Graduation Option Suddenly Closed

Admissions & Records, Conlan Hall (Photo by Jim Wong)

At least 18 Spring 2014 CCSF graduates were surprised they couldn’t file as planned because of a last minute decision by Administration.  An unexpected February 15^th memo to academic counselors from Susan Lamb, CCSF’s Vice Chancellor of Academic Affairs, ended the granting of associate degrees for “18 units of a related field”, a practice of at least the past ten years.  The announcement sent counselors and expecting graduates scrambling to find alternative majors to file for.

Students completing certificates programs like Licensed Vocational Nursing, Pharmacy Tech, Cardio-Vascular Technology, and Paramedics, could earn an associate degree under the “18 units of a related field” and meeting all the other associate graduation requirements.  Lamb’s announcement caused counselors to  comb through student’s transcripts to find alternative graduation options.

I was fortunate my Cardio-Vascular Technology student had earned enough prior science and math classes to qualify for the Associate of Science in Math and Science.  Unfortunately, not all effected students where as lucky and will be told to take additional courses to be eligible for an associate degree.

By the 4 P.M. deadline, Friday, February 28 to file for Spring 2014 graduation arrived, some frustrated students( and counselors) realized they weren’t walking the May 23, 2014 graduation ceremony. 

UPDATE:  The Registrars Office has extended the deadline for Spring 2014 graduation petitions to Thursday, March 6, 2014)

(Updated March 3, 2014)