Graduation

Graduation Procedures

www.mchenry.edu/graduation

For questions on:
Degree Audits: (815) 479-7632
Commencement: (815) 479-7547

Students are responsible for knowing and observing the requirements of their certificate or degree program and the rules governing academic progress. Academic Advisors are available to assist students in making informed decisions for course selection and long-term educational plans. Each student has the responsibility to fulfill the requirements for the certificate or degree, check the eligibility to take courses, and observe the academic rules governing the program. Specifically, each student has the responsibility to fulfill the requirements for the certificate or degree, check the eligibility to take courses, and observe the academic rules governing the program.

Academic requirements may change with each edition of the College catalog. Students are responsible for the certificate or degree requirements that are specified in the official College catalog at the time the student completes his/her first credit course. A student may elect to follow the certificate or degree requirements set forth in any subsequent catalog if it is in the student’s best interest and the student completes all the requirements of that catalog. Requirements may not, however, be combined from different catalogs. In no case may a student graduate using the requirements of a McHenry County College catalog that is more than five years old prior to the date of graduation.

In the case of curriculum changes, or the cancellation or withdrawal of courses, the vice president, working with the department chair/dean, may make adjustments to a student’s requirements to meet the changes in program requirements. Efforts will be made to coordinate earlier coursework in a way most beneficial to the student to fulfill curriculum requirements. All course substitutions must be approved in writing by the department chair/dean and vice president. A degree or certificate cannot be awarded if the program has been withdrawn.

All financial obligations to the College must be paid. Failure to clear financial liability may delay the processing of diploma/certificates until such obligation is cleared.

Through myMCC>Self-Service>StudentPlanning>My Progress, students have the ability to evaluate their progress toward completion of a degree or certificate program, by identifying which courses have been completed and which courses are still needed to fulfill program requirements. In addition, students may check to see how completed courses may be applied to a different academic program by using the “View a New Program” feature.

It is the responsibility of the student to know and fulfill all degree/certificate requirements and graduation procedures.

Candidates for graduation must apply during the semester in which they will complete graduation requirements. Students apply for graduation via myMCC > Self-Service > Graduation Overview, before the following deadlines:

May graduates-April 1
August graduates-August 1
December graduates-November 1

Commencement Exercises

Commencement exercises are held in May and in December each year. Students who are graduating in May participate in the Spring Commencement. Students graduating in August or December participate in the Winter Commencement. For information on the commencement ceremony visit www.mchenry.edu/commencement.

NOTE: Failure to clear financial liability may delay the processing of diplomas/certificates until such obligation is cleared.

Associate’s Degree Requirements:

Satisfactory completion of 60 or more credit hours depending on the specific program, with a 2.0 or higher cumulative GPA at the time graduation requirements are met. Awarding of degrees will be dated in the semester and year in which all requirements were met. GPA of transfer credits and developmental courses does not apply.
Satisfactory completion of all course requirements, subject to the following:
1. Course requirements are defined as those contained in MCC’s catalog at the time the student first enrolled at the College, provided there has been no break in his or her MCC education exceeding five consecutive years. Failing grades, non-credit courses and course withdrawals are not considered as attendance for this purpose.
2. Course requirements are defined as those contained in MCC’s catalog at the time of re-entry for those students who have experienced a break in their education exceeding five consecutive years.
3. In the case of curriculum changes or the cancellation or withdrawal of courses, every effort will be made to substitute current coursework to fulfill degree requirements. Course substitutions and waivers must be approved in writing by the appropriate department chair or dean.
Completion of 15 credit hours in credit courses at MCC. Credit earned through CLEP, MCC proficiency, DANTES and AP examinations does not satisfy this residency requirement. Students completing an AAS degree must complete a minimum of 15 credit hours of program-specific coursework through MCC (i.e., not general education coursework).
End-of-program assessment is required for degree completion.
1. Students seeking a degree of AA, AS, AES, AFA or AGE will be required to complete an E-Portfolio of work demonstrating their achievements in the general education goals of the college.
2. Students seeking a career and technical education AAS degree will be required to complete an end-of-program assessment as directed by the specific department.
Submission of graduation application through myMCC, prior to the posted deadline.

Certificate of Completion in a Career and Technical Education Area Requirements

Completion of the necessary semester hours of credit specified for the program with a 2.0 cumulative GPA at the time graduation requirements are met. Awarding of certificates will be dated in the semester and year in which all requirements were met. GPA of transfer credits and developmental courses does not apply.
Satisfactory completion of all course requirements, subject to the following:
1. Course requirements are defined as those contained in MCC’s catalog at the time the student first enrolled at the College, provided there has been no break in his or her MCC education exceeding five consecutive years. MCC course withdrawals are not considered as attendance for this purpose.
2. Course requirements are defined as those contained in MCC’s catalog at the time of re-entry for those students who have experienced a break in their education exceeding five consecutive years.
3. In the case of curriculum changes or the cancellation or withdrawal of courses, every effort will be made to substitute current coursework to fulfill certificate requirements. Course substitutions and waivers must be approved in writing by the appropriate department chair or dean.
For certificates of less than 12 credit hours, all coursework must be completed at MCC. For certificates of 12 or more credit hours, one-half of the minimum credit hours required must be completed at MCC. Credit earned through proficiency examinations does not satisfy this requirement.
Certificates of 30 or more credit hours require an end-of-program assessment as directed by the specific department.
Submission of graduation application through myMCC, prior to the posted deadline.

Awarding of Additional Degrees

A graduate of MCC may pursue and be awarded additional degrees. The following requirements must be met:

All degree requirements, including the general education requirements and also those specialized classes normally required.
Twelve semester hours of additional credit earned at MCC. The additional 12 hours of credit may not be applied to the first degree earned.
Minimum of a 2.0 cumulative GPA at the time graduation requirements are met.
Submission of graduation application through myMCC, prior to the posted deadline.

Graduation Academic Honors

Upon completion of associate’s degree requirements, academic honors are awarded according to the following scale:

High Honors-3.75 to 4.0 cumulative GPA
Honors-3.5 to 3.74 cumulative GPA

Academic honors are recognized both on the student’s transcript and at the commencement exercises. To be considered for academic honors, students must earn 30 semester hours of grade point credit in residence at MCC.