Frequently Asked Questions
Graduation Photos
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.
Class of 2020 Indoor Commencement
The dates are not changing.
Graduates and their four ticketed guests will be given a certain timeframe, near the originally scheduled ceremony time, at which to arrive at the designated indoor facility. Please see your designated arrival window on the Class of 2020 event page.
The locations are changing to have the Commencement ceremonies take place in indoor facilities:
- Thursday’s ceremonies will take place at PlainsCapital Bank El Gran Salon in Brownsville.
- Friday’s and Saturday’s ceremonies will take place at the Fieldhouse in Edinburg.
The last thing we want to do is postpone Commencement 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 the new format will still allow you the opportunity to cross the stage and be recognized in front of your family and friends.
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. 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 via email).
- 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 https://www.utrgv.edu/live or via Facebook live stream.
While we had planned to have an Order of Exercise and seated areas for graduates and guests at the outdoor Class of 2020 Commencement ceremonies, we do not have indoor facilities that would accommodate a seated type of arrangement at a large scale in accordance with social distancing guidelines. Therefore, though we empathize with you and understand the disappointment you may have, please know that the new format is being implemented to still allow you the opportunity to cross the stage and be recognized in front of your family and friends.
Yes, each graduate can have up to four guests. Each graduate and guest must have their electronic ticket.
Please anticipate that there will be a significant amount of walking. We encourage you to wear comfortable shoes and plan appropriately.
There will be limited covered areas. Should the line extend to outside of the building, you can wait in your vehicle until the line decreases.
You are more than welcome to walk and have your photo taken with another UTRGV dean (whoever is available when you arrive).
All Spring 2020, Summer 2020, and Fall 2020 students certified as “graduated” will receive an invitation to the 2020 ceremonies.
No, arrangements are being planned based on each graduate having up to four guests. Under this new format, both the graduates and their guests will be lined up and in constant motion, as they progress in their spot in line. Graduates and guests will not be seated. We need to keep a constant flow to make this experience as streamlined and safe as possible for all those in attendance.
Please anticipate that there will be a significant amount of walking. We encourage you to wear comfortable shoes and plan appropriately.
There will be limited covered areas. Should the line extend to outside of the building, you can wait in your vehicle until the line decreases.
- Everyone must wear a face covering that covers the mouth and nose.
- Graduates will be allotted four electronic tickets to share with guests.
- After walking the stage, all graduates and guests must exit the event.
- The walk across the stage by graduates will be contactless.
You are more than welcome to walk and have your photo taken with another UTRGV dean (whoever is available when you arrive).
Yes, Grad Images, the university’s Commencement photographer, will take photos of each graduate center stage with their dean. Graduates will then exit the stage to take one more official commencement photo, and then they are free to depart and celebrate the rest of the day with their guests.
We kindly ask that you ask your loved ones to hold off on taking photos to avoid holding up the line. Photos will be available for purchase from Grad Images after Commencement.
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. 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.
If you have questions or concerns, please visit utrgv.edu/commencement or email commencement@utrgv.edu.
Please see the UPDATED Brownsville map and Edinburg map for available parking areas and VOLT transportation routes.
Spring 2021 Commencement
The safety of our graduates, their families, and the campus community continues to be our top priority. After carefully considering all factors, UTRGV decided that hosting outdoor, in-person, and customized commencement ceremonies in May 2021 is the best alternative for our current situation. It allows us to honor our graduating students as originally planned on May 7th and 8th.
We have worked with our campus partners to design outdoor, in-person, and customized commencement events following necessary safety measures and social distancing guidelines. We will need our graduates’ and their loved ones’ support in meeting these guidelines to promote a safe environment for all attendees.
Graduating students who do not feel comfortable attending in-person may decide to view the commencement ceremonies online and download their customized graduate slide.
As part of the university’s ongoing COVID-19 mitigation efforts to maintain a healthy environment for all attendees, the location was selected because it contains enough square footage to accommodate 4 electronic guest tickets per student while ensuring safe social distance between graduates and attendees. Venues across the Rio Grande Valley were explored, but they didn’t offer the needed space to socially distance graduates and guests.
While our current plan is to offer our graduating students outdoor, in-person, and customized commencement ceremonies, UTRGV will continue to monitor updates from health officials regarding COVID-19. Any changes or cancellations will be announced to our graduates and campus community as soon as possible.
Yes. Guests unable to attend in-person ceremonies may view the ceremonies at https://www.utrgv.edu/live or via Facebook live stream.
Yes. A maximum of 4 electronic guest tickets will be distributed to each student to ensure appropriate physical distancing relative to available space.
No. Students will not be permitted to attend a future ceremony. If you choose not to attend in person, you may enjoy your ceremony via live stream at https://www.utrgv.edu/live or via Facebook and you will be able to access your graduate slide through your college ceremony webpage.
- Everyone must wear a face covering that covers the mouth and nose.
- 6 ft. social distancing will be required for all graduates, guests, and staff in attendance.
- Ceremonies will be held outdoors on the Edinburg and Brownsville campuses.
- Graduates will be allotted four electronic tickets to share with guests.
- After walking the stage, all graduates and guests must exit the event.
- The ceremony order of exercise has been reduced to shorten the number of time graduates and guests will need to be present.
- The number of University officials permitted on stage has been reduced.
- The walk across the stage by graduates will be contactless.
- A medical tent will be on-site to provide supportive care for students and guests that may feel unwell.
Graduation Care Packages will not be distributed this spring. Packages were only distributed to the Class of 2020 graduates who participated in a virtual ceremony and did not have an in-person ceremony due to the country’s pandemic restrictions.
UTRGV consults with health officials and local weather services to monitor COVID cases and weather forecasts during the days leading up to the commencement ceremony. In the event of an increase in COVID-19 cases or inclement weather, ceremonies will be canceled; they will not be rescheduled. Notifications will be sent via email and social media 24 to 48 hours prior to allow students and their guests to plan accordingly.
The commencement ceremony will be different from any other ceremony. The ceremony will have a reduced welcome and order of exercise. Before going on stage, graduates will line up to retrieve their diploma tube. Graduates will continue towards the stage where they will walk on a lower platform than the stage party. This is to reduce and maintain social distancing. Graduates will pose on the stage (at photo-op designated area 1) for a first official photograph with their face coverings. The university’s official seal, mace, and college dean will be in the background. Graduates will exit the stage. Graduates will line-up off-stage (at photo-op designated area 2) for a second official photograph in front of a green screen. Graduates will be guided towards the event exit.
Graduates will be guided to the exit after taking a photo on stage. Their guests will also be strongly encouraged to leave. This will limit the amount of time a graduate and guests will be exposed to others outside of their household/cohorts.
Yes. The individual college deans will recognize and confer their graduates in the shortened order of exercise.
Ceremonies per day are contingent on the number of RSVPs received by our graduates. It is very important to RSVP on Marching Order by the given deadline.
Commencement Tickets
No. Guest seating will be setup in cohorts of 4 chairs, with 6-feet social distancing in-between. Therefore, each graduate will receive 4 electronic tickets for their guests and will not be able to request additional electronic tickets. The limit of 4 chairs per graduate is to allow sufficient space, so that all cohorts can be physically and socially distanced in accordance with local, state and CDC guidelines.
For a “how to” guide on how to claim commencement tickets, please click here.
No. Giving your tickets to another graduate would result in guests from two different households interacting in close proximity, increasing the risk of COVID-19 transmission. In order to promote a safe experience for everyone and avoid exposing themselves and their loved ones, graduates are strongly encouraged to use their assigned 4 electronic tickets to invite guests from their same household and should refrain from giving their tickets to other graduates.
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. Graduates will be asked to complete guest ticket contact information.
In the unfortunate event of a COVID-19 exposure, our safety experts will need to conduct contact tracing and notify those in attendance of the potential risk.
Yes. All guests from 0 years and up must have an electronic ticket to enter the ceremony.
2020 Commencement Questions
Brownsville Campus
Date: Thursday, May 13, 2021
Location: PlainsCapital Bank El Gran Salon
Edinburg Campus
Date: Friday, May 14, 2021
Saturday, May 15, 2021
Location: Fieldhouse
RSVPs will be used to determine the appropriate start times for each college; therefore, ceremony start times will be announced at a later date. After the RSVP period closes, graduates will receive an email Wednesday, May 12th, 2021 detailing the ceremony time and instructions on how to access electronic tickets.
Yes. RSVPs will be used to determine the appropriate start times for each college.
Alumni will receive an email from commencement@utrgv.edu very soon with this subject line: 2020 Commencement – RSVP! This email will provide instructions regarding how to RSVP for commencement via our partner, Marching Order. Alumni will have until Monday, April 5, 2021 to RSVP for a date and location.
We encourage you to purchase your graduation regalia which can be done at the UTRGV Campus bookstore in-person or online at, https://www.bkstr.com/utrgvstore/shop/graduation . You must wear full regalia (graduation gown and mortar board) in order 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 not be purchased inside the Commencement event area.
Spring 2021 Commencement Questions
A student who has applied for spring graduation, and whose degree audit has demonstrated the student is on track to fully meet graduation requirements by May, is invited. Students can review deadlines-related graduation milestones here.
Summer graduates lacking 6 or fewer credit hours for degree completion and who are enrolled for those hours in the summer are permitted to participate in the Spring 2021 ceremonies. Students lacking more than 6 credit hours for degree completion in the Summer are permitted to participate in the Fall 2021 ceremonies. NOTE: Class of 2020 graduates will participate in a separate ceremony.
Edinburg Campus
Date: Friday, May 7, 2021
Location: Parking lot E16
Brownsville Campus
Date: Saturday, May 8, 2021
Location: Parking lot B3
RSVPs will be used to determine the appropriate start times for each college; therefore, ceremony start times will be announced at a later date. After the RSVP period closes, graduates will receive an email detailing the ceremony time and instructions on how to access electronic tickets.
Yes.
RSVPs will be used to determine the appropriate start times for each college.
RSVPs will be used to determine the appropriate start times for each college; therefore, ceremony start times will be announced at a later date.
Graduating students will receive an email from commencement@utrgv.edu very soon with this subject line: Spring 2021 Commencement – RSVP & Create Your Slide!
This email will provide instructions regarding how to RSVP for commencement via our partner, Marching Order. Students have until Monday, April 5, 2021 to RSVP for a date and location of their choosing.
Students will receive an email from commencement@utrgv.edu with this subject line: Spring 2021 Commencement – RSVP & Create Your Slide! 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 or messages that fall under any of the following categories:
- Trademarked or branded material
- Containing personal contact information
- Soliciting services for a personal or business venture
- Promoting sponsorship or affiliation with a political, religious, or social organization
- Containing references to alcohol
- Containing references to guns or weapons
- Demonstrating illegal behavior, such as illegal drug consumption
- Obscene or lewd nature
- Memes or photos with social media filters
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 and personal message will be included if you upload them by the deadline of Monday, April 5, 2021. Messages are limited to 200 characters including spaces.
Sample Slide:
Wearing a cap and gown along with any other regalia is encouraged, but it is optional.
No. Only pictures of you and/or your family will be accepted. Uploading a picture is optional. If your photo and/or message fall under one of the restriction categories (See FAQ question “Are there any restrictions on the types of picture or message 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.
Yes. All messages uploaded will be monitored. Any message that is profane, vulgar, violent, political, or offensive to any one individual or group of people will be rejected. If your photo and/or message fall under one of the restriction categories (See FAQ question “Are there any restrictions on the types of picture or message a graduate can submit?), only your name and degree information will be displayed.
Yes. You will be able to replace, change or edit your message once submitted – but only until the submission deadline of Monday, April 5, 2021 before 5 p.m. Please plan ahead and make sure you’re satisfied with the words you choose.
No. Minors and concentrations will not be recorded on the commencement slides. Minors and concentrations are printed on your official transcript.
Due to hard publication deadlines, if you apply after April 1, 2021, your name may not appear in the commencement program.
Please email commencement@utrgv.edu by April 5, 2021 before 5 p.m. and include your student identification number along with details about your concern.
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.
We encourage you to purchase your graduation regalia which can be done at the UTRGV Campus bookstore in-person or online at, https://www.bkstr.com/utrgvstore/shop/graduation . You must wear full regalia (graduation gown and mortar board) in order 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 not be purchased inside the Commencement event area.
Graduation Questions
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:
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. 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 make a change in the term/date in which you will be completing your degree requirements, you are required to fill out and submit a Request for Change of Graduation Date form, as soon as possible.
The form is located online at https://www.utrgv.edu/studentforms, under the Student Enrollment Forms link on the U Central web page. You may submit your form in person at U Central on either campus or via e-mail to certification@utrgv.edu, be sure to use your UTRGV e-mail account.
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.htmto 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, please 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.