Graduation FAQ
APPLYING FOR GRADUATION
How do I apply for graduation?
You can apply for graduation by clicking on the Apply for Graduation button in this section, or in the Road to Graduation portlet on the Academics/Career-Technical page of the MyHolmes portal.
How do I check the status of my graduation application?
You can check the status of your graduation application by clicking on the Apply for Graduation button in this section, or in the Road to Graduation portlet on the Academics/Career-Technical page of the MyHolmes portal. Next, click Check my Status under the appropriate application type.
How long does it take for the graduation application to be processed?
Please allow two weeks from the time you apply for AA Degrees and three to four weeks for AAS, AAS-ADN Degrees, Career Technical degrees, or certificates. You will receive an email through My Holmes when your application has been processed.
If I do not meet my graduation requirements for a semester that I applied for, will I need to reapply for graduation?
Yes, you will need to reapply for graduation.
How much is the graduation fee and when is it charged to my account?
The graduation fee for the diploma with cover is $35. There is no charge for the diploma only. The graduation fee to march in the May graduation ceremony is $50 which covers the cost of the diploma, cover, cap, and gown. The graduation fee (if applicable) will be billed to your account when the graduation application is processed and is non-refundable. You may pay the graduation fee by credit/debit card online through MyHolmes or pay the fee by cash, check, or credit/debit card at the Business Office of any campus.
EARNING MY DEGREE
How can I find out what courses I need to earn my degree?
You can run your degree evaluation to view the courses needed to meet your degree requirements. You can access your degree evaluation by clicking on the Run Degree Evaluation button in this section or in the Road to Graduation portlet on the Academics/Career-Technical page of the portal.
How many hours do I need to complete the AA (Associate of Arts) degree?
You need a total of 62 academic hours, which consists of 35 core academic hours and 27 elective academic hours. You can find a list of the courses by clicking on the AA Degree Checklist link in the Road to Graduation portlet on the Academics/Career-Technical page of the portal or by clicking on Need Help/Resources on the Registration page of the Holmes Community College website.
How many hours do I need to complete the AAS (Associate of Applied Science) degree or a Career/Technical certificate?
The number of hours needed to complete an AAS or a Career/Technical certificate varies and is program-specific. All AAS degrees require at least 60 semester hours. Both the program page in the Holmes CC District Bulletin and the degree evaluation for a specific program show the required number of hours to complete the degree or certificate.
What are residency hours and how many residency hours do I need in order to graduate?
To fulfill the residency requirement, you must earn a total of 16 semester hours for the Associate of Arts (AA) degree or 25 percent of the degree requirements for the Associate of Applied Science (AAS) degree or Technical Certificates, at Holmes CC.
What does my program GPA need to be in order to graduate?
You must have a 2.0 program GPA for the AA (Associate of Arts) degree, the AAS (Associate of Applied Science) degree, and career-technical certificate programs. Please note that your program GPA (which can be found on your degree evaluation) is only used for Holmes graduation, and your overall GPA will be used for transfer to a university.
Do repeated courses count toward the hours needed to graduate?
No, repeated courses do not count toward the hours needed to graduate, but you may repeat courses to help raise your GPA.
Do career-technical courses count toward the AA (Associate of Arts) degree?
No, career-technical courses do not count toward the AA (Associate of Arts) degree.
RECEIVING MY DIPLOMA
How will I receive my diploma?
If you are graduating from Holmes before Spring 2023, your diploma will be mailed to you.
If you are graduating from Holmes Spring 2023, you will choose a diploma delivery option (mail or campus pick-up) on your graduation application. Please note that once your graduation application is submitted, you will NOT be able to change your diploma delivery method.
Students who do NOT choose a delivery method on their Spring 2023 graduation application OR who fill out the Spring graduation application after March 31, 2023, will have their diplomas mailed to the address on file in the Admissions and Records Office.
Students who choose the mail delivery method will be responsible for any costs associated with replacing lost or damaged diplomas.
Students who choose the pick-up method will be sent emails to their MyHolmes account detailing the dates and status of their diplomas near the end of the semester.
It may take up to 1 month after final exams for all information to be processed and for diplomas to be mailed or available for pick-up.
How do I change my diploma delivery method?
Students graduating before Spring 2023 will have their diplomas mailed to the address that is on file in the Admissions and Records Office.
If you are graduating from Holmes Spring 2023, you will choose a diploma delivery option (mail or campus pick-up) on your graduation application. If you do not choose a delivery method on your graduation application or complete the Spring application after March 31 2023, your diploma will be mailed to you. Once your graduation application is submitted, you will NOT be able to change your diploma delivery method. Please see the above “How will I receive my diploma?” question for more information about diploma delivery methods.
Where will my diploma be mailed?
If your diploma is mailed to you, your diploma will be mailed to the address that is on file in the Admissions and Records Office.
How would I have my diploma mailed to a different address if my diploma is being mailed to me?
You will have to change your address through the admissions office on the campus you attend or via MyHolmes. To change your address via MyHolmes, click on the change address button in this section. You must login to MyHolmes and click on the “ACADEMICS/CAREER-TECHNICAL” icon. In the “MY STUDENT INFORMATION” channel, click on the “My Personal Info” link. Next, click the “Personal Information” icon and locate the “Address” section. Click the pencil button to edit then click “Update”.
How will my name appear on my diploma?
Your name will appear as it is in your student record.
THE GRADUATION CEREMONY
When and where is the graduation ceremony held?
The graduation ceremony is held only in May of each year on the Goodman Campus at the Frank Branch Coliseum.
How and when will I receive information about the graduation ceremony?
The Admissions and Records Office will email information concerning the graduation ceremony to all graduation applicants in mid-April to the graduates’ MyHolmes email accounts.
When will we have graduation practice?
We do not have a graduation practice.
How many tickets will I receive for the graduation ceremony?
The number of tickets for each ceremony is determined by the number of graduates participating in the graduation ceremony.
Do children have to have tickets for the graduation ceremony?
Yes, everyone attending the ceremony requires a ticket.
GRADUATION QUESTIONS
Whom should I contact if I have questions concerning my graduation application?
For questions concerning graduation applications for the Academic AA degree, contact:
LILLY AUSTIN
laustin@holmescc.edu
(662) 472-9146
For questions concerning graduation applications for Associate Degree Nursing (ADN) AAS degree and Career Technical programs (AAS degree, Advanced Technical certificate, Technical certificate or Career certificate), contact:
REAGAN DILMORE
rdilmore@holmescc.edu
(601) 605-3345
Whom should I contact if I have questions about my diploma/certificate or about the graduation ceremony?
For questions concerning your diploma/certificate or about the graduation ceremony, contact:
BRENDA MELTON
bmelton@holmescc.edu
(662) 472-9020
Whom should I contact if I have questions about my cap and gown or about graduation fees?
For questions concerning your cap and gown or about graduation fees, contact:
KALA EVANS
kalaevans@holmescc.edu
(662) 472-9037
