Are you graduating after this semester?

Zoe Deno
Staff Writer

Passing classes isn’t the only requirement for students to get their diploma on May 12.

“Students need to file a degree application in order to be eligible to graduate; some students may not know that, but that gives us notice that the student is intending to graduate. It’s an official process that students must be aware of,” said Dennis Kennedy, director of communications and marketing.

If a student wants to graduate from Hudson Valley at least 50 percent of their credits for their degree must have been earned at this college. That means in order to be eligible for a degree from Hudson Valley, only half of a student’s credits can transfer from a previous college they attended.

In order to qualify for graduation, students must have at least a 2.0 GPA and have completed all prescribed courses with passing grades, as well as the minimum credit requirements.

If a student is unsure what their GPA is, or how many credits they currently have, they can check their progress in Degree Works, which can be accessed from their WIReD account. If they have any questions regarding their progress, they should schedule an appointment with their advisors.

If a student is interested in graduating with honors, they must have a GPA of 3.5 or higher. Students who achieve this GPA are eligible to attend an additional awards and honors ceremony hosted in the McDonough Sports Complex the Friday evening before the Commencement Ceremony. Of the 2,058 students who graduated last year, 448 graduated with honors.

Students will be ineligible to graduate despite having their required GPA and completed credits if they do not apply for their degree. Students can print out an application from the ‘Policies and Procedures’ page on the Hudson Valley Website. Near the bottom of the page students can select when they would like to graduate (Fall, Summer, Spring) and hit the blue lettering that will pull up a PDF application that they can then print off and fill out.

They will need to get their advisor to sign the bottom of the application for official confirmation that they are eligible to graduate. Students need to submit their application at the Registrar’s Office, that can be found on the first floor of the Guenther Enrollment Services Center.

If a student wants to graduate this semester, they must get this application submitted by March 31 or they will be unable to graduate until Summer.

While most students graduate in the Spring, if a student misses the application deadline or finishes their credits in the Summer of Fall, they do have the option of graduating.

There isn’t a commencement ceremony for students who don’t graduate in the Spring. According to Kennedy, there isn’t enough graduates during the “off seasons” to warrant a ceremony, however they do have the option of participating in the next Spring commencement.

There is no additional fee for the cap and gown, which can be picked up in room 204 of the Campus Center on May 3, 4 and 5. Students also receive five tickets to give to family and friends of their choice.

The ceremony, which typically lasts two hours, is held in Joseph L. Bruno Stadium. However, if there is bad weather, the ceremony is held in McDonough Sports Complex.

Each student’s name is individually read and they walk across the stage and two photos are taken, one with President Matonak and another of themselves alone. While no keynote speakers are intentionally brought in, it isn’t uncommon for local politicians to show up and wish the graduates well as they either enter the workforce or transfer to a four-year school to continue their path to a higher education.