< <Back to Graduation page

Graduation

Congratulations on your outstanding achievement!

Graduation VS Commencement
What is the difference?

• Graduation – The process of being awarded a degree. To be awarded a degree, candidates must apply for graduation.

• Commencement – Walking across the stage. The ceremony in which the achievement of a degree is recognized. Actual degrees are not awarded at the commencement ceremony. A final degree audit must be completed before a degree is officially awarded. A degree audit will not be completed unless the candidate applies for graduation in the term in which they plan to graduate.

Quick Links:

• Application deadlines - Deadlines have changed; click for details
• Missed deadline procedure
• Applying for graduation
• Awarding of your degree
• Commencement Honors
• University Honors
• Diplomas
• Questions?

<<Back to Top

Application deadlines

The Application for Graduation must be submitted by the semester deadlines:

* Degrees awarded in Summer will state a graduation date of August, regardless of the date of participation in commencement.
There is not a summer commencement ceremony offered. Undergraduates and Master’s students have the choice of participating in May or December commencement ceremonies.

** Any applications received after the September 15th or February 15th deadlines will not be allowed to participate in the commencement ceremonies.

<<Back to Top

Missed deadline procedure

Students who miss the application for graduation deadline must petition for graduation, it is not guaranteed that a student’s petition will be approved:

• Undergraduate students: Contact the undergraduate advising center in the college in which you are enrolled

• Graduate students: Contact the office of the Associate Dean for Graduate Studies of the college in which you are enrolled

<<Back to Top

Applying for Graduation: It’s your responsibility!

It is recommended that undergraduates apply for graduation after completing 90 semester credit hours; graduate students after completing 24 semester credit hours.

How do I do it?
Log onto ASAP:

• Click on the Student Services & Financial Aid link

• Click on the Student Records link

• Click on the Graduation link

• Click on the Graduation Application/Survey link

• Read all instructions very carefully. Your application will not be processed unless you complete the application in its entirety and receive a confirmation number on the last page. Print the confirmation page and keep it for your records.

I have a double major, minor, concentration, what do I do?
Please submit the following form to the registrar’s office: Application for Graduation with Multiple Degree Information

<<Back to Top

Awarding of your Degree

• All students: Once all final audits are completed – approximately 30 days after the end of the term – degrees will be posted to the transcripts.

• Undergraduate students: To ensure that requirements for the degree are met, the college undergraduate advising center in which the student is enrolled is responsible for the degree audit. A final audit is conducted at the close of the semester. Contact the advising center for questions concerning the audit process.

• Graduate students: Degree audits are conducted by the college in which the student is enrolled. The documents needed to complete the degree are compiled and verified by the college Associate Dean’s office. The documents are forwarded to Graduation Coordination in the Registrar’s office for recording.

• Degrees awarded in Summer will state a graduation date of August, regardless of the date of participation in commencement.

What happens if I apply for graduation, but do not actually graduate?
Students who apply for the degree in a given semester but do not fulfill all requirements must submit a new application for graduation before the deadline for the semester in which they intend to graduate.

<<Back to Top

Commencement Honors

• Commencement honors are determined by using the institutional GPA at the end of the semester immediately preceding the semester in which the student is a candidate.

• Honors eligibility for cum laude, magna cum laude, and summa cum laude are used as indicated in the section below titled “University Honors”.

• The student must have a minimum of 45 UTSA semester credit hours, including those currently in progress.

• Prior to the May and December Commencement ceremonies students will be notified if they are eligible to participate with honors at the commencement ceremonies.

• Participation with honors at commencement does not infer or imply that the student will be awarded University Honors. Students must achieve an honors eligible GPA once final grades are posted for the semester in which the student is a candidate.

<<Back to Top

University Honors

Undergraduate students with an overall GPA in all semester credit hours attempted at UTSA:

• Candidates may graduate with honors when they meet the GPA requirements listed above, in addition to completing a minimum of 45 semester credit hours at UTSA by the time of graduation (excluding courses challenged by examination or taken on a credit/no-credit basis in which only the symbol "CR" is recorded).

• No degree candidate shall be eligible for graduation with honors if, at the time of graduation, disciplinary action has been taken against the student by the University.

• Master's and Doctoral degree candidates are not eligible for University Honors.

<<Back to Top

Diplomas

When and how will I get my diploma?

• Diplomas are mailed approximately 45 days after the end of the term in which you applied via first-class mail in a 12” X 16” cardboard mailer.

• Diplomas are mailed to the address provided by you on the ASAP Application for Graduation. It is recommended that all degree candidates log into ASAP before the end of the semester and verify that the diploma address is correct, if incorrect, update it under the Personal Information menu.

Diplomas will not be mailed to students with University Holds.

Please log into ASAP to verify that no holds exist on your account.

What’s on my diploma?

• Diplomas include the following information: Student’s name (first, middle, and last), degree and major. University honors and Honors College tiers are included for qualifying students.

• Diplomas DO NOT include minors and or concentrations

Dual Majors and Degree Chart		Number of Majors	Number of Degrees	Number of Colleges	Number of Diplomas
Examples		Accounting & Art	B.A.; B.S.; B.B.A.	Business & Liberal Arts
	B.B.A. Finance & B.B.A. Marketing	Two	One	One	One
	B.A. Economics & B.B.A.Finance	Two	Two	One	Two
	B.A. Political Science & B.A.Criminal Justice	Two	One	Two	Two
	B.A. Psychology & B.S.Biology	Two	Two	Two	Two

<<Back to Top




 

Questions

If you have any further questions or need assistance with any graduation information please contact Graduation Coordination at 210-458-8000 or via email at graduationcoordination@utsa.edu.

<<Back to Top