Students graduate in December and May. An annual graduation ceremony is held in May in Phillips and Arkansas Counties.
When a student is scheduled to graduate, the advisor and student must fill out an application for an associate degree/technical certificate and/or a certificate of proficiency. A degree audit must be attached to the application and sent to the Vice Chancellor for Instruction’s office. Any course substitutions must be written on the degree audit, and the degree audit must match the catalog year for the student.
To earn an associate degree, at least thirty (30) credit hours or the last fifteen (15) hours must be earned from PCCUA. For a technical certificate, at least half the credit hours must be earned at PCCUA. Students can only receive one Associate of Arts degree from PCCUA.
The deadline to submit an application for May 2024 graduation is March 15, 2024.
Completion and Transfer-out Rates
4-year average Student Right-to-Know Completion or Graduation Rate - 41%
4-year average Student Right-to-Know Transfer-out Rate - 10%
PCCUA will award an associate degree or a technical certificate to students who satisfy all specified requirements. Students completing requirements in a college or university parallel program may be awarded the Associate of Arts degree. Students completing a two-year program in occupational education may be awarded the Associate of Applied Science degree. Students completing a one-year occupational program may be awarded a technical certificate. Students graduate in December and May. An annual commencement is held in May in Phillips and Arkansas Counties.
An associate degree or technical certificate will be awarded to students who satisfy the following requirements:
Complete a minimum of sixty (60) semester hours of approved credit toward the desired associate degree; complete a minimum of twenty-four (24) semester hours of approved credit toward the desired technical certificate. Associate of Arts degree candidates are required to participate in the general education outcomes assessment before graduation. At least thirty (30) credit hours or the last fifteen (15) hours toward an AA or an AAS degree must be earned from PCCUA. At least half of the credit hours toward a technical certificate must be earned from PCCUA.
Earn a grade point average of 2.0 or above on all college-level work completed. Exceptions are Nursing and MLT programs.
File an application for graduation with an advisor.
Fulfill financial obligations to the College.
All students receiving an associate’s degree from PCCUA will possess the following STACC Core Competencies:
Social and Community Responsibility - behavior that demonstrates adherence to legal/ethical standards established by society. A person competent in social and community responsibility engage in social activities, events, and organizations at the college and community level.
Technology Utilization - use of tools of the trade to achieve a specific outcome. A person who is competent in technology and information literacy recognizes how and what technology to use and when information is needed and has the ability to locate, evaluate, and use it effectively.
Analytical and Critical Thinking and Reasoning - modes of reasoning including analyzing data, evaluating alternatives, setting priorities, and predicting outcomes. A competent analytical and critical thinker evaluates evidence carefully and applies reasoning to decide what to believe and how to act.
Communication - the interactive process through which there is an exchange of verbal and/or nonverbal information. A competent communicator can interact with others using all forms of communication, resulting in understanding and being understood.
Commitments to diversity, equity and inclusion within the context of cultural engagement and understanding - acknowledgement that society is diverse with groups of individuals possessing differing beliefs, values, attitudes, and customs that are shared from one generation to the next and one culture to another. A commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion increases access and assures a better chance to succeed.