Bergen Community College

Information about the “Graduation Policy” and “Graduation Residency Policy” can be found in the College catalog.

Graduation Readiness Checklist

Graduation is the completion of all academic program requirements as recorded on the official transcript by the college Registrar’s Office, which results in the issuance of the diploma.

To verify the graduation readiness, we recommend the students to:

1. Meet with an Academic Counselor/Advisor for any questions or assistance regarding the academic program (degree or certificate) requirements review/verification (degree-audit).
   Academic advisor’s contact information can be found at www.bergen.edu/advising.
2. Resolve any outstanding issues (e.g. Holds, tickets, unreturned college sport equipment, overdue library items,  or outstanding balance…) that could potentially prevent the diploma to be released.
3.  Confirm the graduation information online using the Bergen Portal/Graduation Overview (online form) before the end of the semester of completion.
   Hints: Log on your Bergen Portal (my.bergen.edu), follow Self-Service Main Menu > Academics > Graduation Overview menu options.

A notification receipt advising about the next steps will be sent to the e-mail address included in the submitted graduation information form.

Commencement Ceremony

• Commencement is the ceremony that celebrates the graduation or the impending graduation.
• This ceremony includes a procession of some of the academic staff and faculty, graduate candidates, and a valedictorian.

Commencement Eligibility Checklist

Graduation Candidates MUST apply/confirm to graduate in due time to ensure they are invited to Commencement and their name is included in the Commencement Program.
For any questions regarding graduation, you can email [email protected].

Invited at the Commencement event are the students who meet one (1) of the following conditions:

• Have successfully fulfilled all academic program requirements at the end of the Fall semester or the Winter session.
• Will successfully fulfill the program requirements by the end of the Spring semester.
• Need six (6) or fewer credits to complete the active program of study requirements by the end of any of the upcoming Summer sessions.

Notes: “Commencement” information can be found at https://grad.bergen.edu/

Final Official Transcript

If you have already satisfied all academic program requirements and the program completion status has been verified and confirmed by the Registrar’s Office, you will notice on your academic transcript a content section that includes specific information pertinent to your academic profile with a marking like:

• “Degree Received:“ – e.g. Associate in Science,  Associate in Arts, Associates in Applied Science, or Certificate;
• “Date Conferred..:” – e.g. 08/07/2023 – date when the degree/certificate has been conferred;
• “Majors……………:” – e.g. Business Administration – academic program of study in which you graduated in.

To request your official academic transcripts, log on www.getmytranscript.com

Diploma Availability and Release

• Undergraduate student diplomas and certificates are available approximately three (3) months after degree award;
• All diplomas will be mailed by  the Vendor to the student mailing address reported on the graduation application;
• Information about diploma availability is sent to both the student college and personal e-mail addresses on file;
• A diploma is not released if the student has outstanding financial holds or obligations to the College.

Mail and Delivery Services

Plan ahead:

• It is the the student’s responsibility to confirm the diploma delivery address.
  To verify or update the delivery address, log into the Student Portal/Self-Service (my.bergen.edu) and follow Self-Service Main Menu > Academics > Graduation Overview menu options.

• The diploma is delivered in a large, 9½-inch by 12½-inch envelope.
  To avoid bends, creases, or other damage to the diploma, graduates should ensure that their mail delivery location can accommodate these dimensions or choose a different delivery address.