Frequently Asked Questions

Section I - Associate Degrees and Certificates of Achievement

This section answers questions mainly for 2-year associate degrees and one-year certificates of achievement. For certificates of accomplishment and certificates of completion which require less than 45 credits, please refer to Section II.

• What should I do if I am finishing my program?

• What are the steps to apply for graduation?

• Where can I obtain a graduation application?

• What other documents do I need to submit?

• How can I change or modify my application?

• What will happen after I submit an application?

• What if I have not completed the requirements?

• What do I need to submit to transfer in credits?

• What is an acceptable official transcript?

• How are the grades of transfer-in credits counted?

• How do I qualify to graduate with honors?

• When will I receive the degree/certificate?

• When will I hear about commencement?

• How can I request a diploma replacement?

• How do I contact the Evaluations Office?

What should I do if I am finishing my program?

• You must apply for graduation to receive an associate degree or certificate of achievement.

• One graduation application must be filed with a processing fee for each degree or certificate.

• To ensure timely notification of meeting graduation requirements, any application must be submitted prior to the deadline listed below for the quarter you expect to graduate:

• Summer Quarter - March 15
  Fall Quarter - June 1
  Winter Quarter - October 10
  Spring Quarter - December 10

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What are the steps to apply for graduation?

• Register for graduation by using the correct item number (GRD1, GRD2, etc.) in web registration or in person at the Student Services Center.

• Pay the processing fee for each application via web registration or at the cashier's office.

• Select and submit the correct application for each degree or certificate online, via U.S. mail or in person to the Student Services Center or the Evaluations Office.

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Where can I obtain a graduation application?

• Online at www.bellevuecollege.edu/enrollment/graduation

• In person at the Student Services Center or the Evaluations Office.

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What other documents do I need to submit?

• Official transcript - To apply credits from another college or university toward BCC degree or certificate requirements, official transcripts (in their original, sealed envelopes) must be submitted to the Evaluations Office along with the graduation application.

• Associate in Science Degree advising/completion worksheet - Students who apply for an Associate in Science Degree (Track I or II) must first meet with a science advisor to plan the specific courses for their major. A copy of the degree advising worksheet signed by the advisor must be submitted to the Evaluations Office along with the graduation application.

• Professional program advising/completion worksheet - Students in professional programs should first meet with the program chair to review coursework for completing the program requirements. A copy of the degree/certificate completion checklist signed by the Program Chair must be submitted to the Evaluations Office along with the graduation application.

• Professional course substitution or waiver approval - Program chairs will indicate any approved course substitutions or transferred-in credits on the degree (or certificate) advising/completion worksheet. A copy of the worksheet signed by the program chair must be submitted along with the graduation application.

• High school transcript - Students who choose to use their advanced algebra course completed in high school to meet the intermediate algebra requirement for the Associate in Arts and Sciences Degree must submit an official high school transcript to the Evaluations Office along with the graduation application.

• Approved academic concentration application - Students who apply for an academic concentration for the Associate in Arts and Sciences Degree must first contact the department chair of the academic department for approval. An academic concentration application signed by the chair must be submitted to the Evaluations Office along with the graduation application. (Currently English, Music, Philosophy and Psychology offer academic concentrations)
  

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How can I change or modify my application?

• Online - submit a Student Inquiry Form online. Be sure to include your full name and BCC student identification number in the message.

• Email - Send an email to the Evaluations Office. Include your full name and BCC student identification number in the email.

• In person - Visit the Evaluations Office in room B125.

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What will happen after I submit an application?

• Confirmation for receipt of application - An email will be sent by the Evaluation Office to confirm the receipt of your application.

• Preliminary graduation evaluation - Your credits will be evaluated according to the requirements of the degree or certificate you indicate on your graduation application.

• Notification of qualification status - A copy of your official degree or certificate graduation evaluation will be sent to you by the quarter you plan to graduate.

• Final credit evaluation - Your credits will be reviewed again after the grades of your final quarter are posted to your transcript.

• Notification of degree completion - If the final credit evaluation verifies that you have completed all graduation requirements, you will be notified by mail after your degree or certificate is posted to your transcript.
  

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What if I have not completed the requirements?

• You need to contact the Evaluations Office to defer your graduation.

• You will be notified by mail if you have not completed all requirements by your final quarter.

• The letter will state that you have approximately 4 weeks to contact the Evaluations Office by email or in person to change your graduation to a later quarter.

• After the deadline, you will be required to resubmit another graduation application as well as pay the application fee.

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What do I need to submit to transfer in credits?

• Official transcript - An official transcript in a sealed envelope from the transfer institution must be submitted to the Evaluations Office when you apply for graduation.

• Course descriptions - For coursework completed prior to summer 1994, you must also submit course descriptions copied from the catalog in effect when the course or courses were taken.

• Official English translation - For transcripts or course descriptions which are not written in English, an official English translation by a certified translator must be submitted.

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What is an acceptable official transcript?

• A transcript is official if it is sent directly from the sending institution to BCC.

• It can also be sent via electronic transmission directly to BCC from any community college in the State of Washington.

• Students can deliver a transcript to BCC in person if it is sealed in an official envelope from the sending institution.

• The BCC Admissions Office may have returned a transcript from another institution to you in mail. If so, it is acceptable to use as an official transcript at BCC if it is sealed in an envelope labeled "Official for BCC use only".

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How are the grades of transfer-in credits counted?

• Credits and grades from other institutions are not included in the calculation of the cumulative GPA for graduation.

• Transfer credits with less than a "D" grade or "1.0" in numeric grading system are not counted to satisfy a graduation requirement.
  

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How do I qualify to graduate with distinction?

• Students who have earned an associate degree or certificate of achievement and have maintained a high cumulative grade-point average of 3.50 or above will receive recognition in the printed program distributed at the June commencement ceremony, and on degrees and transcripts.

• Credits and grades transferred to BCC from other colleges and universities are not included in the calculation of the cumulative grade-point average.

• Distinction is recognized as follows:

  • Cumulative grade point average of 3.50-3.74 - "With Distinction"

• Cumulative grade point average of 3.75-4.0 - "With High Distinction"

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When will I receive the degree/certificate?

• If the final credit verification process shows you have completed all graduation requirements, the degree or certificate will show on your transcript approximately 2-3 weeks after the quarterly grades are posted to your transcript. A notification of completion will then be mailed to you.

• If you need verification of your degree or certificate completion, you can submit requests for official BCC transcripts from the Records Office either online or in person at the Student Services Center.

• Diplomas are mailed approximately 12 weeks after the quarter ends.
  

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When will I hear about commencement?

• The commencement ceremony and reception is held each June for all BCC graduates. It is generally held during the evening of the last day of Spring Quarter.

• During Spring Quarter, eligible students are mailed instructions regarding participation in the June commencement ceremony. Students must meet application deadlines in order to participate in the commencement ceremony.

• Students who complete their program requirements during Fall or Winter Quarters as well as those students who will be completing their program during Spring and Summer quarters are also invited to participate in the June commencement ceremonies.

• An invitation or participation in the commencement ceremony does not imply that a degree or certificate will be awarded. Final verification is made by the Evaluations Office only after quarterly grades are posted.

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How can I request a diploma replacement?

• Submit a Diploma Replacement Request Form (PDF format) to the Evaluations Office. A processing fee is required for each replacement. It may take up to 3-4 months for processing and mailing. Rush orders can be placed with an additional fee. (check with the Evaluations Office for the current fee)

How do I contact the Evaluations Office?

• The Evaluations Office is located in Room B125. (Special Notice: The office has temporarily moved to room C225)

• The main phone number is (425) 564-3106.

• Email inquiries can be sent to evaluations@bcc.ctc.edu

• For specific questions to the Credentials Evaluators, please e-mail the appropriate contact person according to your last name:
  - For last name begins with A-G, contact Patty Pratschner
  - For last name begins with H-N, contact Nelli Kasparova;
  - For last name begins with O-Z, contact Roberta Gray

• Office Hours (except summer): 8:00 a.m. - 5 p.m. Monday to Friday

• Summer office hours (June 25 - August 31) : 7:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Monday through Thursday; and 8:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. on Fridays.

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Section II - Certificates of Accomplishment and Certificates of Completion (under 45 credits)

This section answers questions mainly for certificates of accomplishment and certificates of completion which require fewer than 45 credits. For 2-year associate degrees and one-year certificates of achievement (45 credits or more), please refer to Section I.

What should I do if I am finishing my program?

How can I change or modify my application?

How do I apply substitution or transfer in credits?

How are the grades of transfer-in credits counted?

What happens after I submit an application?

Is there any honors status for this cerfiticate?

Will I be invited to the commencement?

What should I do if I am finishing my program?

• Submit a certificate application to the Student Service Center.

• Submit one application for each certificate.

• Certificate applications are available at the Student Service Center

• No fee is required.

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How can I change or modify my application?

Visit the Student Service Center to change or modify your application.

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How do I apply substitution or transfer in credits?

• Meet with your program chair with your transcript from the transfer institution(s). The program chair may approve applicable credits toward your certificate requirements.

• Program chairs indicate and sign any approved course substitutions or transferred-in credits in the space provided on the certificate application.

• An official transcript from the transferring institution is required at the time of application.

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How are the grades of transfer-in credits counted?

• Credits and grades from other institutions are not included in the calculation of the cumulative GPA for certificate completion.

• Transfer credits with less than a "D" grade or "1.0" in numeric grading system are not counted to satisfy a certificate requirement.

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What happens after I submit an application?

• Your credits will be evaluated according to the requirements of the certificate you indicate on your application.

• If the credit evaluation shows you have completed all requirements, a notation for the certificate will be posted on your BCC official transcript.

• A certificate of completion will be mailed to you.

• You will be notified if there are deficiencies for the certificate.

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Is there any honors status for this cerfiticate?

No. Honors designations are available only for associate degrees and certificates of achievement (requires 45 credits or more).

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Will I be invited to the commencement?

No. Only students earning associate degrees and one-year certificates of achievement are invited to the commencement ceremony.

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Back to Section I

Updated 3/18/2008