Frequently Asked Questions
Fall 2024 Commencement
Bert Ogden Arena (event map)
View Fall 2024 Commencement webpage.
- Upon arrival, graduates will check in using their Grad/Stage Pass and will be directed to sit in the graduate seating area in the order they arrive.
- The ceremony will begin with a faculty/stage party procession followed by the welcome and order of exercises.
- Before going on stage, graduates will line up to retrieve their diploma tube.
- Graduates will pose on the stage for an official photograph. The university’s official seal, mace, and college dean will be in the background.
- Graduates will exit the stage and be guided to return to their seats to experience the final part of the order of exercises.
- Graduates will be guided towards the event exit during the recessional.
- Moving indoors eliminates most weather-related conditions.
- The Brownsville Commencement ceremony is subject to the following weather-related conditions: prolonged rain and thunderstorms leading up to the ceremony, muddy grounds, high temperatures, and substantial sun/heat exposure.
- The inclement weather plan for the Brownsville ceremony adversely impacts travel and personal celebration plans.
- Safety and accessibility challenges such as uneven surfaces, unobstructed views, and ample space for individuals with mobility aids will no longer pose a challenge.
The information below is the result of surveys conducted with different Brownsville student stakeholder groups:
| Student Stakeholder Groups | Agreeable to an Indoor Ceremony at Bert Ogden Arena |
|---|---|
| Fall 2024 Brownsville Roundup participants | 86% |
| Spring 2024 graduates who attended the Brownsville ceremony | 76% |
| Fall 2023 graduates who attended the Brownsville ceremony | 66% |
Expenses for the Brownsville ceremony exceed $300,000 because the university is, essentially, recreating an indoor event venue in an outdoor setting. These costs far exceed the current graduation application fee.
Holding combined ceremonies at the Bert Ogden Arena is projected to save approximately $300,000, which would be redirected in the form of student aid or scholarships.
Combining ceremonies will eliminate weather and health hazards that reduce the ability to provide a more engaging and celebratory experience.
For instance, you and your guests will get to experience the classic faculty processions, student recessions, and all the celebratory moments associated with this joyous occasion.
Additionally, indoor arena seating offers your guests significantly better sightlines, allowing them to fully experience the ceremony. In contrast, the outdoor seating in Brownsville is all at ground level, which has made it difficult for guests to see and feel fully connected to the event.
No, there is no facility in the Brownsville area that meets our logistical requirements such as parking, safety, accessibility, and overall seating capacity.
For example, if Commencement were held at the Jacob Brown Auditorium, we would need to schedule 8 to 10 ceremonies over a 3-to-4-day period, resulting in fewer guest tickets being available per student for inviting family and friends.
The decision to offer 10 tickets is based on guest attendance patterns from previous commencements. By analyzing past events, including Brownsville ceremonies, we found that 10 tickets typically meet the needs of most graduates while allowing us to manage venue capacity and ensure a smooth event. This approach balances the demand for tickets with the need to accommodate all graduates and their guests comfortably.
No. Graduate seating will be arranged by in order of degree (doctoral, masters, and bachelors). Graduates will be guided to sit within their degree section in the order in which they arrive.
Yes, graduates graduating with an undergraduate degree will be called on to move their tassel to the left, as part of the order of exercise.
Before going on stage, graduates will line up to retrieve their diploma tube. Diploma tubes are only distributed at 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 7 to 14 business days 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.
Yes. We encourage you to purchase your graduation regalia which can be done at the UTRGV Campus Stores in-person or online via the Campus Stores website. You must wear full regalia (graduation gown and mortar board) to participate in Commencement. Please note the use of the graduation hood is optional.
On the day of Commencement, you will be able to purchase regalia at the Campus Store, which will be open during the Commencement dates. Regalia will be available for purchase inside the Commencement event area.
Review the how-to videos that explain how to wear: undergraduate regalia and master’s regalia
Only additional ornaments such as colored cords, medallions, University-authorized stoles, and regalia hoods are permitted on the gown. The gown and proper regalia items must remain the most prominent features of your attire throughout the ceremony. Other items and adornments are prohibited and monitored accordingly at Commencement.
Mortarboards may be decorated. However, embellishments cannot obstruct the view of other graduating students, and they may not include profane, vulgar, political, or offensive language or images. Any mortarboards not meeting these expectations are subject to confiscation.
Yes. Guests unable to attend in-person may view online at https://www.utrgv.edu/live or via Facebook live stream.
Please visit the Bert Ogden Arena event map for event parking.
Yes. When you RSVP for commencement, a question will be available for you to indicate if you and/or your guests need transportation.
Please anticipate a significant amount of walking. We encourage you to wear comfortable shoes and plan appropriately.
Yes. Ushers will be available to assist families needing accommodations.
Commencement times are determined each semester, considering multiple factors to ensure the best possible Commencement experience for the graduates, their families, faculty, and event staff.
If you have questions or concerns, please visit utrgv.edu/commencement or email commencement@utrgv.edu.
Only the graduating student may cross the stage. Infants and children of any age cannot be held as students cross the stage nor can they walk with a graduating student.
Unaccompanied minors at any time are prohibited. Infants and children cannot be left unattended, nor left with staff even temporarily. Graduates must make childcare arrangements or invite guests to attend who can accompany children that are minors.
Doctoral Students
Doctoral students will be hooded in the company of their dissertation chairs at the hooding ceremony hosted by the Graduate College on Wednesday, December 11, at 6:30 P.M. in UTRGV BSTUN 2.36, PlainsCapital Bank El Gran Salón. At Commencement, all doctoral students will cross the stage already hooded, regardless of whether they attended the hooding ceremony. Please plan accordingly.
For more information about the doctoral hooding ceremony, please contact the Graduate College at 956-665-3661 or email gradcollege@utrgv.edu.
RSVP Process & Tickets
Yes, graduates must RSVP by Friday, November 1, 2024.
Graduating students will receive an email from commencement@utrgv.edu very soon with this subject line: Fall 2024 Commencement – RSVP & Photo Upload!
This email will provide instructions regarding how to log in and RSVP for commencement via our partner, Marching Order. Graduates have until Friday, November 1, 2024, to RSVP.
Yes, you may change your answer and have until Friday, November 1, 2024, to RSVP.
Students are allotted 10 guest tickets based on seating capacity and ceremony schedule. Seating is on a first-come, first-served basis.
Tickets will be distributed electronically upon a graduate’s RSVP through the Marching Order portal. Tickets will each be designated a unique QR code that will identify them upon arrival at the ceremony.
Yes. All guests from 0 years and up must have an electronic ticket to enter the venue.
If additional tickets become available, we will use your answer to determine how many we can distribute. If we determine additional tickets can be distributed, we will inform you at a later date.
There is no guarantee that additional tickets will be distributed or that we will match the number of additional tickets you are requesting.
Grad Slide
Students will receive an email from commencement@utrgv.edu with this subject line: Fall 2024 Commencement – RSVP & Photo Upload! This email will provide instructions regarding how to create a profile with our partner, Marching Order. For questions regarding your slide, please send an email to commencement@utrgv.edu.
UTRGV reserves the right to exercise discretion in rejecting graduate pictures that fall under any of the following categories:
- Trademarked or branded material
- Containing personal contact information
- Soliciting goods or services for a personal or business venture
- Promoting sponsorship or affiliation of any organization
- Promoting political issues or viewpoints
- Containing intimate apparel or similar clothing
- Containing references to alcohol or illegal substances
- Containing references to guns or weapons
- Containing depictions of violence, injury or death
- Containing depictions of illegal behavior, such as illegal drug consumption
- Obscene or lewd nature
- Memes or photos with social media filters
- Statements or depictions which violate ADM 02-300 Speech, Expression and Assembly.
Your personal slide will include your full name, degree, major and any Latin honors you may qualify for based on your last institutional GPA (in-progress courses are not included in the calculation). Your photo will be included if you upload them by the deadline of Friday, November 1, 2024
Wearing a cap and gown in the your photo, along with any other regalia, is encouraged but not required
No. Only pictures of you and/or your family will be accepted. Uploading a picture is optional. If your photo falls under one of the restriction categories (See FAQ question “Are there any restrictions on the types of pictures a graduate can submit?), only your name and degree information will be displayed.
By submitting the photo to the Marching Order website, you are acknowledging that you own or have permission to use the image.
By submitting a photo with other individuals to the Marching Order website, you are acknowledging that you have permission to use the image, including expressed consent by any party shown in the image, other than yourself.
No. Minors and concentrations will not be recorded on the commencement slides. Minors and concentrations are printed on your official transcript.
For your name to appear in the Fall 2024 Commencement Program, you must have applied to graduate by Sunday, October 13, 2024.
No, the commencement program will be available online at https://www.utrgv.edu/commencement 3 to 5 business days prior to the Commencement ceremonies.
Please email commencement@utrgv.edu by Monday, November 1, 2024, before 5 p.m. and include your student identification number along with details about your concern.
Only undergraduates are eligible for these honors based on institutional GPA requirements. This is common practice across higher education.
Remember that given timing constraints and for ceremony purposes only, honors are based on your GPA after the close of the fall semester (or the prior semester completed if you were not enrolled in the fall). Official, final Latin honors will be based on your final GPA after all grades are submitted, and all your degree requirements are verified as met. Final Latin honors will be posted on your diploma and official transcript once your degree is officially awarded.
Please contact commencement@utrgv.edu for additional questions.
Graduation Eligibility
A student who has applied for Fall 2024 graduation, and whose degree audit has demonstrated the student is on track to fully meet graduation requirements is invited.
Students can review deadlines-related graduation milestones here.
Applying for undergraduate graduation is done through ASSIST. The priority Application Deadlines can be found on the graduation application deadline page.
Here are the steps to apply:
- Go to utrgv.edu and login with your UTRGV credentials
- Select “ASSIST” under Applications
- Under “Student Services”, click on “Student Profile”
- Click “Application to Graduate” on the left-hand side
- Follow the prompts in the online application and hit “Submit”.
There is a $50 fee that will be applied to your student account once you finalize the application.
A non-refundable graduation fee of $50 is charged for undergraduate and graduate degrees regardless if the graduate participates in person. The fee is payable online on ASSIST or at the Edinburg or Brownsville Bursar’s office. This fee is used to pay for processing the application for graduation, diplomas and diploma postage, and expenses associated with commencement ceremonies.
DegreeWorks is a degree audit system used to monitor undergraduate students’ degree progression and graduation requirements. It offers the following functions:
- Allows students and advisors to view a student’s progress toward degree completion.
- Review pending coursework to assist in planning future coursework.
- Ability to run “What-If” audits scenarios for students interested in changing their major or adding a minor or concentration.
View your degree audit on DegreeWorks through ASSIST: https://my.utrgv.edu. Please keep in mind, however, that the DegreeWorks degree audit is not intended to replace the requirement that you meet with your academic advisor, as it is a guide to help you with course selection. For assistance interpreting the DegreeWorks report, please contact your academic advisor.
If you are going to be enrolling in undergraduate courses after graduation for professional improvement, to raise your GPA for admission into Grad school, or to take prerequisites for a master’s program, you need to submit a Readmit application through ApplyTexas.
Failure to reapply for admissions may prevent you from being eligible to receive Financial Aid.
If you have already applied for graduation online and you need to adjust the term/date in which you will be completing your degree requirements, you are required to submit a Transfer Graduation Date Form as soon as possible.
Please note, there are two distinct Transfer Graduation Date forms for undergraduate and graduate students. These can be found here: Student Enrollment Forms | UTRGV.
This only applies to degree requirements. You must still participate in commencement during the term for which you were invited.
UTRGV offers three (3) options for students to meet the Language Proficiency Requirement:
- Take Six (6) hours in the same language combination sequence (courses must be in a language other than English), visit the UTRGV catalog for additional information at: https://www.utrgv.edu/en-us/academics/catalogs/index.htm.
- Take the WebCAPE Placement Exam
- Take a CLEP Exam and earn college credit hours.
Upon demonstrating proficiency and once a score transcript reaches the Office of the Registrar for either a WebCAPE Placement Exam or for a CLEP Exam, your student record will be updated and noted appropriately.
Examination fees and testing information is available at: https://www.utrgv.edu/p16/testing/index.htm under Computer Based Exams.
Most degree plans require a minimum of 120 hours and 42 advanced hours; however, some degrees may require additional hours in both areas.
For example, Engineering and some Health Profession programs require additional hours in both areas.
Visit UTRGV at https://www.utrgv.edu/en-us/academics/undergraduate/index.htm to view your specific degree plan. Click on Undergraduate Program Archive to view degree plans in catalog years 2015-2019.
Contact your department for course recommendations. If you need further assistance, please e-mail the Graduation Help Desk at graduationhelpdesk@utrgv.edu. Explain your situation and provide your Student ID Number and a contact phone number.
If you need to initiate a course substitution or waiver, please contact your advisor. Advisors can submit, view and search requests online. You may schedule an advising session at https://www.utrgv.edu/advising/.
If you are unable to schedule an advising session with your academic advisor online, please call their office at (956) 665-7120 to speak with the Academic Advising Center representative for further assistance. Explain your situation and your upcoming graduation in the semester to see if you can get an appointment due to the circumstances.
You may view any holds on-line
- Log in to http://my.utrgv.edu
- Click on ASSIST
- Click on “Student Profile”
- Click on “Holds:” on the top right side of the page
For general information, you can visit https://www.utrgv.edu/holds for a listing of the different types of student holds along with respective contact information for each office.
Diplomas will be mailed if you do not have any holds by the end of January for fall graduates, and by the end of June for spring graduates, and the end of September for summer graduates. Update your phone number and “diploma” mailing address in ASSIST: https://my.utrgv.edu before you graduate.
No, students are invited to attend the ceremony in which they are expected to complete degree requirements. Deciding not to attend would not give you the opportunity to attend another ceremony.
Please review the UTRGV Regalia List.
CORDS
The Campus Stores sells the honors cord, which is a gold cord to represent undergraduate students graduating with an institutional GPA of 3.5 or higher.
Graduate eligible for a cord through a program or student organization should contact the advisor for further instructions.
STOLES
Graduates may purchase the following stoles: commemorative stole, First Generation stole, and zarape stole at the Campus Stores.