Final High School Transcript and Proof of High School Graduation Policy

1. Proof of High School Graduation Requirements

Students must provide proof of high school graduation, or its equivalent, to be admitted and matriculate to Hartwick College. Additionally, a final high school transcript, or its equivalent,  is required to facilitate the financial aid disbursement process. Hartwick College considers the following documents as acceptable proof of secondary school graduation:

• Final High School Transcript

  • Must be submitted directly from the student’s school; transcripts submitted by the student are not accepted.

  • The final transcript must include the official graduation date, which must be later than the date of the last transcripted semester, and earlier than the official Hartwick matriculation date.

  • Paper Transcripts must be signed by a school official or bear the school seal, and meet all requirements stated by the issuing institution.

  • Digital Transcripts must be submitted through services such as Parchment or Scoir, or uploaded via the Common Application. They must include the official graduation date.

    • Transcripts from Parchment or Scoir are considered official, even if they do not meet all standard transcript requirements.

    • For Common App transcripts, the graduation date on page one must match the date on the transcript itself.

  • Emailed Transcripts must come from a school official’s verified email address (school domain) and meet the same standards as paper transcripts.

  • Faxed Transcripts must meet the same requirements as paper transcripts.

• Alternative Documentation

  • General Education Development (GED) Test Results can be submitted in lieu of a final high school transcript.

  • International Examination Results such as the Advanced Level General Certificate of Education or the International Baccalaureate Diploma are accepted. Original or officially certified copies of these results must be provided, and Hartwick College reserves the right to request evaluation or authentication by an educational credential evaluation service.

  • Home-Schooled Students may submit a homeschool diploma or a certificate of completion recognized as equivalent to a high school diploma in the student’s home state. Alternatively, a letter from a parent or guardian indicating the student’s graduation, or a signed transcript listing courses taken and grades earned, may be provided.

2. Submission Methods

For students who graduated from high school in the United States, final transcripts or proof of graduation may be submitted through the following methods:

• Uploaded through the Common Application website by a school official.

• Sent directly to Hartwick College via electronic delivery services such as Parchment or National Student Clearinghouse.

• Mailed to Hartwick College, Office of Undergraduate Admissions, One Hartwick Drive, Oneonta, NY 13820, USA. Mailed transcripts must bear an official stamp and signature and be sent in a sealed envelope directly from the student’s school.

• Emailed to transcripts@hartwick.edu from a school official’s email address, including the graduation date.

International students Upon arrival, international students must present their final high school transcript as a physical document. Those eligible for financial aid must also provide documentation that proves equivalency to a high school transcript.

3. Deadline for Submission

Final high school transcripts and proof of graduation must be submitted by July 15 for a fall semester start or by December 15 for a spring semester start. Students whose high school operates on a different schedule may request a limited extension.

4. Consequences of Failure to Provide Proof of High School Graduation

For Students Receiving Title IV Assistance:
Hartwick College allows students to receive Title IV assistance (Federal Student Aid) for one term while awaiting their final high school transcript. These students are considered conditionally admitted for Title IV purposes. If the final transcript is not provided before the start of the second term (fall or spring), the student is no longer considered enrolled as a regular student, and no further Title IV aid disbursements are permitted. However, any Title IV funds disbursed while the student was conditionally admitted do not need to be returned.

For Students Not Receiving Title IV Assistance:
Students who do not provide proof of high school graduation by the admissions deadline, and who have not been granted a limited extension, must submit the appropriate documentation before the start of their second term (fall or spring). Failure to provide this documentation will result in the student being withdrawn from Hartwick College.

5. Special Considerations

• Home-Schooled Students must ensure that their submitted documentation meets state-specific requirements or provide GED results if applicable.

• Students with International Credentials should submit their final exam results as soon as they are available and provide official certificates promptly.

• If a student withdraws during the second week of classes, they are still required to provide proof of high school graduation. If they withdraw or cancel payment during the first week, tuition is refunded, no financial aid is awarded, and the submission of proof of graduation is not required.

6. Graduation Requirements

Any student attempting to graduate from Hartwick College must have submitted a final high school transcript or equivalent proof of high school graduation to meet the requirements for graduation.