Graduation Petition Process
Celebrating Graduates!
Congratulations Seahawk!
You're almost done with your requirements and you're ready to graduate. What's Next?
For most students, you need to tell us you're graduating. Then we do our part: we'll package everything together to confer your certificate|degree to make it all official. This is called the "Petition to Graduate" process. For some students earning certificates this process is automatic.
At the end of the process you'll be a Cabrillo College Graduate.
You'll receive your diploma from Cabrillo College.
While not required, you'll be able to participate in the Commencement Ceremony.
Getting Ready - what to expect, in short:
Start on your own by viewing My Progress in Student Planning to check that all your requirements will be done by the end of the term.
You may then need to meet with an Academic Counselor, together you'll complete the Graduation Petition form.*
You'll review the requirements of your program and verify that you have met (or will meet) all those requirements.
The Academic Counselor forwards the Graduation Petition to the Evaluation Team in Admissions & Records.
The Evaluation Team holds the Graduation Petition for final grades from in-progress courses to verify that all plan requirements have been met.
Diplomas will be issued and mailed after the certificate|degree has been verified as complete.
Keep reading - all the information, deadlines and specific process details are outlined below.
*Please note: not all students need to meet with a Academic Counselor to Petition to Graduate.
- Admissions and Records
- Academic Standing
- CalGrant GPA Submission
- Dates and Deadlines
- Enrollment Verifications
- Fees, payments, and refunds
- GE Certifications
- Graduation Petition Process
- Register for classes
- Registration Ranking Enrollment Priorities
- Request Cabrillo Transcripts
- Residency
- Student Records Privacy
- Students Apply
- Tax Information 1098-T
- Useful Forms
- Contact Admissions & Records Staff
Petition to Graduate?
No Petition Appointment Needed for:
Skills Certificates|Certificates of Achievement if:
- all your required courses are completed at Cabrillo
- completed and in-progress courses meet all certificate requirements based on current catalog-year requirements
Cabrillo will automatically award your Skills Certificates and Certificates of Achievements; you will be notified via email. Update your email address with this eForm.
Petition Appointment Required for:
ALL AA/AS Degrees
Certificates: if any requirements have been met with courses from another college
You are required to meet with an Academic Counselor to petition to graduate. Together you'll review your progress, evaluate transcripts from other schools, and confirm your that you are eligible to graduate.
How to Plan During the Term You are Graduating
- First Things FirstOrder official transcripts from other colleges, universities, AP and CLEP
If you haven't done this already, DO IT NOW. If you've completed any plan requirements at other colleges|universities or through AP|CLEP, you must provide those official transcripts to Cabrillo so that we can verify that those requirements have been met. Submitting documents can be done anytime before you petition - documents must be on file before you petition.
- Beginning of the TermFind the graduation petition deadlines for your term
You can graduate during any of the enrollment terms (summer, fall, spring). Review the Dates & Deadlines for your graduating term to see the deadlines to petition to graduate and to participate in the Commencement Ceremony.
- 1-3 Weeks Into the TermMeet with an Academic Counselor
Meet through Drop-In Advising or make an appointment. If making an appointment, let staff know it's to Petition to Graduate.
- Before the DeadlineAttend Your Academic Counseling Appointment
During your appointment, you'll work together to review all your completed course work from Cabrillo, integrate completed courses not from Cabrillo and verify that everything will be completed by the end of term.
- Before the End of the TermUpdate All your Information
Avoid delays, update your information. Cabrillo will use all the information listed in your record to:
- populate your name on your diploma
- send you an email notification of any certificates that will be auto-awarded
- mail your diploma to the address on file
View what is currently on file and update all your information with this eForm.
- After Final Grades are PostedOrder Your Official Cabrillo College Transcript
- Check the Dates & Deadlines for your graduating term to see when final grades will be posted
- Check that all your grades are posted before you order your transcript
- Order your official transcript for an official, verified list all courses for your certificate|degree
- Transcripts will be ready and available before diplomas are mailed
What's the difference between Graduation and Commencement?
Graduation
Graduation is the official awarding of a degree or certificate to a student's record after final grades are posted and all degree requirements have been verified as met. Certificates of Achievement and AA|AS Degrees will be listed on your official Cabrillo transcript. You will receive an official diploma displaying all your earned certificates|degrees. You are not required to participate in the commencement ceremony to graduate and receive your diploma. Note: if you have attended other colleges, you must provide official transcripts and schedule an appointment with a Cabrillo Academic Counselor to confirm how your courses will be applied to your degree goal.
Commencement
Commencement is the ceremony held in May of each year to celebrate student accomplishment. We'll recognize degrees and certificates earned and transfer goals. It's a time for you to be with your friends and family to honor all your hard work. While not required, all eligible students are encouraged to participate in the ceremony. You name and all your degrees|certificates|transfer goals will be announced during the ceremony. Note: diplomas are not awarded during the ceremony and participation does not indicate the official completion of your degree(s) or certificate(s).
The Graduation Petition Process
Everything You Need to Know
Cabrillo College will automatically award Skills Certificates and Certificates of Achievements if all required courses are completed at Cabrillo, and if completed and in-progress courses meet all certificate requirements.
Here's how you can check:
Log into My Cabrillo
Select Student Planning
Select My Progress/Program Evaluation. This populates your record that shows how completed, in-progress, and planned Cabrillo courses meet program requirements.
Using View a New Program (or your active program if it is accurate), you can verify completion of requirements for all certificate and degree programs.
Toggle the "Alternate Catalog Year" to the current year.
You DO NOT need to petition if the My Progress report shows that all requirements have been, or will be met upon completion of in-progress courses. Cabrillo will notify you via email if your Skills Certificate or Certificate of Achievement will be automatically awarded at the end of the term. Not Sure? Email Us.
You do need to petition if any requirements are shown as not completed or in-progress, and you've met those requirements with courses from another college. You are required to meet with an Academic Counselor to evaluate your transcripts, confirm your progress and to petition to graduate. Official transcripts required.
Here's how you can check the status of your degree requirements:
Log into My Cabrillo
Select Student Planning
Select My Progress/Program Evaluation
Using View a New Program (or your active program if it is accurate), you can verify completion of requirements for all certificate and degree programs.
You will need to indicate the catalog year being used. Your choice of catalog year must be within your catalog rights.
My Progress shows how completed, in-progress, and planned Cabrillo courses meet program requirements. If the report shows that all requirements have been or will be met upon completion of in-progress courses, schedule an appointment with an Academic Counselor to confirm your degree status and to petition to graduate if eligible. If any requirements are shown as not completed or in-progress, and you've met those requirements with courses from another college an Academic Counselor will need to evaluate your transcripts and confirm your progress. Official transcripts required.
ProTip: If your goal is transfer to a four-year institution, meeting with an academic counselor is needed to ensure you meet university admission, general education, and major preparation requirements.
You can petition to graduate for any Skills Certificate, Certificate of Achievement, or Associate Degree once all requirements are met, or if all requirements will be met by the end of the current term (fall/spring/summer).
As outlined above, some certificates are automatically awarded and you do not need to petition to graduate. Not sure? Ask Us.
See Dates & Deadlines for petition deadlines by term.
As outlined above, Cabrillo will notify you and automatically award Skills Certificates and Certificates of Achievements if all requirements have been met with Cabrillo courses. Not sure? Ask Us.
For AA/AS degree-seeking students and students earning a certificate with course work from other schools:
Schedule an appointment with a counselor early in the term in which you're completing your final requirements.
See Dates & Deadlines for petition deadlines by term.
Once final grades are posted and your petition is found to be incomplete, you'll be notified via email. You will need to re-petition for a subsequent semester after any missing courses have been completed or official documentation has been received.
Cabrillo College issues a new catalog each year. The courses required for a specific degree or certificate may change from one catalog year to the next, and often change during a student's time at the college. For the purposes of meeting graduation requirements, student may elect to meet the requirements of either:
The Catalog in effect at the time of first enrollment, or
Any Catalog that has been in effect during the time the student has maintained continuous enrollment.
For transfer students following IGETC or the CSU general education pattern, it may be in the student's best interest to select the most recent catalog year.
Continuous enrollment is defined as completion of at least one course per academic year with a grade of A, B, C, D or P (CR) at Cabrillo College, or at another US regionally accredited institution of higher learning.
If you decide to change your major, make an appointment with an Academic Counselor before you make this change official.
Diplomas are not distributed at the Commencement Ceremony.
Degree|Certificate processing will start after final grades are posted. Go to Dates & Deadlines to see when final grades will be posted.
Diploma Processing Timeline:
It takes a minimum of two (2) months after final grades have been posted for the Evaluator Team to evaluate graduation petitions.
If everything is complete, you can expect to receive your diploma in the mail 2-4 months after the end of the semester.
Transcript Processing Timeline:
If everything is complete, your degree will be posted on your official transcript 1-2 months after final grades are posted.
If you require proof of your degree for employment or university transfer applications, please order an official transcript.
Your diploma will be sent to the mailing address listed in your file. To update, submit the Change of Information eForm. If you move after your petition has been submitted, please submit a mail-forwarding request with the US Postal Service.
We want your diploma to be correct and list the name you want, here's how you can help:
View the name listed and currently on file; if needed, update all your information.
- We will use the name listed on your record to populate your name on your diploma
- Your diploma will display your chosen name
- If there is no chosen name on file, it will display your legal name
ProTip: verify your name now to save money later: if your name isn't correct on your diploma, you can request a replacement but there is a $25.00 replacement fee.
Yes! Good News! If your diploma is missing or destroyed, you can order a replacement diploma. Please submit the Diploma/Certificate Replacement eForm. Please note: there is a $25.00 replacement fee.