Graduation

Director of Degree Services

Melissa Klein
Office: C1060
Phone: 952-487-7400
E-Mail: graduation@normandale.edu

IMPORTANT DATES AND DEADLINES

Fall 2009 Priority Application Deadline*	October 30, 2009
Fall 2009 Final Application Deadline	January 17, 2010
Spring 2010 Priority Application Deadline*	March 5, 2010
Commencement Participation RSVP Deadline	April 16, 2010
Commencement Distribution Day	May 3, 2010
Commencement	May 14, 2010
Spring 2010 Final Application Deadline	June 11, 2010
Summer 2010 Priority Application Deadline*	June 25, 2010
Summer 2010 Final Application Deadline	September 2, 2010
* Applications received by priority deadlines will be given a priority processing status. While applications will be accepted throughout the year until the final deadline, processing will likely be delayed for those received after the priority deadline.

Downloads:

ELIGIBILITY

In order to be eligible for graduation, a student must complete all requirements of a degree program, achieve a minimum 2.00 cumulative grade point average in all college-level coursework and submit an Application for Graduation within one month of the end of the final semester of enrollment. Applications are available in the Career & Academic Planning Center, the Counseling Department, and also on this page under "DOWNLOADS."

GRADUATION DATE

Fall 2009 (May 14, 2010 ceremony)	December 18, 2009
Spring 2010 (May 14, 2010 ceremony)	May 12, 2010
Summer 2010 (May 2011 ceremony)	August 6, 2010

The student's date of graduation shall be the date of graduation established for the term in which the student has met all graduation requirements. Graduation requirements include completing all required coursework and credits; submitting transcripts from other institutions; submitting the graduation application and fee; and clearing all holds.

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APPLICATION PROCESS

Applying for graduation is not difficult, but you will need to complete a bit of paperwork. Applications are available in the Career and Academic Planning Center, Records and Counseling as well as online, link is available on this page under "DOWNLOADS."

To ensure your requirements are fulfilled please review your Degree Audit Report (DARS) by logging in through E-Services (where you register for classes). If there are transfer credits that need further evaluation, meet with an academic counselor.
Applications are reviewed in the order they are received. You will be notified by mail throughout the process regarding your current status.
If you do not hear from us within 4 weeks following the submission of your application, please call 952/487-7400.
Your transcript and diploma/certificate will reflect the final semester term and year in which all of your graduation requirements have been met. This includes submission of the Application for Graduation and fee, receiving official transcripts with final grades from transfer institutions, submission and approval of academic petitions (if applicable), and all other program requirements including completion of Incomplete Grades.

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Minnesota Transfer Curriculum (MnTC) and The Certification Process

The Minnesota Transfer Curriculum (MnTC) is the result of a collaborative effort by all of the two-year and four-year public colleges and universities in Minnesota to define a common philosophy toward general education. The goal of this effort is to help students transfer their work in general education. Completion of a defined transfer curriculum at one institution enables a student to receive credit for all lower-division general education upon admission to any other MnSCU institution. The University of Minnesota also recognizes the MnTC as fulfilling the lower division general education component of its degree programs; in addition, students in all degree programs must complete a writing intensive set of requirements.

Students who complete the transfer curriculum are certified in ten goal areas by faculty at the sending institution. The Minnesota Transfer Curriculum provides details about goal competencies.

You must submit an Application for Certification, Minnesota Transfer Curriculum, during your final semester.

Applications are available in the Career and Academic Planning Center, the Counseling office and also available on this page under "DOWNLOADS." There is no application fee for this certificate.

TRANSFER CREDITS

A student who wishes to apply credits earned at other institutions to their Normandale degree must submit official transcripts reflecting final grades within one month of the end of the student's semester of graduation.You are encouraged to review your Degree Audit Report (DARS) to ensure your requirements are fulfilled and your transfer courses are transferring in appropriately. If there are transfer credits needing further evaluation, meet with an academic counselor.

ACADEMIC PETITIONS

Academic Petitions are not a common requirement. Petitions for waivers of graduation requirements or acceptance of outside credit to count toward a degree must be approved within one month of the student's final semester. The petition should be complete or in process at the time of graduation application and must be approved before the degree is awarded.(Link is available on this page under "DOWNLOADS".) Approval of academic petitions does not re-activate a denied graduation application. You must submit the Re-Application form.

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GRADE CHANGES AND INCOMPLETE GRADES

Grade changes must be submitted within one month following the student's final semester. Applications will be denied for incomplete grades that have not been submitted by this deadline, and the student will be required to re-apply for a future graduation term. An incomplete grade will automatically turn into a grade of F after one semester unless the instructor has submitted a grade change.

DELAY OF GRADUATION

All financial obligations, incomplete grades, academic petitions and other issues must be resolved within one month following the end of the student's final semester.

The student's degree, certificate or certification will be awarded once all requirements have been satisfied. A student whose application is denied or who does not fulfill all requirements by the deadline will be required to submit a re-application form to reactivate the original degree application. (Re-application form link is available on this page under "Downloads.") It is the student's responsibility to notify the College of any change of status that may affect the outcome of the graduation application.

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FEES

For all associate degree applications, the fee is $20.
The certificate program application fee is $10.
The fee must be paid at the time of application. You may use cash, check or credit card for payment. For your convenience, you may use the Business Office drop box or mail in your payment and application to: Normandale Community College, Attn: Business Office, 9700 France Ave South, Bloomington MN 55431
This is a one-time, non-refundable fee, which is applied to degree processing costs.

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RE-APPLYING TO GRADUATE

A student who fails to meet the final application deadline or whose application for graduation has been denied must submit a Re-Application form to the Counseling Office to re-activate the original application. A download of the Re-Application Form is available at the beginning of this page, or one can be picked up at the Counseling Office. There is no re-application filing fee. Remember, it is your responsibility to notify us/re-apply with any changes that would affect the outcome of your application.

DIPLOMAS AND CERTIFICATES

All diplomas and certificates are mailed to students within 4-8 weeks after your final certification. They are not handed out during commencement. Diplomas reflect the graduation date, degree/certificate awarded (AA, AAS, AS or AFA). Majors and emphases are not reflected. Please make sure that you notify graduation@normandale.edu of any address changes for the mailing of your diploma.

Student's who fail to meet the priority application deadline should expect a delay in receiving their degree certification and diploma.

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HONORS/HIGH HONORS

Honors will be awarded to graduates with a cumulative Normandale grade point average (GPA) of 3.00 through 3.49 in college-level courses (numbered 1000 and above) and high honors to graduates with a cumulative GPA of 3.50 or higher. For purposes of the commencement ceremony, honors for spring graduates will be determined by the student's current cumulative GPA through fall semester. The final designation, as it appears on the transcript and diploma, will be based on grades earned in all Normandale college-level coursework through your final semester.

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COMMENCEMENT CEREMONY

This years graduation ceremony will be held on May 14, 2010 for all graduates of summer and fall 2009 and for all spring 2010 associate degree candidates. Detailed commencement information will be mailed to eligible applicants in late March. Only those applying by March 5, 2010 will be included in the ceremony mailings. Reservation cards have to be returned no later than Friday, April 16, 2010.

Participation in the ceremony does not indicate the student has graduated.

EARLY COMMENCEMENT PARTICIPATION

Students who intend to graduate in summer 2010 are invited to participate a semester early in the May 2010 commencement ceremony. In order to become eligible, students must register for their final 8 credits and receive approval for participation in commencement. Contact melissa.klein@normandale.edu with your name, address, student i.d. # and your intent to participate early.
Eligible candidates must submit their graduation application by March 31, 2010.

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Graduation

IMPORTANT DATES AND DEADLINES

Downloads:

ELIGIBILITY

APPLICATION PROCESS

Minnesota Transfer Curriculum (MnTC) and The Certification Process

ACADEMIC PETITIONS

GRADE CHANGES AND INCOMPLETE GRADES

DELAY OF GRADUATION

FEES

RE-APPLYING TO GRADUATE

DIPLOMAS AND CERTIFICATES

HONORS/HIGH HONORS

COMMENCEMENT CEREMONY

EARLY COMMENCEMENT PARTICIPATION

In this section ...