Graduation

Graduation Requirements

Application

Each student seeking a degree or a certificate of achievement is required to submit an online Application for Graduation to Admission and Records and pay $25. Students enrolled in their last required class(es) should apply at the beginning of that semester.

Apply for Graduation

Application Deadlines

• Fall Semester – November 1
• Spring Semester – March 1
• Summer Semester – June 15

Applications received after the published deadline may be considered for the following semester.

Continuing Students

Students who continue taking classes at WNC after a degree or certificate is finalized should be aware that their degree status may 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.

Commencement

All graduating students are encouraged to participate in commencement ceremonies held at the close of the spring semester each year. At that time, all degrees and certificates of achievement are conferred for graduates from the spring semester and from the summer and fall semesters preceding the spring semester ceremonies. Letters of invitation are emailed to qualified students in April.

Additional Information on commencement ceremonies can be found on the Commencement Information section.

Requirements for Graduation

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:

1. 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.
2. 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.
3. 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.
4. 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.
5. 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.
6. 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:

1. 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),
2. Satisfies all of the requirements for each associate degree or certificate, and
3. 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.

Requirements for Graduation – Bachelor’s Degree

A student wishing to obtain a bachelor’s degree from Western Nevada College must have satisfied the following requirements:

1. 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.
2. 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.
3. 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.
4. Completed a minimum of 40 upper division credits (numbered 300 or above).
5. Met all financial/library obligations. No student will be issued a degree if he/she has not met all financial/library obligations.
6. 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.

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.