New York Medical College

I. PURPOSE

The purpose of this policy is to establish a process to accommodate students who wish to participate in the May Commencement but who have completed degree requirement in December of the prior year (fall term) or will complete degree requirements in August of the same year (summer term) in New York Medical College’s (“NYMC”) School of Health Sciences and Practice (“SHSP”).

II. POLICY

Any student who has graduated in the fall term or who has applied to graduate in the spring or summer term of the same year is eligible to participate in the May commencement ceremonies.

Students are eligible to walk only once. Therefore, if a student decides not to attend in their eligible commencement, they are not able to participate in a future year. Additionally, if a student walks in May with a tentative August graduation and they do not graduate in August, they cannot attend another ceremony. If an August candidate is denied prior to the May graduation ceremony, they will become ineligible to walk and may reapply for a future term and participate in their eligible ceremony.

III. SCOPE

This policy applies to all SHSP students.

IV. PROCEDURES

A. Students must apply to graduate in order to participate in any Commencement exercises. If a student is denied for spring, their application may be moved to the summer term by the Registrar’s Office at the request of the advisor, dean, or chair.

B. Students expected to graduate in the summer term will not receive a diploma at commencement. They will receive an empty diploma cover on stage and their diploma will be released on or after August 31^st.

C. Prior December graduates, along with May and August applicants will be listed in the Commencement Program. Off-cycle student names will be annotated with a footnote stating, "Anticipated August [commencement year] Graduate" or "December [commencement year] Graduate".

V. EFFECTIVE DATE

This policy shall be effective immediately.

VI. POLICY MANAGEMENT