Academic Information

In accordance with North Carolina Community College System and Southern Association of Colleges and School Commission on Colleges policies for awarding credit, Wake Technical Community College requires regular class attendance.

Regular class attendance also gives students the full benefit of instruction from their faculty, while absences hurt academic performance and are not a part of good scholarship. Accordingly, the purpose of this policy is to inform students of the requirements (and benefits) of attending scheduled degree courses and details the college's expectations and requirements for all students attending degree courses and procedures for informing instructors of absences.

Wake Tech expects students to attend at least 90% of all scheduled class meetings. If a student's consecutive absences from class exceed 10% of the total instructional time, the student has not communicated with the instructor and the student is currently not passing the class, then the faculty member should withdraw the student from the class.

Consistent with a culture of care, faculty have the discretion to work with students who express a need for reasonable attendance accommodation. Similarly, students must take personal responsibility for their attendance and use discretion when making schedule choices to meet the demands of work, family and other responsibilities.

Absences

When students know of upcoming absences, they should notify their instructors in advance. If advance notice is not possible, then students should contact instructors as soon as possible after the absence occurs.

A class absence in a seated class or an online synchronous class is defined as missing one-half or more of any regularly scheduled class meeting. Online asynchronous attendance is tracked based on consistent engagement, including completion of assignments, discussion boards and tests/quizzes in Blackboard. Students in hybrid and blended classes must meet the attendance expectations for the in-person class meetings and the online classes.

Tardiness and early departures

Students are expected to arrive to class on time and to remain in class for the entire class period. Arriving late or leaving early disrupts the learning environment; however, extenuating circumstances may necessitate late arrivals or early departures on rare occasions.

Program-specific attendance guidelines

Some academic departments and programs, such as Health Sciences programs, may establish specific attendance guidelines due to requirements from external agencies, including accreditors. Faculty will outline these attendance guidelines on the class syllabus. Students who receive financial aid or veterans benefits should consult those agencies to confirm any attendance requirements.

Absences for military service

Any student in the United States Armed Forces who has received temporary or permanent reassignment as a result of military operations or who is in the National Guard and has been placed on state active-duty status can be excused from class attendance during the period of time of active duty.

When feasible, a student excused due to military service will be allowed to continue classes and coursework during the academic term. The student will have the opportunity to make up any test or work missed during the excused absence.

Students will have the option to receive an "Incomplete" grade temporarily for any course that the student was unable to complete based on being placed on active-duty status or reassignment. However, the student must make up the work for the final grade within the time frame allowed for incomplete grades – by the end of the fifth full week of the following semester – in accordance with college policy on Incomplete grades.

The student will be permitted to drop, without penalty, any course that the student is unable to complete as a result of being placed on active-duty status or reassignment. Students in this circumstance will be permitted to drop without financial penalty as set forth in State Board Code 1E SBCCC900.4.

Absences for participation in college-sponsored activities

Wake Tech students are encouraged to take advantage of holistic educational opportunities through college-sponsored activities (e.g., student club and organization competitions/activities, intercollegiate athletics, service-learning and other leadership/volunteer opportunities) and to do so without academic penalty.

Absence from classes or exams for these reasons do not relieve students of responsibility for any part of the coursework required during the absence.

Students who miss classes, exams or other assignments because of participation in a college-sponsored activity should be provided a reasonable alternative opportunity, consistent with class attendance policies stated in the syllabus, to make up missed work.
It is the obligation of students to provide faculty, as early in the semester as known, with the dates for which they expect to be absent due to participation in college-sponsored activities. Students should provide their instructor with written notification – memo or email – from a college official stating the dates and times that participation in the activity would result in the student missing class.

Wake Tech recognizes its legal and ethical responsibilities to accommodate students who must miss classes to participate in religious observances. North Carolina law requires that students be permitted at least two excused absences per year for these purposes. Wake Tech students are allowed two class days of excused absences per academic year for religious observances.

It is the student's responsibility to contact the instructor for each course in which work will be missed. The student must provide written notification to the instructor within the first two weeks of the semester, identifying the religious observance and date of the planned absence.

Faculty members must provide a suitable accommodation for affected students. Specific accommodations may vary, depending on course content, mode of instruction and size of class.

Examples of suitable accommodations:

• Establishing a class policy allowing all students to drop one exam or assignment grade
• Providing an opportunity for a makeup exam or equivalent assignment
• Allowing extra-credit assignments to substitute for missed class work
• Other reasonable accommodations determined by the course instructor

Students are responsible for missed class content. Students must request and should be provided with any instructional materials given out during their absence.

Communication to students from the college will be sent only to each student's Wake Tech email address. Students should use their Wake Tech email accounts when communicating with Wake Tech staff. Email sent by students from accounts other than their Wake Tech accounts may be refused by Wake Tech staff.

Adding a course

Students may add a course via Self-Service through the last day to add as published in the academic calendar. Students who find it necessary to add a course should confer with their advisors. In rare instances, after the registration systems close, courses may be added by the Registration and Student Records Services Division upon receipt of a completed Request for Registration Override form. Students must obtain this form and the required signature from the academic department offering the course.

Dropping a course

Students may drop a course through the last day to drop as published in the academic calendar online (date subject to change). Students who find it necessary to drop a course should confer with their advisors. Students may drop classes via Self-Service until the end of the published drop deadline.

Courses dropped after the last day to drop for the term and on or before the 60% date of the semester or term are considered withdrawals. Courses dropped during this period will result in a grade of "W." 

Students who drop a class are advised that doing so may affect their financial aid. Students may contact the Financial Aid office to determine whether funds will be affected.

Audits

Students who wish to audit courses may do so by submitting a Request to Audit form to the Registration and Student Records Services Division no later than the last day to add classes. Departmental approval is not required to audit courses during the published schedule period. After the last day to add, students may request to audit by submitting the form with signatures from the instructor and the dean of the division offering the class (or designee). Requests are not accepted after the mid-point of the term.

Audited courses provide no credit hours or grade points. Registration fees and tuition for audited courses are the same as those for courses taken for credit.

Withdrawals

A student who finds it necessary to withdraw from a course, courses or from the college must initiate the withdrawal process by contacting the instructor of each course and declaring his or her intent to withdraw. The instructor will then submit the necessary information to the Registration and Student Records Services Division via the online withdrawal form.

Students enrolled in courses offered on schedules other than the standard 16-week semester and the regular Summer term should consult the Wake Tech academic calendar to determine the last day to withdraw and receive a grade of "W." Students may also initiate a withdrawal form accessible from the student portal, my.waketech.edu.

Grades for attendance policy violations and withdrawals

Faculty assign grades according to methods which are professionally acceptable, communicated to everyone in the class and applied to all students equally. 

Grade of W – Students who withdraw or who are withdrawn for any reason, including attendance policy violations, on or before the 60% point are assigned a grade of "W." In accordance with the state refund policy for community colleges, tuition refunds are allowable after the drop deadline for the term only in the case of military deployment or death of the student.

Grade of WP – Students who withdraw or who are withdrawn after the 60% point with legitimate, extenuating circumstances will be assigned a grade of "WP." It is the student's responsibility to explain the circumstances to the satisfaction of the instructor. "WP" counts the same as a grade of "W" in the determination of the student's GPA. In accordance with the state refund policy for community colleges, tuition refunds are allowable after the drop deadline for the term only in the case of military deployment or death of the student.

Grade of WF – Students who withdraw or who are withdrawn after the 60% point with no legitimate, extenuating circumstances will be assigned a grade of "WF." If a student stops attending class before the last test, final project or final exam and has violated the attendance policy, that student will receive a "WF." The grade counts the same as an "F" in the determination of the student's GPA. In accordance with the state refund policy for community colleges, tuition refunds are allowable after the drop deadline for the term only in the case of military deployment or death of the student.

Grade of F – A grade of "F" indicates that the student completed the class but earned a failing grade. If a student stops attending class before the last test, final project or final exam but has not violated the attendance policy, that student will receive the grade earned, including zeroes for the work missed. 

Grade of I (Incomplete) – A grade of "I" may be given at the discretion of the instructor if the instructor decides that the student (who has contacted the instructor to request an incomplete) has a legitimate reason for missing the last test, final project, final exam or other assignment. The instructor must make arrangements for the student to make up the work for the final grade(s) within the time allowed for completion of any incomplete (by the end of the fifth full week of the following semester). A grade of "I" will automatically revert to a grade of "F" unless the work is made up and a Grade Change form is submitted to the office of Registration and Records by the instructor.

A full-time student is a person enrolled for 12 or more semester hours of credit in the Fall or Spring semesters and nine or more semester hours of credit in the Summer term.

A part-time student is a person enrolled for fewer than 12 semester hours of credit pursuing a degree, diploma or certificate program in the Fall or Spring semesters and fewer than nine semester hours of credit in the Summer term.

A visiting student is any student who is enrolled in a credit course but is not working toward a degree, diploma or certificate.

For financial aid purposes only, full-time status is 12 hours credit or more each semester.

Academic Foundations courses are designed to prepare students for college-level coursework by helping them develop the reading, English and mathematics skills required for entry into curriculum courses. Students are placed in Academic Foundations courses on the basis of their unweighted high school GPA, admissions test scores for students who have been out of high school for more than 10 years, the recommendation of their advisor or instructor or their own voluntary selection.

Students who require the prerequisite math and/or English course will be required to take a study skills course, ACA-090. This course has been designed to improve student success in both Academic Foundations and curriculum courses. Depending on individual circumstances and pending advisor approval, students may take Academic Foundations and curriculum courses during the same term. Most Academic Foundations courses are offered every term, both day and evening.

A student taking required Academic Foundations courses must earn a passing grade of "C" or better. A grade of "R" or "F" may require the student to repeat the course.

Academic Foundations courses

• ACA-090
• ENG-002
• ENG-011
• MAT-003

Some courses may have prerequisite or corequisite course requirements, which ensure that the student is ready to move on to a higher level course. All students are required to successfully complete the course prerequisites and co-requisites listed before enrolling. Students who do not have confirmed prior credit, equivalency via placement test scores or transfer equivalency that satisfies the stated prerequisites and co-requisites may be administratively dropped from the course. Course prerequisites and corequisites may be found by clicking on the course number on Self-Service course schedules.

As this information is public and available, students who drop on their own or due to a faculty-requested drop after the first day of class and before the published 10% date are eligible for only a 75% refund. Therefore, students are advised to review course prerequisites and co-requisites carefully before enrolling.

Wake Tech has established procedures to verify student identity and ensure academic integrity in online teaching programs and courses the college offers to its students. This policy applies to courses that use proctoring services, whether remote or at a faculty-approved testing site.

Remote proctoring is an electronic system that requires students to confirm their identity and monitors and records students taking exams and/or other graded activities. The electronic system allows the course instructor to evaluate the video of student conduct while completing the exam and/or other graded activities.

Participation in courses utilizing remote proctoring services requires students to meet the following identity and minimum computer hardware requirements:

• Identification requirements
  • A college- or government-issued ID clearly identifying that the individual matches the student taking the test. Students must be prepared to show the ID at each proctored test upon request. Alternative proof of identification that has been pre-approved by the college may be accepted.
  • Students may wear religious head coverings during their testing sessions provided their eyes and face are visible. Students should consult with their instructor with any questions or concerns regarding possible conflicts prior to their testing appointment. Non-religious head coverings are not allowed.
  • Students are responsible for updating any information pertaining to their identity (e.g. name, gender, etc.) following the processes outlined in Policy C1009 - Changes in Student Data for Curriculum Students prior to their testing appointment.
• Equipment requirements
  • A laptop or desktop computer with a built-in or attached web camera and microphone. The web camera lens must not be covered at any time during the proctored exam.
  • Devices must meet the minimum system requirements of the testing software. Current minimum requirements are: i5 Processor, 8GB RAM, 256GB hard disk storage, Windows 10 operating system, webcam, microphone and broadband internet. These minimums will be updated as necessary.
  • The internet connection must be stable and of appropriate speed to maintain both video and audio clarity.

Test environment requirements

Unless otherwise noted by the instructor and/or arranged in connection with accessibility accommodations, the student test environment should be conducive to taking online assessments. The location should be quiet and well-lit so that the student's face and hands are always visible.

Students using remote proctoring are required to do the following:

• Schedule, attend and complete exams/assessments within the time frame required by the instructor
• Choose a testing location that is free of any private or otherwise personal items that should not be viewed by the proctor or instructor
• Take measures to cover, obscure or protect anything they deem as private or personal if they are unable to test in an environment that is free of any private or personal items. Failure to secure such items from viewing does not exclude the student from testing or from the video/audio requirements outlined in this policy.
• Follow the Wake Tech Alternative Testing Procedures under the guidance of a Disability Support Services coordinator if alternative testing accommodations are required
• Be alone, without others in the same room
• Sit at a desk or table cleared of all books, papers, notebooks and other materials unless required by a specific exam
• Not leave the room, with or without computer, during the exam
• Focus on the assessment and avoid looking around the room
• Remove headphones or earbuds
• Dress in an appropriate manner (see the college's guidance on appropriate attire)
• Adhere to the Student Code of Conduct policies, including academic integrity

NOTICE: STUDENTS MAY BE ASKED TO USE THEIR WEBCAMS TO PERFORM A BRIEF SCAN OF THEIR TESTING ENVIRONMENT TO ALLOW THE PROCTOR TO VIEW THE STUDENT'S SURROUNDINGS AND WORKSPACE TO ENSURE ACADEMIC INTEGRITY AND COMPLIANCE WITH THIS POLICY. THIS SCAN MAY BE RECORDED.

By using the college's proctoring service, the student specifically consents to such a scan. By using the college's remote proctoring service, the student acknowledges and agrees to abide by the requirements outlined in this policy.

If a student is unable or unwilling to comply with any of these requirements, he or she may make use of proctored on-campus testing facilities or other approved testing locations. The student should consult with the instructor for more information regarding these options.

Violations and consequences

A recording of the exam session may be retained by the exam proctor for review by faculty or college administration and will be securely retained and disposed of according to the college's data retention policy. Consequences for violations of this policy will be in the discretion of the instructor, according to the department's guidelines and expectations for students and applicable college policies. Refer to the Student Code of Conduct for more information.

References

• Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges – Distance Education and Correspondence Courses Policy Statement
• Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges – Student Authentication in Online Learning Good Practices
• United States District Court, Northern District of Ohio Eastern Division – Case No. 1:21-cv-00500 - Ogletree v. Cleveland State University
• Wake Technical Community College – Data Protection and Retention Policy
• Wake Technical Community College – Alternative Testing Policy
• Wake Technical Community College – Changes in Student Data for Curriculum Students
• Wake Technical Community College – Student Code of Conduct

Grade Point Averages (GPA)

Students are graded according to the following grade-point system in all courses, except Academic Foundations courses.

Grade Points

Students in Academic Foundations math and English courses are graded according to the following system:

Students in Academic Foundations prerequisite math and English courses are graded according to the following system:

The following grades will not be used in computing grade point averages:

*IE and WE grades are temporary grades implemented for the COVID-19 pandemic.

An "I" (incomplete) grade will be given only when circumstances justify additional time for the completion of a course. Except for "IE" grades, an "I" must be removed by the end of the fifth full academic week of the term immediately following the term in which the grade was given. If it is not removed by this date, the "I" will be recorded as an "F" in the student's permanent record.

The grade awarded for participation in Work-Based Learning will be either "P" (Pass) or "F" (Fail). These grades are not used in computing the grade point average. Grades are available online approximately one business day after the deadline for faculty to submit final grades.

To view grades, access Self-Service, click on "Grades" and view grades by term. Information regarding grade appeals is listed within the Student Rights and Responsibility policy.

Computation of grade point average
The following process is used to determine a student's grade point average (GPA):

• Multiply the number of semester hour credits assigned a course by the number of grade points for the grade received.
• Add all the grade points together.
• Divide the total grade points by the total number of semester hours attempted, including grades of F and WF.
• Whenever a course is repeated, the best grade (except when the repeat results in a grade of I, IP, AU or X) will be used in the grade point average computation.
• Exclude attempted hours for courses with W, WP, WE, P or X (challenge) grades and developmental courses below the 100 level, such as ENG-002, MAT-003 and CHM-090.

In the example below, the 3 hours attempted in HUM-110 would not be included in the GPA calculation because of the W grade. The term and cumulative GPA calculations would be 13 grade points divided by 7 hours attempted = 1.857.

In the example below, the P grade in WBL-112 and the 2 hours attempted in the class would not be included in the GPA calculation. The term and cumulative GPA calculations would be 12 grade points divided by 3 hours attempted = 4.0.

Wake Tech students have the right to request a review of how their final grades are calculated and even appeal final grades if they think an error has been made. Students may appeal a final grade if they believe that it has been assigned inappropriately for one of the following reasons:

• Mathematical error in grade calculation
• Grading standards different from those published on the syllabus
• Grading standards applied inequitably
• Documented medical issues
• Other extenuating circumstances

Students should attempt to resolve concerns with their instructor within three days of the date on which the final grade is posted in Self-Service. If students have not communicated with the instructor, the grade appeal process will not go forward.

If students are unable to resolve their concerns with the instructor, then they may submit a Final Course Grade Appeal Request form. This form is routed to the department head or the program director (the instructor's supervisor) for review. After an investigation by the department head or program director, the student will receive a communication via email with the determination within five business days. The student can submit a second appeal with a request for a dean's consideration. The dean's decision is final.

A student may enroll in the same course up to three times during his or her academic career. Each attempt will be recorded on the student's official academic record.The best grade earned in all the attempts is calculated in the GPA. Exceptions to this policy may be approved by the dean, department head or designee responsible for supervising completion of the course.

Students will receive a registration error message on their third attempt to repeat a course and must contact the appropriate department in order to proceed. The error message allows Curriculum Education Services to intervene before a student risks violating the repetition policy.

The Family Policy Compliance Office, which is responsible for the administration of the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) at schools and colleges, has issued a technical letter stating that grades may not be posted by Social Security number, or part thereof, without the written consent of the student.

Wake Tech faculty are neither required to post grades nor prohibited from posting them; however, faculty may post grades only for those students who have given their written consent. Even with student consent, full Social Security numbers must never be used as identifiers.

Faculty should distribute FERPA Consent to Post Grades forms to students in classes for which they intend to post grades. The consent forms should be turned in to the faculty member’s dean with the final grade report and maintained for no less than three years. After three years, grade report records may be destroyed, provided no litigation, claim, audit or other official action involving the records has been initiated. If any official action has been initiated, the records should be destroyed in office after the official action is complete and attendant issues resolved. 

For faculty posting grades electronically on Blackboard, written consent is not required, provided a student's grade is posted where only the student can access it with a secure password (i.e., individual grade books). Faculty may not post grades on a Blackboard site to which all class members have access; such an action would constitute the disclosure of personally identifiable information without student consent.

Faculty may send grades to individual students via email only when there is written authorization from the student on file. Authorization should be maintained by the instructor; Self-Service will be the official means of final grade notification.

A student who has not been enrolled in curriculum courses in the college for 36 consecutive months (three years) or longer may submit a Grade Forgiveness request to the Registration and Student Records Services Division. Under this policy, the student may request that previous grades of "WF" or "F" not be used in calculating the cumulative grade point average. A grade of "FG" will replace the original grade on the transcript: however, the "FG" grade is not included in the GPA. This ruling has no bearing on any other institutions or how they calculate GPA.

Prior to re-evaluation for grade forgiveness, the student must be readmitted to the college, register for courses and complete at least 12 credit hours of course work at the 100 level or above, with a minimum quality point average of 2.0. Requests for re-evaluation are processed weekly, and the student will be notified in writing at the mailing address on file. A student may request grade forgiveness only once while at Wake Tech.

A student’s academic standing is determined at the end of each Fall and Spring semester based upon previous academic standing and cumulative grade point average. Academic standing is applied to curriculum, credential-seeking (degree, diploma and certificate) students; it is not applied to visiting students or Career & College Promise students. Students will receive email notification of their academic standing at their college-issued address.

Warning
Students will be placed on Academic Warning the first Fall or Spring semester their cumulative GPA is below 2.0.

A restriction will be placed on their record to prevent access or continued access to the registration system. Upon successful completion of College Strong, a free, online academic support course in Blackboard, the restriction will be lifted and access to the registration system will be restored.

Suspension
Students who have a cumulative GPA of below 2.0 consecutively for the Fall and Spring semesters will be placed on Academic Suspension at the end of the Spring semester. Students on Academic Suspension will not be allowed to enroll in courses for one full semester and will not be allowed to participate in college functions during that time. Students on Academic Suspension will be blocked from registering for classes and may not remain in any classes for which they have preregistered. A refund of any tuition and fees paid will be authorized, and any applicable financial aid will be canceled for the term.

If a student's cumulative GPA is below 2.0 but the most current term GPA is above 2.0, or if they earned a grade of "C" or better in all Academic Foundations courses for the most current term, this indicates progress toward improving the cumulative GPA. As such, a student will be allowed to continue his or her enrollment for the immediate next semester. The student is expected to utilize that semester as an opportunity to continue making progress and improve his or her cumulative GPA.

Reinstatement following suspension
After a one-semester suspension, a student will be reinstated by completion of the following steps:

• Attend a Success Workshop sponsored by the Individualized Learning Center
• Meet with an academic advisor to develop a contract for success

Upon completion, the restriction will be lifted and access to the registration system restored. The reinstatement steps must be completed no less than one month prior to the start of the term for which the student wishes to be reinstated.

Probation
After a one-semester suspension, students who are reinstated will be placed on Academic Probation for the enrolled term immediately following the suspension. Students on Academic Probation must adhere to the success contract developed with their academic advisor. At the conclusion of the probation period, students whose cumulative GPA improves to a 2.0 or higher move to "good standing." Students whose cumulative GPA remains below 2.0 return to Academic Suspension.

Academic Suspension appeal process
Students on Academic Suspension may submit a written appeal in order to continue their enrollment. The appeal will be considered if the student's transcript indicates that, while the cumulative GPA of 2.0 has not been achieved, significant progress has been made. Significant progress is defined as a minimum 2.0 GPA for the most current term and/or a grade of "C" or better in all Academic Foundations courses for the current term. 

If the appeal is approved, the student must meet with an academic advisor to develop an academic success contract. The registration hold will then be removed to restore the student's access to the registration system. Course availability may be limited.

If the appeal is denied, the student will not be able to take any classes for one semester and must follow the reinstatement process as outlined above.

At the end of each academic term, students’ semester and cumulative grade point averages (GPAs) are calculated. Each student is expected to make satisfactory progress, defined as a cumulative GPA of at least 2.0, based on credit hours attempted. Students with the minimum cumulative GPA are considered to be in good standing.

Credit hours for Academic Foundations courses are not counted in credit hours attempted; thus, grades from some Academic Foundations classes are not counted toward cumulative GPA. Likewise, courses with a grade of "AU" (audit), "SR" (senior audit), "X" (challenged), "W" (withdrawn) or "WP" (withdrawal passing) are not considered in credit hours attempted and are not counted toward cumulative GPA.

Satisfactory progress in Health Sciences curricula
Certain policies pertaining to student progress in the Health Sciences curricula differ from general college policies. These policies will be given to each student enrolled in a Health Sciences curriculum.

Satisfactory progress in Academic Foundations courses
The objective of the Academic Foundations program is to assist students in obtaining the academic skills they need to succeed in a curriculum program. Therefore, a student taking required Academic Foundations courses must earn a passing grade to progress to a curriculum program or to the next level in an Academic Foundations course. A grade of "R" or "F" may require the student to repeat the course.

To be eligible for graduation, students must complete all prescribed courses for the curriculum in which they are enrolled, with a cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 2.0 in their program of study.* They must complete at least 25 percent of the hours required for a degree, diploma or certificate at Wake Tech.

To graduate, students must fulfill all financial obligations to the college. 

*GPA is calculated by dividing the total number of grade points earned by the total number of credit hours attempted. Courses used in this calculation are those completed at Wake Tech and listed in the student's curriculum outline as "minimum requirements," along with any additional courses approved by the appropriate academic dean. See prior section on Grades.

President's List 
The college publishes a President's List at the end of each academic term, composed of credential-seeking students who have achieved a grade point average of 4.0 at the end of that particular term, based on a minimum of 12 curriculum credit hours attempted in Fall and Spring semesters and a minimum of eight hours in Summer term. President's List recognition is not applied to visiting students or Career & College Promise students.

Dean's List
The college publishes a Dean's List at the end of each academic term, composed of credential-seeking students who have achieved a minimum grade point average of 3.5 at the end of that particular term, based on a minimum of 12 curriculum credit hours attempted in Fall and Spring semesters and a minimum of eight hours in Summer term. Dean's List recognition is not applied to visiting students or Career & College Promise students.

Academic Excellence Award
The Academic Excellence Award is the top academic award presented by Wake Tech, to recognize students who excel in academic achievement, attitude, attendance and motivation. One student from each academic division is selected to receive the Academic Excellence Award each calendar year. Division deans and instructors select award recipients.

Graduation exercises are held at the end of the Fall and Spring semesters for all students who have completed degree or diploma requirements since the last graduation. Prospective graduates must request graduation clearance by submitting an online Self-Service Graduation via Graduation Overview. Deadlines are posted in the Registration and Records section of the website.

Prospective Summer graduates who will enroll in their final coursework are allowed to participate in May graduation ceremonies. Prospective graduates must request graduation clearance by submitting an online Self-Service Graduation Application via Graduation Overview. Deadlines posted in the Registration and Records section of the website.

Performance measures, including persistence to graduation, can by found in the Institutional Effectiveness and Research section of the website and can also be explored on the North Carolina Community College System performance dashboards.