Graduation from ACU is the formal conferral of a certificate or degree after the University verifies that all published academic, administrative, and financial requirements have been met for the student’s program and catalog year. Students should review these requirements early and regularly with the Registrar and their program advisor.
Scope and key terms
This policy applies to undergraduate certificates, bachelor’s degrees, and master’s degrees. Some programs may carry additional requirements; where a program requirement goes beyond this policy, the program requirement governs.
Definitions
- Residency: Credits earned through ACU coursework that count toward the minimum ACU credits required to complete an ACU credential.
- Earned credit: Credits successfully completed and awarded toward the program (including accepted transfer credit).
- Attempted credit: All credits in which a student is enrolled after the add/drop period, including withdrawals and incompletes until resolved.
- Cumulative GPA: The GPA calculated from ACU GPA-bearing coursework only (transfer credit does not affect ACU GPA).
- Program completion: Completion of all required credits, course requirements, and required assessments (capstone/practicum, if applicable) listed in the student’s catalog-year program plan.
Degree and certificate conferral criteria
To be eligible for conferral, a student must meet all of the following:
- Complete program credit requirements (total credits and required courses) as published in the applicable Program of Study for the catalog year.
- Meet minimum cumulative ACU GPA for completion (and any program-specific GPA or minimum-grade requirements).
- Complete major/specialization and upper-division requirements (where applicable) exactly as listed in the program plan, including any minimum grades required in major courses.
- Complete all capstone/practicum/field requirements and any required culminating assessment(s) listed in the program plan (if applicable).
- Resolve all incompletes and holds and be in compliance with University policies at the time of conferral.
Institutional baseline minimum GPA (unless a program requires higher):
- Undergraduate certificates and bachelor’s degrees: 2.00 cumulative ACU GPA
- Graduate certificates and master’s degrees: 3.00 cumulative ACU GPA
Residency and transfer/prior learning limits
Residency minimums (unless a program requires higher):
- Bachelor’s degrees: at least 30 credits completed through ACU (residency).
- Undergraduate certificates: at least 50% of required credits completed through ACU.
- Graduate credentials: at least 50% of required credits completed through ACU.
Transfer and prior learning application to graduation
- Transfer credit, credit-by-exam, military/ACE-evaluated credit, and approved prior learning credit may apply toward graduation only within the limits and criteria in ACU’s Transfer Credit & Prior Learning policies.
- Transfer credit does not affect the ACU GPA; only ACU coursework is included in GPA calculations.
- All transfer/PLA petitions and supporting documents (official transcripts, syllabi, portfolio materials if applicable) must be submitted by the deadlines published by the Registrar to ensure evaluation prior to the intended conferral term.
Time-to-degree and maximum timeframe
To support timely completion, students are expected to complete their program within a reasonable period.
- Maximum timeframe guideline: completion within 150% of the published program length (measured in attempted credits), unless an approved academic plan allows an exception.
- Attempted credits may include withdrawals and unresolved incompletes until converted to a final grade.
Applying for graduation and conferral timing
Application for graduation
- Students must submit an Application for Graduation by the deadline published each term (deadlines are posted by the Registrar).
- A degree audit will be completed, and any remaining requirements will be communicated to the student in writing.
Administrative requirements prior to conferral
- Official transcripts from all external institutions used for transfer evaluation must be on file (if applicable).
- Financial clearance: all student account balances must be resolved.
- Exit requirements: completion of required exit surveys and any program-required checkout steps (if applicable).
Conferral date
- The credential is conferred on the official conferral date for the term after final grades are posted and all requirements are verified. The conferral date is the “degree awarded” date on the official transcript.
Diploma, commencement, transcript notation, and disclaimers
Diploma and commencement
- Participation in commencement (if offered) does not guarantee degree conferral; only verified completion results in conferral.
- Diplomas are issued after conferral and may include the credential title and conferral date.
Transcript and diploma notation
- The transcript will show the credential awarded and the official conferral date. Transfer credits, where applicable, are recorded as transfer credit and do not factor into ACU GPA.
Academic honors
- ACU awards institutional academic honors for undergraduate and graduate degree programs.
- Cum Laude – 3.50 to 3.79 GPA
- Magna Cum Laude 3.80 to 3.99 GPA
- Summa Cum Laude 4.00 GPA
Non-guarantee disclaimers
- Transferability: Acceptance of credit toward an ACU credential does not guarantee that ACU credits or credentials will transfer to another institution; transfer decisions are made by the receiving institution.
- Licensure/certification: Program completion does not guarantee eligibility for professional licensure, certification, employment, or placement; requirements vary by jurisdiction and employer, and students are responsible for verifying requirements in their location.
Contacts
Registrar’s Office
- Email: Registrar@anchoru.edu
- Phone: (561) 510-1812