Graduation

ALL Students anticipating graduation must submit an “Application for Graduation” through the One-Login Self-Service App in the semester they expect to complete their degree. This Application is to order your diploma and does not indicate that you will or will not be attending the annual ceremony held each May.

Submission Deadlines

• May Completion January 1
• August Completion June 1
• December Completion October 15

A graduation fee is billed to all degree candidates per diploma received. This is a mandatory fee that is charged to all students regardless of attendance at the annual graduation ceremony.

An appropriate degree is awarded to each student who fulfills the following requirements:

1. Application for graduation submitted.
2. All admission requirements completed.
3. Successful completion of one of the programs of study in the catalog in effect at the time of the student’s matriculation. For full-time students, the program must be completed within 10 semesters, not necessarily consecutive. Part-time bachelor’s degree candidates and master’s degree candidates shall complete all degree requirements within 10 calendar years.
4. Achievement of a minimum cumulative grade point average of 2.0 for Undergraduate students and a minimum cumulative grade point average of 3.0 for Graduate students.
5. Achievement of a grade point average of 2.0 in the concentration or the major area of study. **
6. Achievement of a grade point average of 2.0 in the minor or the certificate. Students may opt to drop the minor or certificate from their program of study if they don’t meet the GPA requirement. **
7. If a student has completed all course requirements for graduation but does not meet the 2.0 overall CGPA and/or the 2.0 GPA in the major or concentration requirements, the student may take a maximum of 3 courses to meet the GPA graduation requirement. **
8. Satisfactory completion of two W-designated (Writing Intensive courses). *
9. All Undergraduate students (including transfer students) must take at least 30 credit-hours – immediately preceding graduation – at Nichols College and complete all degree requirements. 30 of the final 36 credit-hours must be taken at Nichols College. Graduate Students may only transfer in 9 credit-hours at the start of their program. All remaining Graduate courses must be taken at Nichols College.
10. Payment In full of all tuition, fees, fines, etc., including the graduation fee.
11. Writing-Intensive Courses: Full-Time Undergraduate Day Students are required to complete at least two writing-intensive “W” courses prior to graduation. “W” courses are upper-level offerings designed to give students additional writing practice in various academic disciplines. Normally, students are expected to take one “W” course in their concentration or major, and another outside the concentration/major. Transfer students should consult Academic Advisors about the “W” course requirement and the selection of “W” courses. The schedule of classes, published by the Registrar, indicates the “W” courses being offered during a given semester.

**Applies to Undergraduate student only

High scholastic achievement during the entire college career is recognized at Commencement. Outstanding scholars are awarded degrees with three levels of distinction. In order to be eligible for Commencement Honors a student must have earned at least 48 credits at Nichols College and must have achieved the following cumulative averages:

• Cum Laude 3.40 – 3.64 GPA
• Magna Cum Laude 3.65 – 3.84 GPA
• Summa Cum Laude 3.85 – 4.00 GPA

In order to be recognized as valedictorian or salutatorian a student must have earned at least 90 credits at Nichols College.

Undergraduate students who complete 47 or fewer credits at Nichols and meet the following GPA requirements will earn the honors distinction:

• With Distinction 3.70 – 3.84 GPA
• With High Distinction 3.85 – 4.00 GPA

MBA students are not eligible for commencement honors as all graduating MBA students must have a 3.0 or above in order to graduate, however One MBA student is chosen for each program each year to receive an “Award for Academic Excellence”.

During the two week period after the end of each semester the Registrar reviews all degree candidates who have submitted an application for graduation. All students who have completed their graduation requirements are then “graduated” and their degree information is added to their transcript.

The Registrar then orders the diplomas from a printing company that specializes in degree and award printing. The lead-time for the diplomas to be returned to Nichols College can range anywhere from 6 to 8 weeks depending on the volume of orders in-house at the printing company. When the diplomas are received at Nichols College, they are reviewed for accuracy and then repackaged into mailers for each student. Once the Student Accounts office has completed a financial audit on each student, they then release diplomas as appropriate. A student’s account must be released by the Student Accounts office before the diploma is mailed to the student.

Although Nichols College confers degrees in May, August and December, Nichols College only holds one formal ceremony each year in May. All graduates from August and December are invited to attend the May ceremony. Diplomas are not handed out at the ceremony. A ceremonial diploma cover with certificate is handed to each student as they pass across the stage. The Academic Affairs Office will mail and email information to all eligible graduates regarding the ceremony in early March of each year. Please be sure to update your address if you move.

The application for graduation can be found on Self Service. Go to the Graduation Overview page and click on Apply.