204351_VHCC_Spring24_GraduationProgram

ACADEMIC COSTUMES The wearing of academic regalia dates from the 12th century and has been in use in the United States since Colonial days. An American Intercollegiate Code adopted in 1984 established certain standard styles in faculty regalia; and the gowns, caps, and hoods conform in every detail to this Code. Academic hoods, like the gowns, are designed to indicate academic rank. They are the same material as the gown but differ in size and shape for the various degrees. The inside trim of the hood is of velvet or velveteen, varying in width for the different degrees. The colors inside the hood indicate the school from which the degree was granted, while the color of the trim indicates the subject in which the degree was earned.

The color for academic hoods:

Agriculture, including Horticulture

Maize

Journalism

Crimson

Arts, Letters, Humanities White Commerce, Accountancy, Business Drab Economics Copper Education Light Blue Engineering Orange Fine Arts, including Architecture Brown

Law Purple Library Science Lemon Medicine

Kelly Green

Music

Pink

Nursing Science

Apricot

Science Gold

STOLES Members of the Alpha Gamma Rho Chapter of the Phi Theta Kappa national community/junior college honor society are wearing blue and gold stoles that designate their membership in the society. Membership in Phi Theta Kappa is conferred on those students who have established academic excellence as judged by the College faculty. Members of the Virginia Highlands Community College Student Government Association are wearing white stoles that designate they have held office in the association. Students wearing white are student-elected representatives of Virginia Highlands Community College and serve as a link between student body, administration, faculty, and staff. During their terms, they work to improve student quality of life by identifying and addressing issues, advocating for the interests of the student body at the administrative level, and creating, supporting, and running campus-wide events and student service projects.

Honors are computed from the cumulative grade point average as of December 2023.

CORDS Cords are worn by graduates in recognition of their special accomplishments in the following areas:

*

Cum Laude

3.2 to 3.49 GPA 3.5 to 3.79 GPA 3.8 to 4.00 GPA

**

Magna Cum Laude Summa Cum Laude

***

Gold: Academic Honors Red, White, & Blue: Active Duty/Veterans of the U.S. Military

Career Studies Certificate with Distinction



 U.S. Military Veterans Φ Phi Theta Kappa  Great Expectations v

Light Blue: Great Expectations Medallions: Governor’s Scholars Green: Career Studies Certificate with Distinction

Dual Enrollment/Governor's Scholars

SGA Officers

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LIVE STREAMING AND PHOTOGRAPHS Each ceremony will be live streamed on Facebook. For live streaming during the event, please visit us on Facebook and search Virginia Highlands Community College. Video will be uploaded to VHCC’s YouTube channel at a later date under the Video tab. https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC6UBvTMmuKJxiGQfkX2y6SA Photographs of each graduate receiving his/her diploma are also available for purchase online at https://photos.swvaphotography.com/vhcc2024/.

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