Diplomas/Certificates
The Office of the University Registrar oversees the printing and distribution of diplomas and certificates. Students may contact registrar@utrgv.edu or visit U Central for any information not covered in the sections below.
Diploma/Certificate Information for Graduates
Diploma mail outs for graduates begin approximately in mid-January for Fall graduates, late May for Spring graduates, and early August for Summer graduates. Please keep in mind that this is an ongoing process that lasts several weeks from the start of these time periods. Diplomas will not be issued to students with transcript holds so we encourage all students to review their student account on ASSIST to resolve any of these existing holds.
In order to ensure that diplomas are mailed to correct addresses, students should review and update their mailing address if needed on ASSIST at least 4 weeks prior to the end of the term of which they will be graduating.
Diplomas include the following information:
- Student’s legal name on record with UTRGV (first, middle and last names, suffixes)
- Degree
- Major
- Graduation date
- Latin honors for qualifying undergraduate level students
Note: Diplomas do not include minors, concentrations, or specializations.
The student will receive one diploma with both majors listed.
The name printed on a student’s diploma will be their UTRGV legal name. However, students have the option to submit a request for their diploma to be printed with an alternate name instead of their UTRGV legal name. Students may submit their request for review to registrar@utrgv.edu. Some examples of potential diploma name updates include the ones noted below. In some cases, students may be asked for supporting documentation (birth certificate, divorce decree, court-ordered name changes) in order to update their diploma name.
- Preferred First Name (i.e. James Smith but would like diploma name as Jim Smith)
- Middle name, middle initial, or omission of middle name altogether
- Inclusion of maiden name or other documented previous last name
- Accents, special characters (i.e. Peña, García)
Students who want to update their UTRGV legal name, will need to submit a Change of Information form along with supporting documentation to registrar@utrgv.edu. Please note that accents or special characters may not be included as part of a student’s UTRGV legal name; accents and special characters for names may only be included on the diploma.
To ensure any name updates are reflected on the diploma, students should submit requests at least four weeks prior to the end of the term of which they will be graduating. Note: Requests for alternate names are subject to review by and approval from the University Registrar.
The diploma is 11 x 14 inches.
Certificates will be mailed for any undergraduate or graduate certificate that was awarded and notated on a student’s transcript. Please note that some certificates are internal and are not notated on students’ transcripts. The certificate size is 8 ½ x 11 inches.
- UTRGV bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral degrees
- UTRGV graduate and undergraduate certificates that are awarded and notated on students’ transcripts
- Degrees and Certificates for alumni that graduated while the institution was named The University of Texas – Pan American. Please note that these diplomas/certificates will include the name of UTRGV; we are unable to issue diplomas/certificates on UTPA paper.
- Bachelor’s and master’s degrees for students who graduated from UTB-TSC. Please note that these diplomas will include the name of UTRGV. The back of the diploma will include a formal statement regarding UTRGV’s custody of UTB-TSC student records.
The Office of the University Registrar does not issue any formal diplomas/certificates for the programs below:
- Internal UTRGV certificates that are not awarded and notated on students’ transcripts
- UTRGV Continuing Education and Language Programs
- Associate degrees or Certificates of Proficiency earned at UTB-TSC. In these cases, students will need to contact Texas Southmost College if they are requesting a reprint
Visit our Notary and Apostille Process page for more information.
Students may contact the Office of the University Registrar at registrar@utrgv.edu.
Replacement Diploma/Certificate Requests
Students can request a replacement diploma/certificate with the understanding that the original was damaged, lost or printed with a former name no longer desired. All diplomas and certificates reprinted will carry a stamp on the front of the document at the bottom right-hand corner that reads “Replacement Copy” in blue ink. Only one reprinted replacement will be issued in a 24-month period.
Students may submit a Replacement Diploma/Certificate Request form in person to UCentral or via email to registrar@utrgv.edu. There is currently no fee for a replacement diploma/certificate order. The processing time is four to six weeks.
All replacement diplomas will have the signature of the current University President, UT System Chancellor, and Board of Regents Chair. Note: Degrees earned at UTPA and UTB-TSC will be printed on UTRGV diploma paper. UTRGV is unable to provide diplomas on UTPA or UTB-TSC diploma paper. Students seeking diploma reprints of Associate degrees or Certificates of Proficiency earned at UTB-TSC must contact Texas Southmost College.
UTRGV will reprint any certificates notated on the official UTRGV transcript. The certificate reprint will include the signature of the current University President.
Diploma/certificate reorders will not be processed for students with any transcript holds.
Students may contact the Office of the University Registrar at registrar@utrgv.edu with any other questions.