Degree Candidacy
ALL Students anticipating graduation must submit an application for graduation through "WebAdvisor" or fill out a degree candidacy form by the following deadlines:
May graduation February 1 submission deadline
August graduation June 1 submission deadline
December graduation October 15 submission deadline
A graduation fee is billed to all degree candidates. This fee is charged whether or not the student attends the May graduation ceremony.
Requirements for Degrees
An appropriate degree is awarded to each student who fulfills the following requirements:
1. Completion of all admissions requirements.
2. Successful completion of one of the programs of study in the catalog in effect at the time of the student's matriculation. Full-time bachelor degree students must be completed within ten semesters, not necessarily consecutive. Part-time bachelor's degree candidates and master's degree candidates shall complete all degree requirements within ten calendar years.
3. Achievement of a minimum cumulative grade point average of 2.0 for Undergraduate students and a minimum cumulative grade point average of 3.0 for Graduate students.
4. Achievement of a minimum grade point average of 2.0 in the specialization (professional concentration) or the major area of study for all undergraduate students.
5. Day students must satisfactorily complete the Cultural Enrichment Program attendance requirement.
6. Payment in full of all tuition, fees, fines, etc, including the graduation fee.
Commencement Honors:
High scholastic achievement during the entire college career is recognized at Commencement. Outstanding scholars are awarded degrees with three levels of distinction. In order to be eligible for Commencement Honors a student must have earned at least 60 credits at Nichols College and must have achieved the following cumulative averages:
Cum Laude required average 3.2 - 3.59
Magna Cum Laude required average 3.6 - 3.79
Summa Cum Laude required average 3.8 - 4.0
In order to be recognized as valedictorian or salutatorian a student must have earned at least 90 credits at Nichols College.
MBA students are not eligible for commencement honors as all graduating MBA students must have a 3.0 or above in order to graduate, however One MBA student is chosen each year to receive the "Award for Academic Excellence".
The Graduation Process
During the two week period after the end of each semester the Office of the Registrar reviews all degree candidates who have submitted a degree candidacy form. All students who have completed their graduation requirements are then "graduated" and their degree information is added to their transcript.
The Office of the Registrar then orders the diplomas from a printing company that specializes in degree and award printing. The lead-time for the diplomas to be returned to Nichols College can range anywhere from 6 to 8 weeks depending on the volume of orders in-house at the printing company. When the diplomas are received at Nichols College, they are reviewed for accuracy and then repackaged into official green binders and white mailers for each student. Once the Business Office has completed a financial audit on each student, they then release diplomas as appropriate. A student's account must be released by the Business Office before the diploma is mailed to the student.
Although Nichols College graduates students in May, August and December, Nichols College only holds one graduation ceremony each year in May. All graduates from August and December are invited to attend the May ceremony. Diplomas are not handed out at the ceremony. A ceremonial "scroll" is handed to each student as they pass across the stage. The Office of the Registrar will mail out information to all eligible graduates regarding the ceremony in late March/early April of each year.