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Commencement
December 2008 Commencement dates:
Thursday, December 18 thru Saturday, December 20 Participation in a commencement ceremony does not imply or infer
the awarding of a degree at the time of the commencement ceremony.
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.
ATTENTION DOCTORAL STUDENTS
Doctoral students may participate in commencement ceremonies only after
completing all requirements for graduation, including the successful defense of the dissertation and subsequent acknowledgement by the
Graduate School of all required documentation. Summer Term graduates are welcome to participate in the December Commencement ceremony
following their Summer Term graduation.
What to expect on Commencement Day
The commencement ceremony is a wonderful celebration of your achievement for you, your family and friends. In order to have a ceremony that is an enjoyable event in a safe and secure atmosphere, please provide the following information to your guests.
The Convocation Center doors open one hour in advance of the commencement ceremony. Each guest (over the age of two) must have a ticket to enter the Convocation Center. Baby strollers are not allowed in the bleacher area. There will be a location in the South Foyer where the strollers may be left, but at the owner's own risk. There will be a special seating area for disabled guests with a companion. There is no secure area for unoccupied wheelchairs, and we do not have wheelchairs available to loan guests. Balloons are not allowed in the Convocation Center. Air horns are not allowed in the Convocation Center.
Commencement Check-In
There will be no rehearsal The Ceremony will last approximately 2 hours All guests must have tickets. Students are given 8 tickets. Tickets are obtained in advance through Special Events (210-458–6110) Arrive one hour prior to the ceremony in the Ballroom Galleria (UC 1.100B) next to the Convocation Center and proceed to your check-in table. Each college will have tables subdivided alphabetically, according to last name. You will be given a name card with your name printed on it exactly as it will appear on your diploma The name card will be read as you cross the stage, KEEP YOUR CARD! Candidates that need to check in coats, purses, or electronic devices (Blackberries, Cell Phones, I Pods etc…) will be able to do so in the Bexar Room UC 1.102. The use of electronic devices may cause interference with the audio equipment and are therefore prohibited.
Diploma Covers:
Each participant in the Commencement exercises will receive a diploma cover at the ceremonies. Your diploma will NOT be in the cover. Degree candidates not participating can pick up a cover in the Registrar’s Office any day after the Commencement Exercises. Information about diplomas is located on the graduation page
Information for disabled candidates:
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Spring Commencement Ceremony
You are eligible to participate if you:
Too Late? See Missed Deadline Procedures
Fall Commencement Ceremony
You are eligible to participate if you:
Too Late? See Missed Deadline Procedures
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Commencement Dates & Times
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Fall 2008 Commencement
The UTSA Fall Commencement Ceremonies are scheduled for Thursday-Saturday, December 18 - 20. Those eligible to participate in these ceremonies are the Fall and the Summer 2008 degree candidates. The Colleges' assignments in the different ceremonies were made to accommodate as many graduates and guests as possible.
Date & Time |
College |
Ceremony 1 Thursday, December 18
6:30 p.m. |
College of Engineering
College of Sciences |
Honors Ceremony Friday, December 19
2:00 p.m. |
Honors College |
Ceremony 2 Friday, December 19
6:30 p.m. |
College of Education and Human Development |
Ceremony 3 Saturday, December 20
9:00 a.m. |
College of Liberal and Fine Arts I Anthropology, Geography, History (American Studies), Political Science, Psychology, Sociology College of Public Policy |
Ceremony 4 Saturday, December 20
1:00 p.m. |
College of Business I Accounting, Economics, Finance (Construction Management, Real Estate Finance Development), Information Systems and Technology Management (Infrastructure Assurance), Management Science and Statistics (Actuarial Science), and all Master of Science and PhD’s College of Liberal and Fine Arts II Art and Art History (Art History Criticism), Communication, English, Modern Languages,
Music, Philosophy and Classics (Humanities) |
Ceremony 5 Saturday, December 20
5:00 p.m. |
College Architecture
College of Business II Management (General Business, Human Resource Management), Marketing, and all MBA's |
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Grad Fest
Fall 2008 Grad Fest
1604 Campus
Wednesday and Thursday, November 5 and 6
10:00 a.m.- 6:00 p.m.
University Center, 1st Floor
Downtown Campus
Wednesday, November 5
2:00-6:00 p.m.
Buena Vista Building, near Bookstore
Cap and Gown
Commencement Tickets
Diploma Frames
Rings
Announcements
For questions: 210-458-4133
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Tickets
All guests over the age of two must have a ticket Each candidate is allotted 8 guest tickets Tickets will be available for pick-up at the Special Events Center (UC 1.224) or Downtown at Enrollment Services Center (FS 1.500) Photo ID must be presented for ticket pick up Tickets available for pick up: November 5, 2008 - December 8, 2008 Deadline for mail or facsimile requests: November 26, 2008 Additional tickets may be available through the ticket lottery: December 9, 2008
Students who are unable to pick up tickets may request up to eight (8) tickets by mail or fax. Candidates using this service must send a letter stating the candidate's name, ID number, address, college and major, telephone number, and the number of tickets (up to 8) requested to the following attention:
Sally Crouser
Special Events Center
One UTSA Circle
San Antonio, TX 78249
or Fax to (210) 458-6116
sally.crouser@utsa.edu
Lottery
A lottery for graduates to possibly receive extra tickets will be held December 9, 2008.
Retama Auditorium
Ceremony 1, 9:00 am
College of Engineering
College of Science
Ceremony 2, 11:00 am
College of Education and Human Development
Ceremony 3, 1:00 pm
College of Liberal and Fine Arts I
College of Public Policy
Ceremony 4, 3:00 pm
College of Business I
College of Liberal and Fine Arts II
Ceremony 5, 5:00 pm
College of Architecture
College of Business
If you can not attend the lottery, you may send a representative in your place. You must sign up in advance in the Special Events Office UC III 1.224
The representative must be someone who is not graduating in that ceremony. You can not have a representative graduating in the same ceremony representing you at the lottery.
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Regalia
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 for Undergraduates until the end of the commencement ceremony when graduates are instructed to shift the tassel to the left side. The tassel is worn on the left side for Master's and Doctoral. 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.
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Guest Information
Parking is available for guests through both the 1604 and the UTSA Boulevard entrances to the 1604 campus. A campus map is available at http://www.utsa.edu/maps/1604/ Doors to the Convocation Center will open one (1) hour prior to the beginning of each ceremony, please, no seat saving. There is reserved seating for disabled guests and one family member or friend.
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Additional information
Announcements/Caps & Gowns:
Announcements, caps and gowns, tassels and other commencement items are ordered during Grad Fest. A representative from Herff Jones will be at Grad Fest with information regarding the ordering process. If you are unable to attend Grad Fest you can still purchase your regalia at the campus bookstore or order directly through the Herff Jones web site at http://www.herffjones.com/college/.
Photographs:
A professional photographer will take a photo of each individual receiving a diploma. Information concerning these photographs will be mailed and emailed to you within 10 days of the commencement ceremony. If you have any questions, please contact Flash Photography directly at http://www.FLASHphotography.com.
Televised Ceremonies:
Class Ring
Official UTSA rings are on display in the Alumni Programs Office (UC 2.00.10) and at the UTSA Bookstore and may be ordered at either location You may also visit the UTSA Alumni Association website for more information
Additional questions
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