General Graduation Information 

GRADUATION REQUIREMENTS
Southwestern Community College grants degrees, diplomas, and certificates to those who successfully complete programs offered by the college. Students must maintain a 2.00 grade point average on all applicable work (nursing students must earn a grade of "C" or better in all courses). All requirements of the chosen program must be satisfied, although adjustments may be made when program curriculum has changed and courses are no longer available. Please refer to the current college catalog for requirements for your program.

GRADUATION CEREMONIES
Southwestern conducts two graduation ceremonies each year in the Student Center Gymnasium at the Creston campus. Spring commencement will be held Friday, May 11, 2007 at 7:30 p.m. Students who complete requirements in December and May are invited to participate in the spring commencement ceremony. Summer commencement will be held Friday, June 29, 2007 at 7:30 p.m. Students who meet their graduation requirements at any time during the summer are invited to participate in the summer commencement ceremony. There is no charge to participate in the commencement ceremony.

In order to ensure that you successfully meet requirements, and have followed all procedures required in the graduation process, the following information is provided.

COMPLETION OF STUDENT FILE
Make sure that your application/student file is complete. Southwestern requires a final high school transcript and official transcripts from all colleges that you have attended.

MEET WITH ADVISOR
Meet with your faculty advisor or counselor to make sure that you will meet requirements to graduate. Students are encouraged to request a Degree Audit from your advisor/counselor at least one semester prior to their planned graduation to assist with planning their final semester.

APPLICATION FOR GRADUATION AND COMMENCEMENT PARTICIPATION Candidates for graduation must complete an application for graduation in order to receive their degree or diploma. Applications are available through the Registrar's Office at the Creston campus or at the Red Oak or Osceola centers. Students who plan to participate in the commencement ceremony must indicate their intent on the application for graduation and provide their chest and height measurements (caps are adjustable, so cap size is not necessary). There is no graduation fee. Students who plan to receive more than one degree, diploma, or certificate need to indicate all programs on the form. Candidates for graduation should submit their applications to the Registrar's Office by the following dates:

• Fall - September 30
• Spring - February 9
• Summer - February 9 (if enrolled during spring semester) or May 18

If you find you will not be completing requirements for the term indicated on your application for graduation, please contact the Registrar's Office at 641-782-1422 and submit another graduation application for the term in which your requirements will be met.

LIST OF PROSPECTIVE GRADUATES
A list of prospective graduates will be emailed to students and faculty, posted on the Graduation link of our website, and posted in the main Instructional center bulletin board during mid semester of each term (summer graduates will notified during summer semester).

GRADUATION ANNOUNCEMENTS
Graduation announcements may be ordered through SWCC's bookstore beginning mid-April for fall and spring graduates. Announcements and envelopes may be picked up and paid for during the last two weeks of the semester. Summer graduates may order announcements during the first week of June to be picked up during the last two weeks of the first summer session.

LOAN INFORMATION
Federal regulations require all students borrowing Direct Student Loans to complete loan exit counseling prior to graduation. Students who do not schedule an individual exit session with the Financial Aid Office may complete loan exit counseling online at www.dl.ed.gov. You need your PIN # to complete online exit counseling. If you no longer have your original PIN, apply for a new one at www.pin.ed.gov.

COMPASS POST TEST
If you are graduating from a Vocational program, you must make an appointment at the Assessment Center to complete a post test prior to graduation.

STUDENT ACCOUNT
Your account must be paid in full by the last day of classes of your last semester of enrollment. This includes any fines you have been assessed by the library, parking, and dormitories. Your transcripts or degree/diploma will not be released unless your account is paid in full.

BOOKS/MATERIALS/EQUIPMENT
All borrowed books or other material/equipment must be returned to the library or the proper department before you will be allowed to graduate. All library fines must be paid.

CHECKOUT OF CAMPUS HOUSING /MAILBOXES
If you live on campus, you must make arrangements with the housing supervisor to check out. Please leave a forwarding address for your mail with the Registrar's Office.

ACADEMIC TRANSCRIPT REQUESTS
Transcripts may be ordered at the end of the term to be sent once grades and graduation status are finalized. Authorization forms for releasing transcripts are obtained from the Registrar's Office, at the Creston campus or at the Red Oak or Osceola centers, or online. The online form must be downloaded, filled out, and mailed to the Registrar's Office at Southwestern Community College, 1501 W. Townline Street, Creston, IA 50801. Transcripts are forwarded only upon written request from the student. The first two copies are free, after that, the charge is $5.00 per copy. Transcripts are not issued until all accounts with the college are paid, including the transcript fee. Requests for transcripts will be honored as quickly as possible in order of receipt. Please allow two weeks for processing.

GRADUATION SURVEY
You are required to fill out a short graduation survey as part of the graduation process. Surveys will be mailed to December graduates to fill out and return. Spring and summer graduates will fill out surveys in the Registrar's Office when picking up final graduation information. Prospective graduates will be notified to pick up information by email and announcements on campus monitors.

CAPS AND GOWNS
Caps and gowns may be picked up from the Registrar's Office (Admin Bldg) beginning Tuesday of commencement week during regular office hours. Evening or off-campus students may pick up their gowns between 6:30 and 6:45 p.m. on the evening of Commencement.

HONOR GRADUATES
Graduates who maintain a 3.5 cumulative grade point average or above will graduate with honors. They are invited to wear honor cords at commencement and their distinction will be noted in the printed commencement program. The cords may be purchased from the Bookstore beginning Tuesday of commencement week at a cost of $10.00. Members of the Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society are invited to wear the stoles and tassels designating this honor. Their distinction will be noted in the printed commencement program. Stoles and tassels may be borrowed or purchased from the Bookstore beginning Tuesday of commencement week. The cost is $8.00 for the tassel and $14.00 for the stole. Borrowed items must be returned to the Bookstore immediately following commencement.

COMMENCEMENT PROCEDURES
Meet in Room 220 (large fixed seating tiered lecture room) at 6:45 p.m. on commencement day. Please dress in an appropriate manner. Your cap should be worn squarely on your head (NOT tilted back) with the tassel on the right side. You will receive instructions regarding the processional order and the procedures to follow at this time.

ACCOMODATIONS AT COMMENCEMENT
Any student or guest requiring accommodations to attend Commencement should contact the Special Needs Coordinator, 641-782-1458.

COMMENCEMENT PHOTOGRAPHS
Each graduate will be photographed as you cross the stage to receive your diploma. A proof of your photograph will be mailed or emailed to you along with an order form listing various sizes and packages offered. You may place an order if you wish, but there is no obligation to do so.

RECEPTION
Following commencement, the faculty and staff of Southwestern Community College will host a reception for our graduates in front of the Student Center. If inclement weather, the reception will be held in the upper portion of the Student Center. All students, family members, and friends are invited to attend.

PUBLICATION OF GRADUATES' NAMES
Students who complete all requirements for graduation shall have their names listed on the commencement program. Graduates' names will be released to area and hometown newspapers for publication following commencement.

REGISTRAR'S OFFICE PROCEDURES
The Registrar's Office checks cumulative and current grades and grade point averages on Thursday and Friday during the final week of classes. Any student who does not maintain a cumulative grade point average of 2.0 or better will not be eligible to graduate. Following graduation, the Registrar's Office will finalize grades and graduation status and apply degrees to transcripts.

DEGREES/DIPLOMAS
Degree/diploma covers will be presented to the graduates during Commencement exercises. Inserts will be mailed to your permanent address. Make sure that your correct permanent address is on file in the Registrar's Office. Please allow two to three weeks for processing.

CAREER SERVICES
Services are available to you as alumni. Contact the Career Services Office, which is located above the Learning Resources Center of the Creston campus, or call 641-782-1495 or 800-247-4023 ext. 495 for job search planning, resumes, or other career-related concerns.

GRADUATE SATISFACTION SURVEY
The Career Services Office compiles a Graduate Satisfaction Survey Report on an annual basis. The information from this report is utilized to ensure that our programs are current, meet employment and educational needs, and maintain current industry standards as well as identifying employment/educational trends. You will receive a Graduate Follow-up Placement Student Satisfaction Survey in late November following graduation. Please complete and return to the Career Services Office as soon as possible.

ALUMNI OFFICE
The Alumni Office strives to remain in contact and provide services to alumni. We appreciate the opportunity to keep you connected to your school, your friends and your faculty. The Alumni Office also provides scholarships and grants to deserving SWCC students through annual fund-raising activities. For further information, please contact the Alumni Office at 641-782-1420 or 800-247-4023, ext. 420 or visit Southwestern's alumni page.