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Student Frequently Asked Questions
Date:
Time: – CDT
Location:
UTRGV PlainsCapital Bank El Gran Salón
1 W University Blvd
Brownsville, TX 78520
- Graduates will process into the ceremony and be directed to sit in the graduate seating area in alphabetical order by last name.
- The ceremony Order of Exercises will begin promptly at 10:00 a.m.
- UTRGV leadership, one student, and the invited keynote speaker will make remarks.
- School of Podiatric Medicine graduates will be guided to the right side of the stage to line up for their walk across the stage.
Presentation of Graduates on Stage
- The graduate’s name will be called, and the graduate will walk onto the stage.
- The graduate will be hooded (photograph #1).
- The graduate will receive their diploma (photograph #2).
- The graduate will exit the stage.
- The graduate will return to their seat.
- Graduates will participate in a formal recessional and exit the ceremony.
- Graduates will be led to the back of El Gran Salón for a class photo.
- Graduates may then join their family and friends outside.
Yes, the School of Podiatric Medicine graduates will experience a processional and recessional.
The School of Podiatric Medicine graduates will be seated in alphabetical order by last name. Guest seating is on a first come, first-serve basis.
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 GradImages website .
Questions? Please contact the GradImages Customer Service Department at (800) 261-2576 or ecc.giservice@gradimages.net.
All graduating students must wear full regalia to participate in SOPM Commencement.
- The deadline to order regalia was Saturday, January 31, 2026. For questions, contact Herff Jones directly at gradsw@herffjones.com.
- SOPM Class of 2026 students’ rental regalia will be shipped directly to the address provided when their order was placed
- Graduates must return their rental regalia by mail using the provided return materials and instructions. Please make sure items are returned by the deadline indicated in your Herff Jones order information.
- If your parents or siblings will be hooding you at SOPM Commencement, regalia is required for them to participate in the event. They must be a physician (MD/DO/DPM degree) to hood you at SOPM Commencement. If they do not have regalia from their alma mater, they can rent regalia from Herff Jones. The Herff Jones order deadline is Monday, March 23, 2026. We will provide more details about their regalia with our SOPM Commencement communications. Please contact sopmstudentaffairs@utrgv.edu with any questions.
Please review the video link on: How-To Wear Your Graduation Regalia (opens in new tab)
Yes. Guests unable to attend the in-person ceremony may view the ceremony at SOPM Events (opens in new tab) .
Yes. Graduates may request accommodations via the RSVP link in the official invitation. If you have any questions, please contact sopmstudentaffairs@utrgv.edu.
Yes. To support a safe and enjoyable environment, students and guests are encouraged to review and adhere to the list of prohibited items. Prohibited items will be confiscated. Patrons may be refused entry if in possession of the following:
- Weapons
- Firearms
- Food and Drinks
- Alcoholic Beverages
- Illegal Drugs
- Inflatables/Balloons
- Streamers
- Aerosol Cans/Noisemakers
- Strollers
Pets are not allowed inside the UTRGV PlainsCapital Bank El Gran Salón. The only exception is for service animals, which the ADA defines as dogs individually trained to perform specific tasks for a person with a disability. Examples of qualifying tasks include:
- Guiding individuals with visual impairments
- Alerting individuals who are deaf or hard of hearing
- Assisting during seizures
- Pulling a wheelchair
- Reminding someone to take medication
- Calming a person with PTSD during an anxiety attack
Emotional support, comfort, therapy, and companion animals are not considered service animals under the ADA and are not permitted inside the venue. Service animals are welcome in all public areas of the Fieldhouse and must remain leashed, harnessed, or under effective control unless such equipment interferes with the service animal's work. A person with a disability cannot be asked to remove his service animal from the premises unless: (1) the dog is out of control, and the handler does not take effective action to control it or (2) the dog is not housebroken.
For accessibility questions or accommodation needs, please contact events@utrgv.edu before the event.
UTRGV consults local weather experts to monitor forecasts during the days leading up to the commencement ceremony. In the event of any changes due to inclement weather, notifications will be sent via email and social media 24 to 48 hours prior to allow students to plan accordingly.
If you have questions or concerns, please email sopmstudentaffairs@utrgv.edu
Student RSVP Process & Event Check-In
The School of Podiatric Medicine graduates should have received an electronic invitation from SOPM Student Affairs with the subject line: UTRGV School of Podiatric Medicine 2026 Commencement – RSVP & Create Your Slide! This email provides instructions on how to submit the content for your Student Grad Slide and an RSVP link. We kindly ask that you please let us know whether you are planning to attend or not attend by Friday, April 10, 2026, 12:00 p.m. CDT.
Yes, we kindly ask that you please let us know whether you are planning to attend or not attend. RSVPing on time will help us plan the best possible experience for all our guests. RSVPs will be due by Friday, April 10, 2026, 12:00 p.m. CDT.
Yes, we kindly ask that you please let us know whether you are planning to attend or not attend. RSVPing on time will help us plan the best possible experience for all our guests. RSVPs will be due by Friday, April 10, 2026, 12:00 p.m. CDT.
Every graduating student will be allowed to invite 10 guests. To provide the best experience for all guests, we have carefully planned arrangements to accommodate our students and their guests.
Physical tickets will not be issued for SOPM Commencement. Instead, School of Podiatric Medicine students will check-in at a designated room before the event. An email will be sent to students with details closer to the event.
Guests will not require tickets and guest seating is on a first come, first-serve basis.
Yes. All guests from 0 years and up must be included in your RSVP count.
Grad Slide
If you choose to not attend in-person, you may enjoy the ceremony via live stream at SOPM Events Page . Your name will not be announced at the live ceremony.
However, your grad slide will be provided to you by the Office of Student Affairs after the event.
The School of Podiatric Medicine graduates should have received an electronic invitation from SOPM Student Affairs with the subject line: UTRGV School of Podiatric Medicine 2026 Commencement – RSVP & Create Your Slide! This email provides instructions on how to submit the content for your Student Grad Slide and an RSVP link. All grad slide content must be completed and submitted by Friday , April 10, 2026, 12:00 p.m. CDT.
Your personal slide will include your photo, full name, Doctor of Podiatric Medicine, and hometown. If the graduating student does not submit a photo and information by Friday, April 10, 2026 – 12:00 P.M. CDT, only their name, Doctor of Podiatric Medicine, and photo on file will be displayed on the screen.
Disclaimer: The graduate photos included in our ceremony slides were provided by the graduates themselves, and do not represent the viewpoints, opinions, policies, or positions of either UTRGV or its faculty or staff.
Photo Guidelines
UTRGV reserves the right to exercise discretion in excluding 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 with a political, religious, or social organization
- Containing references to alcohol or illegal substances
- Containing references to guns or weapons
- Containing depiction of violence, injury, or death
- Containing depictions of illegal behavior, such as illegal drug consumption
- Obscene or lewd nature, swim wear, and intimate apparel
- Memes or photos with social media filters
- Statements or depictions which violate ADM 02-300 Speech, Expression and Assembly.
NOTE, you might be contacted by a member of Student Affairs requesting "ACCESS" to your photo, depending on how the file is uploaded.
Disclaimer: The personal graduate photos included in our ceremony slides were provided by the graduates themselves, and do not represent the viewpoints, opinions, policies, or positions of either UTRGV or its faculty or staff.
Your personal slide will include your photo, full name, Doctor of Podiatric Medicine, and hometown. If the graduating student does not submit a photo and information by Friday, April 10, 2026 – 12:00 P.M. CDT, only their name, Doctor of Podiatric Medicine, and photo on file will be displayed on the screen.
Disclaimer: The personal graduate photos included in our ceremony slides were provided by the graduates themselves, and do not represent the viewpoints, opinions, policies, or positions of either UTRGV or its faculty or staff.
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 a photo with other individuals to the grad slide form, you are acknowledging that you have permission to use the image, including expressed consent by any party shown in the image, other than yourself.
Your grad slide will be provided to you from the Office of Student Affairs after the event. For questions regarding your slide, contact the Office of Student Affairs at sopmstudentaffairs@utrgv.edu.
Yes, School of Podiatric Medicine graduate names and hometowns will be displayed in the School of Podiatric Medicine Commencement program.
No, the commencement program will be available online prior to the Commencement ceremony.
Faculty Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, we ask faculty to please RSVP using the RSVP link provided in the invitation sent via email by Friday, April 10, 2026, to ensure we allocate enough seating for faculty in attendance.
Yes, faculty and their guests will have a designated section at the SOPM Commencement. Instructions will be provided at the event.
Yes, all faculty participating in commencement must wear full regalia to participate in the ceremony. Reminder, that in order for faculty to participate in the event, they must have RSVP’d by Friday, April 10, 2026. Faculty attending without regalia will be seated in a section in the auditorium reserved for faculty.
Faculty who ordered regalia by Monday, March 23, 2026, will be able to pick up and pay for rented regalia starting on Monday, April 20, 2026, thru Friday, May 1, 2026, 5:00 p.m. at the Edinburg & Brownsville Campus Store. Payment is required at pick-up. Cost is $84.00 plus tax.
Please plan to return the rented regalia on site at the conclusion of the Commencement ceremony on Saturday, May 2nd or no later than Monday, May 4th at the Edinburg or Brownsville Campus Store. Please note the store closes at 5:00 p.m.
For questions about placing your order, email Herff Jones at gradsw@herffjones.com.
For questions about pick up, payment, or returns, contact the UTRGV Campus Store in Edinburg at (956) 665-2252, Brownsville at (956) 882-8249 or campusstore.utrgv@bibliu.com.
Please reference FAQs at the top of the page for additional questions pertaining to SOPM Commencement.
For other Commencement questions, contact the SOPM Student Affairs at sopmstudentaffairs@utrgv.edu.