X. Graduation Requirements

A. Degree/Certificate Requirements

Onondaga Community College will automatically graduate and award students with their degree or certificate upon ensuring that the student meets all the following requirements:

• The student must be matriculated in a degree or certificate program and meet all program and credit hour requirements as outlined in the relevant College Catalog.
• The student must achieve a cumulative GPA of 2.0 or higher.
• All classes with a grade of “I” (incomplete) must be completed, and the grade must be changed from “I” to a letter grade A-F.
• At least 24 credits for a degree and 12 credits for a certificate must be completed at Onondaga Community College.
• No more than 12 credits may be satisfied by Independent Studies.

B. Graduation and Commencement

Students who are expected to complete their final program requirements will be invited to a Commencement ceremony in either May or December, whichever is closest to their expected completion date.

• Students must be registered for all the classes remaining in their program requirements to receive an invitation to Commencement.
• Commencement typically occurs before final grades are submitted. This means that participation in a Commencement ceremony does not guarantee that a student will graduate or receive a diploma. Graduation occurs when a student’s degree or certificate is awarded, after all final grades are submitted and all requirements are satisfied.
• Graduation is processed three times per year, in May, August, and December. Graduation will not be processed early if a student completes their final requirements before the official end of the semester.
• Any student who was expected to graduate but does not graduate due to failed classes, drops or withdrawals, low GPA, “I” grades, etc. will be notified by the Office of Registration & Records.

C. Graduation Honors

Graduation Honors include Cum Laude, Magna Cum Laude, and Summa Cum Laude.

• Graduation Honors may differ between the student’s Commencement ceremony and graduation.
  • At Commencement ceremonies, Graduation Honors will be recognized based on the student’s most recent cumulative GPA.
  • At graduation, Graduation Honors will be designated on the student’s final transcript and diploma based on their final cumulative GPA.

• Graduation Honors are determined as follows:

D. Multiple Degrees

Students may earn more than one degree or certificate at Onondaga Community College, subject to the following restrictions:

• A minimum of 20 credits for any associate degree must be “unique credits” – credits that are not applied to any other degree the student has already earned or is currently working on.
• If a student is working on more than one degree and they complete all requirements for both during the same semester but do not have the minimum number of unique credits, they will be contacted by the Office of Registration & Records to choose which degree they want to receive.
• There are no restrictions on multiple certificates.

E. Microcredentials

Microcredentials are focused, flexible course clusters that provide pathways to additional credentials while helping students develop verified, in-demand skills and gain experience.

• 40% of the required credits in a microcredential must be taken at Onondaga Community College.
• Students will be awarded a digital badge upon completion of the microcredential. The title of the credential and the complete record of the courses completed will also be reflected on the student’s transcript.