Academic Graduation / Certification Requirements

Board Policy 10.012

1. 1. Basic Requirements: All Academic Associate Degrees and Certificates
      1. Earn a minimum cumulative Grade Point Average of "C" (2.0) in the courses required to complete a specific Associate Degree or Certificate.
      2. Fulfill all of the prescribed requirements of the specific degree or certificate including courses, credit hours, grades, and/or hours of attendance. (Courses numbered below 100 do not count toward any associate degree or certificate.)
      3. Successfully complete "key courses" in a program within a stated time frame. Students may, therefore, need to repeat certain courses, even though a passing grade was previously earned.
      4. File an application for an Associate or Dual degree and/or Certificate with the Registrar’s Office as described in the College Catalog.
      5. Fulfill all financial obligations to Delta College.
      6. The number of P (pass) credits applied to a degree or certificate must not exceed 20% of total required credits of the degree or certificate and must not exceed 12 credits.
      7. For certificates, earn at Delta College a minimum of two-thirds (2/3) of program credits or 24 credits, whichever is less. Any programmatic exceptions to the two-thirds (2/3) or 24 credits requirement will be approved by Curriculum Council and identified in the Programs of Study section of the Delta College Catalog.
      8. For associate degrees, earn a minimum of sixty-two credit hours. A minimum of twenty-four semester hours must be Delta College academic credit.
   2. Associate Degree Requirements for Subsequent, Concurrent, and Dual Degree(s)
      Associate Degree(s) can be earned concurrently or following other earned degree(s).
      1. Subsequent Associate Degree Requirements:
         Students may earn a Delta College associate degree after previously earning an associate or higher degree from a regionally accredited college or university.
         1. Writing, Lifelong Wellness and Government graduation requirements will be waived for candidates with a Baccalaureate or higher degree from a regionally accredited institution unless occupational curricula competencies specify otherwise.
         2. Fulfill all Basic Degree requirements.
         3. Satisfactorily complete a planned curriculum in one degree, with the exception of the Associate in General Studies.
         4. Earn a minimum of twenty-four additional semester hours of credit by instruction at Delta College. Accordingly, the minimum number of credits earned must equal the credits required for the first degree plus 24.
      2. Concurrent Degree Requirements:
         Students may earn two Delta College associate degrees concurrently.  While working on one degree at Delta College, students may complete courses applied to a second associate degree.  Therefore, credits earned beyond those needed for the first degree may be applied toward the second degree.
         1. Fulfill all Basic Degree requirements.
         2. Satisfactorily complete a planned curriculum in two degrees, with the exception of the Associate in General Studies.
         3. At least 48 credits must be earned at Delta College: 24 credits to meet the residency requirement of the first degree, and 24 credits to meet the residency requirement of the concurrent degree.
      3. Dual Associate Degree Requirements
         Dual degrees are available for students in several fields. Requirements are generally completed concurrently. The Counseling and Advising Office has a listing of approved Dual Degrees.
         1. Fulfill all Basic Degree requirements.
         2. Satisfactorily complete all courses listed in one of the Delta College curricula approved for the Dual Degree.
         3. Satisfactorily complete a minimum of an additional twenty-four semester hours as prescribed for the Degree. Accordingly, at least 48 credits must be earned at Delta College: 24 credits to meet the residency of the first degree, and 24 additional program credits.
   3. Procedure for revising General Education Curricular Graduation Requirements
      According to Senate Policy 1.025 Policy Statement on Government at Delta College, the faculty sets the requirements for the degrees offered.  The intent of this policy section is to describe the process for revising General Education Curricular Graduation Requirements – degree requirements that are itemized under each degree in the College Catalog, but are not AAA, AAS, AFA, or ABS Curricular Program Requirements.
      The following are steps in the process:
      1. A formal written request for a change to a General Education Curricular Graduation Requirement is made to Curriculum Council.
      2. If Curriculum Council determines that the proposed graduation requirement revision deserves further consideration by the entire faculty, it writes a formal charge for an ad hoc committee of Curriculum Council.
      3. Membership of the ad hoc committee consists of the following:
         • A faculty designee selected by each academic division
         • The Dean of Teaching and Learning
         • The College Registrar or designee
         • The Associate Dean of Retention or designee
         • The Director of General Education (who participates in an advisory, non-voting role)
      4. The Vice President of Instruction and Learning Services appoints the chair of the ad hoc committee from the group of faculty division representatives. The chair of the ad hoc committee also serves as his/her division’s representative.
      5. The ad hoc committee drafts a proposal in response to the charge. The ad hoc committee communicates the revisions to the graduation requirements and seeks input from faculty and other college groups.  Typically, the following groups are consulted:  Faculty at division meetings, Faculty at Faculty Forum, Faculty Executive Committee, General Education Curriculum and Assessment Committee, Curriculum Sub Council, Curriculum Council, Dean’s Council, Student & Educational Services Managers, Executive Council, and Executive Committee for Administrative/Professional Staff.  A majority of the voting members of the ad hoc committee must approve the proposal to move it forward to Curriculum Council for action.
      6. The approved proposal is sent to all full-time faculty members for a vote. Curriculum Council will initiate the vote.  The vote is given a two-week window.  Voters will be given the following voting options: Yes, No.  At least two-thirds of the full-time faculty must vote to establish a quorum.  A majority is required to approve the proposal.  The voting results will be overseen by the Curriculum Council chair or designee and the FEC chair or designee.
      7. The results of the vote are shared with the College community. If the proposal is approved, Curriculum Council will authorize the changes.

Formerly Senate Policy 8.060
Board Action 5457 – August 9, 2022