Graduation & Commencement

Graduation Applications

The Student Records Office produces a senior audit for all students entering their last year of enrollment at CCA. This audit is mailed in late summer to all seniors expected to graduate during the next academic year.

Seniors are asked to respond to this audit by confirming their graduation date (term) or to discuss any discrepancies. Mailings regarding the commencement ceremony and receipt of diploma are dependent on the response Student Records receives.

Commencement Participation Forms

Once the graduation application has been returned, the student should complete a Commencement Participation Form, which is available in the Student Affairs office.

All graduating students, whether or not they intend to participate in the commencement ceremony, should submit the completed form to the Student Affairs office by December 1 for the fall term and by March 15 for the spring term.

The completed form serves as a request for caps and gowns, diplomas, graduation announcements, and tickets to the commencement ceremony.

Students whose forms are not received will not be eligible to participate in the commencement ceremony. For this reason, students are advised to confirm receipt of their forms with the Student Affairs Office.

Unit Requirement for Commencement

Only students who have completed all requirements for graduation by the end of the spring semester may participate in the commencement ceremony. Records indicate that a large number of students who walk at graduation with units remaining do not complete their degree requirements. We encourage students who plan to finish in the summer or following fall to participate in graduation the following spring. There will be no exceptions to this policy.

Final Graduation Check

Undergraduates must have a cumulative CCA GPA of 2.0 or higher to be eligible to graduate from CCA. Degrees are posted on the student's transcript once all grades have been received and the Student Records Office has conducted a final graduation check. Students who do not pass this final check will be notified by mail of any outstanding requirements.

Academic Honors at Graduation

CCA awards academic honors of Distinction and High Distinction at graduation for BA, BFA, and BArch candidates. Distinction is automatically awarded to students with a cumulative GPA of 3.5 or higher and can also be awarded by program faculty nomination. High Distinction is awarded by program faculty nomination only.

Graduation Rates

The graduation rate for first-time new students who matriculate in fall 2002 and graduate by spring 2008 is 58 percent.