Admissions And Records

COMMENCEMENT

Preparing to Graduate

Perhaps the most exciting accomplishment for a Mt. SAC student is to graduate. To ensure that your graduation proceeds in the smoothest possible manner, become familiar with the following steps:

• Have a “grad check” performed by the Advising Center.
• Completely fill out a Graduation Petition form and submit it by the deadline for the semester in which you plan to graduate.
• If you are seeking to substitute a course completed at another school or one course for another, you need to petition for a variance with the appropriate department/division.
• All transcripts from other colleges or universities must be either included with the petition or on file in the Admissions Office.
• Submit or mail the petition to the Admissions Office.

What Happens to My Petition After I Turn It In?

Petitions are reviewed during the semester in which you plan to graduate. Students are notified by mail of the results of that review. Most students are enrolled in their final semester when the petition is submitted, so once grades for that semester are recorded a final review of all graduation petitions is completed. This step may take several weeks depending on the number of petitions to be reviewed.

When Will I Get My Diploma?

It usually takes at least three months from the end of the semester for the student to receive the diploma via U.S. mail. Diplomas are mailed to the address on file with the college. If you have moved recently, please contact the Admissions Office to update your address information.

Commencement Ceremony

Mt. SAC conducts one commencement ceremony a year, at the end of the spring semester. Fall and winter graduates are encouraged to attend the ceremony and participate in this event with spring graduates in June. Summer session prospective graduates are also invited to participate in the June ceremony.

Application for Graduation

The Application for Graduation is the student’s notification to Admissions & Records that he or she has completed all requirements and would like to receive a degree. All students intending to receive a degree must file this application and have all required documents and official transcripts on file. The application form is available in the Admissions & Records Office or online (click here to download). Students should meet with a counselor to discuss their education plan before submitting the application. The deadlines for submitting the application are listed in the Schedule of Classes.

Students should check the Key Dates to Remember section of the Schedule of Classes for specific deadline dates for any given semester. Applications received after the deadline will be processed with the next graduation cycle. Students may apply for graduation one semester prior to completing all required coursework. Once the degree has been conferred, it will be posted to the student’s academic record and will appear on the transcript. Students will also receive their diplomas in the mail thereafter. If a student is denied graduation, he or she will be informed in writing.

Click here to download the Graduation Petition.

Commencement Day Information

• Mandatory Rehearsal: Participation in the commencement rehearsal is mandatory. Rehearsal is held on the morning of commencement on the grassy area south of the stadium. The rehearsal typically lasts from 9:30 to 11:00 a.m. followed by a lunch. Transfer students will be asked to declare their transfer institution during rehearsal at the transfer table check-in. Friends, family and pets are not allowed at rehearsal.
• When & Where to Arrive: Graduates should arrive for the ceremony with their caps and gowns at the back of the stadium next to Bldg. 50G for assembly and final processional instructions. Lot F is designated parking for graduates and guests.
• Guest Admission & Arrival: The commencement ceremony is open to all guests of the graduates—no admission tickets are necessary. Family members and guests should be encouraged to arrive early, as there may be delays with peak-hour traffic. Also the prime parking areas and stadium seating fill up fast.
• Disabilities/Special Needs: Students and/or their family members needing special assistance (mobility, sign language interpretation, etc.) should contact Disabled Student Programs & Services (DSP&S) at (909) 594-5611, ext. 4290 as soon as possible. Family members are responsible for attending to personal needs of other family members.
• Decorum: Throughout the formal portions of the ceremony, students are asked to maintain appropriate decorum befitting the dignity of a college commencement. Grads will have ample opportunity to celebrate and “strut their stuff” during the awarding of diplomas, as their families cheer them on. No outside food or ice chests allowed. Refreshments available for purchase.
• Diplomas: Actual diplomas are not issued at the commencement ceremony—only the diploma covers. Grads will receive official diplomas by mail approximately 12 weeks after the ceremony. Please make sure that the Admissions & Records Office has your current address.
• Obligations: Please note that if you have an outstanding obligation to the college, this will prevent us from releasing your diploma when it becomes available.
• Flowers, Photos & Videos: Flowers are sold at the ceremony, including roses ($8-$15), orchid leis ($20-$30), and various bouquets ($8-$10). A professional photographer is commissioned to take photos of graduates before the ceremony, (beginning at 5:00 p.m.) and during the degree conferral segment of the ceremony. A complimentary proof of the photo is mailed to each graduate after the ceremony with ordering instructions. A DVD of the ceremony is also available for purchase ($25 + tax) from the campus bookstore about 4-6 weeks after graduation.