Graduation

Graduation from an Associate Degree, Diploma or Professional Certificate Program

NHTI holds one commencement ceremony in May of each year, at which associate degrees, diplomas and professional certificates are awarded (see Certificate Program Completion section below for information regarding awarding of credentials for certificate programs completion.)

Except for those programs which are regularly scheduled to end during the summer, students must achieve a 2.0 or higher cumulative grade point average (CGPA) in order to participate in the annual commencement ceremony. A student whose program is regularly scheduled to be completed in the summer term following the May commencement (Dental Assisting, Radiation Therapy) may participate in the ceremony. However, at the end of the Spring semester the student must have achieved a minimum GPA of 2.0 and complete all other course requirements to be eligible to participate. All other students who complete their program requirements during the Summer semester or at the end of the Fall semester will be invited to participate in the subsequent May commencement.

Degrees are officially awarded on the following schedule:

• August - following the Summer semester
• December - following the Fall semester
• May - during Commencement

Potential graduates must file an "Intent to Graduate" form according to the following schedule:

• Fall 2008 Completions - October 24, 2008
• Spring 2009 Completions - November 14, 2008
• Summer 2009 Completions - April 17, 2009

All forms must be signed by the Department Head of the academic program in which the degree will be conferred.

All students filing "Intent to Graduate" forms will be charged the required $75.00 graduation fee. The fee is refundable ONLY to persons who do NOT meet graduation requirements.

A $20.00 fee will be charged for replacement of a diploma.

All financial and other obligations to the College must be met for degrees, diplomas, professional certificates and transcripts to be released.
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Certificate Program Completion

Students who are matriculated (formally accepted) in a certificate program must complete a Certificate Request Form in order to receive their certificate of completion. (Certificates are not awarded at the Commencement ceremony.)

Certificate Request Forms are available in the Registrar's Office, Continuing Education Office, or on the NHTI web site (www.nhti.edu). Completed forms should be returned to the Registrar's Office.

Once the Certificate Request Form has been received, an academic audit will be performed. Students must meet the following requirements to earn a certificate from NHTI:

1. Completion of all program requirements;
2. Achievement of a passing grade for all courses required by the specific program;
3. Achievement of a minimum grade point average (GPA) of 2.0 in those courses required for the specific program;
4. Completion of 6 credits or 25%, whichever is larger, in NHTI controlled courses.

Certificates are officially awarded on the following schedule:

• September 1st for students completing in the Summer Semester
• January 1st for students completing in the Fall Semester
• June 1st for students completing in the Spring Semester

Basic Graduation Requirements

The NHTI, Concord's Community College shall confer degrees, diplomas (LPN), professional certificates, and certificates in accordance with the policies set forth in the Community College System of New Hampshire Board of Trustees Manual's most current edition.

Students must meet the following requirements to earn an associate degree from NHTI:

1. Completion of a minimum of 64 credits and all program requirements (see also Program Residency Requirements);
2. Achievement of a passing grade for all courses required by the specific program;
3. Achievement of a minimum cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 2.0; all courses taken at NHTI will be used to calculate the CGPA (see Academic Amnesty Policy and Change of Program Policy);
4. Completion of the General Education core distribution with passing grades.

   The General Education core consists of courses that are drawn from the sciences, the social sciences, the humanities, and other courses which prepare the student for life experiences. They are essential elements in the achievement of identified competencies and are not directed toward specialized study or specific occupational or professional objectives.

   Courses fall into the areas as follows:

   General Education Academic Area	Credits
   English Composition and Literature or Communication	6 credits
   Science	3-4 credits
   Math	3 credits
   Social Science	3 credits
   Humanities/Fine Arts/Foreign Language	3 credits
   Liberal Arts electives (minimum of two courses selected from the five categories above)	6 credits
   Total credits required in General Education area	24-25 credits

Students must meet the following requirements to earn an LPN diploma, professional certificate, or certificate from NHTI:

1. Completion of all program requirements;
2. Achievement of a passing grade for all courses required by the specific program;
3. Achievement of a minimum grade point average (GPA) of 2.0 in those courses required for the specific program.
4. 6 credits or 25% of the required program credits, whichever is larger, must be taken in NHTI-controlled courses (See also Program Residency Requirements).

Access a list of courses appropriate in fulfilling General Education requirements in the areas of Communications, Literature, Humanities/Fine Arts/ Foreign Language, Math, Science and Social Science.

Additional Associate Degrees

Students may earn additional associate degrees either by concurrent completion of the requirements of the several degrees or by subsequent study after the first degree is received. The requirements for earning additional degrees are as follows:

1. Complete all requirements of each program of study, including general education requirements; and
2. Earns a minimum of 15 additional credits at the college, beyond those required for the first and subsequent degrees.

Completion/Graduation Rate

As required by the U.S. Department of Education, 34 CFR Part 668, Student Assistance General Provisions, "An institution shall make readily available to all enrolled students and prospective students, through appropriate publications and mailings, the Institution's completion and graduation rate (or a projected completion or graduation rate) of its full-time degree-seeking undergraduate students who enroll for the first time" at NHTI “and have not previously enrolled at any other institution of higher education.”

Of the 617 full-time, first-time degree/certificate-seeking students entering NHTI in Fall 2003, 190 completed their programs within 150% of the normal time, resulting in a graduation rate of 31%.

Revised June 12, 2008