Spring Graduation Information
The LCCC Commencement Ceremony will take place on Thursday, May 25, 2023 at 6 p.m., at the Mohegan Sun Arena, 1 Casey Plaza, Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania.
In order to graduate from Luzerne County Community College upon completion of a credit program and receive a degree, certificate or diploma, students must apply for Graduation by the published deadline. Applications are not accepted after the deadline date. Each student must complete an application whether they are attending or is not attending the Commencement ceremony. Luzerne County Community College grants degrees, certificates and diplomas in credit programs only at the end of the spring semester and at the close of the summer session in August.
One formal Graduation ceremony is held annually, at the close of the spring semester in May. Students who have completed requirements at the end of the previous summer or fall, in addition to those who have completed their requirements in the spring semester, are invited to take part in the annual Commencement ceremony. Students granted their degree, certificate or diplomas at the end of the summer session in August are forwarded their diplomas by mail.
In order to qualify for a degree, certificate or diploma, a student must attain a minimum G.P.A. of 2.0 and satisfy all requirements of their program of study.
In the event a student meets the minimum grade point average of 2.0 and meets all but six credits or less in their degree, certificate or diploma program requirements, they may participate in the May commencement provided the following conditions are met:
- the student has registered for the required course(s) for the subsequent summer session by May 1.
- the student has paid the tuition for the required course(s) for the subsequent summer session by May 1.
The President's Office may approve registration for the required course(s) for the fall term if the College does not offer the required course(s) in the subsequent summer session.
Students enrolling in a program may follow the catalog in place at the time of their initial enrollment to determine their qualification for graduation providing they have not missed two or more consecutive semesters. Students may always select the catalog in place at the time of their graduation.
In the event a student is enrolled in one of the Health Sciences programs that ends in the subsequent summer session (precluding them from completing the program in the Spring), and that student meets the minimum grade point average for their curriculum, they may participate in the annual Commencement ceremony in May.
Students who participate in the annual Commencement Ceremony in May prior to completion of their program will be granted their degree, certificate or diploma upon the successful completion of the program and will be forwarded their diplomas by mail at the end of the Summer Session in August.
Degree requirements as stated in the catalog must be satisfied prior to the selected graduation date.
Students uncertain as to whether they are ready to apply should make an appointment with an academic advisor by calling 1-800-377-5222, ext. 7451 or ext. 7452 or log into Self Service (with your Self Service username and password) and review your degree audit by clicking on "Graduation Overview" then "Review My Academic Progress".
A diploma isn't just a piece of paper - it represents all your efforts and accomplishments. Here's how to get yours:
- Complete the on-line application and pay the $50.00 graduation fee. The application deadline date is February 24, 2023 for the May Commencement and July 21, 2023 for receiving your diploma in August (Aug 24, 2023). You will be able to participate in the May Commencement providing you meet the minimum grade point average of 2.0 and meet all but six credits or less in your degree, certificate or diploma program.
- Each student must complete an application whether they are attending or is not attending the Commencement ceremony.
After I submit an application for graduation, does that mean I will graduate?
No, after you complete the on-line application for graduation, the Academic Affairs Office (570) 740-0422 will review your records to see if you have completed all the requirements for your particular program of study. If you do not meet the requirements, you will receive a letter informing you that your evaluation was reviewed and that we found you do not meet the requirements for graduation.
How will I know if I meet all requirements for graduation?
You can review your Academic Evaluation on Self Service. After you review your Academic Evaluation, and you have questions regarding your eligibility, please contact your academic advisor (570) 740-0451 or the Academics Affairs Office at (570) 740-0422.
If I need to change my graduation date or change my major, do I need to reapply for graduation?
No, but you will need to contact the President's Office in building #5 by phone at 570-740-0344 or by email at jminor@luzerne.edu to request a change of graduation date. If you completed the requirements in the next academic semester and did not contact the college to request a change of graduation date you need to complete and submit a new graduation application in order to graduate in the following semester.
What happens if I do not complete my degree requirements by graduation day?
If you fail to meet academic standards or complete all degree requirements and do not contact the President's Office
(jminor@luzerne.edu) or the Academic Affairs Office (pgorham@luzerne.edu) your name will be removed from the graduation list and the Commencement program. You will need to reapply and complete a new graduation application in order to graduate in the next academic semester.
I participated in the May graduation but I still had a class I had to complete and I'm taking it now. How do I receive my diploma?
If you still have incomplete requirements, you did not graduate (though you may have participated in the Commencement Ceremony) actual graduation requires all courses be successfully completed. Many students participate in the Commencement Ceremony in May, and then complete requirements over the summer. In this case, the graduation date, which will print on the diploma and the transcript, is in August. If you completed or will complete the requirements in the next academic semester, and did not contact the college to request a change of graduation date you need to complete and submit another graduation application.
I want to graduate in May but I still have classes to complete. Can I participate if I did not finish all my classes?
Although you cannot officially graduate until all coursework is complete you can participate in the Commencement Ceremony in May.
How do I complete the on-line graduation application?
You must be certain the college has your correct current address before you apply to graduate. Putting a new address on the graduation application is not sufficient to change your address. You must submit a Change of Address form to the Admissions Office to update your address before you apply to graduate.
The Application for Graduation asks how your wish your name to appear on your diploma.
You must use the last name we have in our records. You cannot request a last name on a diploma if we do not have it in our system, unless you first officially change your name with the Admissions Office (Providing proof of the change). For instance, you cannot request your diploma to state what will be your future married last name. Suffix means "Jr" "II" or "III". It does not mean "Mr." "Mrs.," etc.: these are prefixes, not suffixes, and they don't belong on the diploma.
Be cautious of using shortened version of your first name, even if this is what you are commonly called. This is a formal document, and it is appropriate to have "Joseph." Rather than "Joe" printed on your diploma.
Tuesday, May 23, 2023 - Educational Conference Center
Time 6:00 - 8:00 p.m.
The Graduate Reception, hosted by the Alumni Association, will be held on Tuesday, May 23, at 6 pm to 8 pm in the Educational Conference Center. All Graduates, Faculty, Staff and Administration are invited to attend at no charge. Guests will be charge $7.50 and children under five (5) are free. You can register on line HERE.
If you have any questions, please call the Alumni Office at 570-740-0734.
The Ceremony will be held on Thursday, May 25, at 6 pm, at Mohegan Sun Arena and will last approximately two hours.
Please arrive at the Arena at 5:00 pm dressed in your academic attire and with your graduation card. Your graduation card will be sent to you approximately mid-May.
Commencement Photographs - The College recognizes that you may want to have a photograph of yourself as you receive your diploma from the President; therefore, we have arranged for a professional photographer to capture that special moment for you. Earl & Sedar Photographic will contact you after graduation to provide you the opportunity to view your photograph on-line.
Commencement Flowers - The Alumni Association is sponsoring a flower sale at the Commencement Ceremony. Commencement Flowers will be at a table located near the East Gate entrance of the Arena. In addition to a beautiful selection of roses they will be selling class t-shirts. For more information or to order now and save time check out their website at www.commencementflowers.com/index.php/Luzerne. Pre-orders are encouraged. A portion of the proceeds will benefit student scholarships.
Commencement Speaker : Paul Pringle
Pringle is a Los Angeles Times reporter who specializes in investigating corruption. He also is the author of Bad City: Peril and Power in the City of Angels, a true-crime story which exposes institutional corruption. In 2019, Pringle and two colleagues won the Pulitzer Prize in Investigative Reporting for their work uncovering widespread sexual abuse at the University of Southern California, an inquiry that grew out of their reporting the year before on the dean of USC's medical school.
Pringle was a Pulitzer Prize finalist in 2009 and a member of reporting teams that won Pulitzer Prizes in 2004 and 2011. He won the George Polk Award in 2008, the same year the Society of Professional Journalists of Greater Los Angeles honored him as a distinguished journalist. Along with several colleagues, he shared in Harvard University's 2011 Worth Bingham Prize for Investigative Reporting. Pringle and a Los Angeles Times colleague won the California Newspaper Publishers Association's Freedom of Information Award in 2014 and the University of Florida's Joseph L. Brechner Freedom of Information Award in 2015.
Pringle is a graduate of the Pennsylvania State University and California State University. He lives in Glendale, California and is a native of Luzerne County.
Please be advise that the following policies are now in effect at the Mohegan Sun Arena:
- NO BOTTLES OR CONTAINERS OF ANY KIND ARE ALLOWED IN THE ARENA
- THERE IS A CLEAR BAG POLICY
- ALL CONCESSIONS ARE CREDIT CARD/MOBILE PAY SALES ONLY - therefore, no cash will be accepted.
Please review the full policy HERE.
Please share this information will your family and friends who will be attending the Commencement.
All potential graduates who will be participating in the May graduation ceremony must place your cap and gown order on-line through the Jostens website at www.jostens.com . The deadline date to order is March 19. Orders will not be accepted after this date.
Graduates will have the option to have your cap and gown shipped to your home for $12.45 + tax or your order can be shipped to the Bookstore at no charge.
If you did not place an on-line order for a cap and gown by the deadline date you can still pick up a cap and gown (there is no charge) in the TrailBlazer Bookstore beginning Monday, April 24 during the hours of 8 am to 4 pm.
If you have any questions, please stop by the Bookstore or call us 570-740-0596.
Family and Guests are requested to enter at the East Gate. Graduates will enter at the West Gate.
The following students will be recognized at graduation for scholastic achievement. A student with a cumulative honor point average of 4.0 will graduate SUMMA CUM LAUDE. The recognition of students graduating Summa Cum Laude will be done with an announcement at the time you receive your diploma and a plaque denoting this honor will be awarded to you by mail when you receive your diploma. Graduates between 3.75 and 3.99 will be certified Magna Cum Laude and between 3.50 and 3.74 will be recognized Cum Laude. Recognition for these honors between 3.5 and 3.99 will be noted on the graduation program next to your name.
HONOR SOCITIES
If you are member of one of the College's Honor Societies, it will be noted on the Commencement program. If you have any questions regarding one of the Honor Societies, please contact the following Advisors:
- ALPHA SIGMA LAMBDA - Mrs. Bonnie Lauer at 570-740-0734 or blauer@luzerne.edu
- KAPPA BETA DELTA - Dr. Gary Mrozinski at 570-740-0538 or gmrozinski@luzerne.edu
- PHI THETA KAPPA - Mr. Tyler Russell at 570-740-0429 or trussell@luzerne.edu
- PSI BETA - Dr. Janis Wilson-Seeley at 570-740-0685 or jseeley@luzerne.edu and & Mrs. Lynn Grilli at 570-740-0532 or lgrilli@luzene.edu
- SIGMA KAPPA DELTA - Ms. Bonnie Pajka at 570-740-0545 or rpajka@luzerne.edu
When is Commencement?
May 25, 2023
Can I participate in May even though I won't graduate until August?
Yes, in the event a student meets the minimum grade point average of 2.0 and meets all but six credits or less of their degree, certificate or diploma program requirements, they may participate in the May commencement provided the following conditions are met:
- the student has registered for the required course(s) for the subsequent summer session by May 1.
- the student has paid the tuition for the required course(s) for the subsequent summer session by May 1.
The President's Office Office may approve registration for the required course(s) for the fall term if the College does not offer the required course(s) in the subsequent summer session.
Where do I pick up my cap and gown?
You may pick up your academic attire at the TrailBlazer Bookstore beginning April 24, Monday through Friday from 8:00 am. until 4:00 pm.
Do I or my guests need a ticket to attend?
Everyone is invited to attend. No ticket is needed.
Will my name appear in the commencement booklet even if I'm not graduating until August?
Yes, your name will appear in the Commencement program as long as you have completed an application for graduation and indicated your intention to participate in the commencement ceremony, satisfied the 2.0 GPA, and have less than 6 credits to complete. You must also register and pay the tuition for the courses you need to complete over the summer semester.
When will I receive my diploma?
Graduates who attend the Commencement Ceremony and have completed all requirements for your degree, certificate or diploma will receive their diploma the evening of Commencement. Graduates who do not attend the Commencement and have completed all their requirements can pick up their diplomas in the President's Office, Building #5, the week of June 5 from 9 a.m. until 5 p.m. If you do not pick up your diploma, we will mail it to you approximately three weeks after the Commencement date of May 25. Please be sure the College has your correct address on file. If you have moved, please change your address HERE.
If I have further questions, whom should I contact?
Counseling Department - If you need to discuss meeting the requirements for graduation or advise on course selection for future semesters should be directed to the Counseling Department, Mrs. Dennis 570-740-0451 or ddennis@luzerne.edu
Academic Affairs - Questions concerning qualifications, academic transcripts, incomplete grades and variances. Contact Mrs. Gorham at 570-740-0422 or pgorham@luzerne.edu
President's Office - All other questions concerning graduation should be directed to Joanie Minor, in the President's Office, Bldg #5. (570) 740-0344 or jminor@luzerne.edu