Graduation

Benefits of Graduation

1. Personal growth and self-satisfaction
2. Wider variety of job and career opportunities
3. Comprehensive educational experience
4. Achievement of technical skills for work
5. Higher probability of admission to a four-year college or university
6. In the case of the A.A.&S. degree, satisfaction of lower-division general education requirements at most public four-year colleges and universities in Virginia

Catalog Used for Graduation

Each new catalog becomes effective with the summer session of the year in which it is published. The catalog to be used to determine graduation requirements shall be either of the following, at the student’s option:

1. The catalog in effect at the time of the student’s placement in the curriculum from which the student intends to graduate or
2. Any subsequent catalog which came into effect while the student was enrolled in that curriculum at BRCC. The catalog on the College’s website (www.brcc.edu) is the most current catalog.

If a student does not enroll at BRCC during two consecutive semesters (excluding summer), graduation requirements shall be determined by the catalog in effect during the semester in which the student re-enrolls OR any catalog issued subsequent to that re-enrollment.

Please note: The catalog to be used to certify graduation requirements shall have been in effect no more than seven years prior to the time of graduation.
Nursing A.A.S. degree candidates: Students must satisfy the graduation requirements listed in the catalog in effect at the time they began the clinical component of the Nursing program.

Requirements for Graduation

The responsibility for knowing and fulfilling all graduation requirements lies with the student. To receive an associate degree, diploma, certificate or career studies certificate from the College, a student must:

1. file an application for graduation with the Admissions and Records Office by the publicized deadline;
2. fulfill all of the course and credit hour requirements as specified in the appropriate College catalog, according to the Catalog Used for Graduation policy stated above;
3. complete at the College a minimum of:
   1. 25% of the total credit hours for the Associate Degree;
   2. 25% of the total credit hours for the Diploma;
   3. 25% of the total credit hours for the Certificate.
4. have a grade point average of at least 2.0:
   1. in all courses attempted applicable toward graduation in the curriculum (Associate of Arts & Sciences candidates);
   2. in specialized or major field courses applicable toward graduation in the curriculum (certificate, diploma, and Associate of Applied Science candidates);
5. resolve all financial obligations to the College and return all library books and other materials.
6. complete a general education assessment instrument(s) provided by the College (Associate degree candidates only). Test results are used to assess and improve the effectiveness of programs and services.

Graduation Honors

Appropriate honors are awarded for degrees, diplomas and certificates based upon the student’s cumulative grade point average as follows:

3.8 Grade Point Average—Summa Cum Laude (with highest honors)

3.5 Grade Point Average—Magna Cum Laude (with high honors)

3.2 Grade Point Average—Cum Laude (with honors)