2024 Commencement
- Commencement will be held on Thursday, May 2, 2024, at 6 p.m. in the Plunkett Wallace Gymnasium at the main campus in Boaz. To view the Commencement ceremony via livestream, go to www.snead.edu/live.
- Graduates should check-in between 4:45 and 5:00 p.m. with their cap, gown, and tassel at the Snead State Administration Building.
- There are currently no limits on the number of guests at the Commencement ceremony. This is subject to change.
- Masks are optional. The mask policy is subject to change.
- The ceremony is anticipated to be livestreamed! We’ll announce these details closer to the time of commencement.
Cap and Gown Order/Pickup for Participants in the May 2024 Commencement Ceremony
Stop in the Snead State Bookstore (located in the Boaz Outlet Center) on one of the following days:
Tuesday, April 2, 2024, from 9 a.m.-2 p.m.
Wednesday, April 3, 2024, from 9 a.m.-2 p.m.
Thursday, April 4, 2024, from 9 a.m.-5 p.m.
Friday, April 5, 2024, from 9 a.m.-2 p.m.
- All students participating in the ceremony must pick up a new cap and gown.
- A variety of sizes are available at the Snead State Bookstore (256-593-1861).
- There is no cost for a cap, gown, regular tassel, or diploma.
- Students may buy graduation invitations if they wish to purchase them through the Bookstore.
- Students may order honor cords (requires cumulative GPA of 3.5 or higher at the end of the Fall 2023 semester) if they wish to purchase them from the Bookstore.
- Other graduation items (such as souvenir tassels) may be purchased at the Snead State Bookstore. For questions, call (256) 593-1861.
Minimum Graduation Requirements
Associate in Science (AS) or Associate in Applied Science (AAS) Degree
- Satisfactorily complete a minimum of 60 semester credit hours of college credit in an approved program of study, including required general education courses.
- Earn a 2.0 or higher cumulative grade point average in all courses taken at the College (not including grades earned in developmental courses). A course may be counted only once for purposes of meeting graduation requirements.
- Complete at least 25% of semester credit hours at Snead State Community College.
- Meet all requirements for graduation listed in the student’s course catalog plan. Students who petition to receive an award after last attending Snead State for more than one academic year must meet all requirements in effect at the time of graduation.
- Submit an Application for Degree/Certificate.
- Fulfill all financial obligations to the College.
- Clear all requirements in the Student Services Office.
Certificate
- Satisfactorily complete an approved program of study.
- Earn a 2.0 or higher cumulative grade point average in all courses attempted at the College. The calculation of the GPA for graduation shall not include grades earned in developmental courses. A course may be counted only once for purposes of meeting graduation requirements.
- Complete at least 25 percent of semester credit hours at Snead State Community College.
- Meet all requirements for graduation listed in the student’s course catalog plan. Students who petition to receive an award after last attending Snead State for more than 1 academic year must meet all requirements in effect at the time of graduation.
- Submit an Application for Degree/Certificate.
- Fulfill all financial obligations to the College.
- Clear all requirements in the Student Services Office.
Second Associate Degree
Students may receive more than one degree based on the following stipulations:
1) In order to graduate with a second transfer (AS) degree 16 additional hours must be earned at SSCC in a specific program of study after the first degree is awarded.
2) Program-specific courses are completed for each different program of study that leads to a different AAS degree. Only one degree will be awarded for each program of study.
3) Although multiple degrees within the same program are not allowed, multiple certificates may be earned upon completion of additional course requirements for track options within the same program.
In all options above, the student must have a cumulative grade point average of 2.0 or above; have taken at least 25% of the program courses at Snead, be in good standing at the time requirements for the degree are completed; meet all requirements for graduation; and have no outstanding obligations in any of the administrative offices.
Graduation with Honors
Degrees
- Graduation with Highest Honors (Summa Cum Laude): 3.90 to 4.00 GPA
- Graduation with High Honors (Magna Cum Laude): 3.70 to 3.89 GPA
- Graduation with Honors (Cum Laude): 3.50 to 3.69 GPA
Certificates
- Graduation with Distinction: 3.50 to 4.00 GPA
Application for Degree/Certificate
The Application for Degree/Certificate is your petition to receive a degree or certificate from Snead State Community College.
- You should submit an Application for Degree/Certificate at least one semester prior to your anticipated completion.
- Once your record has been evaluated, you will receive a letter stating any requirements that you still lack in order to complete your certificate or degree.
- All students should submit an Application for Degree/Certificate even if you do not plan to participate in the Commencement Ceremony.
The Application should be returned to the Admissions Office in room 227 in the McCain Student Center or emailed to admissions@snead.edu.
Frequently Asked Questions
Graduation
You should apply for graduation at the beginning of the semester prior to the one in which you expect completion. For example, if you plan to finish requirements in the spring, you should apply at the beginning of the previous fall semester. This allows us to evaluate your records and make sure that you are on track to finish requirements.
Use this link: Application for Degree/Certificate. You can also get one in the Admissions Office located in the McCain Student Center. Completed, signed applications may be scanned and submitted online to admissions@snead.edu, or they may be faxed to 256-593-7180.
No. Although we would love for everyone to participate in Commencement, we realize that some may wish not to or have prior commitments that prevent them from attending. If you do not participate in the annual Commencement Ceremony in May, your diploma will be mailed to you. It usually takes approximately 5 weeks to receive your diploma in the mail. You should make sure that we have your correct mailing address on your Application for Degree/Certificate.
After you submit your Application for Degree/Certificate, you will receive a letter detailing the requirements that you lack. The letter will include classes that you are currently registered for because you have not completed them yet. You should use this letter as a checklist for your remaining requirements. If you have questions about your letter, please contact Jason Cannon at jcannon@snead.edu or (256) 840-4150.
Students may receive more than one degree based on the following stipulations: 1) In order to graduate with a second transfer (AS) degree 16 additional hours must be earned at SSCC in a specific program of study after the first degree is awarded. 2) Program-specific courses are completed for each different program of study that leads to a different AAS degree. Only one degree will be awarded for each program of study.3) Although multiple degrees within the same program are not allowed, multiple certificates may be earned upon completion of additional course requirements for track options within the same program.In all options above, the student must have a cumulative grade point average of 2.0 or above; have taken at least 25% of the program courses at Snead, be in good standing at the time requirements for the degree are completed; meet all requirements for graduation; and have no outstanding obligations in any of the administrative offices.
Your diploma will be mailed to you. It takes approximately 5 weeks after grades are submitted to receive your diploma in the mail. You should make sure that we have your correct mailing address on your Application for Degree/Certificate.
For questions about graduation, please contact Student Services at studentservices@snead.edu.
Commencement Ceremony
The Commencement Ceremony is held in May at the end of the Spring Semester each year.
You are eligible to participate if you:
- Are enrolled in all of the classes during the spring semester that complete your program requirements OR
- Completed all degree requirements during the summer or fall semesters of the preceding year OR
- Are registered in all of the classes during the summer semester that will complete your program requirements.*
*Students who anticipate completing degree requirements during the summer semester may request to participate in the May ceremony by submitting the Summer Graduates Request form to the Office of Admissions/ Student Records. Prior to submitting the request form, students must have registered for their final summer classes, review and print their DegreeWorks plan, and have submitted an Application for Degree/Certificate. Summer registration opens for all students on March 13, 2024.