Graduation Information

(253) 288-3383

When students are two quarters away from completing their educational program, they should submit an Intent to Graduate Form to the Office of the Registrar.

Intent to Graduate Forms and detailed instructions are available at the Office of the Registrar or on the Office of the Registrar webpage online. Students may also run a Degree Audit on the Green River website. To be eligible for graduation, students must have accomplished the following:

• Completed all admissions requirements
• Earned a minimum grade point average of 2.0
• Completed 24 credits at Green River (doesn’t pertain to high school diploma or career/technical certificate candidates)
• Completed all degree requirements as specified by the Green River catalog

Students may graduate using the degree requirements in effect during their first quarter of enrollment at Green River College for up to six  years. After six years, students must meet the requirements listed in the current catalog. Students may petition the degree exception committee with proof of continuous enrollment to be exempt from this requirement.

Students may graduate at the end of any quarter.

Commencement

One commencement ceremony is held at the end of the academic year. Any student who has been approved for graduation during the academic year is eligible to participate in the June ceremony. Students who plan to complete their requirements during the following summer quarter may apply for graduation and participate in the ceremony. All diplomas will be mailed to students three to four weeks after grades are posted in the quarter in which they have completed graduation.

Degree Exception

In some cases, students may wish to appeal the graduation requirements. All requests must be in writing (see the Office of the Registrar for degree exception forms) and should be submitted to the Office of the Registrar for action. The Degree Exception Committee meets twice a quarter during fall, winter and spring. Written faculty or advisor approval is required when submitting a request.

Graduation Awards

Academic Honors

Degree-level academic honors are bestowed as recognition of outstanding academic achievement at the completion of a two-year or four-year degree. Academic honors are based on grades earned at Green River College. A minimum of 24 credits must be graded (not pass/non-credit). For transfer degrees, college-level GPA is used to determine academic honors. For applied degrees, cumulative GPA is used to determine academic honors.

Graduates who achieve outstanding grade point averages are eligible to purchase honor regalia to wear at commencement and are recognized in the commencement program. All levels of honors will be noted on the diploma and Green River transcript.

Dean’s List

Quarterly academic honors are bestowed as recognition of outstanding academic achievement at the completion of each quarter. In order to qualify, a student must earn at least twelve (12) credits of graded course work and a grade point average (GPA) of 3.50 or higher in courses numbered 100 and above (college-level). The credits from courses in which a student receives an I, N, NC, P, or Y grade will not count toward the twelve (12) credit minimum. 

Scholastic Awards

Scholastic awards celebrate student success by recognizing graduates who:

• Earn a degree in arts, business, math, elementary education, pre-nursing, science, applied arts, and applied science, or applied bachelors programs
• Attain a minimum 3.9 grade point average (includes transfer credits and grades from all quarters except the spring quarter in which they may be graduating)
• Earn a minimum of 24 credits at Green River
• Earn no more than 25 percent of the required credits on a pass/no-credit basis

Division Awards

Each instructional division selects one outstanding graduate to receive a Division Award. The recipient is selected by a vote of divisional faculty members.

International Academic and Leadership Award

The International Programs Award is presented to an international student who has demonstrated academic excellence and has made an outstanding contribution to international understanding on the campus.

Leadership and Service Awards

A Leadership or Service Award is presented to three students who have held a position of leadership or have contributed to a major service project on campus.

Multicultural Award

The Multicultural Award is presented to a student who has demonstrated academic promise and has made an outstanding contribution to the on-campus multicultural population.

Outstanding Running Start Award

The Outstanding Running Start Award is presented to a Running Start student who has demonstrated outstanding academic achievement, as well as contribution to Green River College or their local community.

President’s Award

The President’s Award is presented to a student who has exhibited professional promise and outstanding citizenship, personal qualities, and grade point average. The recipient is selected by a vote of faculty, administrators, and staff.