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Graduation versus Commencement

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  CMCC Commencement Ceremony for 2018
will be Thursday, May 10th
at the Androscoggin Bank Colisee in Lewiston at 6:00 p.m.    
 
 
  • The ceremony will be held Thursday, May 10th, at the Androscoggin Bank Colisee in Lewiston at 6:00 pm. Directions to the Androscoggin Bank Colisee. The ceremony lasts approximately 1 ½ to 2 hours.
  • Tickets are NOT required, and there is no limit to the number of guests that can attend.
  • Students with family members or friends needing special accommodations or seating should contact David Gonyea at 755.5251 or dgonyea@cmcc.edu.
  • On graduation day, Thursday, May 10th, graduates should arrive at the Androscoggin Bank Colisee no earlier than 4:45 p.m. and no later than 5:30 pm.  Please remember to bring your name reader card that was included in your regalia packet.

Graduation Rehearsal will be held Tuesday, May 8th, at 2:00 pm in the Kirk Hall lecture hall room K-103 followed by Regalia Package pick up. Please plan accordingly. If you miss this opportunity you may pick up your cap and gown at the CMCC Registrar’s office on Wednesday, May 10th from 1:00 pm - 7:00 pm. You will not be able to pick up your cap and gown if you have a financial obligation to the College. If you are unsure of your status, please check your bill online or contact Student Billing at 755.5219. Regalia packets include: cap, gown, hood, honor cord(s) if applicable and name reader card. To see how to wear your regalia, please refer to the PowerPoint found on the "Graduation" section under the "Students" tab of CMConnect.

Other important information for graduates:

  • Make sure all library fines, fees, account balances, etc. are paid at the CMCC business office.
If you borrowed a student loan, complete exit counseling: http://studentloans.gov
 
 
 
Graduation vs. Commencement 

There are key distinctions between graduation and commencement.

Graduation is the process of completing program requirements as indicated by the course audit, and settling all financial obligations to the college.  The administrative process of degree conferral will indicate your official date of graduation.
 
Commencement on the other hand, refers to the ceremony, officiated by the President of Central Maine Community College, to celebrate the importance of your academic accomplishments with classmates, family and friends.  It is also a time for Central Maine Community College, The Maine Community College System Board of Trustees, The Maine Community College System President, administrators and faculty to acknowledge the exceptional efforts you have shown in earning your certificate or degree.        
 

 

Graduation Requirements

 

 

Any student who has or will meet the degree requirements for graduation by the end of the spring or summer semester, may participate in the May graduation ceremony.  Summer 2017, Fall 2018 and Spring 2018 graduates may participate (march) in the May 2018 commencement ceremony.

Eligibility for degree or certificate conferment is contingent upon completion of all requirements of a designated program of study in accordance with the Maine Community College System and CMCC requirements.  Students must:
  1. Satisfactorily complete all courses in the program.
  2. Complete the aggregate number of credit hours in a program with a minimum cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 2.0.
  3. Participate in College-wide or program-specific assessment activities.
  4. Meet the residency requirements as defined in the CMCC catalog.
  5. Fulfill all financial obligations to the College in order to receive a degree or certificate. (Make sure all library fines, fees, account balances, etc. are paid at the CMCC business office).

Students who are no more that 6 credits short of completing degree requirements and wish to participate in graduation ceremony (commencement) may do so if the student is enrolled for the required credits during the next term that the course or courses are available.

All degree requirements, including transfer credit must be completed and accepted by the College prior to the last semester of enrollment. The only exceptions are the courses in which the student is currently enrolled.

What is the process for graduation?
 
The Registrar's office will review student records which meet the minimum credit hours needed to complete the degree.  An email will be sent to those students indicating they are being reviewed for graduation. If there is an issue with your audit, the Registrar's Office will contact you and/or your advisor for clarification, usually by email.  At the end of the term, after final grades have been recorded, the Registrar's Office will begin its final review of applications.  If students unexpectedly fail to fulfill their requirements at this time, they will receive an email to their CMCC email account, which is also copied to their personal email address.  It is important to regularly check your student email account, and provide accurate personal email and phone numbers. 
 

Regalia

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How to order your regalia (cap and gown)

 

If you plan to participate in the May 2017 Commencement ceremony, please remember to order your regalia (cap and gown).  Orders are free and may be submitted between October 17, 2016 and April 1, 2017.  To order your regalia online, click here.

 
Please note:  Deadline for regalia orders is April 1, 2017 to ensure prompt delivery of orders for regalia package pick-up.  Orders placed after the deadline will be distributed based on what's available in storage.  This may mean that you will not have a year on your tassel or the correct size gown.
 
Regalia pick up will be Tuesday, May 9th at 2:00 in Kirk 103.  Please plan on being there for last minute graduation updates.
 
 
Once it has been verified that the student who placed the order has filed the appropriate paperwork, the Commencement Coordinator will send a memo to all those who qualify with next steps.  Those who did not file their paperwork will be contacted to let them know the required paperwork has not been received at the Registrar's Office and they are not eligible to participate until the outstanding items have been submitted.  Students cannot participate in commencement if they have a balance on their account.
 

 Check Your Request to Graduate Status Here

Honors

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For the purpose of wearing honors cords at commencement, students must meet the cumulative GPA requirements listed below:
  • Honors- 3.30 to 3.599 receives one honor cord
  • High Honors- 3.600 to 3.899 receives two honor cords
  • President's Honors- 3.900 to 4.000 receives two honor cords
The calculation of the commencement GPA does not include spring semester grades, since these may not be calculated for all students at the time of the ceremony. However, final calculation of GPAs made after spring semester grades are posted will be used to determine the display of honors on final transcripts.
 
If you have any questions about the honors policy, please contact the Registrar's Office at 207-755-5292 or registrar@cmcc.edu.
 

Request to Graduate

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Request to Graduate form
Request to Graduate Form (.pdf, 227K)

CMCC provides three graduation points within the academic year:

Graduation Point  Application Due

May                       Last Friday in March

August                   Last Friday in July

December              Last Friday in November

Requests for May graduation received after the last Friday in March will be considered only under special circumstances and may result in the late delivery of the award.
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Quick Turn-Around form

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Quick Turn-Around form
Quick Turn-Around Form (.pdf, 253K)

Graduating students who wish to pursue another certificate or degree program at CMCC must fill out a Quick Turn-Around form (to be completed and attached to the graduation application).  This allows the student to maintain their matriculated status going into the next semester.

Generally, once a student has graduated from a degree or certificate program, the student loses matriculatied status.  The Quick Turnaround process allows most students to be re-admitted easily, without going through the longer admissions process, however, admission to the newly requested program is not guaranteed.  Students choosing this option must still meet the admissions requirements for the new program they choose.

If you have questions regarding this process, please contact the Registrar's office.  755-5292
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Graduate Survey

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Please complete the graduate survey by clicking the link below. Completing the survey is a final step in the graduation process and is necessary in order to have your diploma mailed to you. The data gained from the survey is helpful to CMCC for planning.  

Graduate Survey

Phi Theta Kappa

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How to purchase the Phi Theta Kappa honor stole

PHI Theta Kappa

           If you are a member of the Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society, you may wear a PTK honor stole at graduation.  Phi Theta Kappa (PTK) members may purchase the PTK gold honor stole from the PTK website.

  • Order the stole at www.ptk.org. (Please note: The stole is the only Phi Theta Kappa Commencement paraphernalia that is worn at CMCC's commencement ceremony, but you can purchase anything for your own personal use).
     
    Questions?  Contact the PTK advisor, Stephanie Burns, at sburns@cmcc.edu , or Grimes Williams in Student Services, Jalbert 20D.

If you are transferring to another college to complete a four-year degree, remember to inquire about scholarships for Phi Theta Kappa members.