Commencement
Commencement at Terra State is the culmination of the hard work and tireless effort put in by our students to achieve their goal of a certificate or diploma. Terra State graduates students Summer, Fall, and Spring semesters. Below are the steps needed to be completed to participate in Commencement and other pertinent information for graduation.
The 2024-2025 Commencement
is May 9, 2025 - 7:00 p.m.
Preparing to Graduate
All students must Apply to Graduate through Self-Service Banner [SSB] at least one
semester prior to graduating. An application can be completed for up to two degrees
and/or certificates. Students applying for more than two degrees/certificates must
go through the Student Records Office.
It is your responsibility to make sure that all grade change forms, course substitutions,
transfer credits, and incompletes are recorded in the Student Records Office prior
to graduation. Petitions are only valid for the semester applied. If the requirements
are not met during that term, the student must reapply for the new expected graduation
term.
Commencement provides recognition to those students who are expected to meet the College's requirements for graduation.
Students shall meet the following criteria in order to participate in commencement and be included in the commencement program:
- Complete and submit a graduation application.
- A student’s graduation application must have an approved audit with pending completion status
- The published commencement program will include the following terms:
- Fall and Spring graduates of the current academic year
- Summer graduates from the prior Summer term that were not included in the prior academic year’s program.
- Summer graduation applicants from the upcoming Summer term that have met #2 by the first Monday following the Easter Holiday.
Other Important Information Regarding Commencement & Graduation
Please make certain that you have your tuition paid in full and all library materials returned by the end of the term when you are earning your degree/certificate. Failure to complete either of these will result in a financial hold. Students on a financial hold will not receive a diploma until all balances are paid in full.
Federal law requires Financial Aid Loan Exit Counseling. You must complete this online at https://nsldsfap.ed.gov/login. Please contact the Financial Aid office at 419.559.2344 if you have questions.
This information is available in lieu of Commencement rehearsal.
The Commencement Ceremony will begin on May 9, 2025, at 7:00 p.m.
General Instructions
- Associate of Applied Science graduates will check in at Building E.
- All others (Associate of Applied Business, Associate of Arts, Associate of Individual Study, Associate of Science, Associate of Technical Study, and Certificates) will check in at Building A.
Guest limitations are subject to change based on CDC guidelines; however, at this time there are no limits on the number of guests that may attend to support their graduate candidate. Tickets are not needed for guests.
Graduation honors for Commencement are based on Fall Semester grade point average
(GPA). In order to check your current GPA status, please log onto your Student Portal.
Grade point averages are not rounded up for honors. Your diploma will have honors
recorded based on your final semester GPA.
| Honor Classification | Cumulative Grade Point Average |
|---|---|
| summa cum laude | 3.90-4.00 |
| magna cum laude | 3.75-3.89 |
| cum laude | 3.50-3.74 |
All certificate earners are required to wear a blue gown.
All degree graduates are required to wear a blue cap and gown with the appropriate tassel. If you have earned honors, the honor cord(s) will be given to you when you purchase your cap & gown. Military Veteran students should pick up their red, white, and blue cords in the College Store as well. Purchase and pickup/delivery options will be published here when they become available.
Please note honors recognized for the ceremony are based on your cumulative GPA at the end of the prior Fall term.
If you need a graduation gown but can't afford it, the Campus Closet may be able to help. We have a limited number of graduation gowns to give to students who need them. Visit the GETP Division Office in A202 to check availability.
Don't want to keep your gown after graduation? There will be a rack in Building B after the commencement ceremony for you to pay it forward by donating your gown to the Campus Closet.
The College has arranged for a photographer to take your photo as you accept your diploma cover at the Commencement Ceremony. There is no charge to you and you will be able to download this picture, as well as others, at https://terrastatemarketing.smugmug.com/Awards-Ceremonies/2024-Events/2024-TSCC-College-Commencement-Photo-Gallery/n-Hj5wZN a few weeks following the ceremony. The ceremony will be available through a live streaming broadcast at https://youtube.com/live/22KU0STFJlM on Commencement Day. Want to tag us on social media, use #terrastatecommencement2024.
We are offering these services in order that your family and friends may enjoy the ceremony. Please be advised that only the graduates will be permitted to approach the stage and surrounding area. Please inform your guests that if they need to leave during the ceremony they may do so by the doors on either side of the stage. After the ceremony is completed, the graduates will exit first.
Candidates and guests requiring special handicapped accommodations due to a disability please contact the Student Record's Office at 419.559.2405 or recordsdept@terra.edu.
Pick up your cap and gown before Commencement Day and hang it up or press it to be wrinkle free.
Park in the appropriate parking lot designated in the Commencement letter mailed to you.
Do not bring any personal items with you to Commencement that you will have to carry with you. There are no areas available for storing these items. We recommend you lock personal items in your car or ask a family member to hold them for you.
Arrive early to avoid parking congestion and to arrive at your designated line-up area.
Do not misplace your calling card.
Listen to the announcement of staff when it is time to line up for your degree.
Terra State Community College awards and distributes diplomas/certificates three times per academic year. We have one commencement ceremony in May. It normally takes approximately 4-6 weeks following Commencement for diplomas and certificates to be delivered. Participating in the commencement ceremony does not constitute graduation.
Students should verify/update their address in Banner Self-Service prior to commencement. To receive your diploma/certificate you must have a zero balance on your account and all library materials returned.
Diploma Timeline
Commencement (Graduation Day) - Students will receive a diploma or certificate cover at the ceremony. For students earning more than one degree/certificate, additional covers may be picked up at Student Records (Bldg A, Room 200).
Degree/Certificate Conferral - It typically takes at least one week, after the end of a term, for the student degrees and certificate requirements to be validated. Upon completion of validation, students will receive a notice to their personal email on file.
Digital Diploma - After conferral, you will receive a ink to access your digital diploma. This link will be delivered to your personal email account on file from Parchment. PLEASE NOTE: This is NOT spam. Follow the instructions to create your account and access your digital diploma.
Printed Diploma - Printed diplomas are processed and mailed by Parchment. Processing takes about 7-10 days, after which it will be mailed to your permanent address on file. For domestic addresses it typically takes between 2 and 4 weeks. Students can track shipping via your Parchment Learner dashboard by clicking on Orders.