UPDATE: Class of 2020 Commencement
GradImages® is proud to be the official commencement photographer for The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley! Finding your photos after the event is easy. You will receive your free photo proofs via email after the event or you can search for your images on www.gradimages.com. Questions? Please contact the GradImages Customer Service Department at (800) 261-2576 or ecc.giservice@gradimages.net.
Congratulations, Class of 2020!
We are pleased to announce UTRGV’s in-person commencement ceremony dates for all our certified Class of 2020 graduates (all Spring, Summer, and Fall 2020 Graduates).
The Class of 2020 Commencement ceremonies will be held during the following dates, locations, and times listed below.
UPDATE
The National Weather Service (NWS) has forecasted inclement weather for Brownsville, Edinburg, and the entire Rio Grande Valley through this weekend.
Due to these storms’ potential to produce large hail, high winds, and torrential downpours, UTRGV and its commencement partners are being forced to adjust ceremony plans for the safety of our graduates and their guests. Despite this change, we remain committed to celebrating you and all our graduates in the Class of 2020.
Instead of hosting ceremonies outdoors, we will now host a more personalized ceremony indoors for each of our graduates. Thursday’s ceremonies will take place at Plains Capital Bank El Gran Salon in Brownsville, and Friday’s and Saturday’s ceremonies will take place at the Fieldhouse in Edinburg.
The ceremonies will work as follows:
- Graduates and their four ticketed guests will be given a certain timeframe, near the originally scheduled ceremony time, at which to arrive at the indoor facility (specific timeframes will be provided to graduates by email Wednesday).
- Once at the facility, graduates will check-in, and their name will be called by our commencement announcer.
- Graduates will receive their diploma tube, cross the stage, and take a picture with their dean.
- While graduates are crossing the stage, their guests will be allowed to stand near the stage to experience the occasion.
- Graduates will then exit the stage to take one more official commencement photo, and then they are free to celebrate the rest of the day with their guests.
- Guests unable to attend in-person may view the ceremonies at www.utrgv.edu/live. or via Facebook live stream.
While the decision to alter our plans is anything but ideal, we believe this proactive approach to protecting all attendees from further logistical challenges, disruptions, or harm is the right thing to do. Additionally, the decision to move all ceremonies indoors proved unavoidable — regardless of improved weather conditions — as the logistical nature of setting up such a large event in collaboration with our vendors would require more time than we would have to prepare for the first scheduled ceremony.
We’ve all been anticipating this special day. However, the last thing we want to do is postpone it once again — especially on such short notice — as we know many graduates and their loved ones have already committed to traveling and attending this event. Though we empathize with you and understand the disappointment you may have, please know that this path to celebrating your achievements will still allow you the opportunity to cross the stage and be recognized in front of your family and friends.
If you have questions or concerns, please visit utrgv.edu/commencement or email commencement@utrgv.edu.
Sincerely,
Sofia Almeda, M.Ed.
University Registrar
Maps of available event parking areas at the Brownsville Campus and Edinburg Campus.
For information, please visit our Commencement Information webpage or Commencement Frequently Asked Questions webpage.
Arrival windows are NOT the same as Ceremony Start and End Times. Graduates may arrive at any point during their designated arrival windows.
College |
Arrival Window by College |
Brownsville Ceremonies for Class of 2020 Graduates Thursday, May 13, 2021 Location: Brownsville campus, Plains Capital Bank El Gran Salon |
|
School of Nursing | 7:30 a.m. to 7:45 a.m. |
School of Social Work | 7:45 a.m. to 8:00 a.m. |
Robert C. Vackar College of Business and Entrepreneurship | 8:00 a.m. to 8:30 a.m. |
College of Sciences Mathematics and Science Academy |
8:30 a.m. to 9:00 a.m. |
College of Health Professions | 9:00 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. |
College of Fine Arts | 10:15 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. |
College of Engineering and Computer Science | 10:30 a.m. to 10:45 a.m. |
College of Education and P-16 Integration | 10:45 a.m. to 11:15 a.m. |
College of Liberal Arts | 11:15 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. |
Day 1 of Edinburg Ceremonies for Class of 2020 Graduates Friday, May 14, 2021 Location: Edinburg campus, Fieldhouse |
|
Robert C. Vackar College of Business and Entrepreneurship | 7:30 a.m. to 8:30 a.m. |
College of Education and P-16 Integration | 8:30 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. |
College of Engineering and Computer Science | 10:45 a.m. to 11:15 a.m. |
College of Sciences Mathematics and Science Academy |
11:15 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. |
Day 2 of Edinburg Ceremonies for Class of 2020 Graduates Saturday, May 15, 2021 Location: Edinburg campus, Fieldhouse |
|
School of Nursing | 7:30 a.m. to 8:00 a.m. |
School of Social Work | 8:00 a.m. to 8:30 a.m. |
College of Health Professions | 8:30 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. |
College of Fine Arts | 10:40 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. |
College of Liberal Arts | 11:00 a.m. to 11:45 a.m. (Last Names A - M) 11:45 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. (Last Names N - Z) |
Class of 2020 Commencement Resources
Grad Slides
To view your Grad Slide, please click on your class's Virtual Commencement Page. You will be able to download or share the slide via Facebook or Twitter. Graduates can search for their slide by degree, major, or by name. The Virtual Commencement Pages links are as follows:
Spring 2020 ● Fall 2020
Commencement Program
The Class of 2020 Commencement Programs are available electronically at the following links:
Spring 2020 ● Fall 2020
Virtual Grad Toolkit
The Class of 2020 Virtual Grad Toolkit contains social media filters, selfie posters, phone wallpapers, proud family signage, Zoom backgrounds, and more.