Graduation

Graduation Policies

Petition for Degree and/or Certificate through InSite

Click on the Graduation tile located in your InSite student account and follow the steps to Petition for Degree or Certificate.  Keep up to date on your petition status through your InSite portal.


When to Apply

You should petition for degree and/or certificate only if you plan to complete requirements for an Associate in Arts for Transfer Degree, Associate in Science for Transfer Degree, Associate in Arts Degree, an Associate in Science Degree, or a Certificate of Achievement by the end of the term in which you apply. You should have already reviewed your academic record with a counselor. Petitions for Degree and/or Certificate are available through InSite.  All students will receive notification of eligibility based on the dates listed below through InSite email.  If you miss a deadline for petition, you may apply for the next term and your degree or certificate will be posted in the next term.

Petition Deadlines

Admissions & Records will accept petitions for degree and/or certificate based on the start and deadline dates in the table below. 

Term Start Date and Deadline to Apply Notification of Eligibility Sent to All Semester Applicants via InSite Email Date Diplomas Will Be Mailed No Later Than
Summer April 1-July 15 InSite Email/Graduation Tile 6-8 weeks after end of term
Fall August 1-October 15 InSite Email/Graduation Tile 6-8 weeks after end of term
Spring November 1-March 1 InSite Email/Graduation Tile 6-8 weeks after end of term

**NEW** LMC uses Parchment for diploma production!

Parchment Logo

Approximately 6-8 weeks after the end of the term, students approved for their degree or certificate will receive an email from Parchment to electronically claim your diploma.

Introducing the Digital Diploma

Congratulations, graduate!
You’re proud and you’ve worked hard. Now it’s time to celebrate your
achievement, thank those who matter to you most, and let your credentials
go to work for you.

Los Medanos College has teamed with Parchment to offer an official digital version
of your diploma.

It’s fast, free, and sharable.

Celebrate your accomplishment with those who supported you along the way
-- your family, friends, and colleagues.
Share with potential employers to kick-start the next step in your journey or career.

How to Get It

Graduates will receive an email and text notification with instructions for electronically claiming their diploma.

Follow these simple steps:

• Check your school email and text messages for the award notification.
• Follow the link to set up your Parchment digital credentials account.
• Share your digital diploma on Facebook and LinkedIn or download a secure pdf version.

Your digital diploma will always be accessible through your Parchment account. You can login and download or share it again and again -- at no cost to you.

Your diploma will be sent to your email address on file. Update your personal email address.

How to Get Your Digital Diploma

What You Can Do with It

Share your Achievements

• Easily share your digital diploma with employers with a secure and verified link
• Share with family and friends on Facebook and LinkedIn

View or Download

• View your digital diploma online at any time with permanent access
• Download your digital diploma and save as a PDF

Early Graduation for Priority Registration

In order to give students who are close to graduation an advantage in registering for the remaining classes needed in their last semester, students may apply for an early registration appointment by submitting an early application to graduate in the semester before their planned graduation date.

Criteria to qualify for the early registration option:

  • Must be currently enrolled in a minimum of 12 units in the district for an AAT/AST/AA/AS or 3 units for a Certificate of Achievement
  • Have completed 30 units in the district or at a regionally accredited institution for an AAT/AST/AA/AS or 9 units for a certificate of achievement prior to the date of application
  • Must currently have a 2.0 GPA
  • Have official transcripts on file if attended other institutions
  • No late applications will be accepted
  • The early registration appointment can only be utilized one time per student

Early Graduation Application

Transcripts From Other Institutions

Official copies of transcripts from other institutions must be received in the Admissions & Records Office prior to the petition deadline. Your petition for degree and/or certificate will not be accepted if your transcripts are not on file. If your last units will be taken at another college, please note this on your Petition for Degree and/or Certificate. You will need to request an official transcript after the semester grades are posted. All units recorded on transcripts from other colleges are factored in with Los Medanos College units for a total GPA at graduation.

Where to Mail Official Transcripts

Los Medanos College
Admissions Office-Graduation
2700 East Leland Rd
Pittsburg, CA 94565


Catalog Rights

LMC publishes a new catalog every year, and the requirements for the degree/certificate programs may change from one catalog to the next. The requirements in a specific academic year’s catalog are the student’s contract (catalog rights) with the college and that catalog defines what the student must complete to earn a degree or certificate. Catalog rights do not pertain to prerequisites. Students have the right to graduate under the terms and regulations of any of the catalogs that are published while in continuous enrollment at LMC, prior to eligibility for graduation. 
 
Continuous enrollment is defined as enrollment in at least one course at Contra Costa College, Diablo Valley College or Los Medanos College in an academic year (fall, spring, summer). The student must receive a grade or notation on their transcript of A, B, C, D, F, P, NP, I, MW, EW, or W for the course. This continuous enrollment policy applies to students who are new, returning, or continuing. If students break continuous enrollment, they will be granted catalog rights to the catalog in effect when they return or petition for the degree or certificate.  
 
The college reserves the right to change catalog rights or program requirements based upon legal mandate and accreditation standards at any time. Catalog rights do not apply to IGETC certification. Students must follow the IGETC pattern in effect when they petition for certification. Courses used for CSU GE or IGETC certification must be on the approved list at the time they are completed. 

AA/AS Degree Requirements

Students must complete the AA/AS degree requirements, along with the requirements in a defined major for a minimum total of 60 units (all the units must be degree applicable). Of the total units completed, 12 units must be at LMC, with a cumulative grade point average of 2.0 or higher. All units recorded on transcripts from other colleges are factored in with Los Medanos College units for a total GPA at graduation.

NOTE: Students with a GPA below 2.0 may not petition for degree.

AAT/AST Degree Requirements

Students must complete either the CSU GE (California State University General Education Breadth Requirements) or IGETC  (Intersegmental General Education Transfer Curriculum Requirements for students transferring to CSU ), along with the requirements in a defined major for a minimum of 60 units (all units must be transferable units). Of the total units completed, 12 units must be at LMC, with a cumulative grade point average of 2.0 or higher. All units recorded on transcripts from other colleges are factored in with Los Medanos College units for a total GPA at graduation.

NOTE: Students with a GPA below 2.0 may not petition for degree. 

Certificate of Achievement Requirements

Students must complete the requirements listed for the Certificate of Achievement, 12 units in residency, and a cumulative grade point average of 2.0 (all units must be degree applicable).

You will receive a letter via Insite email from the Admissions & Records Office with your status. You will either be listed as 1) approved, 2) pending or 3) ineligible. If the letter states that you must provide more information, please make sure you do that at your earliest convenience as you will not receive any further correspondence. If you have questions once you receive your letter, please see a counselor.

Petition Status Definitions

APPROVED:
You will receive the "approved" status if you have completed all of your requirements.

PENDING:
You will receive the “pending” status if you are enrolled in your final classes the semester for which you have applied.

INELIGIBLE:
You will receive the “ineligible” status if you are not enrolled in your final classes during the semester for which you have applied. If you are ineligible, you may click on the rollover link to petition for degree and/or certificate in the next term. 

When To Expect Your Diploma

Your degree should be posted by the dates listed under "graduation policies" of the term in which you have graduated. You will receive an email from Parchment when your digital diploma is available and you must claim your printed diploma by verifying the address before the diploma printing and mailing will occur. 

Requesting Transcripts

If you wish to order transcripts, make sure your degree has posted by reviewing your Unofficial Transcript through InSite. Once your degree has posted, you may order your transcripts by clicking on the Grades-Transcripts tile in InSite or going directly to www.parchment.com