Commencement

• 2025 Commencement Ceremony

  When: Thursday, May 22, 2024; Starts at 5:45 pm

  Where: Copper Mountain College, The Bell Center

  Copper Mountain College’s Commencement is held annually on campus. The ceremony will include the processional and recessional of all graduates, candidates, faculty, and noted dignitaries. Commencement 2025 includes Fall 2024 graduates, Spring 2025, and Summer 2025 anticipated graduates.

  During the commencement ceremony, graduates will be handed the cover for their degrees. Degrees may be available for mailing after the Board of Trustees meeting in August 2025, for all graduates who completed their degree requirements. Graduates will be notified by CMC student email when their degree is available for mailing. 

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  RSVP to Participate

  Grads must submit an RSVP to Participate form indicating whether or not they are walking on May 22nd. This form is used to plan all things Commencement by the Committee. The RSVP to Participate will be provided by CMC student email to each eligible grad (by mid-April) and must be returned by May 1st for inclusion in the Commencement ceremony.

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  Commencement Rehearsal

  When: Thursday, May 22, 2025, at 9 am

  Where: Copper Mountain College

  A faculty-hosted Breakfast in honor of CMC graduates immediately follows rehearsal in the Bell Center Community Room at approximately 10 am. 

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   Base Graduation Recognition Ceremony –  Active Duty Military & Family Members

  Grad Recognition Ceremony aboard the MCAGCC Spring 2025 – TBA

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  Cap & Gown Information for Students

  Graduates and candidates will wear black-colored caps and gowns, which are available at the bookstore beginning in April. Please see the pricing flyer or check with the Campus Bookstore for prices at 760.366.5272. 

  All Graduates must wear the Cap and Gown. No other uniforms may be worn in lieu of the Cap and Gown. RN or VN pins may not be worn with the Cap and Gown.

  Adornments: CMC has maintained the integrity of the academic dress/regalia tradition as prescribed by the American Council on Education (ACE), the major coordinating body for all the nation’s higher education institutions. ACE does not permit graduates to wear adornments or other embellishments with their Cap and Gown, except for Phi Theta Kappa and Alpha Beta Gamma, CMC-recognized Academic Honor Societies.

  At this time, CMC graduates are required to adhere to this timely tradition of not wearing leis, adornments, wearing of RN or VN pins, or other embellishments for the commencement ceremony.

  Membership in Phi Theta Kappa is denoted by the wearing of the Gold Honor Stole, a Blue and Gold Double Honor Cord, and/or a Gold Tassel. The Gold Key Medallion may not be worn. It does not denote academics; it denotes community service and should not be worn.

  Membership in Alpha Beta Gamma is denoted by the wearing of the Sapphire Blue Satin Stole.

  The Student Veterans of CMC are permitted to wear Red, White & Blue recognition cords to signify their former and current military service. CMC’s Service Club wears Copper & Teal; EOPS wears Silver; CalWORKs wears Gold; ASCMC wears Peacock Blue; the Communication Club wears White, Maroon, & Teal; and the American Sign Language Club wears Red, Black, and Silver recognition cords.

  Verified transfer students are permitted to wear a medallion signifying their acceptance into a 4-year college or university.

  Grads will need to contact their special program or faculty club advisor for any of the above items.

  Decorating Mortarboards (“Cap”) Policy: Be creative and add personalization. All decorations must be appropriate and respectful for the occasion.

  Keep it clean! Only 2-dimensional decorations; no 3-dimensional decorations. All decorations must fit on the top of the cap; decorations cannot go over the edges of the cap. Remember to leave room for your regular-sized CMC tassel (no mega tassels)! Gowns are not to be decorated; caps only. No wearing of leis or other non-honors-related or recognition-related cords or accouterment. Please maintain the decorum of the ceremony.

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  What Parents and Visitors Should Know

  There is limited seating. Graduates are limited to 5 guests each. All guest seating is in the bleachers.

  There is very limited parking. Please carpool with family and friends.

  Along with the number of expected guests, please indicate on your Intent to Participate form if you or any of your guests are disabled and will require special arrangements or assistance. There will be listening devices and a signer for the deaf if any graduates indicate hearing-impaired guests will be attending.

  Please notify your guests who are smokers the Bell Center is a non-smoking area. Please ask your guests to turn off cellular telephones and pagers during the graduation ceremony. All guests are to enter the Bell Center through the West doors (facing Joshua Tree and Yucca Valley).

  Late arriving guests are not permitted to enter the Gymnasium during the Pledge of Allegiance, and National Anthem.

  Due to Fire Code Regulations, if seating is not available in the Gymnasium, guests must remain in the lobby.

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  Accommodations for Persons with Special Needs

  The event will be held in the Bell Center. Accommodations will be made for persons with special needs. If you have any concerns, please contact the ACCESS Office (formerly DSPS) at 760.366.3791, ext. 5861.

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  Transfer Students

  How would you like your University acceptance letter and picture displayed on campus? There are bulletin boards in the 100 and 200 Quads dedicated in your honor. It’s CMC’s way of saying “Congratulations” and “A Job Well Done.” If you are interested in this privilege, please contact the Transfer Center in Student Services.

  CMC is proud to offer transfer students a $250.00 transfer scholarship!!
• GPA and Honors

  Graduating students participating in Commencement will receive a separate email containing their cumulative GPA (calculated through the previous fall) and honors if applicable. The District recognizes academic accomplishment by awarding associate degrees with Highest Honors, High Honors, and Academic Distinction designations.  All degree-applicable work from all transfer colleges attended will be included in the computation of the cumulative grade point average for graduation honors.

  To recognize academic accomplishment, any student completing associate degree programs with a prescribed cumulative grade point average will be recognized through the college commencement exercises and degrees awarded as honor students. Academic Renewal requests prior to graduation won’t be processed for graduation honors.

  Graduation with Honors

  Graduation with Honors is the most comprehensive academic honor because it is cumulative. While President’s List and Honor Roll awards are made on a semester basis, Graduation with Honors is based on all degree-applicable grades earned at all transfer colleges attended, with a final overall GPA no less than 3.50. All transcripts from other colleges must be on file in the Office of Student Services prior to filing a “Request for Evaluation”. Board Policy 6540.2:

  “All degree applicable work from all transfer colleges attended will be included in the computation of the cumulative grade point average for graduation honors.”

  Requests to disregard transcripts containing degree-applicable work with poor grades cannot be honored. Academic Renewal requests prior to graduation won’t be processed for any graduation honors. Because commencement is held on the last day of the spring semester, when the majority of spring grades haven’t been received or posted to transcripts and commencement programs are already printed, honors will be calculated on grades earned through the previous fall semester.

  However, final grades for spring & summer graduates will be available and included in the calculation of honors for notation on the official transcripts. These will be available several weeks AFTER commencement. If you’re graduating with Academic Distinction, High Honors, or Highest Honors, it will be noted as your name is announced during the commencement ceremony, and printed in the commencement program.

  Student Honors Status

  Student honors status is based on one of the following cumulative GPAs:

  1. Student cumulative GPA is based on all degree applicable lower division grades earned at all colleges attended through fall 2022 equals 3.90 – 4.00. You will graduate with Highest Honors. OR
  2. Student cumulative GPA is based on all degree applicable lower division grades earned at all colleges attended through fall 2022 equals 3.75 – 3.89. You will graduate with High Honors. OR
  3. Student cumulative GPA is based on all degree applicable lower division grades earned at all colleges attended through fall 2022 equals 3.50 – 3.74. You will graduate with Academic Distinction. OR
  4. Student cumulative GPA is based on all degree applicable lower division grades earned at all colleges attended through fall 2022 is below 3.50. Student GPA qualifies you for graduation, but not for honors status.

  If you’re questioning your assessment of honor status, you can double-check it by adding ALL degree-applicable lower-division units from ALL colleges on file through the end of the fall semester, not counting repeated courses. If there are any transcripts from the quarter system, you must convert the units to semester units prior to calculating the grade point average (GPA).

  Multiply quarter units by .66 before adding to semester units. Then add up all grade points following the same guidelines, including quarter-to-semester conversions. Divide the points by the units to arrive at the GPA. If your calculation results in a different honor status than reported above, you may contact Student Services, by May 1st to have it double-checked.

  Then, if a change is warranted, the new honor status can be entered before Commencement programs go to print. Recalculation of GPA on the day of commencement in order to be announced is not possible.

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  Honor Graduate Speaker 

  The Honor Graduate Speaker is chosen from a select group of students graduating from Copper Mountain College with “Highest” or “High Honors.”  This recognition is bestowed on students who have a cumulative grade point average of 3.75 to 4.00, through the previous fall semester and includes grades for all degree applicable work from all transfer colleges attended in the computation of the cumulative grade point average.

  Towards the end of March, if you meet the GPA requirement, you’ll be invited to complete an application and submit an essay to be considered as the Honor Graduate Speaker at Commencement. In April/May, the Commencement Committee will review received applications and hear your speeches. Within a week, the selected applicant will be notified.  

Graduation Requirements

You are responsible for meeting the full requirements for graduation as set forth in the College Catalog. Counselors will help you plan your program of study, but the final responsibility for meeting education requirements rests entirely with you.

You must complete a Petition to earn an associate’s degree in the semester before graduation. The deadline to file a petition to earn an associate’s degree is October 1st for Fall graduates and March 1st for Spring & Summer anticipated graduates.

• Minimum Graduation Requirements

  To be eligible for graduation with an associate’s degree, you must meet all of the following requirements:

  • Have passed all courses specified and required in your chosen program of study.
  • Have earned a minimum cumulative grade point average of 2.0 on all required courses attempted at the College.
  • Have taken and passed at least 12 semester units in residency at CMC.
  • Have paid all financial obligations owed to CMC.
  • Have filed with the Office of Student Services a petition to earn an associate’s degree (graduate) one semester prior to your final semester.
• Submit a Graduation Petition

  If you intend to receive more than one degree, please fill out one form per degree: Petition to Earn an Associate Degree 

  Important! Please be sure to have official transcripts from all the colleges you have attended on file in the Admissions and Records Office. Your degree cannot be conferred until all official transcripts with all degree-applicable grades earned at all transfer colleges attended are on file.

  Whether or not you plan to participate in the Commencement Ceremony, you must apply for a graduation evaluation of your records by March 1st if you wish to have a May graduation date posted on your transcript.
• Honors at Graduation

  Copper Mountain College encourages scholarship among students through formal recognition of those who graduate with honors. Grade point average (GPA) is cumulative and includes all college work completed at CMC and all degree-applicable coursework completed at other colleges/universities.

  To recognize academic accomplishment, any student completing associate degree programs with prescribed cumulative grade point averages is recognized at the college commencement exercises and degrees awarded, as honor students.

  • Highest Honors 3.9-4.0 GPA
  • High Honors 3.75-3.89 GPA
  • Academic Distinction 3.50-3.74 GPA

Commencement FAQs

• Do’s and Dont’s of Commencement

  If you want to participate in Commencement you must abide by the following guidelines:

  • Do remember to attend the rehearsal at 9 a.m. on the day of commencement at the Bell Center.
  • Do remember to iron your cool iron gown before the event.
  • Do remember to bring extra bobby pins to secure your cap (optional).
  • Do wear the cap straight, pulled down over the forehead.
    • Caps should be worn at all times during the ceremony by men, except during the National Anthem.
  • Do make sure your tassel is draped over the left front corner of the cap.
  • Do show up to the Bell Center Gymnasium by 4:45 pm SHARP to start lining up.
  • Do leave all personal belongings (coats, purses, etc.) at home or with family.
  • Do plan to line up with your friends who are graduating and enjoy your accomplishment!
  • Don’t bring any illegal substances or alcoholic beverages with you to the event.
    • Coolers, bottles, and alcoholic beverages are NOT permitted at the ceremony.
  • Don’t wear leis, adornments, RN or VN pins, other embellishments or decorate mortarboards.
    • You will be asked to remove any of these items prior to the ceremony and may not be permitted to participate if you refuse.
• What Is the Difference Between Graduation and Commencement?

  The Commencement ceremony is often referred to as “Graduation,” but in reality, there is a difference. The Commencement ceremony is just that: a ceremony. It’s the celebration of the end of the Spring semester for anyone that’s projected to successfully complete all of their graduation requirements by the end of that Spring or Summer semester.

  If you complete all their requirements by the end of the previous Fall semester, then you also participate in the upcoming Spring ceremony. You don’t receive an actual degree at the commencement ceremony. Confirmation of degree completion will not take place until after official grades for spring and summer are posted. It’s highly recommended you meet with your Counselor prior to their last semester in order to review your records and ensure all graduation requirements will be met.

  Graduation refers to the semester in which a student has officially and successfully completed all of their graduation requirements. You must apply for the semester in which you plan to graduate by submitting a Petition to Earn a Degree form to Janie Ramstorf.

  Once grades are posted, your record will be evaluated and a degree will be made available for mailing 6-9 weeks later. Students can graduate either at the end of the Fall, Spring, or Summer semesters or in between. There is only one Commencement ceremony that takes place each year, which is at the end of the Spring semester, to celebrate graduation from the previous Fall, upcoming Spring, and Summer semesters.
• When Will I Receive My Degree?

  Fall 2023

  If you’re graduating in Fall 2023 and have met ALL graduation requirements, your degree will be available for mailing after the February 2024 Board of Trustees meeting. At this time, it’s scheduled for February 8th. The reason for this is:

  • All grades have to be entered and posted. 
  • The bulk of reviewing degree audits for requirement completion is completed in January and February.
  • There are 55+ degree audits to review to ensure students met their fall 2023 requirements.
  • After reviewing them, the Dean of Student Services reviews each one and signs off on them.
  • They are then posted to the student’s transcript which is a multi-step process.
  • Degrees are printed and sent to the Board of Trustees for signatures.
  • Student Services generally receives the degrees on the Monday after the BOT meeting and then begins emailing students to notify them their degrees are available for mailing.

  Please note: At other colleges, this process can take up to 6 months.

  When degrees are available for mailing, you will receive an email in your CMC student email. Please reply to this email with your complete mailing address. Your degree will then be mailed to you. CMC is not offering in-person pick-up.

  If you do not provide your mailing address by email, your degree will not be mailed. We must have written verification of a mailing address.

  Please allow 2-3 weeks for the mailing process.

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  Spring 2024

  If you’re graduating in Spring 2024 and have met ALL graduation requirements, your degree will be available for mailing after the August 2024 Board of Trustees meeting. At this time it’s scheduled for August 8th. The reason for this is:

  • ALL grades have to be entered and posted. Anticipated date this year: May 30th.
  • The bulk of reviewing degree audits for requirement completion is completed in June and July.
  • There are 100+ degree audits to review to ensure students met their spring 2024 requirements.
  • After reviewing them, the Dean of Student Services reviews each one and signs off on them.
  • They are then posted to the student’s transcript, which is a multi-step process.
  • Degrees are printed and sent to the Board of Trustees for signatures.
  • Student Services generally receives the degrees on the Monday after the BOT meeting and then begins emailing students to notify them their degrees are available for mailing.

  Please note: At other colleges, this process can take up to 6 months.

  When degrees are available for mailing, you will receive an email in your CMC student email. Please reply to this email with your complete mailing address; your degree will then be mailed to you. CMC is not offering in-person pick-up.

  If you do not provide your mailing address by email, your degree will not be mailed. We must have written verification of a mailing address.

  Please allow 2-3 weeks for the mailing process.