Graduation
When a student has met the requirements for graduation from a program of study (or is registered for any remaining courses needed), the student can follow the procedure outlined below to apply for graduation:
- The student should review the requirements for graduation on myRichland for the program of study, including courses taken or in progress, grade point average, and other requirements. The student may contact their assigned Success Coach to assist with the review.
- The student must complete an Application for Graduation, which may be obtained on myRichland > My Student Info > My Degree Info > Application for Graduation. The form should be completed during the term immediately preceding the term in which the student expects to graduate.
- A review of the student’s graduation application will be provided to the student 2-4 weeks after submission. The student is encouraged to review the returned copy with his/her assigned Success Coach to discuss completion of any unmet requirements.
- If the student is unable to complete the requirements before the anticipated graduation date, contact graduation@richland.edu to update the graduation record.
The Registrar, Success Coach, or the Vice President of Student Success can answer questions regarding the application for graduation process.
Multiple Certificates or Degrees
Richland students may work toward completion of more than one program of study.
Students may receive all certificates and AAS degrees for which they have completed the requirements. Only the highest award will be announced at the commencement ceremony. In areas where there are multiple concentrations or specialties (e.g. Business, Engineering Technology), only one AAS degree may be earned.
In order to receive a second transfer/baccalaureate associate’s degree, a student must
- Complete all graduation requirements for the second degree; and
- Complete at least an additional ten (10) hours of applicable credit beyond the first degree.
A student may earn only one AA degree, one AS degree, one AFA degree, and one AES degree.
Transfer Students
Many students enter Richland after completing courses at other institutions. In order to give these students credit for previous college work and, at the same time, maintain Richland’s standards for graduation, students must complete a total of 15 semester hours of an associate’s degree or half of the credit for a certificate program (up to 15 hours) at Richland.
If a transfer student completes a course at Richland that is substantially the same as a course for which the student received transfer credit, the hours of transfer credit will be replaced by the hours earned at Richland. Transfer credit will be posted to the student’s transcript upon evaluation.
Graduation Honors
When a student applies for graduation, all 100-level course work and above will be evaluated for graduation academic honors. Students must have earned at least one-half of the credits needed for their degree or certificate at Richland Community College. In addition, students must have met Richland’s residency requirement, which means completing no fewer than 15 hours for a degree or half of the certificate requirements at Richland.
Graduation academic honors are based on the student’s cumulative grade point average, as follows:
| Cumulative GPA |
Honor Designation |
| 3.50-3.74 |
Honors |
| 3.75-3.99 |
High Honors |
| 4.00 |
Highest Honors |
Graduation Day
Public commencement ceremonies for students who have earned a degree or certificate from Richland are held once a year at the end of the spring semester.
Students who have completed the graduation requirements and received the certificate or degree in the fall semester or current spring semester or who will complete requirements in the following summer session are invited to participate in the graduation ceremony.
Health Professions Graduation
Many Health Profession programs have additional graduation requirements as dictated by state and national accreditation standards. The specific requirements are listed in the Instructional Program portion of this Catalog under the “Other Graduation Requirements” section of each health program or on the Health Profession web pages, which can be accessed at www.richland.edu/health.
Effect of Changes in Program on Graduation
Up to the end of the summer session 1977, Richland used a quarter system and awarded quarter hours of credit instead of the current method of semesters and semester hours of credit. Students who attended class at Richland before the Fall Semester 1977 should contact the Student Success Center (transcripts@richland.edu) for an evaluation of the quarter hours earned.
Because of licensing criteria, legal requirements, or other conditions, graduation from certain programs (including selective admissions programs), such as those in the Health Professions Division, may fall under different guidelines as determined by the Registrar in consultation with the appropriate Dean. In such cases, the student must follow the program in existence at the time of admission to or re-entry into the program.
If a student wished to graduate under program provisions other than those above, the Registrar will review the student’s Application for Graduation and will consult with the appropriate Dean regarding clearance for graduation.
Students whose enrollment has not been interrupted by three or more years (six successive semesters, excluding summers) should graduation under the program structure listed in the Catalog for the year in which they enter their certificate or degree program.
In cases where a current program is changed, the student should work with the appropriate Dean and the Registrar to determine the appropriate coursework required.
Students whose enrollment has been interrupted by three or more years (six successive semesters, excluding summers) are required to follow graduation requirements of the Catalog in effect at the time of reentry or any Catalog published after reentry.