Graduation Requirements

Students may elect to graduate in accordance with the degree or certificate requirements as listed in the catalog that is current at the time of their first registration or any subsequent edition, as long as the catalog is not more than six years old. Students wishing to change a catalog choice prior to graduation must notify the Admissions and Records Office.

Associate Degree Requirements

To be eligible for an associate degree, students must meet the following requirements:

• Apply for graduation online through the myRCC portal or obtain an application for graduation from Admissions and Records.
• Complete all program requirements as specified in the catalog including curricular admission requirements.
• Earn a minimum GPA of 2.0 in the curriculum and earn grades in compliance with department policy.
• Fulfill all course and credit-hour requirements of the curriculum with at least 25% of credit semester hours earned at RCC.
• Fulfill the computer literacy requirement (students should consult their faculty advisor for details).
• Be certified by appropriate college official for graduation.
• Take the student outcomes assessment as required by the college.
• Resolve all financial obligations to RCC and return all library and college materials.
  *NOTE: The College reserves the right to graduate students who have completed all requirements for a career studies certificate, certificate, and/or associate degree.

Certificate Requirements

To be eligible for a certificate, students must meet the following requirements:

• Apply for graduation online through the myRCC portal or obtain an application for graduation from Admissions and Records.
• Complete all program requirements as specified in the catalog, including curricular admission requirements.
• Earn a minimum grade point average of 2.0 in the curriculum and earn grades in compliance with department policy.
• Fulfill all course and credit-hour requirements of the curriculum with at least 25% of credit semester hours earned at RCC.
• Fulfill the computer literacy requirement (students should consult their faculty advisor for details).
• Be certified by appropriate college official for graduation
• Resolve all financial obligations to RCC and return all library and college materials.
  * NOTE: The College reserves the right to graduate students who have completed all requirements for a career studies certificate, certificate, and/or associate degree.

Career Studies Certificate Requirements

To be eligible for a career studies certificate, students must meet the following requirements:

• Complete all program requirements as specified in the catalog including curricular admission requirements.
• Earn a minimum GPA of 2.0 in the curriculum and earn grades in compliance with department policy.
• Fulfill all course and credit-hour requirements of the curriculum with at least 25% of credit semester hours earned at RCC.
• Be certified by appropriate college official for graduation.
• Resolve all financial obligations to RCC and return all library and college materials.
  * NOTE: The College reserves the right to graduate students who have completed all requirements for a career studies certificate, certificate, and/or associate degree.

For all Degrees and Certificates:

If a student applies for graduation but does not graduate, the student must submit another graduation application for a subsequent semester. Students may graduate after fall, spring, or summer semesters. Final responsibility for completing degree requirements rests with the student.

Computer Competency Requirements

Rappahannock Community College supports the Virginia Community College System (VCCS) belief that all students should experience a teaching-learning environment that promotes computer and information literacy in accessing electronic resources and applying knowledge through technology. RCC endorses the principle of computer competence for all students’ intent on completing a curriculum in excess of 45 semester credits.

Rappahannock Community College ensures that students graduating from programs with an excess of 45 semester credits will be able to:

• Demonstrate a working knowledge of computing concepts, components, and operations to accomplish educational and career tasks.
• Use appropriate components of an integrated productivity software package involving word processing, spreadsheet, database, presentation, and/or communication applications.
• Access, retrieve, assess, and apply networked information resources, for example, online catalogs, virtual libraries, the Internet and World Wide Web.
• Use telecommunication software, for example, electronic mail, listservs, bulletin boards, and/or newsgroups, to communicate with faculty students and information providers.

Students may satisfy the computer competency requirement by passing ITE 115  or ITE 119 . Credit may be awarded via CLEP exam for Information Systems and Computer Applications. For more information about CLEP, access the College Board website. Questions may be directed to the RCC Admissions and Records Office.

Physical Education Requirements

Only health, physical education, or recreation courses that promote physical and emotional well-being may be used to satisfy the physical education requirement in a curriculum. The college grants 2 credits of physical education/health credits for basic military training to satisfy the physical education/health requirement of a veteran’s major.

Multiple Degrees or Certificates

In awarding students more than one degree or certificate, the college may grant credit for all previously completed applicable courses which are requirements of the additional degree or certificate. However, the awards must differ from one another by at least 25% of the coursework and credits.

Graduation Honors

A student who has fulfilled the requirements of one or more degrees or certificates is eligible for graduation honors. Career studies certificate programs are not eligible for graduation honors. Honors are based on overall scholastic achievements and are recorded on the student’s transcript as follows:

Minimum Cumulative GPA Honor

• 3.2 Cum laude (with honor)
• 3.5 Magna cum laude (with high honor)
• 3.8 Summa cum laude (with highest honor)

Course Expiration

Courses in the technologies required for graduation shall have been completed no more than 10 years prior to the time of graduation, unless exceptions have been made by an academic dean based on the recommendation of appropriate faculty and the student’s academic advisor.

Outcomes and Assessments

Students may be required to complete testing, survey, questionnaire, or other assessment activities designed to measure general education achievement and/or achievement in selected major areas prior to graduation, for the purpose of evaluation of academic programs. No minimum score or level of achievement is required for graduation. Assessment results will remain confidential and will be used for the sole purpose of improvement of RCC.

Commencement

RCC has one formal commencement ceremony each year for students completing degree or certificate curricula throughout the academic year. All graduates are encouraged to participate in this formal commencement. Students who graduate in the summer or fall will be invited to participate in the following spring’s commencement ceremony.

Duplicate Diploma Requests

To obtain a duplicate diploma, please complete the Duplicate Diploma Request Form and submit the form to the Admissions and Records Office on either campus. The form can be picked up from the Admissions and Records Office or printed from the Forms section of the Admissions webpage. There is a $10 fee for each duplicate diploma requested. Please note diplomas are ordered in June, September, and January.

General Education Core Competency Goals

The associate degree programs at RCC provide a coherent, shared experience for students to develop the general education core competencies expected of them as college-educated individuals. General education, as an integrated and cohesive whole, provides the educational foundation necessary to promote intellectual and personal development. Upon completion of the associate degree, RCC graduates will demonstrate competency in student learning outcomes (SLOs) in

Civic Engagement is the ability to contribute to the civic life and well-being of local, national, and global communities as both as social responsibility and a life-long learning process. Degree graduates will demonstrate the knowledge and civic values necessary to become informed and contributing participants in a democratic society. SLOS area.

     a.  Define civic engagement and discuss basic principles regarding democracy and citizenship in local, state, and national communities;
     b.  Identify a problem or conflict of civic importance in their campus, local, or regional community; and
     c.  Complete a written proposal for action on the issue, targeting the relevant campus or community leader(s).

Critical Thinking is the ability to use information, ideas and arguments from relevant perspectives to make sense of complex issues and solve problems. Degree graduates will locate, evaluate, interpret, and combine information to reach well-reasoned conclusions or solutions. SLOS are:

1. discriminate among degrees of credibility, accuracy, and reliability of inferences drawn from given data;
2. recognize parallels, assumptions, or presuppositions in any given source of information;
3. evaluate the strengths and relevance of arguments on a particular question or issue;
4. weigh evidence and decide if generalizations or conclusions based on the given data are warranted;
5. determine whether certain conclusions or consequences are supported by the information provided;
6. use problem solving skills.

Professional Readiness is the ability to work well with others and display situationally and culturally appropriate demeanor and behavior. Degree graduates will demonstrate skills important for successful transition into the workplace and pursuit of further education. SLOS are:

1. demonstrate the ability to maintain open, effective, and professional communications;
2. demonstrate appropriate workplace and classroom demeanor and behavior;
3. work effectively with others on a task in a group or a team to achieve a common goal while maintaining constructive interpersonal relationships;
4. compare and contrast creative and critical thinking skills as they relate to problem solving in the workplace.

Quantitative Literacy is the ability to perform accurate calculations, interpret quantitative information, apply and analyze relevant numerical data, and use results to support conclusions. Degree graduates will calculate, interpret, and use numerical and quantitative information in a variety of settings. SLOS are:

1. use logical and mathematical reasoning within the context of various disciplines;
2. interpret and use mathematical formulas;
3. interpret mathematical models such as graphs, tables, and schematics and draw inferences from them;
4. use graphical, symbolic, and numerical methods to analyze, organize, and interpret data;
5. estimate and consider answers to mathematical problems in order to determine reasonableness;
6. represent mathematical information numerically, symbolically, and visually, using graphs and charts.

Scientific Literacy is the ability to apply the scientific method and related concepts and principles to make informed decisions and engage with issues related to the natural, physical, and social world. Degree graduates will recognize and know how to us the scientific method, and to evaluate empirical information. SLOS are:

1. generate an empirically evidenced and logical argument;
2. distinguish a scientific argument from a non-scientific argument;
3. reason by deduction, induction, and analogy;
4. distinguish between causal and correlational relationships;
5. recognize methods of inquiry that lead to scientific knowledge.

Written Communication is the ability to develop, convey, and exchange ideas in writing, as appropriate to a given context and audience. Degree graduates will express themselves effectively in a variety of written forms. SLOS are:

1. understand and interpret complex materials;
2. assimilate, organize, develop, and present an idea formally and informally;
3. use standard English; and
4. recognize the role of culture in communication.