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."

Applying for graduation does not mean you have registered to attend the Commencement Ceremony. Invites to the Commencement Ceremony are sent out each term, once available. Once the invite is sent out, you must register to attend the ceremony by the deadline.

• You must submit a Graduation Application through Workday. Please review the Student Workday Resources page  > Registration and Records > Graduation. If you have any questions about the application process, please email gradapp@aims.edu, from your Aims email account, not your D2L account or personal email 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 to your aims.edu email, including information about your graduation status, as soon as it is reviewed. If you applied for a future term, a status report will not be sent until we begin reviewing that terms graduation applications. All applications are reviewed in the order they were received. 
• All requirements for your program must be showing as being fulfilled/in progress in order for your graduation application to be reviewed and processed. If you will be meeting requirements in another way (transfer work, Challenge Exams, Sub Memo, etc.) this needs to be communicated to gradapp@aims.edu. If there is no communication about how remaining requirements will be met, your graduation application will be denied. If your application is denied, it will be your responsibility to follow up with your advisor and re-apply when the outstanding requirements have been resolved. 
• 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, via your aims.edu email account, with your new plans.
   

Aims officially graduates students at the end of each semester (Fall, Spring and Summer). Summer & Fall graduates are invited to participate in the Fall ceremony. Spring graduates are invited to participate in the Spring ceremony. 

Applying for graduation does not mean you have registered to attend the Commencement Ceremony. Invites to the Commencement Ceremony are sent out each term, once available. Once the invite is sent out, you must register to attend the ceremony by the deadline. If you do not register by the deadline, you will not receive tickets for your guests to attend the live ceremony in the auditorium. Instead they would be invited to celebrate with you before and after the ceremony and can watch the livestream in the Ballroom. 

A Commencement Participation Exception Request form would need to be completed for any requests to participate in a commencement ceremony other than the one prescribed based on the student's program completion term. 

For Spring graduates, students will be invited to one of the two Ceremonies held, based on their Academic Division of their program(s). Students will be sent the specific Commencement Registration Form for the Academic Division their program falls under. 

In order to participate in the ceremony, students must be on the tentative graduation list, by submitting a graduation application and being cleared, showing that all requirements of the program are being fulfilled. Prior to the date of the respective commencement ceremonies, students must register for the ceremony by the deadlines provided, once available.

For the Spring 2026 Commencement Ceremonies, all Spring graduation applications must be submitted and accepted by March 4, 2026 at 5:00pm, in order to have their name included in the Commencement Program. Students who submit graduation applications after that deadline will not have their name included in the program, but can still attend the ceremony, if they are cleared for graduation.

Spring 2026 Ceremony Times/Divisions: 

• 11:00 a.m.: Arts & Sciences 
• 3:00 p.m.: Business Tech/Allied Health & Wellness/Education/Public Safety & Transportation

Please visit the Commencement Ceremony page for any additional information about the ceremony, policies, procedures, and other frequently asked questions. 

PLEASE NOTE: Beginning Spring 2026, Summer & Fall graduates will be invited to attend the Fall ceremony and Spring graduates will be invited to attend one of the Spring ceremonies, based on Academic Division.

Spring 2026 Ceremony Times/Divisions: 

• 11:00 a.m.: Arts & Sciences 
• 3:00 p.m.: Business Tech/Allied Health & Wellness/Education/Public Safety & Transportation

A Commencement Participation Exception Request form would need to be completed for any requests to participate in a commencement ceremony other than the one prescribed based on the student's program completion term.

Spring 2026 Graduation Deadlines

NOTE: The Spring 2026 Commencement Ceremonies will be held on May 15, 2026. Students applying for Spring 2026 will be recognized in one of the two ceremonies, based on their academic division.

Commencement Program: All graduation applications must be submitted by March 4, 2026 in order for your name to be included in the Spring 2026 commencement program. *

Applying for graduation does not mean you have registered to attend the Commencement Ceremony. Invites to the Commencement Ceremony are sent out each term, once available. Once the invite is sent out, you must register to attend the ceremony by the deadline. 

• January 26, 2026: Graduation Application Deadline to ensure all requirements are met for graduation with current registration, before the add deadline.**
• May 18, 2026: All grades including final semester are due
• June 4, 2026, 5 p.m.: Official Transcripts from other institutions must be received by 5 p.m.
• June 4, 2026, 5 p.m.: Final Spring 2026 deadline to complete any missing graduation requirements or submit last minute graduation applications.**

* Graduation applications will be accepted after March 4, 2026, however, your name and any programs applied for after that date will not be included in the commencement program.

** Applications received after January 26 will be accepted until June 4, if all graduation requirements have been satisfied.

Summer 2026 Graduation Deadlines

NOTE: Summer graduates are invited to attend the Fall 2026 ceremony that will be held on December 11, 2026. 

Commencement Program: All Summer graduates will have their name included in the Commencement Program.

Applying for graduation does not mean you have registered to attend the Commencement Ceremony. Invites to the Commencement Ceremony are sent out each term, once available. Once the invite is sent out, you must register to attend the ceremony by the deadline. 

• May 28, 2026: Graduation Application Deadline to ensure all requirements are met for graduation with current registration, before the add deadline is over. **
• August 10, 2026: All Summer 2026 final grades are due at noon
• August 28, 2026, 5 p.m.: Official Transcripts from other institutions must be received by 5 p.m.
• August 28, 2026, 5 p.m.: Final Summer 2026 deadline to complete any missing graduation requirements or submit last minute graduation applications.**

** Applications received after May 28th will be accepted until August 28th, if all graduation requirements have been satisfied.

Fall 2026 Graduation Deadlines

NOTE: The Fall 2026 Commencement Ceremony will be held on December 11, 2026. Summer 2026 graduates and Fall 2026 graduates will be invited to attend the Fall ceremony. 

Commencement Program: All graduation applications must be submitted by October 4, 2026 in order for your name to be included in the Fall 2026 Commencement Program. *

Applying for graduation does not mean you have registered to attend the Commencement Ceremony. Invites to the Commencement Ceremony are sent out each term, once available. Once the invite is sent out, you must register to attend the ceremony by the deadline. 

• August 28, 2026: Graduation Application Deadline to ensure all requirements are met for graduation with current registration, before the add deadline is over. **
• December 14, 2026: All Fall 2026 final grades are due at noon
• January 8, 2027, 5 p.m.: Official Transcripts from other institutions must be received by 5 p.m.
• January 8, 2027, 5 p.m.: Final Spring 2026 deadline to complete any missing graduation requirements or submit last minute graduation applications.**

* Graduation applications will be accepted after October 4, 2026, however, your name and any programs applied for after that date will not be included in the commencement program.

** Applications received after August 28th will be accepted until January 8th, if all graduation requirements have been satisfied.

Diploma and Official Transcript Release Dates and Information

*Diplomas are not available for students to pick up, but are mailed to the primary mailing address on record.   

Spring 2026

• June 29, 2026: Official transcripts available with degrees and/or certificates listed
• July 13, 2026: Diplomas tentatively mailed to students

Summer 2026

• September 8, 2026: Official transcripts available with degrees and/or certificates listed
• September 21, 2026: Diplomas tentatively mailed to students

Fall 2026

• February 1, 2027: Official transcripts available with degrees and/or certificates listed
• February 15, 2027: Diplomas tentatively mailed to students

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:

Do not submit an order for a replacement diploma if you were just awarded a program and are waiting for 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 the Graduation option 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 cumulative GPA requirements at the conclusion of the term immediately preceding the ceremony (i.e. if attending the Spring 2026 ceremony - you must meet the cumulative GPA hours from the last term you took classes, before Spring).  Spring enrolled hours will count towards the credit requirements for certificates and degrees. For Fall graduates, Fall enrolled hours will count towards the credit requirements for certificates and degrees for the Fall ceremony. 

Eligible graduates, participating at the ceremony, will receive gold honor cords included in their regalia when it's picked 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.