, however, that a graduating student who is not able to participate in the Commencement Ceremony corresponding with the Academic Year of their Effective Graduation Date may participate in a subsequent Commencement Ceremony.

Academic Requirements Related to Participation in Commencement

Reserved

Note: The College’s Academic Requirements related to the conferral of degrees and participation in Commencement are established by the faculty and are set forth in the College’s Statement of Academic Policy.

Student Conduct Requirements Related to Participation in Commencement

Good Conduct Standing

“Good Conduct Standing” means that a student is not:

Currently subject to sanctions arising from the Student Conduct Process, the Civil Rights Policy, or the Academic Standard Committee that include: a sanction of suspension, delay of graduation, or a specific sanctions statement that the student shall not be in Good Conduct Standing until such sanctions haven been satisfied, or
Subject to a conduct “Charge” under the College’s Student Conduct Process or a referral to the Academic Integrity Procedures that could result in suspension or dismissal if the student is found responsible.

Participation in Commencement Prior to Effective Graduation Date

There may be limited but appropriate circumstances in which the Vice President for Student Affairs (for Student Conduct matters), the Chief Civil Rights Officer (for Civil Rights Policy matters), or the Academic Standards Committee (for academic matters) may authorize exceptions to its Good Conduct Standing requirements that would permit a student to participate in a Commencement Ceremony that precedes the student’s Effective Graduation Date.
In particular, if a student is not in Good Conduct Standing, but there are extraordinary circumstances present (such as a unique family or health situation), the student may make a special written request to the Vice President for Student Affairs, the Chief Civil Rights Officer or the Academic Standards Committee, as appropriate.
The Vice President for Student Affairs, the Chief Civil Rights Officer and Academic Standards Committee retain full institutional discretion with respect to whether to grant or deny such request, and this determination shall be final and not subject to any appeal or other review.

Good Financial Standing Requirements Related to Participation in Commencement

Good Financial Standing

“Good Financial Standing” means a student’s account balance to the College may not exceed $100.00 on the date that the last payment is due for the fall or spring semesters.
The account balance is exclusive of any refundable deposits on file with the College.
The account balance is inclusive of any financial aid that has been approved by the Financial Aid Office and which is pending on the last payment due date.

Participation in Commencement Prior to Effective Graduation Date

If a student is not in Good Financial Standing, but has otherwise completed all Academic Requirements and is in Good Conduct Standing, the student may participate in a Commencement Ceremony that precedes the student’s Graduation Date if the outstanding balance is less than $1,000.00.

Considerations related to Transcript Notations

The Registrar is hereby authorized to implement such new or revised policies and procedures as are appropriate to implement these policies, including with respect to practices that the College will follow with respect to transcript notations.