Oct 12, 2024  
2020-2021 Catalog 
    
2020-2021 Catalog [ARCHIVED CATALOG]

Graduation


This section provides information about the graduation process, how Alumni can stay in touch after graduation and how CMC’s Career Services site can provide you with basic tools and resources to help you achieve your career goals.

Graduation Requirements

Graduation requirements for each degree and certificate program are outlined in the Bachelor, Associate of Arts, Associate of Science, Associates of General Studies, Associates of Applied Sciences and Certificates of Occupational Proficiency sections of this catalog.

You must successfully complete all course requirements for graduation. Check Student Planning in Basecamp to make sure you are on track to graduate.

The current catalog at the time you begin a program will be used to establish graduation requirements. See the Continuous Enrollment & Catalog In Force Requirement   section of this catalog for more information.

You may meet graduation requirements by combining:

  • Colorado Mountain College courses
  • credit awarded through Prior Learning Assessment (PLA) and
  • transfer credit.

Each program requires that a minimum number of credits must be earned at CMC. The minimum earned credit requirements are as follows*.

  • Associates - 15 credit minimum from CMC   
  • Bachelors  - 30 credit minimum from CMC   
  • Certificates - 10 credits credit minimum from CMC

*Awarded or Prior Learning Assessment (PLA) credit may not be used to fulfill this requirement.

Other graduation requirements include the following.

  • Students must have a minimum 2.0 GPA.
  • No more than 20% of courses can be pass/fail grades.
  • Up to 50% of courses can awarded through Prior Learning Assessment.

Incomplete grades are not accepted as successfully completed courses. You will not be able to graduate until incomplete courses are completed satisfactorily.

Please note that for AA and AS degrees, no more than six credits of work experience, internship, special topics (courses numbered 175 or 275), and/or cooperative education may be applied toward graduation. These degrees must fulfill guaranteed transfer requirements, and these credits are not considered transferable to a four-year college. See Transfer section for more information.

Petition to Graduate

CMC does not automatically issue a diploma or enter your completed degree or certificate on your transcript. You must submit a Petition to Graduate in order for CMC to record your completed degree. Plan ahead!

Once you have 15 credits (or less) remaining of your Associates or Bachelors program, and you plan to complete your degree in the following semester, you become eligible to submit a Petition to Graduate to your College Counselor or Academic Advisor. If you are pursuing a certificate, please check with your advisor or counselor to determine your time frame for completion and submission deadline.

Process For Submitting a Petition to Graduate

  • You should discuss your intent to graduate with your college counselor/advisor before completing a petition to graduate.
  • There is no fee for petitioning to graduate and receiving a degree or diploma.
  • If you choose to participate in the commencement ceremony, a fee may be required.
  • A separate Petition to Graduate must be completed for each degree or certificate.
  • All financial obligations to Colorado Mountain College must be cleared prior to graduation.
  • If you do not graduate when intended, it will be necessary to complete a new Petition to Graduate.
  • You may choose a preferred name to be printed on your diploma - there is the option to specify this on your petition to graduate. Please note that your official transcripts will always use your legal name.

Commencement Ceremony

Commencement ceremonies are traditionally held in May at the end of the spring semester. Please contact your Academic Advisor or Counselor for more information about participating in this ceremony. If you are graduating in the Summer or Fall, please contact your Academic Advisor or Counselor to determine if your campus holds an additional ceremony.

Earning Additional CMC Degrees

If you already have an Associates Degree from Colorado Mountain College, you must earn at least 15 additional credits, not already applied to the first degree(s), and fulfill the degree requirements of subsequent degree(s). If you already have a Bachelor Degree from Colorado Mountain College, you must earn at least 30 additional credits, not already applied to the first degree(s), and fulfill the degree requirements of the subsequent degree(s).

Graduating from Discontinued Programs

Colorado Mountain College will not award a degree or certificate for a program that is completed more than 24 months after the program is discontinued by the college. Students must maintain contact with their Academic Advisor or College Counselor for information concerning deadlines.

Transfer Back Agreement

You may be choose to graduate with a degree from Colorado Mountain College after transferring to another institution. This requires a transfer back agreement and authorization from CMC’s Registrar. The transfer back agreement must be approved prior to taking a class(es) at another institution.

To be eligible, you must have earned a minimum of 45 credit hours at CMC for an Associates.  For a Bachelors degree you must have earned a minimum of 90 credit hours at CMC. The transfer back agreement details the remaining courses you intend to take at another institution and how they will transfer back as equivalent courses at CMC. It also specifies the catalog in force for graduation requirements, and sets a time frame in which the courses must be completed.

You will also be required to submit a Petition to Graduate - see above for more information.

Alumni: Staying in Touch

The inspiring scenery of the Colorado mountains and the experiences you will have at Colorado Mountain College stay with you long after you graduate. So will many of your friendships formed here.

Join the CMC online alumni community to stay in touch with your friends and the college. Visit CMC’s Alumni Page at www.facebook.com/cmcalumni. Contact the Colorado Mountain College Foundation office at (970) 947-8378 or cmcfoundation@coloradomtn.edu for more information about alumni opportunities and resources.

Update your CMC Alumni record by completing the alumni form at cmcfoundation.org/alumni/.

Career Services After Graduation

Graduates continue to have access to CareerConnect, the online career management platform, to support their job seeking efforts.  For more resources to assist you in planning for the future, please see the Career Services page.