Â鶹Éç

Graduation
You’ve come a long way and graduation is just around the corner. Whether or not you choose to attend the commencement ceremony, you will need to apply for graduation. Let us walk you through the process.

When to Apply for Graduation

All degree candidates are urged to apply for graduation once they enter their final term. Eligibility is based on program completion percentage, earned hours within the program, and institutional grade point average (GPA). These eligibility requirements vary based on each program. Students who are deemed eligible to apply will receive an email requesting that they apply by completing Career Services & Financial Graduate Exits.

Upcoming Graduation Ceremony Dates

Below is a list of upcoming ceremonies and general information regarding Â鶹Éç Virtual Annual Graduation.

Â鶹Éç & University of Fairfax Global Graduation will be on June 21, 2025.

The 2025 ceremony will include graduates who meet all academic requirements during the period between:

June 26, 2024 to April 30, 2025

Step 1: Determine Eligibility

To order your graduation regalia, contact Career Services. Caps and gowns are available through Grad Leaders and can be ordered once all academic requirements have been met and your status has been updated to graduate. Orders may take up to five weeks to process. If your address has changed, please notify the Representative when you place your order.

If you need career advice, assistance with ordering regalia, or access to career resources, contact Career Services at 1-833-388-1100 ext. 4001 or text 540-573-2874.

We’re here to help—let us know how we can assist you!

Honor Cords:

Scholastic recognition at graduation will be given to each undergraduate student who maintained a high grade point average. The specific award is based on the enrollment institutional GPA that the student earned throughout their matriculation at Â鶹Éç. The following represent recognized honors for Associate’s an d Bachelor’s degree candidates: with Honors (3.50 – 3.74 GPA), and with High Honors (3.75 or higher)

Military Cords:

Red White & Blue Graduation cords are used to show patriotism, and to honor the students enlisted and served in the Armed Forces of the Unites States.

What is a Virtual Commencement? An online ceremony will feature formal remarks, student speeches and sharable digital slides honoring each graduate.

Guests attending the Global Virtual Graduation

Graduates are responsible for providing all guests with the link to access the live event. 24 hours following the ceremony, graduates will have access to view it on Facebook, YouTube, and the University website.

How do I join in on the virtual ceremony?

The graduation ceremony will stream live on the following social media platforms:

What if I do not want to participate in the virtual ceremony?

Graduation candidates are not required to participate in the virtual ceremony, but we do encourage you to.

Graduation Ceremony Expenses

Â鶹Éç is an all-inclusive tuition University. If you are not able to participate in the graduation ceremony, we regret adjustments are not issued.

Associate’s and Bachelor’s-level graduates who complete their degrees with enrollment grade point averages (GPAs) of 3.50 or higher will receive academic honor status.

• Certificate, Master’s-level and Doctoral graduates are not eligible for academic honors.

Honor cords are part of the academic regalia; however, they will only be made available when ordering for those who meet the enrollment GPA requirements below.

The academic honors statuses are as follows:

1. Enrollment GPA 3.75 or Higher (High Honors)……2 Gold Cords
2. Enrollment GPA of 3.50 – 3.74 (Honors)……1 Gold Cord

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Verification of Academic Honors

Eligibility for academic honors is verified by the Office of Student Services. For questions regarding your GPA and academic honor eligibility, please contact the Office of Student Services.

Nominations for graduate achievement and recognition are accepted throughout the academic year. All nominations must be received 45 days prior to graduation.

ÌýAchievement Award

The National Achievement Award is presented to graduates who, through extraordinary effort, overcame obstacles to achieve success in their studies and reach their academic goals. This award honors a diploma or degree graduate whose successful academic work merits recognition.

ÌýLeadership Award

The Leadership Award is presented to a graduate who, above all else, has exhibited excellent leadership, organizational, and motivational abilities, and who personifies the highest level of leadership among the graduates. This award may also be presented to the outstanding graduate who has maintained a 3.0 or higher GPA throughout matriculation.

E. M. Coulter Award

This award is presented in honor of E. M. Coulter, who served as President of National College (A predecessor of Â鶹Éç) from 1901-1946 and as President Emeritus from 1946-1956. Starting as an Instructor in 1896, President Coulter’s association with the College is considered to be the longest Association of any individual with any College in the United States.

This award is also presented for high academic achievement to graduates of Nursing, Health Information Management, Medical Assisting, Medical Billing and Coding, Pharmacy Technician, Surgical Technology, and Phlebotomy programs.

ÌýJoseph E. Hurn Award

Presented in honor of Joseph E. Hurn, who served as President of National College (a predecessor of Â鶹Éç) from 1962-1984. The award is also presented for high academic achievement to graduates of Accounting, Business Administration, Business Administration – Accounting, and Business Administration – Management.

ÌýM. A. Smythe Award

The award is presented in honor of M. A. Smythe, who served as Vice President of National College (a predecessor of Â鶹Éç) from 1918-1946 and as President from 1946-1951. The award is presented for high academic achievement to graduates of Information Technology, Cybersecurity, Network Administration, and Network Support programs.

ÌýDorothy Coulter Hancock Award

The award is presented in honor of Dorothy Coulter Hancock, who served National College (a predecessor of Â鶹Éç) for more than 20 years as instructor, faculty advisor, Vice President, and a member of the Board of Advisors. Presented for high academic achievement in a bachelor’s degree program in Accounting, Management, Medical and Health Services Management, and Master of Business Administration programs.

ÌýMary P. McGurn Award

The award is presented in honor of Mary P. McGurn, who served as an Instructor and Department Chairperson at National College from 1901-1951. The award is presented for high academic achievement to graduates of Paralegal, Paralegal Studies, and Medical Office Professional programs.

ÌýAlumni Hall of Achievement Award

Founded in 1987, this award honors those who have excelled in their careers and in their service to the community since their graduation. Induction into the Alumni Hall of Achievement is the most distinguished award bestowed upon alumni.

We believe that earning a degree is a huge accomplishment; therefore, Â鶹Éç & University of Fairfax have partnered with Jostens to provide graduates access to customized Diploma Frames and Announcement Cards. Jostens offers a variety of payment pay in full and payment plan options.

To access the Jostens ordering site, select your Universities corresponding link below:

Customized Frames

Graduates can click on the diploma frame picture to access the grad pix diploma catalog options. This allows graduates to choose their own customized frame style. Note you will need the diploma sizes when placing your order. ANU diploma size is 8.5 x 11 and the UOF diploma size is 11 x 14.

Graduation Announcements

Celebrate tradition and recognize your achievement with custom graduation announcements. Only Jostens includes your official school colors and symbols.

Graduates can click on the announcements card picture, to access the grad pix photo cards options. This allows graduates to choose their own card style, add their own pictures, and text. They can announce to the world when they are graduating, having an open house, or just to celebrate.

Student Services Advisors post degrees after all ANU/UOF course grades have been posted and all transcripts have been received from other institutions.

Diplomas are generally ordered at the end of the Term Break. Allow 45 days for processing and distribution of paper diplomas.ÌýÌý You will not be able to order a diploma reprint until your initial order has been issued.

Request a Name Change on a Diploma:

Petition Student Services via email: studentservices@an.edu to request a name change on your diploma. Include in your communication one of the following supporting document to verify that your name has legally changed; a divorce decree, marriage certificate, court issued documents, social security card, passport and state identification cards or driver’s license.

Please contact your DSO/International Student Advisor if you have any questions or need further assistance. If your last name (surname) begins with A-L, please contact Noelia Guzman Cebrian at nguzmancebrian@an.edu. If your last name (surname) begins with M-Z, please contact Darlene Peceimer Nguyen at dpeceimernguyen@an.edu.Ìý

Q. If I am attending the Global Graduation, where do I get the link?
A. The graduation link will be posted on the graduation page for both ANU and UOF in addition you will receive an email with the link from Graduation Source.

Diplomas:

Q. If I do not attend graduation, how will I get my diploma?
A. Diplomas are mailed to all graduation to the address the University has on file. You should expect your diploma approximately Four to five weeks after your grades are all posted, and your status is switched to graduate.

Q. How do I obtain my transcript?
A.The University has authorized the National Student Clearinghouse to provide enrollment and degree verifications. Graduates can also order transcripts to verify a degree via the link below: Ìý/transcript-request/

Graduation Regalia:

Q. How do I obtain graduation regalia?
A. Caps and gowns may be ordered from any Career Services Representative and by completing your Career Services Graduate Exit form.

Q. When will I receive my cap and gown?
A. Orders take up to five weeks to process, so be sure to order, so be sure to complete your Career Services Graduate Exit during the first week of your last term.

Q. How do I order an academic honor cord?
A. Academic honors are based on GPA. If you earned academic honors, the appropriate cords will be made available when ordering regalia.

Q. Where can I access the graduation video?
A. Twenty-Four hours following the ceremony, the graduation recording is posted on both the ANU & the UOF Graduation pages on the University web sites.