Graduating Students-Application and Checklist
Students who complete certificates, diplomas, or associate degree programs during the fall 2022, spring 2023, or summer 2023 semesters are eligible to participate in the 2023 Commencement Ceremony.
Follow the checklist below to finish the final steps in completing your education at Hawkeye.
Register for Your Last Semester of Classes
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Register for your last semester of classes.
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Review My Progress for each active major/degree in your Self-Service account to ensure all major/degree requirements are completed, in-progress, and/or registered (not planned).
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If a major/degree you were previously pursuing is not in your list of active major(s)/degree(s), contact the Records and Registration’s Records Specialist to have your major/degree reactivated.
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If you are a current student and have not been accepted into your major/degree you must complete the Change Your Program of Study Application to have the major/degree added to your record.
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If you are not a current student you will need to complete the Admissions Application to have the major/degree added to your record.
Apply for Graduation
Students on track to graduate and that have registered for their last semester of classes will receive an invitation to apply for graduation to their Hawkeye email address with the subject line, "Invitation to Apply for [Term ’Yr] Graduation – DEADLINE is [date]".
Invitations will be sent bi-monthly, starting two weeks after registration begins for the semester.
| Registration Begins | Invitation Emails Begin | Graduation Application Deadline |
| Fall 2022 Graduate | March 21, 2022 | April 4, 2022 | November 30, 2022 by 4:30pm |
| Spring 2023 Graduate | October 31, 2022 | November 14, 2022 | February 20, 2023 by 4:30pm |
If you have not received an invitation to apply for graduation and you feel you should have, please see your advisor.
Completing the graduation application will:
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Initiate the review of your degree requirements and aid in the completion of your record to show you have officially completed a program.
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Provide the name you wish to be printed on your diploma.
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Submit your mailing address and request for a printed diploma.
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Provide your hometown information so we can contact your local newspaper to announce your graduation.
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Allow you to participate in the commencement ceremony.
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Help Hawkeye track the success of its programs and graduates.
See Completing the Graduation Application for step-by-step instructions to complete your graduation application.
Check Your Hawkeye Email
Check your Hawkeye email often. Many emails are time sensitive.
Emails to watch for:
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An email invitation with the link to apply for graduation.
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An email letting you know the status of your graduation application.
If you do not receive this email within 30 days of submitting your graduation application contact the records specialist in the Records and Registration office.
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An email with information about purchasing your cap and gown.
Your Hawkeye email address will remain active for six months after you graduate. If you want to receive updates on the commencement ceremony at another email address, update your contact information in My Hawkeye > WebAdvisor for Students > Academic Profile > My Profile.
Complete Exit Loan Counseling
Complete Exit Loan Counseling if you have Federal Direct Direct Loans.
Participating in the Commencement Ceremony
You are not required to participate in the commencement ceremony to graduate from Hawkeye, however, we encourage you to attend. The Commencement Ceremony is a time to celebrate all you've accomplished!
By having an accepted graduation application you are eligible to participate in the commencement ceremony. No further sign-up is needed.
Students can choose to participate in the commencement ceremony up until the event starts. Students who submitted a graduation application by the deadline will have their name printed in the commencement program.
If you wish to participate in the commencement ceremony you will need to purchase a cap, gown, and tassel.
Where to purchase your cap, gown, and tassel:
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Visit the Hawkeye Bookstore. Caps, gowns, and tassels will be available for purchase starting April 4, 2023 .
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Come to the Grad Fair on Tuesday, April 4 and Wednesday, April 5 from 11:00am – 1:00pm at the Brock Student Center. In addition to your cap, gown, and tassel you can purchase graduation memorabilia and visit with staff from Financial Aid, the Business Office, Records and Registration, and Student Services.
Cost:
- Cap, Gown, and Tassel Package … $34
- Tassel only … $6
- Cap only … $9
Cap decorations are ok, however, excessive decorations on caps are distracting and therefore inappropriate. Hawkeye reserves the right to require you to remove any alterations deemed inappropriate by authorized college officials before you are permitted to participate in the commencement ceremony.
Examples of inappropriate embellishment include, but are not limited to:
- Caps with vulgar language, inappropriate verbiage, or photos/graphic images.
- Caps with lights, balloons, and other items that could pose a safety hazard.
- Decorations that obstruct the view of people seated behind the graduate.
- Designs with vertical structures or décor; elements used in the design must lay as flat to the cap as possible.
Students with a cumulative GPA of 3.5 or higher will graduate with honors. See Graduating with Honors for information on honors medallions.
Students with a cumulative GPA of 3.25 of higher are eligible for membership to Phi Theta Kappa (PTK) Honor Society. See Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society for information about PTK membership and PTK commencement ceremony regalia.
Graduating veterans and military-connected students can request a free red, white, and blue veteran graduation cord from Veterans Services to wear during commencement.
Veteran graduation cords can be picked up from the Veterans Services office or picked up on the day of graduation at UNI.
Celebrate at the Commencement Ceremony!
Commencement Ceremony Student Speaker
Share a message of inspiration and encouragement, commemorate this accomplishment, and inspire fellow classmates to carry the Hawkeye Community College mission out into the world.
Your Diploma
You should receive your diploma in the mail approximately 3–4 weeks after graduation.
If your diploma is undelivered, lost, stolen, or damaged in the mailing process, we regret that we cannot be responsible for the diploma. You will need to order a replacement diploma and pay all associated fees. Thank you for your understanding.
Students who do not participate in the Commencement Ceremony can purchase a diploma cover for $6.00/cover. Stop by the Business Office to pay the $6.00 fee, then bring the receipt to Records and Registration to pick up the diploma cover.
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