Degree, Certificate, and Letter of Recognition Requirements

Satisfactory completion of the following requirements will determine eligibility for a degree, certificate, or letter of recognition:

1. Completion of all academic requirements of the program or such comparable courses as are required by the student’s chosen transfer institution. Please refer to the college catalog for detailed curriculum requirements for each program. Completion requirements are based on the catalog year a student entered the program.
2. Completion of a minimum of 60 semester hours for a degree and all required semester hours for a certificate or a letter of recognition program.
3. All students must complete at least 25 percent of their credit hours at HCC for a degree program or certificate program.
4. Completion of the required HCC credits with a minimum of a cumulative 2.0 quality-point index grade point average.
    

Applying for Degree, Certificate, and Letter of Recognition Guidelines

• To graduate in August, submit your application by July 1. Diplomas will be mailed.
• To graduate in December, submit your application by October 1. Diplomas will be mailed.
• To graduate in May, submit your application by March 1. Diplomas will be available for pick up the Monday following commencement. Diplomas may be picked up in person at the Admissions/Records department counter during normal business hours. Students must present a photo ID to obtain their diploma. Applications received after this deadline cannot guarantee that your name will be printed in the May commencement program.
• Students are expected to complete the online Application for Graduation through Self-Service to receive a degree, certificate or letter of recognition regardless of your participation in the graduation ceremony.
• There are no fees to apply for graduation.
• Changes to your intended completion date or application should be directed to the Registrar or Records Office.
   

Students Completing Certificates and Letters of Recognition UNDER 30 Credits

1. Submit an online Application for Graduation through Self-Service.
2. Update any changes to your personal information, such as mailing address, through Self-Service or the Records Office.
3. Official transcripts from all other colleges or universities and official test results should be on file with the Records Office by the application deadline to be applied towards the final degree audit. Students need to complete a Transfer Evaluation Request Form.
4. Fulfill all financial obligations such as parking tickets, library fines, etc. Finance holds must be met prior to receiving your certificate or letter of recognition.
5. Students with a Federal Stafford Student Loan who are graduating or transferring must complete the required exit loan counseling. For assistance, contact the Office of Financial Aid at 240-500-2473.
6. For any questions, please contact Iris Yates in the Records Office at 240-500-2408 or idyates@hagerstowncc.edu.

Certificates under 30 credits and letters of recognition are issued three times a year: August, December, and May. These certificates and letters of recognition recipients do not take part in commencement ceremonies, unless they have also completed a degree or certificate program with 30 or more credits. Certificates and letters of recognition under 30 credits will be mailed to students approximately three weeks after the last day of the semester.

Students Completing Associate Degrees or Certificates OVER 30 Credits

1. All students are encouraged to meet with an academic advisor to review their academic progress and degree audit, and receive assistance applying for graduation. Students are recommended to meet with an academic advisor prior to earning their 45th credit.
2. Submit an online Application for Graduation through Self-Service.
3. Update any changes to your personal information, such as mailing address, through Self-Service or the Records Office.
4. In the current academic year, students who graduate with diplomas or certificates with 30 or more college credits in May are eligible to participate in the May graduation ceremony. 
5. Students who are planning on participating in the May commencement ceremony should designate their intention to attend when they complete their online Application for Graduation. Please notify HCC with any changes to participate in the commencement ceremony by emailing hccgraduation@hagerstowncc.edu.
6. For summer graduates, students completing their degree requirements with 7 or less credits pending for summer may also attend May ceremony. All other summer completers must attend the May ceremony the following year. 
7. Official transcripts from all other colleges or universities and official test results should be on file with the Records Office by the application deadline to be applied towards the final degree audit. Students need to complete a Transfer Evaluation Request Form.
8. Fulfill all financial obligations such as parking tickets, library fines, etc. Finance holds must be met prior to receiving your diploma or certificate.
9. Students with a Federal Stafford Student Loan who are graduating or transferring must complete the required exit loan counseling. For assistance, contact the Office of Financial Aid at 240-500-2473.
10. For any questions, please contact the Records Office at 240-500-2239 or hccgraduation@hagerstowncc.edu.

Degree and certificate programs with 30 or more credits are issued three times a year: August, December, and May. Certificates and diplomas for summer and fall graduates will be mailed to students approximately three weeks after the last day of the semester. Students participating in the May ceremony are able to pick up their diploma or certificate the Monday following commencement. Diplomas may be picked up in person at the Admissions/Records department counter during normal business hours. Students must present a photo ID to obtain their diploma. May graduates who do not attend the ceremony will be mailed their diploma or certificate approximately three weeks after the last day of the semester.

Graduating with Honors

• Only students receiving an Associate Degree are eligible to be awarded graduation honors. A seal is placed on the lower right-hand side of the diploma indicating Honors or High Honors.
• A student must have successfully completed 50% of the total institutional college-level credit hours in their academic program at HCC.
• Students receiving Honors must earn a cumulative GPA between 3.50 - 3.799.
• Students receiving High Honors must earn a cumulative GPA between 3.80 - 4.0.
• If you are a member of the honor society, Phi Theta Kappa, a PTK seal is placed on the lower left-hand side of the diploma.
   

Requirements for Students Who Choose to Earn Multiple HCC Credit Credentials

The awarding of multiple credit bearing degrees, certificates, and letters of recognition must follow criteria as specified below:

• Letters of Recognition (LOR) - There must be at least three additional earned credits from different course work, not used in a previously earned HCC credential, for each additional LOR awarded.
• Certificates - There must be at least six additional earned credits from different course work, not used in a previously earned HCC credential, for each additional certificate awarded.
• Degrees - There must be at least twelve additional earned credits from different course work, not used in a previously HCC credential, for each additional degree awarded.

For students seeking to earn multiple credentials as listed above, if their new program does not have enough new credits listed as requirements, then the student must take additional coursework to meet the minimum new coursework provision as stated above. In such cases, a division chair or director will approve the appropriate course(s) to meet the requirement.

In cases where students' completed coursework does not qualify them to receive a new credential (LOR, Certificate, Degree) they may be entitled to a double major designation. This would mean that they have combined the requirements of two credentials, without meeting the minimum requirements for receiving multiple credentials as specified above. 

Reverse Transfer Students (Transferring College Credits Back to HCC to Graduate)

• Students who transfer prior to completing their Associate Degree or Certificate may transfer appropriate credits back to HCC to complete their HCC degree.
• Reverse Transfer students need to complete the online Application for Graduation process through Self-Serivce.
• All students must complete at least 25 percent of their credit hours at HCC for a degree program or certificate program.
• To transfer credits back to HCC, official transcripts from all other colleges or universities and official test results should be on file with the Records Office to be applied towards the final degree audit.
• Students need to complete a Reverse Transfer Credit Application Request Form.
• For questions or assistance regarding the reverse transfer process, please contact the Records Office at records@hagerstowncc.edu or 240-500-2339.