Updates

Spring Graduation & Summer Enrollment Updates

Apr 6, 2020


HCC Eagles,

I hope you’ve all had a restful weekend and that you’re ready to take on week two of online classes. As the Chancellor and others have shared over the last few weeks, we are working to finalize decisions on some of the remaining open items based on the changes we’ve had to make to our operations due to the Coronavirus.

Today I would like to cover two topics with you – changes to Spring Graduation Ceremonies and a delay to the start of Summer Registration.

 

Update on Spring 2020 Commencement and Graduation

HCC recognizes that commencement is an incredible accomplishment and festive time to be celebrated by our graduates and their loved ones.

During these uncertain times of travel restrictions and social distancing, the institution has decided to cancel the in-person ceremonies and instead hold virtual, livestreamed commencement options for all ceremonies (General Degrees & Certificates, VAST and TxCHSE).

The livestreamed events will occur on May 22 and specific details about how we will celebrate graduates’ accomplishments in this virtual manner will be shared by the end of April.

We were holding on to the hope of recognizing graduates in the traditional, in-person way, and understand these changes may be disappointing. Please know we’ve heard your concerns and will continue to listen as we plan to recognize all your hard work to reach this milestone!

 

Next Steps & Options for Graduates

  • Apply for Graduation | Commencement is the event to celebrate your accomplishment. In order to receive a degree, students must apply for graduation. The deadline to apply has been extended to Wednesday, April 22. For information about applying for graduation, please visit www.hccs.edu/graduation.
  • Mailed Degrees | All graduates will receive their degrees by mail.
  • Attending Fall Commencement | HCC will allow Spring graduates to receive physical recognition at the Fall Commencement in December, in addition to the virtual recognition we are planning for May.

 

Summer Registration Delay

Given extensions to the Houston area’s “Stay Home, Work Safe” order, as well as expectations by the CDC and other federal and state health entities for the Coronavirus pandemic to continue into the Summer, HCC has made the decision to restrict Summer classes to the online format. This means that we will only offer classes that can be taken in a 100% online format in the Summer.

To make the necessary changes to the Summer schedule in the system, we are delaying the start of Summer registration until Wednesday, April 8.

Should we be able to re-open campuses during the Summer, we will use that time to help students who are not able to complete lab-based or hands-on components of their Spring classes to finish their requirements.

The Administration continues to finalize other outstanding decisions, as we know our students, faculty and staff need answers to their remaining questions. We appreciate your flexibility and patience as we work to make sure any decisions made do not negatively impact our ability to create an environment where our students can be successful.

Sincerely,
Shantay R. Grays,
Vice Chancellor of Student Services


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