Design By: Athena Gonzalez 

You’ve sat through your last lecture, turned your finals in and graduation feels like it’s right around the corner. 

Not so fast. 

There are still a few steps between that final exam and an official degree from Johnson County Community College, and they’re surprisingly easy to overlook. 

Picking the right classes is usually the easy part. Keeping track of everything that comes after is where students get tripped up. As someone planning to transfer after the spring, I’m just starting to think through these steps myself, which is exactly why I wanted to lay them out. 

Here’s what to know before you cross that stage. 

Start with DegreeCheck 

Before you apply for graduation, make sure you actually meet the requirements for your degree or certificate. 

The DegreeCheck tool lines up your academic record against your program’s requirements, so you can see exactly what you’ve finished and what’s still left. If something doesn’t add up, you don’t have to figure it out on your own. Counselors can go through your requirements with you and help make sure you’re on track. 

If you’re working toward an associate degree, there are also a few college-wide requirements to keep in mind. You must earn at least 15 of your credit hours at JCCC. The Associate of Arts, Associate of Science and Associate of Fine Arts degrees also require an approved cultural diversity course. 

Apply to graduate 

Here’s the part that catches people off guard: finishing your requirements doesn’t automatically mean you graduate. You have to apply. 

The application is how the college reviews your record and officially awards your degree or certificate. Spring graduates need to apply by Feb. 15, and that deadline also guarantees your name shows up in the commencement program. Summer graduates have until June 15, while fall graduates have until Oct. 15. 

Before you apply, make sure the college has transcripts on file for any outside coursework you want counted toward your degree. Make sure your mailing address is up to date, too. 

Once you apply, the Records office completes an initial verification to make sure you’re on track. The Records office does not confirm your final status until your instructors have posted your grades and the office verifies that you’ve finished everything. 

Miss the deadline? You can still appeal by submitting a Graduation Appeal form along with your application, but it’s a lot easier to just put the date in your calendar now. If you run into trouble with the application, call 913-469-3803 for help. 

Graduation and commencement aren’t the same thing 

If you remember one thing from this guide, make it this: applying for graduation does not sign you up for commencement. 

Graduation means you’ve completed your degree or certificate. Commencement is the ceremony that celebrates it. You can absolutely do one without the other, and you’ll need to submit the graduation application even if you have no plans to walk. 

If you do want the full cap and gown moment, you’ll need to RSVP for commencement separately once registration opens, so keep an eye on your student email. The college also recommends ordering your cap and gown and other graduation items through the Bookstore. 

If you’re walking, plan ahead 

Once you’ve decided to attend, think through the details early. Figure out who you’re inviting and what you’re wearing under that gown. If you’re ordering announcements or have family traveling in from out of town, give yourself plenty of time. 

Commencement is held each May, and the details can change from year to year. Check the current commencement page for the RSVP process, guest information and regalia details instead of relying on what a friend did last spring. 

Don’t expect your diploma at the ceremony 

If you’re picturing yourself walking off the stage with a diploma in hand, there’s one more surprise. JCCC mails diplomas within five weeks after the semester ends, once your instructors have posted your final grades and the Records office verifies your record. Make sure your mailing address is current so it ends up in the right place. 

The short version 

 ☐ Check DegreeCheck and meet with a counselor if anything looks off  

☐ Make sure your outside transcripts are on file  

☐ Submit your Application for Graduation before the deadline  

☐ RSVP for commencement separately if you plan to walk  

☐ Order your cap and gown through the Bookstore  

☐ Make sure your mailing address is current 

None of this has to happen all at once. Get your questions answered early and put your graduation deadline somewhere you’ll actually see it. 

After that, the cap and gown part is a lot more fun.