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How do I
apply to graduate?
Complete the Application for Graduation,
and submit to the Cashiers Office, with a $25
fee. If you want to participate in the Commencement
Ceremony, you must also purchase a cap and gown
(additional $35).
I missed the deadline to apply to graduate?
Can I still apply?
Applications for graduation are accepted
year round. If you meet the requirements, you
will graduate with the next upcoming conferring
of degrees (May and August). Keep in mind that
graduation applications trigger things like names
in the commencement program, names in the newspaper,
diploma orders, etc. We will make every effort
to accommodate latecomers, but be aware that the
later you apply, the more issues you could encounter
(ie, not having your name appear in the program,
or a late arriving diploma). If you completely
miss the graduation date entirely, it does not
mean you cannot apply and graduate, but you might
have to wait for the next time the college
confers degrees, depending on when the application
is received.
I graduated in December but my graduation
does not appear on my transcripts. Why is this
and how can I show my 4 year school that I did
get an Associates Degree?
Ocean County College does not graduate
students in December. The college confers degrees
twice per year – May and August. If you complete
requirements in December, you will graduate the
following May. In the meantime, the college will
send you a certificate of completion, which proves
you have met degree requirements. We can enclose
a copy of this certificate with your transcripts,
upon request. Just write “certificate of completion”
on your transcript request form.
I want to graduate in May but I still
have classes to complete. Can I graduate if I
did not finish all my classes?
Although you cannot officially graduate
until all coursework is complete, you can participate
in the Commencement Ceremony. The Commencement
Ceremony is open to all students who complete
requirements during that academic year, which
does include the upcoming summer terms. The academic
year runs from September through August. For instance,
you can participate in the May 22, 2008 Commencement
Ceremony if your final semester of work is Fall
2007, Spring 2008, or Summer 2008. You are not
eligible to participate in the ceremony if you
are planning to take required courses in the following
fall semester. For instance, if you will finish
your courses in Fall 2008, you are in the Class
of 2009.
I graduated last May but I still had
a class I had to complete and I'm taking it now.
What do I do to get my diploma?
If you still have incomplete requirements,
you did not graduate (though you may have participated
in the Commencement Ceremony, at which actual
diplomas are not given). Actual graduation requires
all courses be successfully completed. Many students
participate in the Commencement Ceremony in May,
and then complete requirements over the summer.
In this case, the graduation date, which will
print on the diploma and the transcript, is in
August. If you completed or will complete the
requirements in the next academic year
(after August), and did not contact the college
to request the extension, you need to complete
and submit another graduation application.
How do I get my diploma?
Students can pick up diplomas in the
Registration and Records Office, approximately
one week after the official graduation date (exact
dates for particular semesters are available on
request and will be included with your Commencement
Ceremony invitation). Please bring identification.
If you have moved out of state, please contact
our office regarding mailing the diploma. The
college will mail uncollected diplomas, but this
will not take place until the following spring.
The college is not responsible for diplomas lost
in the mail (usually due to a student moving and
not providing the college with an updated address).
The college cannot reprint diplomas, so please
be careful to get your diploma as soon as possible
after it is available. If you are out of the area,
you can designate a family member to pick it up
for you; just provide that person with a note
authorizing it.
Other graduation notes:
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Be certain the college
has your correct current address before
you apply to graduate. Putting
a new address on the graduation application
is not sufficient to change your address.
You must submit a Change of Information form
to update your address, and again, do this
before you apply to graduate.
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The application for graduation asks how you
wish your name to appear on your diploma.
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Print clearly, particularly if you are
spelling out a middle name that we do not
have on record.
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Include the last name we have in our system.
You cannot request a last name on a diploma
if we do not have it in our system, unless
you first officially change your name with
the college (providing proof of the change).
For instance, you cannot request your diploma
to state what will be your future married
last name. We can hyphenate or add a last
name, if that is what you want, but the
name in our system, at the time of application,
must appear on the diploma.
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Suffix means “Jr.,” “II” or “III.” It does
not mean “Mr.,” “Mrs.,” etc.; these are
prefixes, not suffixes, and they don't belong
on the diploma. Leave the suffix blank on
your application for graduation, unless
“Jr” or “II” is part of your legal name.
-
Be cautious of using shortened versions
of your first name, even if this is what
you are commonly called. This is a formal
document, and it is appropriate to have
“Joseph,” rather than “Joe” printed on your
diploma.
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