Due to La Crosse County Health Department regulations surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic, Western has canceled the rescheduled commencement ceremony for August 23, 2020.

Western remains committed to celebrating your academic achievements. As such, we will be holding a special drive-through ceremony:

Saturday, July 25
Time: TBD
Western Technical College, Parking Lot H
La Crosse, WI

In order to properly conduct this ceremony, Western needs an accurate count of participants to ensure traffic runs smoothly throughout the event. Graduates wishing to participate are asked to complete a survey included in a communication emailed and mailed to graduates. Those declining to participate, but need to update their current address, should complete the survey as well.

We ask that you complete the survey by Friday, July 17. If you choose not to participate, a diploma cover and program will be mailed to the address on file for you at no cost. Once a final count has been determined, graduates will be given a specific time with directions to the drive-through site.

If you haven't already done so, you can order your cap and gown packages online and have them delivered to your home at no cost. See the Commencement Apparel Ordering Instructions for details. (The package includes a tassel and honor cords, if earned.)

In the meantime, we have created a special web page to celebrate our grads. Visit www.westerntc.edu/2020Graduates.

Western holds a Commencement Ceremony, or graduation, once per year to honor the previous fall, spring, and upcoming summer graduates who have earned an associate's degree or technical diploma.

If you are close to graduation, you are encouraged to check your academic plan, found on MyWestern under Self-service, to ensure you have completed your degree requirements. If you notice any potential issues, contact your College Advisor.

To be eligible for graduation, you must meet the following criteria:

An associate's degree is awarded when you have completed the curriculum requirements of the Wisconsin Technical College System and completed the following program requirements:

• A minimum of 60 credits with a cumulative GPA of 2.0
• All required program course grades (including General Studies and electives) applied toward graduation must be recorded as a "C or better" or as "Pass" (in the case of Pass/Fail) grades
• You must taken at least 25 percent of the credits at Western.

A technical diploma is awarded when you have completed the curriculum requirements of the Wisconsin Technical College System and completed the following program requirements:

• All required program course grades (including General Studies) applied toward graduation must be recorded as a "C or better" or as "Pass" (in the case of Pass/Fail) grades
• You must have taken at least 25 percent of the credits at Western.

You do not need to apply or pay a separate fee to graduate. You are automatically eligible based on credits completed.