Frequently Asked Commencement Questions

Commencement ceremonies are the services held at the end of each Fall and Spring semester. These are ceremonies in which the achievement of the degree is recognized and celebrated by the University community and the students’ friends and family.

Graduation is the process of being awarded a degree. All students wishing to graduate must apply for graduation by the application deadline. Applying for graduation is a University Degree Requirement that must be met by each student wishing to graduate. If you do not apply for graduation, you have not met all your degree requirements.

Commencement dates and times vary from semester to semester. Usually, they are held on the last weekend of the term from Thursday-Saturday. Please refer to Commencement Information Page for detailed information.

There is no fee for commencement participation. There is also no fee to apply for graduation.

There are fees for purchasing of academic regalia for students wishing to participate in commencement ceremonies. Check with Herff-Jones or the Campus Bookstore for price information.

Only students who have applied for graduation are allowed to participate in commencement ceremonies.

Spring candidates participate in May; Fall candidates participate in December. Summer Bachelor and Masters candidates have the option to participate in either May or December ceremonies but must meet application deadlines in order to participate. See application deadlines.

Students must participate in the ceremony slated for their college. Due to space limitations, the structure of the ceremonies is designed to allow students the maximum number of tickets possible.

If you have multiple majors, you may choose the ceremony in which you will participate, or you may participate in both ceremonies. Notify the Special Events Office (210-458-6110) of your intent when you pick up your tickets.

Students in the military must also wear academic regalia. Uniforms may be worn underneath the regalia.

No, there is no rehearsal for commencement.

All participants must wear academic regalia.

Wear dark shoes, since dark accessories have a more favorable appearance with the formal academic wear.

The tassel is worn on the right side of the cap until the end of the commencement ceremony when graduates are instructed to shift the tassel to the left side.

It is recommended that you take your regalia out of the bag and place it on a hanger a few days before your ceremony in order to decrease the wrinkles.

Caps, gowns and tassels are available during Grad Fest or at the Campus Bookstore.

One hour prior to the ceremony in which you plan to attend.

All guests over the age of two must have a ticket

Each candidate is allotted a predetermined number of tickets

Photo ID must be presented for ticket pick up

Refer to the Commencement page for more detailed information

Arrive one hour prior to the ceremony to the Ballroom Galleria (UC 1.100B) next to the Convocation Center.

Parking is available for guests through both the 1604 and the UTSA Boulevard entrances to the 1604 campus. View Campus Map

No, it does not. Participation in a commencement ceremony does not imply or infer the awarding of a degree at the time of the commencement ceremony; a final degree audit must be completed before a degree is officially awarded.

Degrees are not official awarded until after the commencement ceremonies. Diplomas are mailed approximately 60 days after the official close of the semester. Transcripts with degree information are available approximately 30 days after the close of the semester.

Send an e-mail from your myUTSAmail account to: graduationcoordination@utsa.edu with your name, ID number and your new intention.

We continually evaluate the need for summer commencement. At this time there are no plans to add summer commencement ceremonies since we accommodate summer candidates at the May and December Commencement ceremonies.