In-Person Graduation to Return This Spring
By Hector Morales
Staff Writer
City Colleges of Chicago will be holding in-person student graduation ceremonies this Spring for the first time since the COVID-19 pandemic began two years ago.
CCC students who are eligible for graduation can confirm their attendance for the Spring 2022 graduation ceremony on May 1, 2022, at the Wintrust Arena, located at 200 East Cermak Road, Chicago, Illinois 60618, according to the CCC website.
According to HWC Dean of Enrollment Management Emmanuel Esperanza, the application for graduation is an automatic process, so students do not have to apply. However, Esperanza advises students who are interested in determining their eligibility for graduation to “work with their college advisors to make sure all course work is complete, and you have confirmed your program record in your my.ccc.edu student portal.”
Students who would like to determine their eligibility for graduation are also encouraged to go through a checklist to apply for graduation at www.graduation.ccc.edu/checklist/.
Once the student clicks on the “checklist” tab, they are directed to their my.ccc.edu student portal where they sign in to their student account and click the “Student Progress” icon. Then, they are to scroll down to the “view graduation status” icon to determine if they qualify for graduation. If the student qualifies for graduation, the page will inform the student of the expected graduation date.
Students who completed or are expected to complete their coursework in the Summer 2021, Fall 2021, or Summer 2022 semesters are invited to participate in the graduation ceremony, according to Esperanza.
“We are excited to celebrate with students again,” said Esperanza.
There are no fees for participating in the graduation ceremony, according to Esperanza, however, “students are responsible for purchasing their own cap and gown.” Students who qualify for graduation and would like to order a cap and gown can do so my going to the website http://colleges.herffjones.com/college/citycolleges/ and clicking on the Harold Washington College tab to order their cap, gown, tassel and frame for their diploma (https://collegegrad.herffjones.com/gradpack).
Students should be aware that the deadline for ordering the cap, gown, tassel, and diploma frame online is March 23, 2022.
City Colleges of Chicago Chancellor Juan M. Salgado said in a Dec. 18, 2021 press release that the in-person graduation will follow the health guidelines of the Chicago Department of Public Health.
“Most of all we can’t wait to watch City Colleges graduates of all ages and backgrounds, and from every corner of the city, walk across the stage and toward their next steps,” said Salgado.
