Policies: Academic: Graduation Requirements

Each student who wishes to receive an Associate Degree or Certificate must file an application for graduation in the Campus Services Office at the beginning of the semester in which the requirements for graduation will be completed and pay a $15 Graduation Fee. Although the requirements may be completed during summer session, fall semester or spring semester, there is only one graduation ceremony, held in May.

Policy on Program Revisions Changing Graduation Requirements
Alpena Community College continually revises courses, programs, and graduation requirements in order to provide students with quality educational experiences. Courses are updated to reflect new technology, new courses are added to programs to strengthen students' technical skills, and general education requirements are adjusted in order to more effectively meet students' needs.

Graduation with a Degree
The requirements for the Associate in Arts, Associate in Science, Associate in General Studies and Associate in Applied Science degrees consist of general education courses and electives. Each student must satisfactorily complete:

1. Six semester credits in English Composition (ENG 111 or 121, and 112 or 122 or 123)
2. The American Government requirement, which can be satisfied by either:
   1. Three semester credits of Political Science (PLS 221 or 222)
      OR
   2. Six semester credits of U.S. History (HST 221 and 222).
3. The appropriate number of general education credits from the sciences and mathematics, social science, and humanities groups required for each associate degree.
4. The appropriate number of semester credits required for each associate degree with a cumulative grade point average of 2.0 or higher. Courses numbered under 100 apply only toward the Associate in General Studies degree.
5. At least 15 semester credits for graduation at Alpena Community College.
6. All Alpena Community College course work with a cumulative grade point average of 2.0 or higher.
7. The "Intent to Graduate" form and pay the graduation fee.
8. A waiver of specific requirements does not reduce the total hours required for graduation.

See the Programs section for specific curricular outlines and distribution requirements.

Additional Associate's Degrees
Students may earn more than one associate's degree by satisfying the requirements for each degree, including completing a minimum of 15 additional credits at Alpena Community College for each degree. The 15 additional credits, which may not have been applied to another degree, must apply to the distribution requirements for an Associate in Arts or Associate in Science degree or be in the area of occupational specialty for an Associate in Applied Science degree. Additional degrees may be completed and earned concurrently. An Associate in General Studies may not be earned as an additional or concurrent degree.

Graduation with a Certificate
All candidates for graduation from Certificate of Achievement Programs must satisfactorily:

1. Complete all courses listed in the curriculum for the specific occupational certificate program.
2. Maintain a cumulative grade point average of 2.0 or higher.
3. Complete the "Intent to Graduate" form and pay the graduation fee. See the "Programs of Study" section of this catalog for the various certificate programsand their required courses.

Honors
Alpena Community College recognizes high scholastic achievement at graduation. To be eligible for honors, a student must earn 30 hours of academic work - (no S/U coursework) at ACC. Honors are determined for academic work completed at ACC only. Designations are as follows:

• 3.9 or greater grade point average - summa cum laude
• 3.7-3.89 grade point average - magna cum laude
• 3.5-3.69 grade point average - cum laude

Continuous Enrollment
The following guidelines govern those situations in which graduation requirements are changed for the program a student enrolled in the college is pursuing:

• Students enrolled in a program and degree at Alpena Community College will have the option of completing the degree as specified under the requirements in place at the time of the student's initial enrollment in the program or the requirements in place at the time of graduation if the student has been continuously enrolled in the program.
• Continuous enrollment is defined as enrollment in at least one course during the fall and spring semesters from the initial time of enrollment in the program until the time of graduation. Students who do not satisfy this definition of continuous enrollment must meet the program requirement in effect at the time of graduation.

Age of Course Work
In addition, a student in an associate in applied science degree program may not apply any course work (either transferred or completed at ACC) older than seven years toward the occupational specialty areas designated for the particular degree program. Exceptions can be granted by departmental recommendation based on proficiency standards. This policy applies only to the AAS degree and has no bearing on any other degrees offered by Alpena Community College.