Frequently Asked Graduation Questions

What is the difference between graduation and commencement?

• 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 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. You must apply to graduate to participate in Commencement.

How do I apply for graduation?

• Refer to our Graduation Information page for instructions on applying for graduation.

What is the fee for graduation?

• There is no fee to apply for graduation. However, there are fees for purchasing academic regalia for students wishing to participate in commencement ceremonies. Check with Herff-Jones or the Campus Bookstore for price information.

I applied for graduation, but how do I know if my application was received?

• You will receive a confirmation number if you have successfully submitted the application. Print the confirmation number page for your records.

• If you successfully submitted your application for graduation, you will also receive an e-mail to your myUTSAmail account approximately two weeks after the application deadline.

I am having trouble applying online through ASAP, what’s wrong?

The top online application errors are:

• Failing to use Internet Explorer 6.0 or higher

• Incorrect formatting of addresses, dates and phone numbers

• Applying for the incorrect term of graduation

• Attempting to submit the application without the required number of completed hours

• Trying to apply for a semester in which the application date has passed

• Trying to apply for a semester too soon (only one year in advance)

• You have not applied until you get a confirmation number.

How can I withdraw my graduation application and when is the deadline?

• There is no need to withdraw your application for graduation unless you change your mind and do not want to graduate at the end of the term in which you applied

• If you will not be finished with coursework and will be denied graduation, there is no need to withdraw your application, but you will need to re-apply.

• All students that do not graduate for the term they applied must re-apply for graduation!

I submitted my Degree Audit Request. What do you mean my name is not on the list?

• Requesting a degree audit from your college is not the same as applying for graduation. You still have to apply online by the deadline in order to graduate.

When will I get my diploma? Why does it take so long to receive my diploma?

• Diplomas are mailed approximately 45 days after the official close of the term in which you have graduated.

How can I make sure my diploma will be sent to the correct address?

• Update your address and check your diploma name on ASAP to ensure that your diploma name appears as it should and that it is sent to the correct address.

• If you update your diploma address after the close of the semester, send an e-mail to graduationcoordination@utsa.edu to ensure that the change has been updated on the diploma list.

What do I do if my diploma is incorrect?

• If you find errors on your diploma information or on the diploma itself, send an e-mail (from your myUTSAmail account) to graduationcoordination@utsa.edu. Include your full name, BANNER ID and a description of the error.

I walked in the ceremony, does that mean I graduated?

• 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.

I am job hunting and need proof that I am graduating, what do I do?

Undergraduate Students:

• If you have applied for graduation you can request a letter of degree completion from your advising center. Advising centers can provide this letter until the close of the term.

• After the close of the term, but before degrees are posted to transcripts, students can obtain a letter of degree awarded from the Registrar’s Office by submitting the Release of Degree Information Form. The form must be submitted to Enrollment Services by the appropriate deadline. Keep in mind that letters are done on a first come first serve basis and WILL NOT be done on the spot so plan accordingly. Turn around time varies depending on the number of requests.

• After degrees are posted to transcripts we will not provide letters to students. Students can request transcripts online via ASAP.

• Letters of Degree Completion, Awarded or Transcripts WILL NOT be released if the student has financial obligations to the university.

Graduate Students:

• If you have applied for graduation you can request a letter of degree completion with work complete or work in progress from your college by submitting the Release of Degree Information Form. These letters will be provided until the close of the term.

• After the close of the term, but before degrees are posted to transcripts, students can obtain a letter of degree awarded from the Registrar’s Office by submitting the Release of Degree Information Form. The form must be submitted to Enrollment Services by the appropriate deadline. Keep in mind that letters are done on a first come first serve basis and WILL NOT be done on the spot. Turn around time varies depending on the number of requests.

• After degrees are posted to transcripts we will not provide letters to students. Students can request transcripts online via ASAP.

• Letters of Degree Completion, Awarded or Transcripts WILL NOT be released if the student has financial obligations to the university.

If I apply for the spring semester but do not graduate, why can’t my graduation application be used for the following semester?

• When you apply for graduation, you are applying for the degree to be awarded in that particular term. Graduation applications DO NOT roll to the next term. If you do not complete all the requirements, you must reapply.

If I take a May mini-mester course, will I graduate in the spring?

• No. May mini-mester courses are part of the summer term. Students completing their coursework during the May mini-mester will be summer candidates if they have applied for summer graduation by the appropriate deadline.

I finished all my courses at the end of the first summer session, why haven’t I received my diploma?

• Although there are various summer sessions, summer term is one long term ending in August. We graduate all summer candidates at the end of the long term. Once the term officially closes the final audits will take place and we will post degrees approximately 30 days after the close of the term. Diplomas will be mailed out approximately 45 days after the close of the term.

If I participate in the May/December Ceremony, but graduate in the Summer, can my diploma say I graduated in May/December?

• No. Diplomas reflect the date of the term in which you applied for graduation. Walking in the ceremony is not graduation and therefore summer diplomas will reflect an August date regardless of the date of commencement participation.

I graduated on one day, but my diploma reflects a different day. Why?

• Diplomas only reflect one specific graduation date for every term despite the fact there are three different days of commencement exercises. It is generally the last day of commencement which is a Saturday.