Graduation is a process confirming that you've met the requirements for your program of study and officially awarding your degree or certificate.

Graduation Application

Graduation FAQs

How do I graduate?

To officially be awarded your degree or certificate you must submit an Application for Graduation.

How do I know if I'm eligible for graduation?

Check your Degree Works audit. Degree Works easily identifies the courses you've already completed, along with the courses you still need to take in order to graduate. If you have questions about your eligibility or your Degree Works audit please contact your Graduation Analyst listed below. Please go by the academic division that your major/concentration falls under. 

• Behavioral and Social Sciences- Email Samantha Rowlett
• Health Professions- Email Heidi Mellons
• Humanities (including General transfer)- Email Samantha Rowlett
• Mathematics- Email Samantha Rowlett
• Science- Email Samantha Rowlett
• Technologies- Email Sherrita Spriggs

What are the requirements for graduation? 

Associate degree seeking students must meet the following requirements:

• Fulfill all courses required for the program as outlined in the college catalog
• Complete a minimum of 60 college level semester hours
• Earn at least a GPA of 2.0 (C average in all collegiate level courses)
• Complete at least 25% of the credit hours for an associate's degree here at Northeast State
• Students may also complete the requirements for more than one degree (AA, AS, AST, AAS). A minimum of 16 credit hours beyond the requirements for the first degree must be completed
• Submit an Application for Graduation the semester before you intend on completing the above named requirements

Certificate seeking students must meet the following requirements:

• Fulfill all courses required for the program as outlined in the college catalog
• Complete the appropriate number of credit hours required for the certificate
• Earn at least a GPA of 2.0 (C average in all collegiate level courses)
• Complete at least 25% of the credit hours for the certificate here at Northeast State
• Submit an Application for Graduation the semester before you intend on completing the above named requirements

I am completing two concentrations in the same major. Will I receive two diplomas? 

You will receive separate diplomas, one for each concentration you complete. You only need to fill out one graduation application, as you can indicate multiple concentrations on the application. 

What happens after I submit an Application for Graduation? 

Once you submit your graduation application it is sent to the Graduation Analyst for review. Your record will be checked for graduation and you will receive an email to your student email account notifying you of either your preliminary approval or of possible deficiencies preventing graduation. When you receive your email it will indicate one of the following:

Approved- What you are currently enrolled in satisfies the last requirements for your program of study. You must successfully complete all courses and maintain the minimum required GPA.

Pending- You have outstanding requirements that can still be completed during the term you have applied for. A list of the outstanding requirements will be included in the email. This list will also be available to view on your Degree Works audit or your My.Northeast account under View Holds.

Denied- You have outstanding requirements that can not be completed during the term you have applied for. A list of the outstanding requirements will be included in the email. This list will also be available to view on your Degree Works audit or your My.Northeast account under View Holds. 

***It is imperative that you regularly check your student email account for information from the Graduation Analyst regarding your graduation status, graduation requirements, and the commencement ceremony.

Are there any graduation exams?

Please see the Proficiency Profile/Exit Exam Testing Web page for information about this exit exam.  Also, select students must complete required competency exams in specific academic majors. Students in these majors will be notified about specific testing requirements.

How/when are graduation honors calculated?

Students receiving associate degrees with the following final cumulative grade point averages will have institutional honors notated on their diploma and transcript: 

• Summa Cum Laude      3.90-4.0
• Magna Cum Laude       3.75-3.89 
• Cum Laude                     3.50-3.74    

Only collegiate level grade point averages will count toward the calculation of graduation honors. Northeast State has one commencement ceremony per calendar year, held in the spring term. Therefore, graduation honors for listing in the graduation program and commencement recognition are determined by the overall grade point average at the conclusion of the fall semester. The official honors notation on the diploma and transcript is determined by the overall grade point average at the end of the final semester.

When can I pick up my cap and gown? 

Your first opportunity to pick up our cap, gown, and honors medallion (if applicable) is at Grad Kickoff. Graduating students will receive a notification by email in early spring or early fall as to when the Grad Kickoff event will take place. Caps and gowns are available for pickup in the Admissions and Records office the day following Grad Kickoff. There is no charge for a graduating student to receive a cap and gown.

When and where is the commencement ceremony?  

Northeast State has two commencement ceremonies per year, held in May and December. The Spring 2024 commencement ceremony will take place on Tuesday, May 7th at the Outdoor Amphitheater on Northeast State's Blountville campus.

If I still have classes left to take during the summer semester, can I participate in spring commencement?

Students who plan to complete requirements for graduation by the end of the summer term may participate in the spring commencement ceremony. To be included in the spring ceremony students must complete the application for graduation by the spring deadline as published in the academic calendar. Summer graduates who apply for graduation after the spring ceremony has taken place will be invited to the fall commencement ceremony in December. 

When will I receive my diploma? 

Diplomas are not distributed at the commencement ceremony. Diplomas for fall, spring, and summer will be available for pick up in the Admissions and Records office approximately 4-6 weeks following each graduation semester. You will receive an email notification with the specific dates diplomas will be available.

If my diploma has been lost or destroyed, can I receive a replacement diploma?  

Yes. Please fill out the Replacement Diploma Request Form. Diploma requests will be processed within two (2) working days after the request is received.

What if I need to postpone my graduation? 

If you do not graduate during the semester that is indicated on your graduation application you should reapply for graduation during the semester in which you now intend to graduate. You can also fill out the Update Graduation Application Form to request your graduation term be changed.

How do I update the information on my graduation application after I have already submitted it? 

After a graduation application has already been submitted you must fill out the Update Graduation Application Form in order to change any information pertaining to your major, concentration, graduation term, diploma name, or cap and gown size. 

Exit Exam Information

Exit Exam Testing   

Please see the Proficiency Profile/Exit Exam Testing Web page for information about this exit exam.  Also, select students must complete required competency exams in specific academic majors. Students in these majors will be notified about specific testing requirements.  

Contact Testing Services for questions about the test or testing dates. Call 423.354.5358. Office Hours: 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday.

Financial and/or Library Obligations

Pursuant to 49-3364 Tennessee Code Annotated, no transcripts, diplomas, certificates or grade reports will be issued to any student who has not satisfied all debts, obligations or fines owed to the college, including but not limited to parking fines, returned checks, financial aid encumbrances or LBR (Library) encumbrances.

Career and Workforce Development Center

Career and Workforce Development Center provides job-seeking assistance and job referrals to enrolled students and alumni. Assistance is available on topics such as writing resumes, cover letters, interviewing techniques and dressing for success.

Career and Workforce Development Center maintains files for two-year Associate of Applied Science graduates who will be seeking employment upon completion of a degree and/or certificate from Northeast State. Please print, complete and submit the  Graduate Information Form to the Career and Workforce Development Center in the General Studies Building room C2418 on the Blountville campus. The office hours are Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. until 4:30 p.m.

Contact List for Graduation Information

Accessibility Services (formerly Disability Services)                                      
Email Accessibility Services or call 423.279.7640

Alpha Sigma Lambda
Email Virginia Salmon or call 423.354.2423

Application, requirements, caps and gowns, honors and the ceremony
Email Samantha Rowlett or call 423.354.2419

Career and Workforce Development Center                                      
Email Jennifer Kendrick or call 423.354.5167

Leadership Programs 
Email Student Life or call 423.354.2474

Major Field Test (Computer Information Technology, Business, and Administrative Professional Technology)
Email Linda McNutt or call 423.354.2420 

Major Field Test (Electrical)
Email Kimberly Tipton or call 423.279.7639

Northeast State Honors Program
Email Jane Honeycutt or call 423.354.2427

Phi Theta Kappa
Email Jane Honeycutt or call 423.354.2562

Proficiency Profile 
Email Denise Walker or call 423.323.0211