2.28 Degree Completion (Graduation) Policy

PURPOSE:

To ensure that students successfully complete all program requirements and comply with Minnesota State Colleges and Universities and Riverland Community College guidelines.

APPLICABILITY:

Riverland Community College grants Associate of Arts Degrees, Associate of Science Degrees, Associate of Applied Science Degrees, Associate in Fine Arts Degrees, Diplomas, and Certificates. The following general requirements pertain to all candidates for each of the degrees.

General Requirements:

  1. Achieve a minimum Riverland Community College cumulative GPA of 2.0.
  2. Successfully complete all required coursework for the program major according to the criteria established by the College.
  3. Students must earn 20 semester credits or 1/3 of the credits required for graduation, whichever is less, at the College. This requirement is reduced to 12 semester credits for students transferring from another Minnesota State college or university.
  4. Requirements for graduation are established at the time of admission to the academic program. If there is a break in enrollment for three (3) consecutive semesters (including summer), the student will be assigned to the currently approved academic program plan under the current catalog. Academic program plans (catalog year) expire in four years; therefore, if a student does not complete the program within four (4) years, the student must follow the most current academic catalog program plan requirements.
  5. If there are changes to an academic program, students have the option of graduating from the revised program plan.
  6. Students who wish to participate in commencement must complete the graduation application.
  7. Students will be notified of their anticipated degree completion date.
  8. Students earning more than one credential can choose to request to delay an award. Students will want to work with their advisor to determine when it is most advantageous to do so.
  9. Riverland Community College reserves the right to automatically post degree completion to the student's academic record upon verification that all degree requirements have been satisfied.

The actual graduation date will be within the semester in which all coursework, transfer credit, and related materials required for the program and graduation are completed.

SCOPE: Students

DEFINITIONS:

Student: A person who has been accepted to Riverland Community College and is enrolled in classes.

DOES THIS POLICY HAVE A PROCEDURE? Yes

LIST RELATED POLICIES, PROCEDURES OR FORMS:

Graduation Express

Date Issued: April 2024-New

Responsible Division / Author: Student Affairs/Dean of Students

Date Revised: March 2026 reviewed; separated procedure from policy & credit threshold changed to 20.