With the spring semester underway, it is time for some students to start thinking about taking the final steps towards graduation.
The campus and its counselors are preparing students for their next move by offering guidance with filing petitions to graduate.
“The petition to graduate is a student-initiated process that lets the college know that the student has or will be completing their degree requirements,” said Emily Barkley, the transfer center specialist. “Because eligibility requirements can vary by student, the college can not award degrees automatically.”
Students who are transferring also have to start the graduation process themselves, but are encouraged to see counselors and success coaches.
“We always encourage students to meet with a CRC counselor whether they are planning to transfer to a four-year institution or not to create their Student Educational Plan,” Barkley said. “This helps guide the student in terms of courses they can enroll in each semester, as well as the timeline in which they will earn their degree and/or transfer.”
The deadline and petition to graduate can sneak up on them.
Kerbey Augusto, a 21-year-old nursing major, said she utilized the school's counseling options to stay prepared.
“Counselor Avalos definitely helped me stay on track of my education,” Augusto said. “Just in terms of getting me on track with the right classes to take, so that I am ready for transfer at the end of the semester.”
Augusto is one of many students utilizing counseling services to be ready to graduate by the deadline, March 7th. With the date approaching, counselors and success coaches have all their hands on deck.
“We encourage students to meet with their counselor regularly,” Barkley said. “And to come to the Transfer, Internship and Career Center any time they have transfer or graduation related questions.”
Some students are already utilizing counselor help and are planning ahead, like Manav Deo, an 18-year-old ecology major.
Deo said counselor Mishae Parker helped him early on to plan ahead. “She helped me fill out my pre-requisite forms really quickly,” Deo said. “Even after helping me with all these forms, she was still super friendly throughout.”
Click here to see more information regarding graduation deadlines.