Senior Year Information

In order to be considered for the baccalaureate degree from Marymount Manhattan College, prospective graduates must apply for graduation. Students who have completed 75 credits toward their degree must register for GRAD 000 at the time of registration for the next semester. A short form, included in the registration packet for the appropriate semester must be turned in at the Registrar's Office on the basis of requirements published in any of four of the College catalogues. Under no circumstances can a student elect to be evaluated for degree requirements under a catalogue in effect prior to his/her first term of studies.

Students who complete all requirements and are cleared by the�Center for Student�Services�will be eligible to participate in the Commencement Ceremony. (This includes degree recipients from September of the previous calendar year and February and June of the current year).� In accordance with federal law requiring access to certain information, the College's graduation rate information is on file at the reserve desk in the library, and is, during business hours, open to inspection by the public. For further information, please contact the Office of Institutional Research and Planning.

Degree information
At Marymount Manhattan College the official dates for the completion of degree requirements are February 1, June 1, and September 1. Commencement ceremonies are held only once a year in late May. Graduation honors are conferred only at Commencement. At the Commencement exercises all those who have completed degree requirements since the previous Commencement are awarded any honors to which they are entitled (see below).

NOTE: A student who has a maximum of 6 credits to complete and will have a graduation date of September 1, may request the permission of the Academic Dean to walk at the Commencement ceremony held the previous spring. If such permission is granted and the student elects "to walk," s/he automatically forfeits any and all MMC honors for which s/he may have been eligible, due to the fact that his/her degree will not have been formally completed by the date of the ceremony. Students will however achieve cum laude, magna cum laude or summa cum laude, at the time their degree is actually conferred, provided that they have achieved the requisite final grade point average and the 60 credit minimum requirement.

Senior class rings
The College is not contracted with a specific company for class ring sales.� However, alumni have purchased class rings with the Herff-Jones Company. Contact information is below:

Herff Jones, Inc.
Tel # 516-781-0348
Email: pjreill@aol.com �

Academic attire: At Marymount, complete academic attire consists of a gown, hood, cap, and black tassel. All Graduating Seniors who have been inducted into one or more of the College's honor societies are allowed to wear the tassel associated with that honor society at the Baccalaureate and Commencement ceremonies.

After seniors have completed a Baccalaureate Degree Application (available in the Center for Student Services Office), and their credits have been evaluated, it is time to order attire. Students are required to visit www.herffjones.com/college to order their own academic attire by March 19, 2008. After this date, the site will close and no more orders will be taken. The attire order form will ask for information regarding name, degree, height, weight, etc. Please note: there is no charge to the student for this order. The charges for attire rental are included in the Graduation Fee.

GRADUATION HONORS:
At Marymount Manhattan College the official dates for the completion of degree requirements are February 1, June 1, and September 1. Commencement ceremonies, including Baccalaureate are held only once a year in May. All graduation honors are conferred at this time. At the Baccalaureate exercises, all those who have completed degree requirements since the previous Commencement are awarded any honors to which they are entitled. To be eligible for the all honors, students must have completed at least 60 credits at MMC. (Only credits earned through coursework at MMC will be counted towards graduation honors; credits earned through Prior Learning Experience are excluded from consideration.) Graduates may receive any of the following honors:

Summa cum laude: Students who have a grade point average of 3.90 or higher are awarded this honor, which appears on the student's diploma;

Magna cum laude: those who have attained a grade point average of 3.70 or higher are awarded this honor, which appears on the student's diploma;

Cum laude those who have attained a grade point average of 3.50 or higher are awarded this honor, which appears on the student's diploma.

Gerard Scholar
Gerard Scholar is the highest scholastic honor Marymount Manhattan College bestows. To be named Gerard Scholar, a graduating senior must have completed at least 60 college credits at Marymount Manhattan College and have maintained a cumulative index of 3.90 or higher at MMC; no more than 2 courses or 6 credits may have been taken under the Pass/Fail option. (Note: These requirements must be met by the end of the January term prior to Commencement, i.e., calculation of the required credits and of the cumulative index will be based only on those MMC credits earned before the Spring Commencement at which the honor is conferred.) Any credit for Prior Learning Experience will not count toward eligibility for Gerard Scholar. Students who have unresolved incompletes or students under suspension will not be eligible. The Faculty Council may make amendments to these criteria.

Curian Honor Society
Election to the Curian Honor Society is determined on the basis of academic achievement. A graduating senior is eligible, if his/her cumulative grade point average is between 3.70 and 3.89, based upon the completion of at least 60 credits earned at Marymount Manhattan College; no more than 2 courses or 6 credits may have been taken under the Pass/Fail option. (Note: These requirements must be met by the end of the January term prior to Commencement, i.e., calculation of the required credits and of the cumulative index will be based only on those MMC credits earned before the Spring Commencement at which the honor is conferred.) Any credit for Prior Learning Experience will not count toward eligibility for election to the Curian Honor Society. Students who have unresolved incompletes or students under suspension will not be eligible. The Faculty Council may make amendments to these criteria.

Valedictorian
The Valedictorian is the senior who maintains the highest cumulative index based on all work done at the College before the Spring term prior to the Commencement ceremony. To qualify, students must have taken a minimum of 60 credits at Marymount Manhattan College. In the case of a tie, the graduate with the highest number of credits will be named the valedictorian.

Senior Class Speaker
The members of the senior class select the Senior Class Speaker. Students vote for the senior who has made the most consistent contribution in fostering community spirit among the graduating class.

Gold Keys
A medal or gold key is awarded in each discipline to one graduating student who has achieved a high degree of excellence in his/her chosen academic field. The criteria for the major medal are: a 3.50 index based on all credits in the major field completed by the start of the Spring term prior to the Commencement at which the medal is awarded; a cumulative index of 3.00 based on the 45 credits taken at MMC immediately before the Spring term Commencement ceremony at which the medal is awarded; command of subject matter; self-reliance in independent learning; research ability; clarity of expression in written words; verbal clarity of expression; and breadth of purpose. The Faculty Council may make amendments to these criteria.

The MMC Crest
Awarded to the student who has best demonstrated the spirit of the educational mission of Marymount Manhattan College i.e., a strong liberal arts program and academic excellence. This award was created by the College in memory of Mother Joseph Butler, who was responsible for establishing a network of colleges called "Marymount" throughout the United States. The Commencement Committee, in consultation with the faculty and administrators of MMC determine the recipients of this award.

The Rowley Founders Medal
Established in memory of Mother Rita Rowley, founder of Marymount Manhattan College, the medal awarded to the student whose educational achievements represent extraordinary determination and effort. The Commencement Committee, in consultation with the faculty and administrators of MMC determine the recipients of this award. Members of the College community who knew Mother Rita Rowley may be consulted on the selection of the medal recipient.

The Raymunde McKay Award
Given in memory of Sister Raymunde McKay, Marymount Manhattan's first president, to the senior who has been outstanding in her/his efforts to meet the problems and demands of our society through service at Marymount Manhattan College and to the community-at-large. The Commencement Committee, in consultation with the faculty and administrators of MMC determine the recipients of this award.

The Alumni Association Medal
Awarded to the senior who, in the opinion of her/his classmates, has shown outstanding leadership and has made the most noteworthy contribution to Marymount Manhattan College.

The "Silver M" Award
Awarded to seniors who have shown exemplary leadership and active involvement in the College during their years at Marymount Manhattan College. The Commencement Committee, in consultation with the faculty and administrators of MMC determine the recipients of this award.

For more information about graduating with awards and/or honors please contact the Office of Academic Affairs at (212) 517-0520.
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