Question about Thomas Edison's graduation process...

Discussion in 'General Distance Learning Discussions' started by LJinPA, Mar 15, 2005.

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  1. LJinPA

    LJinPA New Member

    Now that it appears my final evaluation and degree audit is done and my application for graduation is finally completed, I am hopefully on track for June 10 graduation (March 31 is the deadline) so hopefully it runs smoothly. Only thing is I got some of what it seemed to be contradictory info about the process.

    Supposedly the degree is conferred June 10 and mailed out 2 weeks later. I have a degree audit showing that I passed all my courses however my employer wants either an original copy of the diploma or something with the school seal on it (Official transcripts I guess won't suffice). My advisor once told me that I will recieve 2 certification letters with the school seal on it BEFORE I get the diploma. I called the registrar to ask exactly when I get this letter and she said that they come AT THE SAME TIME as the degree in late June. I'm confused now. What would be the practical purpose of a certification letters anyway if they come with the big diploma??? The registrar also said they just now completed the process for the March 4 graduations. I'm just HOPING the backup doesn't cause my graduation to be delayed another 3 months. I already e-mailed the bursar to confirm all my obligations have been met. I hope that will all help to get my stuff in line in time. I remember a story from some guy on here before saying something about missing a graduation due to some clerical problem.

    I mean it's no big deal really, I got the job. The Bachelors Degree would be an extra 80 cents an hour though. The website and catalog does not get into much detail about the graduation process and I'm just wondering if there are alternate ways to document my degree.

    One more ? Does it actually SAY Social Sciences/History on the Degree or just Bachelor of Arts period...?

    THANKS :)
     
  2. 03310151

    03310151 Active Member

    Graduation Letter's

    I received mine, maybe a little before, but around the same time as I received the degree. I do not know if they will send it to you earlier. I know they will not send it until they have done their own audit (read: made sure you don't owe them any money).
    Yep, just Bachelor of Arts, no mention of the concentration . . .

    Cory
     
  3. Abner

    Abner Well-Known Member

    Hi LJ:

    I can't help you with your question, but I wanted to congratulate you!!!! Good job, you deserve it!:)

    You are going to the graduation, right!!

    Take care, Abner :)
     
  4. TCord1964

    TCord1964 New Member

    Hmmm...not sure I like the fact TESC doesn't mention a concentration or major on the degree. I'm specifically looking for a Bachelor of Arts in Journalism degree, which TESC says they offer. I wonder...does Excelsior list the major on their degree? It does make a difference for me, because future employers I would interview with would specifically be looking for a BA in Journalism (or Communications).
     
  5. Dan Cooper

    Dan Cooper New Member

    Many schools are like this in that they don't list the major on the degree. I had a friend that got a BA in criminal justice from a regular B&M State University, and there was no mention of the major on the diploma. It did however list the major on the transcript. As long as the major/concentration is listed on the transcript it won't make any difference with employers.
     
  6. 03310151

    03310151 Active Member

    Dan beat me to it . . .

    At TESC your concentration/major is listed on your transcript. For me is says B.A. in Psychology. Good enough for employers. I would love to have it listed on the degree itself as well, but that is more for personal reasons. TCord, your employer(most anyway) will not ask to see the diploma, but they will want to see your transcript, so it should not be too big of a problem. I think I read somewhere that Excelsior now list the concentration on its degree. But I believe the degree is still a Liberal Arts degree and lists your concentration under it. Hopefully a EC alumn can fill us in on the specific wording of the degree.

    Cory
     
    Last edited by a moderator: Mar 16, 2005
  7. LJinPA

    LJinPA New Member

    At least it's not going to say
    "BM" Degree (Bachelor of Music)...lol

    Thanks for the Congradulations Abner- this forum is probably the only place I got any congradulations aside from my parents. Not that I care nor do I brag or anything, but I think a lot of my friends and acquaintences do not believe the legitimacy of what I did even though they won't say it to my face. I'll tell them my schools accredited if they look confused but they probably don't understand what accredidation is.

    ANYWAY... I don't owe the school any money, but I'm always paranoid about my paperwork getting screwed up as was the case with someone who posted here a while ago. I wish after they audit my records they'd at least send some acknowledgment that everythings on track for June Graduation. I just know I paid my bills, completed the credits according to the degree audit and my advisors, and applied for graduation so I hope there's no unwritten steps that I'm missing...lol I know it said call the bursar to make sure there's no more money owed but I emailed them instead and they said NO.

    As for the degree: My friend graduated with a BS in Biology from a State University in PA. All it says is Bachelor of Science so thats not unusual I guess.

    What if I asked for an official transcript from TESC as of now- would it mention that degree requirements were completed???

    Actually my employer from what I heard is one of few that want the original copy of the Degree. I mean many people frame their degrees in all sorts of ways I can picture people having to take the degrees out of the frames to take to work. Many employers would just call the registrar to verify or request an official transcript.
     
  8. StamfordCanuck

    StamfordCanuck New Member

    I completed the final course for my degree in December of 2004. So from recent experience, here's exactly how the graduation process at TESC works:

    I sent in the prescribed form along with the graduation fee of $190.

    In late December I received a congratulatory letter from the "Graduation Records Specialist" stating that my academic record had been certified and that transcripts requested after March 4 2005 would include my degree information. Also enclosed were two copies of an official letter from the Registrar certifying my degree. The letter read as follows:

    "This is to certify that NAME, SOCIAL SECURITY NUMBER has completed all the requirements of the Bachelor of Science in Business Administration degree with an area of study in Accounting. This degree was certified on December 20, 2004 and is scheduled to be conferred upon NAME by the Board of Trustees of Thomas A. Edison State College on March 4, 2005."

    On March 11 2005, I received a package from the college containing the following: official graduation certification letters from the Registrar (2 copies), final transcript, and diploma, all enclosed in a nicely bound billfold to ensure it does not get damaged during mailing. This time, the certification letter read as follows:

    "This is to certify that NAME, SOCIAL SECURITY NUMBER has completed all of the degree requirements for the Bachelor of Science in Business Administration degree with an area of study in Accounting. This degree was conferred upon NAME by the Board of Trustees of Thomas A. Edison State College on March 4, 2005."

    The diploma itself is very tasteful and elegant. It names the degree as "Bachelor of Science in Business Administration" and does not make reference to the area of study. At the bottom of the transcript, however, is the following:

    DEGREES AND HONORS AWARDED:
    DEGREE: BS in Business Administration
    MAJOR: Accounting
    DEGREE DATE: 03/2005

    In conclusion, you actually get two separate certification letters through this process. (No wonder the confusion!) Hope this answers all your questions. If not, just ask.
     
  9. LJinPA

    LJinPA New Member

    Thanks, I actually got my first certification letters Friday afternoon. It says my degree is certified but will be conferred June 10. The school seal is on the letters, however it kinda looks like braille almost. You can barely make out Thomas Edison State College. I'll find out this week if my employer would accept it or if they would give me a hard time. Like I said I have the job but the degree, no matter what the field would be a matter of roughly an extra $1.30/hr. I'm sure some employers would recognize them though or they wouldnt send them out in the first place.

    I also got a transcript request from in the mail though unless its requested I don't think it would be necessary to have it until June. It's not going to have any GPA on it anyway.

    I just don't want my employer thinking I'm still in school and just assuming I'm going to pass my finals in May as if I was in a traditional school. I just say I finished in January but have to wait til June to graduate since many traditional schools have intensive January sessions anyway.

    If anything if they don't accept it I can survive w/o the extra dollar or so an hour. Worst case scenario to me would be them suspecting that I'm lying about my credentials or something even if they don't say it to my face.

    Thanks though...
     
    Last edited by a moderator: Mar 20, 2005
  10. LJinPA

    LJinPA New Member

    OK I started my job and took my certification letter to orientation, the human resource guy said that the letter would most likely suffice but he will check. Only thing he said even if it does, to make sure that when the big diploma comes in the mail in June that I bring it in for them to see. It seems though the letter will work though. PS: One of the guys in our orientation speech giving everyone a pep-talk for people to always continue their education... WENT OUT OF HIS WAY to recommend distance learning!!! This should be an encouraging thing for others on here. (Remember too this is Northeast PA coal country where people are known for their stubborness, being set in their ways, and being somewhat suspicious and cynical toward "non-traditional" ideas) So thats a good sign and a good litmus test that DL is gaining acceptance...

    I have a TRANSCRIPT question though. I have gotten conflicting info on this. Does the TESC official transcript only list the courses used in the degree program ? Or does it list ALL that were evaluated including everything in the "other courses" section of the degree audit. OR do they give you a choice?

    I was firmly told that my applied GPA will NOT be on the transcript. I have a job now but in the future, if I were to work for a company that asked my GPA. I know its not too common but theoretically, would they have to calculate the GPA on thier own? I mean I have a 3.0 for example but if the few C's and D's thrown into "other courses" were added it would be brought down a little. If I had a choice should I list everything? (to show I have more than 120 credits) or should I just list the courses in the degree program...???
     
    Last edited by a moderator: Mar 22, 2005
  11. StamfordCanuck

    StamfordCanuck New Member

    The transcript lists all courses that were evaluated and granted credit (excluding any duplicate credit, of course).

    In my case, for example, I had a number of "extra" hotel and restaurant management courses from a previous Associate's in Hospitality Administration from another institution. So my TESC transcript shows 155.5 credit hours in total, of which only 120 apply to my BSBA in Accounting from TESC. The transcript lists courses chronologically, and interestingly, it does not distinguish in any way those applied towards TESC degree requirements from those not.

    You are correct in that no GPA is shown anywhere on the transcript.

    My understanding from reading the TESC Program Planning Handbook (available from the publications section of their website) is that you have the option of excluding any of these "extra" courses from your transcript, but only if you request this before the earlier of when you graduate or when you request your first official transcript. Once they have sent out an official transcript, they will not delete a course that has appeared on it, for obvious reasons. But by all means, if you have some extra courses not being applied to your degree program that are bringing down your GPS due to bad marks, get them removed if it is not too late!
     
  12. LJinPA

    LJinPA New Member

    Thanks, another thing I was wondering about is the commencement ceremony. It is he'd once a yr in October. I doub't that I'm going to attend it, but im still wondering... If I graduate in June, would that mean I have to wait 4 MORE MONTHS to see my actual diploma???

    Has anyone been to the commencement?

    THANKS
     
  13. beachhoppr

    beachhoppr New Member

    no. I completed my TESC coursework in Dec 2004. My degree was conferred in March 2005. The diploma/transcripts showed up a couple weeks later.
     
  14. LJinPA

    LJinPA New Member

    What about GPA letters, the transcript I was told would show everything, I emailed the registrar. It was different from what my advisor originally said.

    Do GPA letters from TESC indicate the degree. Also is the GPA listed the "APPLIED GPA" of the 120 used credits from the final degree audit? Or is it all credits used?

    Thanks
     
  15. beachhoppr

    beachhoppr New Member

    the transcript showed all applied credits and the grades from each class. no GPA can I can see
     
  16. LJinPA

    LJinPA New Member

    No it doesn't. But what I meant was the GPA letter that I was told was available upon request.
     
  17. beachhoppr

    beachhoppr New Member

    The only letters I received were letters stating I did indeed graduate and receive a degree. I was unaware you could request a "GPA letter"
     

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