{"id":4022,"date":"2026-10-30T09:00:43","date_gmt":"2026-10-30T14:00:43","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.jccc.edu\/messenger\/?p=4022"},"modified":"2026-10-29T22:25:58","modified_gmt":"2026-10-30T03:25:58","slug":"youre-almost-done-now-what-your-guide-to-graduating-from-jccc","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.jccc.edu\/messenger\/2026\/10\/30\/youre-almost-done-now-what-your-guide-to-graduating-from-jccc\/","title":{"rendered":"You\u2019re almost done. Now what? Your guide to graduating from JCCC\u00a0"},"content":{"rendered":"

Design By: Athena Gonzalez<\/em><\/strong>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

You\u2019ve sat through your last lecture, turned your finals in and graduation feels like it\u2019s right around the corner.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Not so fast.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

There are still a few steps between that final exam and an official degree from Johnson County Community College, and they\u2019re surprisingly easy to overlook.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

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\u2019m just starting to think through these steps myself, which is exactly why I wanted to lay them out.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Here\u2019s what to know before you cross that stage.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Start with DegreeCheck<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Before you apply for graduation, make sure you actually meet the requirements for your degree or certificate.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The DegreeCheck tool lines up your academic record against your program\u2019s requirements, so you can see exactly what you\u2019ve finished and what\u2019s still left. If something doesn\u2019t add up, you don\u2019t have to figure it out on your own. Counselors can go through your requirements with you and help make sure you\u2019re on track.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

If you\u2019re 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.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Apply to graduate<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Here\u2019s the part that catches people off guard: finishing your requirements doesn\u2019t automatically mean you graduate. You have to apply.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

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.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

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.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Once you apply, the Records office completes an initial verification to make sure you\u2019re on track. The Records office does not confirm your final status until your instructors have posted your grades and the office verifies that you\u2019ve finished everything.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Miss the deadline? You can still appeal by submitting a Graduation Appeal form along with your application, but it\u2019s 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.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Graduation and commencement aren\u2019t the same thing<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

If you remember one thing from this guide, make it this: applying for graduation does not sign you up for commencement.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Graduation means you\u2019ve completed your degree or certificate. Commencement is the ceremony that celebrates it. You can absolutely do one without the other, and you\u2019ll need to submit the graduation application even if you have no plans to walk.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

If you do want the full cap and gown moment, you\u2019ll 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.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

If you\u2019re walking, plan ahead<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Once you\u2019ve decided to attend, think through the details early. Figure out who you\u2019re inviting and what you\u2019re wearing under that gown. If you\u2019re ordering announcements or have family traveling in from out of town, give yourself plenty of time.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

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.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Don\u2019t expect your diploma at the ceremony<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

If you\u2019re picturing yourself walking off the stage with a diploma in hand, there\u2019s 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<\/span> verifies your record. Make sure your mailing address is current so it ends up in the right place.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The short version<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0\u2610 Check DegreeCheck and meet with a counselor if anything looks off\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u2610 Make sure your outside transcripts are on file\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u2610 Submit your Application for Graduation before the deadline\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u2610 RSVP for commencement separately if you plan to walk<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u2610 Order your cap and gown through the Bookstore<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u2610 Make sure your mailing address is current<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

None of this has to happen all at once. Get your questions answered early and put your graduation deadline somewhere you\u2019ll actually see it.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

After that, the cap and gown part is a lot more fun.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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\u2019m just starting to think through these steps myself, which is exactly why I wanted to lay them out.\u00a0<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":14,"featured_media":4023,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"advgb_blocks_editor_width":"","advgb_blocks_columns_visual_guide":"","_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","_ppma_block_editor_authors":""},"categories":[6],"tags":[],"ppma_author":[365],"class_list":["post-4022","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-life"],"author_meta":{"display_name":"Saul Epstein","author_link":"https:\/\/blogs.jccc.edu\/messenger\/author\/sepstein\/"},"featured_img":"https:\/\/blogs.jccc.edu\/messenger\/files\/2026\/10\/graduation-graphic-300x200.png","coauthors":[{"link":"https:\/\/blogs.jccc.edu\/messenger\/author\/gabrielle-thompson\/","display_name":"Gabrielle Thompson"}],"tax_additional":{"categories":{"linked":["Life<\/a>"],"unlinked":["Life<\/span>"]}},"comment_count":"0","relative_dates":{"created":"Posted 4 days ago","modified":"Updated 5 days ago"},"absolute_dates":{"created":"Posted on October 30, 2026","modified":"Updated on October 29, 2026"},"absolute_dates_time":{"created":"Posted on October 30, 2026 9:00 am","modified":"Updated on October 29, 2026 10:25 pm"},"featured_img_caption":"","series_order":"","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"authors":[{"term_id":365,"user_id":0,"is_guest":1,"slug":"gabrielle-thompson","display_name":"Gabrielle Thompson","avatar_url":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/?s=96&d=mm&r=g","author_category":"","first_name":"","last_name":"","user_url":"","job_title":"","description":""}],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/blogs.jccc.edu\/messenger\/files\/2026\/10\/graduation-graphic.png","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.jccc.edu\/messenger\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4022","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.jccc.edu\/messenger\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.jccc.edu\/messenger\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.jccc.edu\/messenger\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/14"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.jccc.edu\/messenger\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=4022"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.jccc.edu\/messenger\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4022\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":4024,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.jccc.edu\/messenger\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4022\/revisions\/4024"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.jccc.edu\/messenger\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/4023"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.jccc.edu\/messenger\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=4022"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.jccc.edu\/messenger\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=4022"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.jccc.edu\/messenger\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=4022"},{"taxonomy":"author","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.jccc.edu\/messenger\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/ppma_author?post=4022"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}