About Commencement – CGCC

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About Commencement

About Commencement

Decorated Caps at graduation

Commencement ceremonies are designed to honor student academic achievement, and we encourage all graduates to participate in the ceremony and be recognized. The 2020 Commencement Ceremony is tentatively rescheduled for Saturday, November 28 at 10 a.m. Please check here for updates.

  • Application for Graduation – Click to view or print the Application for Graduation.
  • Information for Graduates – Commencement 2020 will take place at 10 am on Saturday, November 28, 2020 in the college gymnasium. Students must be in place and ready to go no later than 9:45 am.
    • If you have not yet done so, please file the Application for Graduation in the Office of Records and Registration as soon as possible.
    • Student Commencement Speaker: Any student who is interested in being considered for this special honor should submit a draft of their speech to  Joseph Watson, Ph.D., Vice President of Student Services and Dean of Students, via email at: watson@sunycgcc.edu. Deadline for submission is no later than 4 p.m. on Friday, May 8, 2020. The speech must be no more than three-to-four minutes in length, typed in 12-point font and double-spaced. To be eligible for consideration, students must have a Grade Point Average of 3.0 or higher and must be in good academic and judicial standing. If you have any questions, please reach out to Dean Watson. Those selected as finalists will present their speeches to the commencement committee via Zoom on either May 14 or May 15.  Following the audition, the speaker for this year’s ceremony will be chosen.
    • Caps and Gowns: Caps and gowns may be ordered online until October 9, 2020.  If you have not already placed your order, please go to: herff.ly/cgcc.  If you have any questions, please check with Karen Fiducia at: karen.fiducia@sunycgcc.edu
    • Invitations and Announcements: Details coming soon!
    • Graduation Rehearsal: Details coming soon!
    • Robing Room Assignments:  Details coming soon!
    • Graduation Day: Students must report to their assigned robing room at 8:45 a.m to prepare for entrance into the gymnasium, promptly at 9:45 a.m. Please be on time!
    • Students are encouraged to arrive dressed in appropriate clothing over which their gowns will be worn. Students may keep their caps, gowns, hoods and tassels after the ceremony.
    • Accessibility Seating: All guests are seated in the bleachers in the gymnasium. For guests with mobility issues, limited floor seating will be available.  Please note that this seating is only for those with a disability and one companion to provide assistance. Please have the rest of your guests use the bleachers so everyone may be accommodated.  If you have questions, please contact Catherine Carlson via email: catherine.carlson@sunycgcc.edu.
    • Reception: Details coming soon!
    • Please check your SUNY C-GCC email frequently for news and announcements!
  • General Information – NOTE: The responsibility for meeting the requirements for a degree or a certificate rests with the student.
    • Students who are planning to graduate must apply for graduation and make an appointment with their adviser for a graduation check before starting their last semester to ensure that their course selections meet degree requirements.
    • To qualify for graduation, a student must have fulfilled all college requirements and have achieved the following:
      1. Apply for graduation in the Office of Records and Registration.
      2. Be a currently enrolled matriculated student or readmitted student for the purpose of graduation.
      3. Completion at Columbia-Greene Community College of at least 30 semester hours of course work for a degree or 15 semester hours of course work for a certificate.
      4. A 2.0 cumulative grade point average or better.
      5. Completion of a minimum of 60 semester hours as required in a degree program or 30 semester hours as required.
      6. Students who entered the college without a high school diploma or GED must apply to the New York state Education Department for an equivalency diploma. C-GCC cannot award a college degree without written assurance that the student has completed a high school program.
      7. Payment of all college fees and satisfaction of other college obligations.

The Office of Registration is open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday during the fall and spring terms and 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Thursday during the summer. Please contact the office via email at registration@sunycgcc.edu.

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