Graduation Requirements

Associate Degrees

Candidates for associate degrees offered by UNM-Valencia must meet the following minimum degree requirements and are subject to the following University limitations:

  1. A minimum of 60 acceptable semester hours must be earned. Technical-vocational work (up to the limit specified below) may be included in these 60 hours, upon approval of the appropriate degree-granting program.
  2. A minimum of 15 semester hours must be earned in residence at UNM, exclusive of extension and correspondence credits. The remainder may be acceptable transfer credits earned at fully accredited institutions of higher learning and/or at regionally accredited technical-vocational institutions (see also Transferring Students for transfer credit regulations).
  3. Of the 60 hours minimum, no more than 9 semester hours may be earned by extension or correspondence.
  4. The student must have a cumulative grade point average of at least 2.00.
  5. Introductory Studies 100 courses may not be used to satisfy any of the above requirements.

Certificates
Candidates for certificates offered by UNM-Valencia must meet the following minimum requirements and are subject to the following university limitations:

  1. The minimum acceptable semester hours as defined by the program must be earned. Technical-vocational work (up to the limit specified) may be included upon approval of the certificate-granting program.
  2. The student must have a cumulative grade point average of at least 2.00.

Second Associate Degree/SecondCertificate
A second certificate or a second associate degree will not be granted until a student has earned a minimum of 15 semester hours above the requirements for the first certificate or degree and has met all requirements for the second certificate or degree including residence requirements..

Commencement

UNM Valencia holds commencement exercises in May. Eligible candidates who completed their academic program during the previous summer, fall and spring semesters are invited to participate in the commencement ceremony.

Graduation with Honors
Students completing an associate degree with a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.5 will graduate with Honors. The student(s) with the top cumulative GPA are honored and named Valedictorian(s) at the spring graduation ceremony.

Transcripts
Both current and former students may request official transcripts online at registrar.unm.edu. The fee for each official transcript requested is $10. Unofficial transcripts can be requested online, or by presenting proper photo identification (driver’s license, Lobo Card, passport or other state or federal issued identification) at the Registrar’s Office for a printed copy, at no charge.

Access to and Confidentiality of Records
The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) affords students certain rights with respect to their education records. They are:

1) The right to inspect and review the student’s education records within 45 days after the university receives a written request for access. Students should submit to the registrar, dean, head of the academic department, or other appropriate official, written requests that identify the record(s) they wish to inspect. The university official will make arrangements for access and notify the student of the time and place where the records may be inspected. If the records are not maintained by the university official to whom the request was submitted, that official shall advise the student of the correct official to whom the request should be addressed.

2) The right to request the amendment of the student’s education records that the student believes are inaccurate or misleading or otherwise in violation of the student’s privacy rights. Students may ask the University to amend a record by writing the University official responsible for the record, clearly identifying the part of the record they want changed, and specifying why it is inaccurate, misleading or otherwise in violation of the student’s privacy rights. If the university decides not to amend the record as requested by the student, the university will notify the student of the decision and advise the student of his or her right to a hearing regarding the request for amendment. Additional information regarding the hearing procedures will be provided to the student when notified of the right to a hearing.

3) The right to consent to disclosures of personally identifiable information contained in the student’s education records, except to the extent that FERPA authorizes disclosure without consent. One exception, which permits disclosure without consent, is disclosure to school officials with legitimate educational interests. A school official includes a person employed by the university; a person or company with whom the University has contracted (such as an attorney, auditor, or collection agent); a person serving on the Board of Regents; a student serving on an official committee, such as a disciplinary or grievance committee, or assisting another school official in performing his or her tasks; honorary societies, and other chartered student organizations, only for determining eligibility requirements when the societies and/or organizations do not unlawfully discriminate; and National Collegiate Athletic Association and the Mountain West Conference only for the purposes of conforming to eligibility rules for athletic competition. A school official has a legitimate educational interest if the official needs to review an education record in order to his or her professional responsibility. The university discloses education records without a student’s consent to officials of another school who have requested the records and in which a student seeks or intends to enroll. 

4) The right to refuse to permit the designation of the following categories of personally identifiable information as directory information which is public information not subject to the above restrictions on disclosure:

  1. Name;
  2. Address (school and permanent);
  3. Telephone listing;
  4. Electronic mail address;
  5. Date of birth;
  6. Major field of study (including current classification, year, credit load and number of academic credits earned towards degree);
  7. Dates of attendance (matriculation and withdrawal dates);
  8. Degrees and awards received (type of degree and date granted);
  9. Most recent previous educational agency or institution attended; and
  10. Participation in officially recognized activities and sports, and weight and height of members of athletic teams.

Note: A student wanting to keep confidential the directory information listed above should file a written request with the Registrar’s Office.

5) All students have the right to file a complaint with the U.S. Department of Education concerning alleged failures by the University to comply with the requirements of FERPA. The name and address of the Office that administers FERPA is:

                Family Policy Compliance Office
                U.S. Department of Education
                400 Maryland Avenue SW
                Washington, D.C. 20202-5920