Graduation

Graduate at ceremony

Graduation

All SCC students must submit a Graduation Application and successfully complete all course requirements in their program of study. Our commencement ceremony is held in May and all fall, spring, and summer graduates for the academic year are eligible to participate.

Steps to Graduation

 

Verify Eligibility

  • Meet with your advisor. 
  • Review your academic progress.
  • Verify your eligibility to apply for graduation.
  • Only apply if you are completing your credential in the 2025-2026 academic year (Fall 2025, Spring 2026, Summer 2026)                                                             

Submit an Application

  •  Log in to Self Service.
  • Select Graduation Overview.
  • Submit a separate application for each degree, diploma or certificate.
  • Priority application deadline: February 27, 2026 to receive the Commencement Email for the RSVP and other pertinent information.

Application Review

Please review your progress in Self Service and meet with your academic advisor to ensure all requirements are being met.

Graduation Preparation

  • Students participating in the graduation ceremony must wear a SCC cap & gown.
  • Order your cap & gown.
  • Direct inquiries to the Registrar's Office (910) 246-5373.

  • Attire for rehearsal: casual, no cap and gown.

  • Attire for commencement:  business-casual or dressy-casual, cap, gown, tassel. Stiletto heels are not recommended due to the soft ground in the library green space.

Decorating Regalia

Other than the cords and stoles approved by SCC, no additional decorations may be worn over the gown, but graduates may decorate graduation caps (mortarboard) provided you abide by the student code of conduct and within reason, such as not including something that would obstruct the view of someone sitting behind you.

 Suggestions for cap designs include:

  • Leave it blank. Decoration of the graduation cap (mortarboard) is optional.
  • Thanks to my parents, grandparent, teacher, guardian, friend.
  • Recognize a program of study (e.g., Nursing, Photography, etc.) and/or year.
  • Include an inspirational message.

Cords and Stoles

Commencement ceremony participants that graduate with honors are provided (at no cost to the student) with one gold honor cord to wear with their regalia.  Only one cord is given to the student even when more than one program of study has been completed.

For consistency, graduates are only permitted to wear College approved cords and stoles.

Note

When applying for graduation:

  • If you do not see your major listed please complete a Change of Major form in student eForms.
  • Spell your name exactly as you want it to appear on your diploma in the “Preferred Name on Diploma” section. 
  • Application(s) are required whether or not you intend to participate in the graduation ceremony and must be submitted by the deadline.
  • Additional information will be emailed throughout the spring semester.  Please watch your SCC student email account for information regarding a required RSVP, ordering regalia, and specific instructions related to rehearsal for the graduation ceremony and for the day of commencement.

 

Graduation Dates & Deadlines

  • Spring/Summer Graduation Priority Application Deadline for Commencement Communication:  Friday, February 27, 2026

  • Rehearsal: Thursday, May 14, 2026
    • Transfer Degree Students: 9:00 a.m.
    • Applied Science, Diploma and Certificate students: 11:00 a.m.
  • Commencement: Saturday, May 16, 2026
    • Transfer Degree Students: 8:30 a.m.
    • Applied Science, Diploma and Certificate students: 11:30 a.m.

Please Note: To participate in commencement students must RSVP via the link sent to your student email. Participating in commencement activities does not mean that you have “graduated”. You must complete all course requirements before receiving a diploma.

In order to earn a degree from Sandhills Community College you will need to meet the following general requirements:

  • Meet any grade requirements for course(s) such as a grade of “C” or higher for all health science, nursing, and transfer degrees.
  • Earn a minimum of a 2.00 grade point average in your program of study.
  • Successfully complete 25 percent of course credit hours of the certificate, diploma, or associate degree requirements at Sandhills Community College, with that 25 percent coming from major and other major hours, and not from general education hours, for the program of study. The Director of Records and Registration verifies completion of 25 percent as part of the graduation application process.
  • Successfully complete course requirements as prescribed in the Catalog in effect at the time of entry into the program. If students have an interruption in enrollment from their designated program of study of two or more years, they will be subject to the program requirements prescribed in the Catalog in effect upon their re-entry into the program.

  • All associate degree students must either place out of MAT-003, MAT-025, or MAT-035, or DMA-010 through DMA-030 (or) successfully complete MAT-003, MAT-025, or MAT-035, or DMA-010 through DMA-030, to demonstrate competence in fundamental math skills.

  • Submit a current graduation application to the Office of Records and Registration.
  • Clear all financial obligations to the college.

Honors

Students are eligible to graduate with honors if their major (only courses included in major can be used) GPA is a 3.5 or higher for Associate Degrees or Diplomas.

Honor Distinction

Cum Laude – grade point average between 3.50 – 3.74
Magna Cum Laude – grade point average between 3.75 – 3.89
Summa Cum Laude – grade point average between 3.90 – 4.00

President and Deans List coordinator: Julie Voigt

You may decorate your cap provided you abide by the student code of conduct and within reason, such as not including something that would obstruct the view of someone sitting behind you.

Honors designations will be determined on the Friday before the commencement ceremony.  When you line up for the ceremony on Saturday morning, the line coordinators will distribute your reader card to you and if it is stamped with an honors designation you will receive a gold cord to wear in the ceremony and keep.  You are not required to purchase a cord.  The honor is based on the GPA within your program of study.  If you have questions about this, a member of the Student Records staff will be available to help during the line-up time in the Heins Gym.

Students can have an unlimited number of guests if the ceremony is held outside and will receive additional communication in the event of inclement weather.

Information about rehearsal will be emailed to your SCC student email.

Once graduation requirements have been met, graduates must allow two to three weeks for degrees to be posted on their transcripts. When ordering a transcript please select “After Degree is Awarded”.   Students can also view their unofficial transcripts in Self Service to see if their degree has posted.

Graduation progress can be tracked via “My Progress” in Self Service. For assistance contact your assigned advisor.

If a student is applying for more than one degree, a separate graduation application is required for each certificate, diploma, or degree. Students cannot apply to graduate from both the Associate in Science and Associate in Arts  degree programs for the same academic year. Students cannot apply to graduate from both the Associate in Engineering and either the Associate in Arts or Associate in Science degree programs for the same academic year. Also, students cannot apply to graduate with the Associate of General Education if they are graduating or have graduated with another associates degree ( A.A.S, A.S, A.A).

Diplomas will be issued approximately 6-8 weeks after the semester ends. Parchment will send a text and email to your SCC student email alerting you that a digital copy is available for download. Additionally, you will have 72 hours to update your address if needed before they mail the hard copy to the address provided.

A replacement diploma costs $10.00. You can fill out the form, or you can submit a request in writing for a replacement. Please be sure to include: Your name at time of graduation, dates of attendance, program of study, mailing address, hand written signature, date of birth, and a current contact number. A check or money order should be made payable to Sandhills Community College. Please note that diploma replacement requests take up to 7 days and can not be expedited with an extra fee.

Sandhills Community College
Attn: Business Office
3395 Airport Rd
Pinehurst NC 28374