Graduation
Piedmont College holds three graduation ceremonies each academic year. Each year’s class consists of students graduating in December, May and July. Example: The Class of 2017 includes graduates from December 2016, May 2017, and July 2017. Students will process into the ceremony in caps and gowns and will sit together to be recognized as graduates.
Please check the Academic Calendars posted on the web at www.piedmont.edu/registrar for ceremony dates and times and also for application deadlines for each semester’s graduation. Mailings will be sent each semester with graduation details and participation forms that must be returned in order to participate in the ceremony or to have diplomas mailed after the ceremony.
Graduation and Residency Requirements
Only six graduate hours from a regionally accredited institution may be transferred into a graduate program of study if applicable. The last 12 academic hours, exclusive of student teaching in Education programs, must be taken at Piedmont College.
All requirements for the degree must be completed within six years. A student must satisfy the following:
- Hold unconditional acceptance status;
- Successfully complete an approved program of study;
- Earn an overall GPA of 3.0 in all graduate courses attempted with no more than one “C” grade in the approved program of study; and
- Complete all documentation requirements and apply for graduation by the posted appropriate graduation application deadline.
Graduation Charges
An application fee is due at the time of application for graduation.* The fees are $125 for master’s and education specialist and $150 for doctoral candidates. It is the student’s responsibility to be familiar with application deadlines which are posted on the academic calendars. All college accounts must be paid in full before the degree is conferred.
*Under extenuating circumstances, an application submitted after the published deadline requires approval from the dean of the appropriate school and an additional late fee of $100.
Transcripts
A transcript is a record of all courses taken and grades received at the College, as well as those transferred into the College. As such it includes all initial and repeat courses and all courses that fall under the Forgiveness Policy.
Official Transcript Requests
Piedmont College provides printed or electronic transcripts using the secure Parchment website. It is secure and available 24/7. The Registrar’s Office can provide official printed (hard copy) transcripts for a fee.
To make a transcript request through Parchment, sign up at the Parchment website (www.parchment.com). Choose the destinations where you want to send your transcripts. Sign off by paying online—there is an $8.25 (paper copy)/$6.25 (electronic transcript) fee per transcript.
Transcripts cannot be furnished for any student whose financial obligations to Piedmont College have not been met. If your transcript is denied due to financial obligations, it is your responsibility to submit a new request form when your account is settled in the Business Office.
Unofficial Transcript Requests
There is no charge for providing unofficial transcripts. They may be emailed as PDF files, faxed, or mailed. Students requesting unofficial transcripts should use the form available on the Registrar’s web page (www.piedmont.edu/registrar).This form requires the student’s signature and must be mailed or faxed to the Registrar’s Office.
Posthumous Degrees
In order to receive a posthumous degree, a majority of the degree requirements must have been completed. The president must approve the awarding of the degree. When a posthumous degree is awarded, a member of the student’s family will be invited to accept the diploma during commencement exercises.