Automatic Graduation
Automatic Graduation for Programs Completed within your Intended Degree
HCCC automatically processes a student’s graduation once they fulfill the course requirements for their chosen academic program. In addition, HCCC offers several short-term certificates that students may earn along the way while completing their chosen program. Therefore, once a student completes the course requirements for a shorter certificate, they will automatically graduate with that certificate and continue to pursue their original academic program. Once they complete the requirements for their original academic program, students will again be automatically graduated. A full list of certificates and degrees can be found here.
Frequently Asked Questions
Automatic Graduation is a process of routinely reviewing students’ records and automatically awarding certificates and/or degrees once program requirements are met.
Students can rest assured they will graduate as soon as they meet their course requirements, without having to go through the process of applying for graduation. Achieving a certificate while also pursuing another certificate/degree means students experience a sense of accomplishment, can participate in Commencement, and add this achievement to their resume right away
No! Graduating with a certificate and continuing to pursue the full degree program will not impact your financial aid.
Nothing! The Registrar’s Office will contact students after they have been auto-graduated to confirm how they wish their name to appear on their diploma. In addition, they will provide instructions for picking up their diploma and two free transcripts.
Students with questions or concerns about being auto-graduated should reach out to the Registrar’s Office at registrarFREEHUDSONCOUNTYCOMMUNITYCOLLEGE by May 1st each academic year.
Graduation is the award of an academic degree or diploma. When you complete your course requirements, you will be “graduated” from your program.
Commencement is the ceremony for conferring degrees or diplomas. Commencement is the ceremony when you walk across the stage in your cap and gown.
Automatic Graduation Procedure for Programs Completed Outside of your Intended Degree
At HCCC, we review student records to identify students who have fulfilled the course requirements for their enrolled program as well as other programs.
Sometimes, a student may complete the requirements for a different program than the
one they are enrolled in, giving them the opportunity to graduate earlier. For example,
a student pursuing a Sociology degree might also fulfill the requirements for a Liberal
Arts degree along the way. In this case, the Registrar’s Office will inform the student
of this option to graduate early from the other program. The choice is entirely up
to the student. If they agree, the Registrar’s Office will award the degree, and the
student will earn their degree even earlier than anticipated! If they decide not to
graduate early, they can remain in their current program and finish as planned, with
no change to their original plan.
Frequently Asked Questions
This means the Registrar’s Office routinely reviews student records to proactively identify those who have completed the requirements for a degree or certificate and inform them of their eligibility to graduate. This includes degrees and certificates the student is not enrolled in.
Students can sometimes graduate earlier than expected by completing the course requirements for another program. This allows them to transfer to a four-year institution or enter the workforce sooner.
Always check with the Financial Aid Office for questions about eligibility.
Please contact the Office of Career and Transfer Pathways at ctpathwaysFREEHUDSONCOUNTYCOMMUNITYCOLLEGE to discuss questions related to transferring.
You should reach out to the Registrar’s office to identify what additional courses you may need to complete in order to earn both degrees.
When the Registrar’s Office contacts you to inform you of this opportunity, you will need to respond to confirm if you wish to graduate from the additional program or continue with your original program. The Registrar’s Office will also ask how you want your name to appear on your diploma, and they will provide instructions for picking up your diploma and two free transcripts.
Students with questions about graduation should reach out to the Registrar’s Office at registrarFREEHUDSONCOUNTYCOMMUNITYCOLLEGE.
All students who earn a certificate or degree at any point in the year are invited to attend the HCCC Commencement Ceremony in May at Red Bull Arena. Students may invite an unlimited number of guests to celebrate their graduation.
Please reach out to registrarFREEHUDSONCOUNTYCOMMUNITYCOLLEGE if you have any questions about the Graduation Eligibility Review or Automatic Graduation.
Contact Information
Registrar's Office
70 Sip Ave., 1st Floor
Jersey City, NJ 07306
Phone: (201) 360-4120
Fax: (201) 714-2136
registrarFREEHUDSONCOUNTYCOMMUNITYCOLLEGE