Catalog - Virginia Intermont College

Academic Program 65
December and August Graduates
The Commencement ceremony is held in May. December graduates from the
prior fall semester are recognized and participate in the May Commencement
ceremony. Prospective August graduates with demonstrated plans for completion
of all remaining requirements participate and are recognized during the May
Commencement ceremony. Upon completion of degree requirements, August
graduates receive their diplomas by mail. December or August graduates, who
choose not to participate in Commencement, must provide a written request
to graduate in absentia to the Vice President for Academic Affairs/Provost for
approval.
Posthumous Degree Policy
A student who did not complete all requirements for his or her degree at the time
of death may be awarded a posthumous degree from Virginia Intermont College.
In order to be considered for the Posthumous Degree, the Office of the Provost
must ensure that the following conditions are met:
• The student was enrolled in the College and was in good standing at the
time of death
• The student was a standing senior, with 88 credit hours earned
• The student’s death was not caused by unlawful activity.
If the above criteria are met, the Provost and the faculty of the department
within the deceased student’s primary major may make recommendation to
the College’s faculty to approve the awarding of the posthumous degree. Simple
majority constitutes approval.
The graduation program shall note the degree was posthumously awarded. An
appropriate academic officer of the College shall present the posthumous degree
to the immediate family of the deceased student.
Writing Competency Requirement
Virginia Intermont College is dedicated to providing its graduates with the writing
skills required for success in academics and in the workplace. The College,
because it recognizes the importance of this component of a high-quality
liberal arts education, emphasizes written communication in Core courses and
in other curricula. In addition, the College requires all students to demonstrate
writing competency before graduation. Writing competency is defined as the
ability to produce college-level expository writing characterized by meaningful
content development, clear organization, coherence, unity, accurate sentence
construction, precise diction, and standard grammar and usage.
Virginia Intermont College 2012–2013 College Catalog