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."

• 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. 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 2023 graduates are invited to participate in the Fall ceremony on December 8, 2023. Spring 2024 and Summer 2024 graduates are invited to participate in one of the two May 10, 2024 ceremonies, depending on the academic division of their degree and/or certificate program (Academic Divisions will be added to this page during the Spring 2024 term).

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 provided.  If you have not applied for graduation, your name will not appear in the commencement program or on any graduation list. 

For the Fall 2023 Commencement Ceremonies, all graduation applications must be submitted and accepted before September 26, 2023 in order to have your name included in the commencement program. Any applications submitted after that deadline will not be included in the program, but the student will be able to participate in their ceremony.

Please note: All Fall 2023 graduates will only invited to attend the Fall ceremony and all Spring 2024 & Summer 2024 graduates will only be invited to attend one of the Spring ceremonies. More information about ceremonies will be posted at a later date. 

Please visit the Commencement Ceremony page for any updated information about the ceremonies and cap and gown rental and pick-up, once information is 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 26, 2023 will not be reflected in the Fall 2023 commencement program.  

 Fall 2023 Graduation Deadlines

NOTE: The Fall 2023 Commencement Ceremony will be held on December 8, 2023.

• September 26, 2023: All graduation applications must be submitted by September 26, 2023 in order for your name to be included in the Fall 2023 commencement program. *
• August 25, 2023: Graduation Application Deadline to ensure all requirements are met for graduation with current registration, before the add deadline. **
• December 7, 2023:  All course subs are due to the Records Office
• December 13, 2023: All grades including final semester are due
• January, 5, 2024, 5 p.m.: Official Transcripts from other institutions must be received by 5 p.m. ***
• January, 5, 2024, 5 p.m.: Final Fall 2023 deadline to complete any missing graduation requirements or last minute graduation applications.**

* Graduation applications will be accepted after September 26, 2023, however, your name and any programs applied for after that date will not be included in the commencement program.

** Applications received after August 25th will be accepted until January 5th, if all graduation requirements have been satisfied.

*** Any tentative Fall 2023 student who has not met all graduation requirements by 5 p.m., January 5th will be moved to the Spring 2024 tentative graduation list, if requirements are being met for that term. 

Spring 2024 Graduation Deadlines

NOTE: The Spring 2024 Commencement Ceremonies will be held on May 10, 2024. Students applying for Spring 2024 and Summer 2024 will be recognized in one of the two ceremonies, based on their academic division.

• February 27, 2024: All graduation applications must be submitted by February 27, 2024 in order for your name to be included in the Spring 2024 commencement program. *
• January 22, 2024: Graduation Application Deadline to ensure all requirements are met for graduation with current registration, before the add deadline. **
• April 12, 2024:  All course subs are due to the Records Office
• May 13, 2024: All grades including final semester are due
• May 31, 2024, 5 p.m.: Official Transcripts from other institutions must be received by 5 p.m. ***
• May 31, 2024, 5 p.m.: Final Spring 2024 deadline to complete any missing graduation requirements or last minute graduation applications.**

* Graduation applications will be accepted after February 27, 2024, however, your name and any programs applied for after that date will not be included in the commencement program.

** Applications received after January 22nd will be accepted until May 31st, if all graduation requirements have been satisfied.

*** Any tentative Spring 2024 student who has not met all graduation requirements by 5 p.m., May 31st will be moved to the Summer 2024 tentative graduation list, if requirements are being met for that term.

Summer 2024 Graduation Deadlines

NOTE: The Spring 2024 Commencement Ceremonies will be held on May 10, 2024. Students applying for Spring 2024 and Summer 2024 will be recognized in one of the two ceremonies, based on their academic division.

• February 27, 2024: All graduation applications must be submitted by February 27, 2024 in order for your name to be included in the Spring 2024 commencement program. *
• May 30, 2024: Graduation Application Deadline to ensure all requirements are met for graduation with current registration, before the add deadline. **
• July 14, 2024:  All course subs are due to the Records Office
• August 12, 2024: All grades including final semester are due
• August 30, 2024, 5 p.m.: Official Transcripts from other institutions must be received by 5 p.m. ***
• August 30, 2024, 5 p.m.: Final Summer 2024 deadline to complete any missing graduation requirements or last minute graduation applications.**

* Graduation applications will be accepted after February 27, 2024, however, your name and any programs applied for after that date will not be included in the commencement program.

** Applications received after May 30th will be accepted until August 31st, if all graduation requirements have been satisfied.

*** Any tentative Summer 2024 student who has not met all graduation requirements by 5 p.m., August 30th will be moved to the Fall 2024 tentative graduation list, if requirements are being met for that term.

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.   

Summer 2023

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

Fall 2023

• Official transcripts available with degrees and/or certificates on January 22, 2024
• Diplomas mailed to students on February 5, 2024

Spring 2024

• Official transcripts available with degrees and/or certificates on June 17, 2024
• Diplomas mailed to students on July 1, 2024

Summer 2024

• Official transcripts available with degrees and/or certificates on September 9, 2024
• Diplomas mailed to students on September 23, 2024

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 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 cumulative GPA requirements at the conclusion of the term immediately preceding the ceremony. Spring enrolled hours will count towards the credit requirements for Spring and Summer students. Fall enrolled hours will count towards the credit requirements for Fall students. 

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.