Graduation application graphic

Graduation and Commencement

Graduation vs. Commencement – there is a difference. Graduation is the completion of all requirements for your degree or certificate. The degree or certificate is notated on your official academic transcript, and a diploma or certificate issued. Commencement is the ceremony recognizing your hard work and accomplishments. It is an opportunity for you, your family, friends, and the campus community to celebrate all that you have done.

Diplomas and certificates are issued once all financial obligations to NMC are met.


Graduation

Applying for a Degree or Certificate

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All students are required to submit an online Graduation Application through Self Service - Student Records to receive a degree/credential. Students may apply to graduate in either the fall, spring or summer semesters.

Graduation Application Deadline: Applications should be submitted to the Records & Registration Office after you have registered for the final semester of coursework that will complete you degree or certificate at NMC.

Late Applications: Applications will be processed after the deadline. However, for applications submitted after April 15, NMC cannot guarantee your name will be listed in the commencement program.

Once the graduation application is completed, a preliminary degree audit of your record will be completed by the Records and Registration Office and the results sent to your NMC email. Please allow approximately two weeks to receive the audit results. If at any time after you submit a Graduation Application you need to request a change in your expected date of graduation, contact the Records & Registration Office as soon as possible. Please DO NOT submit another application before speaking with someone.

Completing a Degree or Certificate

Once you have applied for a degree or certificate, you will have an expected semester of graduation. After you complete that final semester of classes and the grading process is completed for that semester, final degree audits will be completed. If the audit determines all requirements have been met, your degree or certificate will be awarded and posted to your official transcript.

What happens if you do not complete the degree or certificate requirements?

Once you complete your final semester of classes toward a degree or certificate, and the grading process is completed for that semester, final degree audits will be completed. If the audit determines all requirements were not completed, you will receive an email notification to your NMC email from the Records & Registration Office staff with information on your next steps.

If at any time after you submit a Graduation Application you need to request a change in your expected date of graduation, contact the Records & Registration Office.

Diplomas and Certificates

Diplomas and certificates are not handed out on commencement day. Once all degree or certificate requirements have been fulfilled, the degree or certificate will be mailed to the address on your graduation application approximately 6–8 weeks after final grades have been processed for the semester of graduation.

It is important that you give us the correct mailing address for your diploma when you fill out your Graduation Application. This is where the diploma will be mailed. We will not mail your diploma to the address we have in the system for you, unless you indicate that on the Graduation Application. Please contact the Records & Registration Office if you need to change the diploma mailing address after you have filled out the Graduation Application.