Student Services

Student Success Center

TRiO Student Support Services

Graduation

How to apply for graduation

A graduation ceremony is held in May of each year. Graduates from all three semesters may participate in this ceremony.  However, diplomas are not issued (or mailed) until the semester that graduation requirements are met.  A final check of your records will be performed and any outstanding paperwork (final high school transcript, etc.) on your part may delay the award and mailing of your degree.

An application for graduation (see link above) must be completed and returned to the Admissions Office by December 20, 2024, in order for your name to appear in the graduation program for this year.  If you submit the application after the deadline, you may still participate in graduation; however, your name will not appear in the ceremony program or in any newspapers.

There is a $20 fee associated with the graduation application and must be paid at the time of application.  Students exempt from the fee are those earning certificates of 12 hours or less. The cost covers the processing and mailing of your degree as well as your cap and gown.  If you are earning a degree, whether you choose to participate in the graduation ceremony or not, the fee does not change. If you are earning multiple degrees, you pay the fee once.

You may complete the application for degree conferment (graduation application) by filling out the above online application and submitting it with the appropriate payment to the Admissions Office (E102). You may also stop by our offices to obtain a paper form or email us at registrar@sic.edu.  We may be reached by phone at 618.252.5400, ext. 4120.

HONORARY AND POSTHUMOUS DEGREES

Southeastern Illinois College awards honorary and posthumous credentials on a selective basis. This policy sets forth the standards and procedures for granting these credentials.

The College recognizes the value of all students, especially those who may lose their lives in pursuit of higher education. One means of expressing gratitude for a student's life and work is to nominate that student for a posthumous credential.

Criteria

  • The nomination should be vetted for accuracy. Misinformation or misrepresentation on the nomination will result in a rejected nomination.
  • An undergraduate nominee must have substantially completed the requirements for the degree, typically 85%, and been in good academic standing.
  • The student was actively pursuing completion of a degree or certificate.
  • The student should have been enrolled at the College on or near the time of death, as timeliness must be a consideration.
  • The student must have been on an academic track to have successfully completed the credential.
  • The student did not commit a felony or other relevant legal trouble
  • The student did not have any holds, violations of student code of conduct, or violate other
  • College policies or procedures that would reflect poorly on the College and/or student.
    Special Case: If a deceased student does not qualify for the award of a posthumous degree, the student may be given formal recognition for studying at the college. A posthumous “Certificate of Academic Recognition” may be given if the majority of criteria are met, except for the cases of felony, legal issues, or otherwise reflect poorly on the College.
  • The President reserves the right to make special exceptions to an award recommendation based on a compelling argument. This should be based on overwhelming circumstances.

Final Process

Once properly vetted and the nomination approved, the President will charge the Registrar to print the internal (cannot be State approved) credential.

Venue for Awarding the Credential

The College considers it inappropriate to award the degree at venues where other students are celebrating their own accomplishments, such as a commencement exercise, or those settings held for grieving survivors, such as a funeral service.

Venues for awarding the credential may include:
  • Awarding a credential with family and friends
  • Mailing the credential to appropriate family or friends
  • Other agreed upon venue

Awards are not officially recorded due to official reporting purposes. A notation is placed on the student’s transcript that the credential is “Awarded Posthumously” or to the person as “Honorary.” The credential issued to the family does not include such notation. The student’s name may also be included in the commencement booklet with the same designation as the ceremonial award.

Nominations can be emailed to the Executive Dean of Student Services at deanofstudents@sic.edu.