Graduatin Hill Cllege Cngratulatins Hill Cllege Graduates!!! The fllwing is everything yu need t knw abut graduatin at Hill Cllege. Please read all f the fllwing carefully. APPLYING FOR GRADUATION Diplmas are NOT awarded autmatically. Evaluatin f recrds t verify whether a student has cmpleted the prescribed requirements fr graduatin is ONLY dne upn request by the student thrugh cmpletin and submissin f the GRADUATION APPLICATION. It must be cmpleted and submitted nline by the deadlines fr the current semester therwise yur request will be prcessed the fllwing graduatin term. DEADLINES & PROCESS Graduatin applicatins must be submitted by: OCTOBER 1 ST- Fall Semester MARCH 1st- Spring Semester JULY 1st- Summer Semester Any applicatin received after this deadline will be evaluated during the fllwing term. After the applicatin is submitted, they are evaluated by graduatin evaluatrs during the semester they are received. Letters are sent t students wh d nt meet requirements at the end f the term. Degrees are psted t fficial transcripts after the end f the term. Students can lg nt Campus Cnnect and view an unfficial transcript fr degree psting. Invitatin letters are sent in the spring with instructins regarding the Cmmencement Ceremny. GRADUATION FEE Hill Cllege believes that every student shuld have the pprtunity t participate in graduatin fllwing the cmpletin f a prgram f study. Therefre, the cllege des nt charge a graduatin fee.
COMMENCEMENT CEREMONY DIPLOMAS Hill Cllege hlds ne cmmencement ceremny a year in the spring. All students that have graduated the previus summer, fall and current spring are sent letters inviting them t participate in the cmmencement ceremny. The cmmencement ceremny is held in Hillsbr in the spring f dd years and Cleburne in the spring f even years. Specific lcatins and times will be addressed in the invitatin letter. DIPLOMAS WILL BE MAILED TO STUDENTS AFTER COMMENCMENT. STUDENTS SHOULD RECEIVE THEIR DIPLOMAS WITHIN 8-10 WEEKS AFTER THE END OF THE TERM THE STUDENT HAS APPLIED TO GRADUATE, PENDING THE COMPLETION OF DEGREE REQUIREMENTS. REQUIREMENTS Hill Cllege grants the: Assciate in Arts Degree- The curriculum fr the Assciate in Arts Degree is designed fr the student planning t transfer t a senir cllege r university. Fr degree plans, see the Hill Cllege catalg. Cmplete minimum 62 semester hurs f credit Cmplete Cre requirements/general educatin requirements Demnstrate cmpetency in ral cmmunicatin by cmpleting SPCH 115, Public Speaking, and the cmpetencies as prescribed in the curse 25 percent f the credit hurs required fr the degree must be cmpleted at Hill Cllege Cumulative 2.0 minimum grade pint average n all curse wrk Satisfy the Texas Success Initiative (TSI) requirements in reading, writing, and mathematics, unless exempt tw physical educatin activity curses settled all cllege financial bligatins and student accunt hlds *Develpmental curses may nt be cunted r used as hurs twards the Assciate in Arts Degree Assciate in Applied Science Degree- The Assciate in Applied Science Degree is awarded fr successful cmpletin f a tw-year prescribed ccupatinal cmpetencies and curriculum. Fr degree plans, see the Hill Cllege catalg. Cmplete minimum f 62 semester hurs f credit As part f the minimum 62 semester hur degree requirement, the student must cmplete a minimum f 15 semester hurs f general educatin curses. The cre f general educatin curses must include at least ne curse frm each f the fllwing areas: Humanities/Fine Arts, Scial and
Behaviral Sciences, natural sciences and mathematics. Student must cmplete ENGL 101, Cmpsitin cmplete the prescribed cmpetencies and curriculum fr a tw-year ccupatinal prgram as utlined in the degree plan listed under Prgrams f Study The student must demnstrate cmpetency in ral cmmunicatin by cmpleting SPCH 115, Public Speaking, and the cmpetencies as prescribed in the curse. Selected curses in the Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Prgram have been designated as speech intensive curses and as such satisfy the speech requirements fr students in the EMS Prgram 25 percent f the credit hurs required fr the degree must be cmpleted at Hill Cllege Cumulative 2.0 minimum grade pint average n all curse wrk satisfy the Texas Success Initiative (TSI) requirements in reading, writing, and mathematics, unless exempt settled all cllege financial bligatins and student accunt hlds *Develpmental curses may nt be cunted r used as hurs twards the Assciate in Applied Science Degree. Certificate f Technlgy- The Certificate f Technlgy is awarded t thse wh cmplete the technical cmpetencies f a tw-year ccupatinal curriculum. Fr degree plans, see the Hill Cllege catalg. 4 semester hurs f credit* prescribed technical cmpetencies and curriculum fr the ccupatinal prgram as utlined in this catalg under Prgrams f Study 25 percent f the credit hurs required fr the degree must be cmpleted at Hill Cllege Cumulative 2.0 minimum grade pint average n all curse wrk satisfy the Texas Success Initiative (TSI) requirements in reading, writing, and mathematics, unless exempt settled all cllege financial bligatins and student accunt hlds *Develpmental curses may nt be cunted r used as hurs twards the Certificate f Technlgy Certificate f Cmpletin- The Certificate f Cmpletin is awarded fr successful cmpletin f cmpetencies and curriculum in an ccupatinal prgram f less than tw years in length minimum f 15 semester hurs f credit cmplete the prescribed technical cmpetencies and curriculum fr the ccupatinal prgram as utlined in this catalg under Prgrams f Study 25 percent f the credit hurs required fr the degree must be cmpleted at Hill Cllege
Cumulative 2.0 minimum grade pint average n all curse wrk settled all cllege financial bligatins and student accunt hlds *Develpmental curses may nt be cunted r used as hurs twards the Certificate f Cmpletin. Marketable Skills Achievement Award- A Marketable Skills Achievement (MSA) Award is a sequence f technical-based credit curses ttaling 9-14 semester credit hurs (SCH) within an apprved prgram f study. Typically, an external wrkfrce advisry cmmittee identifies the cursewrk (classes) t be included in the MSA award. Students may receive a dual benefit frm earning a MSA because it helps t create a pathway t prgram cmpletin and can als demnstrate t ptential emplyers a level f aptitude and wrkplace preparedness. CORE CURRICULUM Included in the degree requirements fr the Assciate in Arts is a basic cre f general educatin curses r a cre curriculum. The purpse f the Hill Cllege cre curriculum is t prvide the skills, knwledge, and perspectives that help define the educated persn. The cre emphasizes the basic intellectual cmpetencies--reading, writing, speaking, and critical thinking--as well as brad intellectual perspectives including histrical cnsciusness; multi cultural awareness; numerical cmprehensin and analysis; and, cncern abut ethics, aesthetics, and values. These cmpetencies are designed nt nly t help students understand and appreciate their heritage, but als t enable them t prepare fr respnsible citizenship and successful living in a rapidly changing and highly technlgical wrld. Cmpetency in each f the cre cmpnents is established by successful cmpletin f the cre curses that is required fr the Assciate in Arts Degree. In accrdance with the laws f the State f Texas and the guidelines and prcedures established by the Texas Higher Educatin Crdinating Bard (THECB), all Texas public clleges and universities are required t establish a cre curriculum. The law and the established guidelines indicate that if a student cmpletes the cre curriculum at ne public cllege r university within the State f Texas, that blck f curses may be transferred t any ther public cllege r university within the State f Texas and must be substituted fr the receiving institutin s cre curriculum. Further, in accrdance with the law and the guidelines, a student shall receive academic credit fr each f the curses transferred and may nt be required t take additinal cre curriculum curses at the receiving institutin, unless the THECB has apprved a larger cre curriculum fr that institutin. Hurs ARTS AND HUMANITIES Required Cmmunicatins Ttal 9 ENGL101, ENGL102 6 SPCH115 Humanities Ttal three () hurs t be selected frm: ENGL222, ENGL22, ENGL227, ENGL228,
ENGL21, ENGL22, ENGL241, HUMA101, HUMA102, SPAN211, r SPAN212 Visual & Perfrming Arts Ttal three () hurs t be selected frm: ARTS 101, 10, 104 MUSI 106, MUSI 108, r MUSI 109 DRAM 110, 266, SCIENCE AND MATHEMATICS Mathematics three () hurs t be selected frm: MATH114, MATH116, MATH124, MATH125, MATH142, MATH220, MATH2412, MATH241, MATH2414, r MATH 2415 Cmputer Science three () hurs t be selected frm: BCIS 101/ COSC101 (crss-referenced) BCIS 105, COSC 120, r COSC 16 Natural (Labratry) Sciences 8 tw (2) curses t be selected frm: BIOL 1406, BIOL 1407, BIOL 1408, BIOL 1409, BIOL1411, 4 BIOL141, BIOL2401, BIOL2402, BIOL2421, 4 CHEM1411, CHEM1412, CHEM1419, GEOL 1401, GEOL140, GEOL1404, PHYS1401, PHYS1402, PHYS140, PHYS1404, PHYS2425, r PHYS2426 SOCIAL AND BEHAVIORAL SCIENCE Histry & Gvernment 12 HIST101, HIST102 6 GOVT205, GOVT206 6 Scial\Behaviral Science three () hurs t be selected frm: ANTH 246, PSYC201, PSYC 214, SOCI101, SOCI 201, ECON201, r ECON202 Ttal Cre Curriculum Hurs 44 These requirements must be met by every student pursuing an Assciate in Arts degree at Hill Cllege. (Exceptin: Students majring in music r Elementary Educatin-EC-4 Generalist shuld take the curses utlined in the Degree Plans and Prgrams f Study sectin, Music Assciate in Arts, instead f the general cre curses.)
GRADUATION WITH HONORS Students wh are graduating with an Assciate Degree, wh have at least 24 semester hurs in residence, wh have cmpleted at least tw semesters at Hill Cllege, and wh have a GPA f.50-.74 Cum Laude GPA f.75-.89- Magna Cum Laude GPA f.90-4.00- Summa Cum Laude qualify fr hnrs recgnitin. FINANCIAL OBLIGATIONS AND STUDENT ACCOUNT HOLDS REGALIA It is imprtant that any mnies wed r any ther hld n a student accunt be reslved in a timely manner. Althugh unpaid balances r hlds will nt prhibit a student frm participating in cmmencement, fficial transcripts and diplmas will NOT be released until all hlds are reslved. Imprtant: Academic regalia is required fr all students wh participate in the Cmmencement ceremny. Yu will nt be allwed t march withut regalia. Hill Cllege prvides ne regalia t graduating students withut charge. Letters will be sent t infrm each graduate f times and days t pick up regalia. Regalia can be picked up in the Enrllment Management Office n the Hillsbr and Cleburne Campuses during the prescribed times and days. AT THE CEREMONY Students are requested t arrive t the specific building prvided in their invitatin letter. Please arrive n time with all regalia. Hnr and PTK graduates will be sent letters explaining when and where t pick up hnr regalia. Students will be split int 5 grups: Assciate f Arts, Assciate f Applied Science, Certificate f Technlgy, Certificate f Cmpletin and Marketable Skills Awards. If yu are receiving multiple awards, yu will walk with the highest degree earned. Graduates with multiple awards will nly walk nce with their highest degree. Graduates are given name cards with their degrees n the index cards. Please make sure that yur name reads the way that it shuld be annunced. Yu will line up in degree grupings and march t the ceremny lcatin. Make sure that yu keep yur card with yu at all times. Graduates will hand the card t the Registrar as yu walk acrss the stage. Cllege emplyees will be available t assist candidates. Graduates will be lead t the event and guided t designated seating. Candidates will be asked t stand as a degree/certificate grup. Always fllw t the right. Candidates will give their cards t the Registrar, walk acrss the stage, accept their diplma ntice with left hand and shake with the right hand. Candidates will exit the stage and fllw Cllege ushers t their seats.
GRADUATES OR GUESTS WITH DISABILITIES Candidates r guest wh have a disability-related need requiring assistance fr cmmencement, shuld cntact Salley Schmid, Directr f Cunseling, at sschmid@hillcllege.edu r 254-659-7651 t make arrangements. It is the respnsible f graduates t cntact Salley Schmid regarding accmmdatins fr families r guest. Deadline: Disability services and accmmdatins request must be prvided prir t the week f cmmencement. PHOTOGRAPHING COMMENCEMENT A prfessinal phtgrapher will be available prir t the ceremny fr graduates t have pictures taken. Infrmatin abut purchase packages and prices will be available t students when they pick up regalia r the evening f the ceremny. Families and guest are encuraged t take pictures befre, during and after the ceremny. Please be mindful prir t the ceremny f time. We need time t get everyne in place t march int the ceremny. During the ceremny, family and guest are encuraged t take pictures, but please be mindful f ther attendees. They are als attending the ceremny t share this imprtant mment with their graduate. COMMENCEMENT SEATING Each student will be given 4 guest tickets. Seating is limited and guest shuld arrive early. Additinal tickets (if available) will be in the Enrllment Management Office 1 day prir t the ceremny. Additinal tickets are 1 st cme, 1 st serve. Anyne with a ticket will have entry int the ceremny. Smking, eating r drinking is NOT allwed at any cmmencement ceremny lcatins. AFTER THE CEREMONY Graduates are invited t a receptin that is hsted by Hill Cllege. We hpe that all will attend the receptin as this is the best time t cntact instructrs r staff. With this ceremny Hill Cllege publicly recgnizes the achievements f its students and cnfers upn them the rights, privileges and respnsibilities f a Hill Cllege degree r certificate. We cngratulate yu n yur achievements. If yu have additinal questins, please direct them t Brandi Turner, Student Success Crdinatr, at bturner@hillcllege.edu r 254-659-7604 r Sherry Davis, Directr f Student Recrds & Registratin, at shdavis@hillcllege.edu r 254-659-7602