Certificate or graduate certificate? Can you call yourself an Alumni of that school?

Discussion in 'General Distance Learning Discussions' started by RugbyMan187, Apr 25, 2012.

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  1. RugbyMan187

    RugbyMan187 New Member

    Hi DegreeInfo! This is my first thread on here, just want to say Hi and thanks for having me. Well I am almost done with my BSBA at TESC (I have 130 credits just saving a little for that hefty enrollment fee so I can submit my transcripts). I am eying on a graduate certificate (that can be done online) at a college/university in Florida. I am also thinking of a masters degree in the future, but want to complete a certificate/graduate certificate first.

    My question is, can one say, "Hey I graduated from University of Florida", when they really only graduated with a certificate?

    Oh! I'm also not the type that will be all hyped about a graduate certificate, like going out my way and yelling... "WOOT I AM A UNIVERSITY OF MIAMI GRADUATE, LOOK E HERE"... lol just trying to add small pieces to the resume, that is all.
     
  2. SurfDoctor

    SurfDoctor Moderator

    Of course, a person can say anything they want, who's to stop them? In my opinion, you couldn't accurately say that you graduated or that you are an alumni of UoF, but you could certainly say that you hold a certificate from that school. After I finish my current program, I am seriously considering earning the web design cert from Harvard Extension, I can't imagine myself going around and saying that I am a Harvard alumni. But it will still look really cool on my vita or resume and I will gladly tell people that I have a cert from Harvard.
     
    Last edited by a moderator: Apr 25, 2012
  3. Psydoc

    Psydoc New Member

    How about the old standard, "I attended (fill in the name of the school).
     
  4. soupbone

    soupbone Active Member

    To play devils advocate, it is a "graduate" certificate. Technically it would not be wrong to state that you graduated from there. Alumni is a different story.
     
  5. SurfDoctor

    SurfDoctor Moderator

    Playing devil's advocate to your devil's advocate. It is a "graduate" school cert, it doesn't mean you "graduated" from the school.
     
  6. soupbone

    soupbone Active Member

    I knew that would be your retort! In other words, I knew my argument was weak. :friday:
     
  7. Balios

    Balios New Member

    I think the rule of thumb should be whether your school grants alumni privileges to those who earn a graduate certificate.

    Harvard Extension specifically says that certificates differ from degree programs in that "ID cards and financial aid are not available, and there is no graduation or alumni status." Online Certificates | Professional Certificates on Campus at Harvard

    Stanford has the same policy, at least for certificates earned through SCPD. Course and Program Comparison Chart | Stanford Center for Professional Development
     
  8. SurfDoctor

    SurfDoctor Moderator

    LOL. I think we are both just yanking the other's chain.
     
  9. SurfDoctor

    SurfDoctor Moderator

    Never checked into it before, but that's exactly what I would expect.
     
  10. Fortunato

    Fortunato Member

    East Carolina calls me to ask for donations more often than any of the schools I hold degrees from. At least in their eyes, earning a graduate certificate makes you an alumnus. Don't really know if I consider myself an alumnus or not (never really thought about it), but I've been to more ECU athletic events than UW ones.

    --Fortunato
     
  11. Randell1234

    Randell1234 Moderator

    I graduated from UF but I am not an alumni (no alumni ID or anything)...kind of odd. I have a graduate certificate so how did I not graduate from there?
     
  12. Lerner

    Lerner Well-Known Member

    I think they want to encourage students to earn degree and not just a credential.
    How can they motivate a person to stay and complete the Masters degree?
    Some of the privileges can be Alumni association.

    So I agree with suggestion that if you can become a member in Alumni association then you are an Alumni.
    There are different rules in each school.
     
  13. Randell1234

    Randell1234 Moderator

    The program I finished was just a certificate program at the time. The later made it a degree program and I enrolled but quickly dropped for a few reasons - change in format and doubled the price.
     
  14. Bruce

    Bruce Moderator

    Caveat: I've never attempted or completed a graduate certificate.

    That being said, I personally wouldn't say that I "graduated" from any school unless I was invited to walk at graduation to receive my certificate on the graduation stage.

    Key word is "invited". I only walked to receive 2 of my 4 degrees just to satisfy family members. I attended my B.A. commencement because my father wanted to see it (I was the first and only so far to graduate college) and I walked for my MSPP degree because my children wanted to see it.
     
  15. RBTullo

    RBTullo Member

    Wouldn't it be better said that you completed the graduate certificate instead of graduating from the school since the name graduate certificate only applies to the level of study?
     
  16. Randell1234

    Randell1234 Moderator

    I could not imagine someone getting so caught up in the way you phrase it (except people on this board).
     
  17. soupbone

    soupbone Active Member

    From Merriam-Webster:

    grad·u·ate noun \ˈgra-jə-wət, -ˌwāt, ˈgraj-wət\

    Definition of GRADUATE

    1: a holder of an academic degree or diploma

    grad·u·ate verb \ˈgra-jə-ˌwāt\
    grad·u·at·ed grad·u·at·ing

    Definition of GRADUATE

    transitive verb

    1a : to grant an academic degree or diploma to
    b : to be graduated from

    2a : to mark with degrees of measurement
    b : to divide into grades or intervals
    3: to admit to a particular standing or grade

    intransitive verb
    1: to receive an academic degree or diploma


    di·plo·ma noun \də-ˈplō-mə\
    plural diplomas

    Definition of DIPLOMA

    1 plural also di·plo·ma·ta : an official or state document : charter
    2: a writing usually under seal conferring some honor or privilege
    3: a document bearing record of graduation from or of a degree conferred by an educational institution


    de·gree noun \di-ˈgrē\

    Definition of DEGREE

    a : a title conferred on students by a college, university, or professional school on completion of a program of study
    b : a grade of membership attained in a ritualistic order or society
    c : an academic title conferred to honor distinguished achievement or service
    d : the formal ceremonies observed in the conferral of such a distinction


    /discuss :smashfreakB::chairshot::popcorn:
     
  18. Anthony Pina

    Anthony Pina Active Member

    As was said earlier, you can say whatever you want. Howver, if you wish to know what is proper to say, then it would be, "I earned a graduate certificate at ______"

    At my university, those who have completed certificates of 24 units or greater are placed on the graduation commencement program and are able to walk and receive their degrees, if they wish.
     
  19. lawrenceq

    lawrenceq Member

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