Financial Aid Auto-Awarding

Automatic degree and certificate awarding (auto-awarding) is the process by which your declared certificate or degree is automatically awarded once all program and college requirements have been met. No separate graduation petition is necessary.

• Auto-awarding includes:
  • Associate Degrees for Transfer
  • Associate Degrees
  • Certificates of Achievement

If you meet the requirements for an auto-award, you will receive an email notification at your PCCD student email address. This email will include the award(s) you qualify for and instructions on how to opt out if you do not want the award. If you do not opt out by the stated deadline, your award will be processed automatically.

Awards are typically processed within three months after final grades are posted for the term in which you completed your requirements. Once finalized:

• Your award will appear on your official transcript (available in Campus Solutions).

• You will receive an email confirmation at your PCCD email with details on how to receive your diploma.

Auto-awarding is based on your declared program of study. Changing your major before the award is processed may delay or prevent auto-awarding. If you intend to complete a different program, wait to change your major until after your degree or certificate has been awarded.

Receiving an Associate Degree or Certificate of Achievement does not disqualify you from federal or state financial aid. After receiving, you must:

• Check your major in Campus Solutions
• Select another financial aid-eligible major/program of study if you plan to continue receiving aid
• Instructions on how to update your major can be found here.

Yes. Even if you graduate from a program we evaluated for you, you are still eligible to continue taking classes at PCCD for any other active program(s) you are working to complete. Graduating from one program does not limit your ability to keep taking classes at PCCD for your other intended program(s).

Students may maintain Priority Registration even if they have earned an associate degree. Having a degree does not remove your priority status.

Yes. For this reason, international (F-1) students are not auto-awarded, as it may impact their visa status or benefits.

No. While designing this process, eligibility for PCCD Special Programs was considered, and having an associate degree, certificate, or achievement does not disqualify students from their services. Programs such as EOPS, SAS, Veterans, etc., do not limit services to students with associate degrees or certificates of achievement.

It may. In most cases, certificates awarded in addition to the primary program of study do not affect Post-9/11 GI Bill benefits, but individual situations vary. The student should contact the campus Veterans Resource Center (VRC) for personalized guidance before deciding to accept or decline an auto-awarded certificate.

Students will receive an email at their PCCD address with:

• The degree(s) or certificate(s) they qualify for the opt-out deadline
• Instructions for opting out or asking questions

No. Auto-awarded degrees and certificates do not require a graduation petition.

The Auto Award process is not intended to replace the traditional petition to graduate, and it does not guarantee that your degree or certificate will be identified in our system. Because the Auto Award process may not capture every eligible student, working directly with a Counselor to petition for graduation is still strongly recommended. To schedule an appointment (virtual or in person), please contact the Counseling Department at your home college:

• Berkeley City College: mailto:counseling@berkeleycitycollege.edu
• College of Alameda: counseling@alameda.edu
• Laney College: laneycounseling@peralta.edu
• Merritt College: merrittcounseling@peralta.edu

Please note: Auto-awarding is processed only for the program currently declared in your student profile. Any other program outside of that will need to be petitioned with a counselor.

You can opt out of receiving an automatic degree and/or certificate by following the directions in the email notifying you of your auto award eligibility.