Admissions & Records > Graduation
WNC Students – Do you know what catalog you should be following for your degree or certificate requirements?
Requirements for degrees and certificate of achievements can change with each academic catalog. There are specific policies that dictate which catalog and resulting set of degree/certificate requirements you may follow.
Each WNC catalog is effective for the fall, spring and subsequent summer terms. Only the most current catalog is available online.
WNC students have three choices for selecting a catalog year:
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- A student may select the catalog year under which he/she initially enrolls and completes a course.
- A student may select the catalog year when he/she officially declares a program of study for the first time (this option is available only if the degree was declared fall 2007 or later)
- A student may select the catalog year under which he/she will complete the curriculum requirements for a degree/certificate and applies for graduation.
There are time limits to the catalog choices, including:
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- In no case may students use a catalog which is more than six years old at the time of graduation (ten years for the BTECH degree). Students who fail to complete degree/certificate curriculum requirements within six years of their initial enrollment may use the next catalog in effect dating six years after their initial enrollment (ten years for the BTECH degree).
- Students applying to the nursing program must follow the catalog in effect at the time the enrollment application is submitted.
- If a degree or major is offered for the first time after a student has enrolled, the student may choose the catalog year in which the degree or major was first offered.
Students who are not sure which catalog year to follow are highly encouraged to meet with a counselor. Counselors can provide students with degree requirements from previous catalog years.
If a program offering a degree or certificate of achievement is discontinued, students will have six years to still obtain the degree or certificate if they are able to fulfill all requirements. WNC will work with students pursuing a discontinued program providing students declared the program as their educational objective and can demonstrate that they were making progress completing course requirements prior to the discontinuation of the program. Once a program has been discontinued, students may no longer declare the program as their educational objective.
Questions about catalog years may be directed to Admissions and Records at 775-445-3277 or admissions.records@wnc.edu
Requirements
Associate Degree or Certificate of Achievement
A student seeking to obtain a degree or certificate of achievement from Western Nevada College must have satisfied the following requirements:
- Completed the curriculum requirements for the degree or certificate. The student may select either the catalog year under which he/she initially enrolls and completes a course, or the year under which he/she will complete the curriculum requirements for a degree/certificate. Students may also select the catalog year when he/she officially declares a program of study for the first time, if declared in fall 2007 or later. Students applying to the nursing program, which has selective admission criteria, must follow the catalog in effect at the time the program admission application is submitted. Each WNC catalog is effective for the upcoming fall, spring and subsequent summer terms. In no case may students use a catalog which is more than six years old at the time of graduation. Students who fail to complete degree/certificate curriculum requirements within six years of their initial enrollment or program declaration may use the next catalog in effect dating six years after their initial enrollment. If a degree or major is offered for the first time after a student has enrolled, the student may choose the catalog year in which the degree or major was first offered. Students may not use a combination of catalogs for graduation. This applies to all policies and curricula.
- In some cases, completion of a single course may satisfy requirements in two different areas of an associate degree or certificate of achievement. Students may use a single course to satisfy a general education requirement in addition to a program, subject, core or emphasis requirement. A single course may not be used to satisfy more than one general education requirement, except for the US/Nevada Constitution requirement.
- Completed 15 semester college level credits in residence at Western Nevada College for each degree or certificate of achievement. Challenge examinations, non-traditional credit, or developmental courses (courses numbered below 100) do not count as resident credit.
- Maintained a minimum WNC cumulative grade point average of 2.0, and a minimum 2.0 grade point average calculated by using all courses, WNC and transfer courses, used to fulfill the degree requirements.
- Met all financial/library obligations. No student will be issued a degree or certificate if he/she has not met all financial/library obligations. Outstanding debts may be paid at the Business Office. Library holds can be cleared through Library and Media Services.
- Submitted an Application for Graduation and payment to Admissions and Records by the published deadline.
Dual Degrees/Certificates
A student may earn two or more associate degrees or certificates of achievement subsequently or simultaneously provided he/she fulfills all of the following conditions:
- Files a separate application for graduation and pays the application fee for each associate degree or certificate (may use one application and pay one fee if applying for two degrees for the same semester),
- Satisfies all of the requirements for each associate degree or certificate, and
- Completes 15 credits in residence for each associate degree or certificate.
For each additional associate degree, a student must complete 15 credits in addition to the minimum number required for the first degree. As most degrees require 60 credits, typically a student who wishes to earn two degrees must have at least 75 college level semester credits, 30 of which were earned in residence at WNC. For degrees that require more than 60 credits, the total number of credits required will be higher. College preparatory courses with a number below 100 will not apply toward the total semester or residence credit requirements.
Bachelor’s Degree
A student wishing to obtain a bachelor’s degree from Western Nevada College must have satisfied the following requirements:
- Completed the curriculum requirements for the degree. The student may select either the catalog year under which he/she initially enrolls in a baccalaureate-level program or the year of graduation. In the case of NSHE transfer students, exceptions to this policy will be handled by Admissions and Records and the transfer agreement contract process. Whichever catalog is used cannot be more than 10 years old at the time of graduation. Students who fail to complete degree requirements within ten years of their initial enrollment may use the next catalog in effect dating 10 years after the students’ initial enrollment. Students may not use a combination of catalogs for graduation. This includes all policies and curriculum.
- Completed 32 semester credits in residence at WNC. Challenge examinations, non-traditional credit, or developmental courses (courses numbered below 100) do not count as resident credit.
- Maintained a minimum WNC cumulative grade point average of 2.0, and a minimum 2.0 grade point average calculated by using all courses, WNC and transfer courses, used to fulfill the degree requirements.
- Completed a minimum of 40 upper division credits (numbered 300 or above).
- Met all financial/library obligations. No student will be issued a degree if he/she has not met all financial/library obligations.
- Submitted an Application for Graduation and payment to Admissions and Records by the published deadline.
Additional questions or inquiries should be directed to Admissions and Records at 775-445-3277 or admissions.records@wnc.edu
Graduation With Honors
Students are eligible to graduate with honors based on completion of 45 academic units at Western Nevada College for an associate degree or 75 academic units at Western Nevada College for a bachelor’s degree, excluding developmental courses.
Grade point average determines the honors designation:
- 3.90 or higher = Summa Cum Laude
- 3.75 or higher = Magna Cum Laude
- 3.60 or higher = Cum Laude
Units and grades transferred from other institutions or other credit sources will not apply.
All graduating students are encouraged to participate in commencement ceremonies held at the close of the spring semester each year. At that time, all associate degrees and certificates of achievement are conferred for graduates from the spring semester and the summer and fall semesters preceding the spring semester ceremonies. Letters of invitation are emailed to qualified students in April.
Commencement Ceremony
Our ceremony scheduled for May 18 has been postponed in light of the ongoing uncertainty about when our community can gather again in light of COVID-19. We will provide updates in the near future.
WNC is proud of our graduates and their accomplishments! Diplomas for spring 2020 will be sent to all graduates in summer 2020.
Announcements/Caps and Gowns
The tassel, cap and gown package may be purchased before the ceremony at the campus bookstore sometime in April; they will not be available at the ceremonies. Students may also purchase graduation announcements. Contact the campus bookstore for information – Carson City, 775-445-3233 or Fallon, 775-423-7556.
Honors
Grades for the spring semester preceding the ceremonies will not be available before the ceremonies to calculate grade point averages for honor awards. Announcements of honors during ceremonies will be based on grade point averages through the previous fall semester. Honors will be posted on student transcripts with the degree/certificate designations based on grades including the spring semester.
Nursing Ceremony
Nursing students will be invited to participate in a separate ceremony in addition to commencement. Contact Nursing and Allied Health at 775-445-3296 for additional information.
Continuing Students
Students who continue taking classes at WNC after a degree or certificate is finalized should be aware that their degree status will be changed to non-degree seeking. Students who plan to strive towards a different degree or certificate should declare this by submitting an online Degree Program Change form to Admissions and Records after the semester of their graduation date has ended. This is especially important for students applying for financial aid; failure to declare a new degree could result in revocation of financial aid funds.
Diplomas
Students should type their name on the graduation application exactly as they would like it to appear on their diploma (name must match student records). Successfully completed degrees/certificates will be posted to students’ official transcripts approximately 12 weeks after the end of the graduating semester in which the application was filed. Printed diplomas will be mailed to the student at the address indicated on the graduation application approximately 14-16 weeks after the end of the semester of application.
Additional questions or inquires should be directed to Admissions and Records at 775-445-3277 or admissions.records@wnc.edu
Graduation Regalia FAQ’s
Is the bookstore where you order your caps and gowns?
Yes! You do not have to order, just stop by and we will size you and you will leave with your regalia.
How much does it cost?
For the Cap, Gown, and Tassel it costs $40.00 plus tax. We can also sell individual components as well. The Cap is $7.00 plus tax, the Gown is $28.00 plus tax and the tassel is $6.00 plus tax.
Do you carry other graduation items?
Yes! We also have announcements, which come in a pack of ten for $16.00 plus tax, and we have Phi Theta Kappa Tassels,$10.00, Cords, $15.00, and Stoles $24.00.
When will regalia be available?
We are expected to receive our shipment of regalia the third week of April. As soon as it arrives I will make it known across campus.
What do they look like?
The Caps and Gowns are black and the Tassel is golden yellow.
I graduated in the Fall of last year but am walking in May, do you have ’18 Tassels?
Yes! We do have ’18 Tassels. Just ask us to snag you one when you get up to the register.