1. A student must have completed an application and been accepted to the program/plan from which
he or she wishes to graduate.
2. A student must have completed all the classes published in the program’s curriculum with a
cumulative grade point average of 2.00 or better (“C” average). Additional classes taken outside
the program’s required classes are not used to calculate the cumulative GPA for the program.
After the beginning of each semester, Enrollment Services will contact students who are on track to
graduate at the end of the semester. All associate degree and technical diploma graduates will receive a
diploma and diploma cover and are welcome to participate in the graduation ceremony. Students who
expect to graduate but are not contacted by Enrollment Services should check with their Academic Advisor
to verify program completion.
Certificate completers are also eligible to participate in graduation, provided that they have previously
taken, or are currently enrolled in the required classes the semester of graduation. Certificates that are 15
or more credits are also eligible for honor cords based on the certificate GPA. Students who are graduating
from both a program and a certificate will have the highest credential (typically the program) announced at
graduation.
Official program completion information will be posted to successful graduates’ transcripts approximately
two weeks after the end of the semester. A diploma is mailed approximately four weeks after graduation,
provided all financial obligations to the College have been satisfied.
HONORS
Honors notations are based on the following grade point average:
GPA
DEFINITION
NOTATION
3.75 - 4.00
Highest Honors
**
3.50 - 3.74
Honors
*
Honors notations reflect course work completed prior to the final eight weeks of the final semester. At the
end of the final semester, after all grades are posted, a program/plan GPA will be recalculated and, if
applicable, honors notations will be posted along with graduation information to a successful graduate’s
official NWTC transcript. Honors are not publicized for students in programs or certificates with curricula
fewer than 15 credits.
INDEPENDENT STUDY
A project for credit is possible through independent study. Requests must be submitted through the
division Dean or Associate Dean. These requests must be made in advance of the semester in which a
student intends to take the study project. The objective of independent study is to provide a means whereby
a student may earn program credits to satisfy graduation requirements by doing specific research or other
projects in areas in which there are no specific courses of instruction at NWTC.
Process for Independent Study:
• A student should seek counseling with the program’s major instructor or program advisor, to
establish that independent study is a viable course of action.
• A student should meet with their program advisor to request permission to undertake projects and
courses and to arrange for an instructor to supervise progress.
• A student should initiate the independent study abstract forms, in consultation with the project
instructor, being certain that the forms are complete and that all necessary signatures have been
obtained.
Deadlines:
• Applications to undertake independent study projects or courses must be on file in Enrollment
Services at least two weeks prior to the beginning of the semester in which the independent study
is to be done.
• Arrangements for projects and courses must be planned so that completion is at least two weeks
before the end of the school semester in which the work is undertaken.
• The application form to undertake independent study should include statements of objectives of
the study, the manner or method of research, if it is a research project, and an outline of the work
to be completed with a time schedule for major divisions or units of work.
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