Commencement Services
Commencement Information
PSC grants certificates and the following six associate's degrees:
- Associate in Arts (A.A.)
- Associate in Science (A.S.)
- Associate in Fine Arts (A.F.A.)
- Associate of Arts in Teaching (A.A.T.)
- Associate in Applied Science (A.A.S.; career and technical degree)
- Associate in General Studies (A.G.S.; not intended for career program or a bachelor's degree)
Specific curriculum requirements for a particular degree or certificate program are found in the catalog under DEGREES, CERTIFICATES, COURSES in section 2. Consult that section of the catalog and the index for detailed information.
Commencement Ceremony
Commencement for the 2119/2020 academic year will be held Saturday, May 16, 2020, at the Franciscan Fitness Center Fieldhouse at 100 197th Place, Chicago Heights 60411, north of the Prairie State College campus.
- Doors open at 9:15 a.m., the ceremony begins at 11 a.m.
- No admittance once the ceremony begins
- No strollers allowed
- Everyone attending must have a ticket – including babies
Participation in Commencement
Commencement is a ceremony held once a year, at the end of the spring semester in May, that celebrates the completion of a PSC degree or certificate program. Graduates from the previous fall, current spring, and upcoming summer terms are invited to participate. Participation in the Commencement Ceremony does not imply that a student has graduated. A Commencement (graduation) ceremony is held once a year, at the end of the spring semester in May. Graduates from the previous fall, current spring, and upcoming summer terms are invited to participate.Note: This is the only ceremony held all year, though you may be certified as a graduate at the end of any semester of the academic year.
To participate in the Commencement ceremony, a student must file a graduation petition and have completed all degree requirements for graduation as confirmed by Enrollment Services.
The deadline to apply for the ceremony is March 1 for spring and summer graduates. Previous fall graduates are automatically notified via mail at the end of March regarding participation in the ceremony.
For each degree application, a fee of $20 will be charged upon petitioning for graduation (this includes the cost of a degree diploma). There is no additional fee to participate in the ceremony.
Students who have no more than nine credits remaining to complete their degree requirements,
have at least a 2.00-grade point average, and are enrolled for the remaining nine
credits for the degree completion in the upcoming summer session(s) also may participate
in the Commencement Ceremony.
Awarding of the Diploma
A faculty or staff member of the college who has a family member participating in
Commencement and wishes to present the diploma to the individual during the ceremony
may petition the President for permission to do so. Because of the planning and coordinating
requirements of the Commencement ceremony, only PSC faculty or staff members currently
employed at the college may be extended this privilege.
Attention Student Veterans:
If you wish to participate in the Veterans Stole Ceremony, you must contact Georges
Sanon, Student Veterans Center coordinator, at (708) 709-3567.
For more information regarding commencement, please contact Helen Manley at hmanley@prairiestate.edu or (708) 709-3910.
Video
A DVD of the 2019 Prairie State College graduation will be available for purchase. Please complete an order form and reserve a copy to have as a keepsake of your accomplishments.
Cap and Gown Information / Cap and Gown Pick-Up Dates
Cap and Gown Pickup for Students
You may pick-up your cap and gown in the Student Leadership Center, Room 1260 on the college's first floor.
At that time, we will ask graduate candidates to fill out a short online survey, and they will also receive their cap, gown, pack of announcements, information sheet, and four tickets. There are also two additional green tickets available on a first come first serve basis that will be for a live streaming of the ceremony, and will be held in the Prairie State College Barnes & Noble Auditorium and not in the actual location of the ceremony.
Important Commencement Information
A letter will be mailed to students in late April regarding when they will be able
to pick-up their regalia. At the same time you will be receiving your 4 tickets (or
less) and 10 announcements with an information sheet that will answer questions. If
you cannot pick up at the times above, please call (708) 709-3910. We will also have
surveys we would like you to fill out.
Those interested in extra tickets must call Helen Manley (708) 709-3910 to be put
on the list. There are, however, no guarantees that by being on the list you will
be able to get extra tickets.
Based on the student's cumulative GPA (thru Fall, 2019), those who are eligible for
honors medallions will receive them on May 18.
Members in good standing of Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society, Nu Sigma Chapter, are invited to wear distinctive Phi Theta Kappa regalia at the time they graduate and participate in commencement exercises at Prairie State College.
If you wish to wear the Phi Theta Kappa stole, tassel, and honors cord (or any combination thereof), please place your order online at http://store.ptk.org/ no later than the last week of April to ensure delivery to your home address in time for Commencement. Phi Theta Kappa members will need to provide their membership identification number at time of purchase to verify their membership in the honor society. Regalia will not be sold on campus, or be available the day of Commencement. Please plan accordingly. Please contact Phi Theta Kappa faculty advisor Dr. Justin Pariseau at jpariseau@prairiestate.edu with any questions.
If the graduate or guest has special needs, contact Helen Manley at hmanley@prairiestate.edu or (708) 709-3910.
For more information regarding commencement, please contact Helen Manley at hmanley@prairiestate.edu or (708) 709-3910.