Graduation Information
Degree Audits (graduation summaries)
The Registrar provides an extensive summary of progress toward your Heidelberg degree. You will receive a summary of your academic standing and remaining requirements from the office in the fall of your senior year.
Diploma Distribution Policy
Heidelberg College awards and distributes diplomas three times per year, and there is one commencement ceremony in May. Completion deadlines for work are August 25, December 22 and the Wednesday prior to commencement in May. To qualify for a given deadline, all coursework including assignments and exams must be completed by these deadlines either at Heidelberg College or with special permission as a transient institution. CLEP exams must be taken by theses dates as well. Documentation of transient work or CLEP scores must arrive by September 15, January 15 and May 30 respectively. If a deadline falls on a weekend, the deadline will be extended to the following Monday.
Transient documentation consists of an official, final transcript, sent by U.S. mail by the credit-granting institution directly to the Office of the Registrar at Heidelberg College. CLEP documentation consists of final score reports sent by the College Board by U.S. mail to the Office of the Registrar. Letters, faxes, student grade cards, transcripts brought by students, etc. do not constitute official documentation. Between the deadline for completing work and the deadline for documentation, no verification of degree completion will be made until all documentation is complete. Students who are unable to meet these deadlines will be considered in the next diploma distribution cycle. Diplomas will be available on the next distribution date if documentation is available by that deadline. Diplomas are mailed by return-receipt certified mail within two business weeks of the documentation deadline, if there is no hold on the diploma. The mailing address in the database will be used. This address is available to any active student on his/her OASIS2 account, and should be corrected by the student if necessary prior to diploma distribution. With advance written request, alternate diploma distribution may be possible.
Commencement Participation Policy
Assuming all financial obligations to the College have been met, the following students are eligible to participate (walk) once in a commencement ceremony:
December Graduates
- Those who received diplomas for completion of all work by the December 22 deadline may participate the following May.
May Graduates
- Those who completed and documented all work by Wednesday prior to Commencement in May may walk (are eligible for honors ceremony/medals and diplomas).
- Those who completed all work by the Wednesday prior to Commencement in May, but who will take until May 30 to document work may walk (are not eligible for honors ceremony/medals or diploma until work is documented).
Summer Graduates
- Those who have outstanding requirements following the deadline of the Wednesday prior to Commencement in May may walk PROVIDED they are registered at Heidelberg for the outstanding work, or have a completed Transient Student Form on file in the Office of the Registrar by the Monday prior to commencement (are not eligible for honors ceremony/medals or diploma until work is completed). Heidelberg registration and/or Transient Form work must cover all outstanding credits and be reasonably able to be completed (as determined by the registrar) by the summer completion deadline.