Graduation
Normandale has three official graduation dates each academic year: the final day of the fall semester, the final day of the spring semester, and the final day of the summer semester. A student’s graduation date is date established for the term in which all degree requirements have been met. Requirements must be completed within one month of the end of that term.
Graduation requirements include:
- Completing all course and credit requirements for the student’s intended degree or certificate, as outlined in the Programs of Study section of this catalog.
- Meeting the Normandale residency requirement:
- At least 15 college-level credits at Normandale for an associate degree;
- At least one-third of the required credits at Normandale for a certificate.
- Earning a minimum cumulative grade point average of 2.00 in all college-level coursework.
- Completing any required certifications and passing background checks, if applicable.
- Submitting final transcripts from other institutions, when transfer coursework will be used to meet certificate or degree requirements.
- Resolving incompletes and/or obtaining grade changes for any courses that satisfy certificate or degree requirements.
- Obtaining final approval of academic petitions that impact the student’s degree or certificate program.
- Submitting an Application for Graduation. The graduation application form is available at www.normandale.edu/forms under "Records and Registration Forms."
Students are encouraged to work closely with their academic advisor on graduation planning.
Automatic Awards
If the college determines that a student has completed all requirements for a degree or certificate but has not applied for graduation, the student will be notified of the college’s intent to award the credential. Students may request to defer the award to a future term.
Commencement Honors
Honors are awarded to associate degree graduates with a cumulative Normandale GPA of 3.00–3.49 in college-level courses (numbered 1000 and above), and high honors to those with a college-level GPA of 3.50 or higher.
For the commencement ceremony, honors for spring and summer degree candidates are based on the cumulative GPA through the prior fall semester. Final honors designations, as recorded on the transcript and diploma, are based on all completed coursework.
Commencement honors are not awarded for certificates.
Commencement Ceremony
Normandale hosts one annual commencement ceremony following the spring semester.
Participants include:
- Graduates from the prior fall term
- Candidates completing associate degrees (AA, AS, AAS, AFA) in the spring term
- Summer term associate degree candidates who are registered for their final requirements
Students earning certificates are not eligible to participate in the commencement ceremony.
Detailed commencement information is sent to eligible students during the spring semester.