Graduation

To have your name listed in the commencement program, you must have your graduation applications in by the deadlines provided under "Commencement" and "Graduation Deadlines."

• Please submit an online graduation application by visiting your myAims student account, selecting 'Graduation' on the right hand side and then selecting 'Graduation Application Deadlines & Application at the bottom of the page. If you have any questions about the application process, please email gradapp@aims.edu from your Aims email account, not your D2L account. 
• Once you submit your application, you will receive an email confirming it was successfully submitted.
• If you applied for graduation in the current term, a follow up email will be sent 10-15 business days after the application has been submitted to give a status on your application. If you applied for a future term, a status report will not be sent until we begin reviewing that terms graduation applications. 
• If there are any outstanding graduation requirements, you and your advisor will receive a detailed email.
• If you need to make any changes to the graduation application after it is submitted (i.e. change in classes, change of major, change of certificate, change of graduation date), please email gradapp@aims.edu with your new plans.
• If your graduation application is denied, it will be your responsibility to follow up with your advisor and re-apply when the outstanding requirements have been resolved.
   

Aims officially graduates students at the end of each semester (Fall, Spring and Summer). Fall 2022 graduates are invited to participate in the December 9, 2022 ceremony at 5 p.m. Spring 2023 and Summer 2023 graduates are invited to participate in one of the two May 12, 2023 ceremonies, depending on the academic division of their degree and/or certificate program.

In order to participate in the ceremony you must be on the tentative graduation list prior to the date of the respective commencement ceremonies, order a cap & gown and register for the ceremony by the deadlines.  If you have not applied for graduation, your name will not appear in the comment program or on any graduation list. 

For the Fall 2022 Commencement Ceremony, all graduation applications must be submitted and accepted before September 14, 2022 in order to have your name included in the commencement program. Any applications submitted after September 14th will not be included in the program, but the student will be able to participate in the ceremony. For the Spring 2023 Commencement Ceremonies, all graduation applications must be submitted and accepted before February 22nd in order to have your name included in the commencement program. Any applications submitted after February 22nd will not be included in the program, but the student will be able to participate in one of the two ceremonies.

Please note: There will be no exceptions made for students to switch their ceremony term (or times for Spring). All Fall graduates will only be invited to attend the Fall ceremony and all Spring & Summer graduates will only be invited to attend one of the Spring ceremonies.

Please visit the Commencement Ceremony page for any updated information about the ceremonies and cap and gown rental and pick-up. The Academic Divisions for the Spring ceremonies will be listed below, once available.

PLEASE NOTE: There will be no exceptions made for students to switch their ceremony term (or times for the two Spring ceremonies). All Fall graduates will only be invited to attend the Fall ceremony and all Spring & Summer graduates will only be invited to attend one of the Spring ceremonies.

Any graduation applications (student name & program) received after September 14, 2022 will not be reflected in the Fall 2022 commencement program.

Any graduation applications (student name & program) received after February 22, 2023 will not be reflected in the Spring 2023 commencement program.

FALL 2022 Graduation Deadlines

NOTE: The next Commencement Ceremony will be held on December 9, 2022 at 5:00pm. Students applying for Fall 2022 will be recognized in this ceremony.

• August 26, 2022: Graduation Application Deadline to ensure all requirements are met for graduation with current registration, before the add deadline. *
• September 14, 2022: All graduation applications must be submitted before September 14, 2022 in order for your name to be included in the commencement program. **
• November 2, 2022:  All course subs are due to the Records Office
• December 14, 2022: All grades including final semester are due
• January 6, 2023, 5 p.m.: Official Transcripts from other institutions must be received by 5 p.m. ***
• January 6, 2023, 5 p.m.: Final Fall 2022 deadline to complete any missing graduation requirements or last minute graduation applications.**

* Applications received after August 26th will be accepted until January 6th, if all graduation requirements have been satisfied.

** Graduation applications will be accepted after September 14, 2022, however, your name and any programs applied for after that date will not be included in the commencement program.

*** Any tentative Fall 2022 student who has not met all graduation requirements by 5 p.m., January 6th will be moved to the Spring 2023 tentative graduation list.  

 SPRING 2023 Graduation Deadlines

NOTE: The Spring 2023 Commencement Ceremonies will be held on May 12, 2023. Students applying for Spring 2023 and Summer 2023 will be recognized in one of the two ceremonies, based on their academic division.

• January 23, 2023: Graduation Application Deadline to ensure all requirements are met for graduation with current registration, before the add deadline. *
• February 22, 2023: All graduation applications must be submitted by February 22, 2023 in order for your name to be included in the Spring 2023 commencement program. **
• April 7, 2023:  All course subs are due to the Records Office
• May 15, 2023: All grades including final semester are due
• June 2, 2023, 5 p.m.: Official Transcripts from other institutions must be received by 5 p.m. ***
• June 2, 2023, 5 p.m.: Final Spring 2023 deadline to complete any missing graduation requirements or last minute graduation applications.**

* Applications received after January 23 will be accepted until June 2, if all graduation requirements have been satisfied.

** Graduation applications will be accepted after February 22, 2023, however, your name and any programs applied for after that date will not be included in the commencement program.

*** Any tentative Spring 2023 student who has not met all graduation requirements by 5 p.m., June 2 will be moved to the Summer 2023 tentative graduation list.  

 SUMMER 2023 Graduation Deadlines

NOTE: The Spring 2023 Commencement Ceremonies will be held on May 12, 2023. Students applying for Spring 2023 and Summer 2023 will be recognized in one of the two ceremonies, based on their academic division.

• February 22, 2023: All graduation applications must be submitted by February 22, 2023 in order for your name to be included in the Spring 2023 commencement program. *
• June 1, 2023: Graduation Application Deadline to ensure all requirements are met for graduation with current registration, before the add deadline. **
• July 14, 2023:  All course subs are due to the Records Office
• August 14, 2023: All grades including final semester are due
• September 1, 2023, 5 p.m.: Official Transcripts from other institutions must be received by 5 p.m. ***
• September 1, 2023, 5 p.m.: Final Summer 2023 deadline to complete any missing graduation requirements or last minute graduation applications.**

* Graduation applications will be accepted after February 22, 2023, however, your name and any programs applied for after that date will not be included in the commencement program.

** Applications received after June 1 will be accepted until September 1, if all graduation requirements have been satisfied.

*** Any tentative Summer 2023 student who has not met all graduation requirements by 5 p.m., September 1 will be moved to the Fall 2023 tentative graduation list.  

Diploma and Official Transcript Release Dates and Information

*Effective Summer 2019 all diplomas will be mailed to students, diplomas will not be available for pick up.   

Spring 2022

• Official transcripts available with degrees and/or certificates on June 20, 2022
• Diplomas mailed to students on July 5, 2022

Summer 2022

• Official transcripts available with degrees and/or certificates on September 12, 2022
• Diplomas mailed to students on September 26, 2022

Fall 2022

• Official transcripts available with degrees and/or certificates on January 23, 2023
• Diplomas mailed to students on February 6, 2023

Spring 2023

• Official transcripts available with degrees and/or certificates on June 19, 2023
• Diplomas mailed to students on July 3, 2023

Summer 2023

• Official transcripts available with degrees and/or certificates on September 11, 2023
• Diplomas mailed to students on September 25, 2023

For information on how to order your official transcript please visit our Transcripts page.

Aims has retained all academic transcripts since it began in 1967. Aims transcripts can be ordered via Parchment by following the steps below. Paper transcripts usually go out within 24 business hours of the receipt of the request; during peak registration times, it may take longer. Electronic transcripts typically get sent within a half hour of your online request. At this time, Aims does not charge for transcripts

Current/Active students:

1. Login to your myAims account.
2. Once logged in as a student, select 'Grades & Academic Records' and select 'Order Transcript.'

Alumni and Former students (current students can also create an account to use once their aims.edu email is inactivated):

1. Create your transcript account here. You will need the exact name you used while attending Aims, your date of birth, either your Aims ID # or Social Security Number, and the answers to security questions you may have set up for your myAims account when you were here.
2. Log in here as a Returning User if you’ve already created your transcript account.

*Replacement diplomas and/or certificates can also be ordered via Parchment and each document will cost $20. Please choose the 'Replacement Diploma' option once logged in. The words reissued will be on the replacement diploma and/or certificate and the current format and signatures will be used. Documents can take 2-6 weeks from the time the order was placed to reach the final destination.

Diplomas and/or Certificates:

**PLEASE DO NOT SUBMIT AN ORDER FOR A REPLACEMENT DIPLOMA IF YOU WERE JUST AWARDED A PROGRAM AND ARE WAITING ON THE ORIGINAL COPY TO BE MAILED - THE ORDER WILL BE CANCELLED AS THE ORIGINAL ORDER IS FREE* 

*Aims does not house High School Diplomas or GED information - please do not order a replacement diploma for GED or HS Diplomas. Call 970.339.6404 or email records@aims.edu to receive additional information on how to obtain those records.*

If you do not have an active mailing address, your diploma will be held for one year. If no address is provided after one year, you will be required to re-order your diploma and a fee will be required to reissue your diploma. Please see the information above on how to re-order documents.

Your diploma will not be released if you have a hold on your account. If your hold is released after the diploma release date above, please contact the records office so we can release your diploma. Diplomas with holds are only held for one year. If the hold is released after one year, you will be required to re-order your diploma and a fee will be required to reissue your diploma.  

Please contact the Registration & Records Office at 970-339-6404 and select option 3 for 'Graduation' or email gradapp@aims.edu to resolve issues with your diploma. 

Please review the Graduation Policies and Procedures below. 

Graduation Requirements Policy 

Graduation Requirements Procedure

Degree Conferral Policy:

Academic records will be locked upon degree and certificate conferral. Under no circumstances will changes be made to the academic record after degree or certificate conferral.

When all degree requirements have been completed, a degree or certificate must be awarded and completed in the term that it is brought to the attention of the Records Office. Students cannot request a delay in awarding a degree once all degree and/or certificate requirements have been satisfied.

Graduation honors recognize outstanding academic achievement throughout a student’s academic career. Honors are based on a student’s cumulative grade point average (GPA) for all grades earned at the 100-level or above at Aims Community College.

Students graduating with a degree who complete at least thirty letter graded (A-F) credits at Aims, and whose grades qualify, will be granted the following designations:

• Cum Laude – 3.50 to 3.69 cumulative Aims GPA
• Magna Cum Laude – 3.70 to 3.99 cumulative Aims GPA
• Summa Cum Laude – 4.00 cumulative Aims GPA 

Students graduating with a certificate who complete at least fifteen letter graded (A-F) credits at Aims Community College, and whose grades qualify, will be granted the following designations:

• Honors – 3.50 to 3.99 cumulative Aims GPA
• High Honors – 4.00 cumulative Aims GPA

In order to be recognized at the Commencement Ceremony, students must meet the graduation honors GPA requirements at the conclusion of the term immediately preceding the ceremony. Spring enrolled hours will count towards the credit requirements.

Graduates participating at the ceremony will receive gold honor cords. If eligible, gold cords will be included in your regalia when you pick it up at the Bookstore. Graduation honors will be noted in the commencement program by the student’s name.

Graduation honors will be recorded on the academic transcript if a student meets the requirements at the completion of the term for which they are certified for graduation.