commencement
Need to apply for graduation? Apply through your Peoplesoft account. The deadline to apply for graduation is October 2, 2009 with a $25 fee. Students can apply late by October 30, 2009 with a $50 fee.
This page contains all the information you need if you are participating in the Fall 2009 General Commencement.
Fall 2009 candidates - Although you may participate in Commencement, your graduation is actually contingent upon successful completion of your degree requirements and coursework by the end of the Fall 2009 semester. An application for graduation does not necessarily mean that you have been approved for graduation.
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When and where is the ceremony?
- Will my name be listed in the Commencement Program?
- Where do I order invitations and what do I wear?
- Graduation Fair
- Ring Ceremony
- Guest Information
- Where do we park?
- What about Special Access?
- How long does the ceremony last?
- Is the ceremony recorded?
- When and where do I show up, and what do I do?
- How do I get a good photograph?
- When do I actually get my diploma?
When and where is the ceremony?
The faculty and staff of the College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences (CLASS) are proud to invite you, your family, and guests to attend the December Commencement for the Fall 2009 graduating class of the College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences. The CLASS Commencement is scheduled for Friday, December 18th at 9:00 AM in Hofheinz Pavilion.
CLASS Pre-Commencement Reception:
There will be a continental breakfast for the graduates and their families starting at 7:00 AM in O'Quinn Great Hall of the Alumni Center , which will be served by the CLASS Dean's Office. Please fill in the "Dean's Office Breakfast" part of the RSVP form if you plan to attend."
Will my name be listed in the Commencement Program?
We make every effort to insure that all graduating students who apply on time are in the Commencement program. However, please be aware of the following information: If at any time you have requested privacy protection for your academic records, your name cannot be published in the program by law unless you have indicated on your application for graduation that you desire your name to be included in the program.
Although your name might not be included in the printed program, you will still be individually recognized by name as you cross the stage.
For more information, undergraduate students contact Christina Williams (713) 743-3753 and graduate students contact Anna Marchese at 713.743.4012.
Where do I order invitations and What do I wear?
Academic Regalia. Academic regalia (the traditional black mortarboard cap and black gown) are required for all graduates. The University of Houston has selected Official UH Regalia, we strongly encourage you to purchase your regalia at the UH Bookstore. Masters and Doctoral students must also rent the proper hood and bring it with them. Masters students wear their hoods. Doctoral graduates and candidates will be hooded during the Commencement ceremony.
Bookstore representatives will be available to assist you on the day of commencement. They will be located in the Yeoman Field/Sports Court Area. The bookstore will accept cash (small bills) checks and credit cards for students that need to purchase Regalia or Regalia items starting at 7:00 AM.
You may also order your invitations through Herff Jones online or call 281.379.3825.
| Regalia Colors for All Departments Except Music | ||
Tassels |
Hoods | |
| Baccalaureate | Citron | None |
| Masters |
Black | Citron |
| Doctoral | Gold | Dark blue |
| Regalia Colors for Moores School of Music Only | ||
Tassels |
Hoods | |
| Baccalaureate | Citron | None |
| Masters |
Black | Pink |
| Doctoral | Gold | Pink |
Bachelor and Master's Candidates
| Students' Regalia Purchase Prices † | |
| Bachelor Keeper Cap, Gown, and Tassel | $45.00 |
| Master Keeper Cap, Gown, Tassel, and Hood
|
$70.00 |
| Master Hood only
|
$30.00 |
| Cap only
|
$7.50 |
| Tassel only | $5.50 |
| Key Chain Tassel | $7.00 |
| Mega Tassel | $8.50 |
| Honor Cords | $14.50 |
| Stoles | $30.00 |
| † Prices do not include sales tax. | |
Doctoral Candidates
| Doctoral Candidates’ Regalia Rental Prices † | |
| Doctoral Tam, Gown, Tassel and Hood (Rental) | $110.00 |
| PHD Hood | $35.00 |
| † Prices do not include sales tax. | |
(Doctorial gowns (only) should be returned to representatives after the ceremony.)
Graduation Fair
A Graduation Fair will take place at the UH Bookstore from September 29- October 2, 2009 from 9am to 4pm. Representatives will be there to assist in ordering caps, gowns and hoods as well as announcements, UH rings and diploma frames. Students have until October 19, 2009 to preorder regalia online. PhD students must preorder either online or in the bookstore by November 30, 2009. Distribution of regalia preorders will begin Monday, November 30th through commencement!
Please visit the Bookstore Graduation Fair page. Cap and gown orders may be placed through Herff Jones.
Ring Ceremony
Information coming soon...
Guest Information
When inviting guests, please be advised of the following:
- Doors will open 1 hour before each ceremony
- Saved seats will be released 15 minutes prior to the beginning of the procession and will be strictly enforced by security and ushers
- Doors to Hofheinz will close if maximum capacity is reached. This decision is made by the Fire Marshall and not the University.
- Hofheinz Pavilion will be completely cleared after each ceremony, so arriving earlier than the allotted hour is not necessary
Parking and direction information can be found below
Where do we park?
Graduates and guests attending the CLASS Commencement are requested to park in Lot 16. We strongly suggest that family and friends arrive well before the ceremony starts. (As indicated later, graduates need to arrive by 8:00 AM to assemble for the processional.)
Click to view map.
(Map will open in a new window)
What about Special Access?
Students must notify the Center for Students with DisABILITIES (CSD) for any additional services or requests needed at least 2 WEEKS prior to their scheduled commencement ceremony. Please contact Shannon Richardson, Interpreting/Captioning Coordinator at (713) 743-5400 or slrichardson2@uh.edu for any additional assistance and/or specific questions you may have.
How long does the ceremony last?
The CLASS Commencement should last approximately two and a half hours, from 9:00AM until 11:00AM.
Attention Baccalaureate Candidates Graduating with Honors
Undergraduate students who complete their degree requirements will graduate with the stated academic honors if they achieve the following grade point averages earned in the last sixty-six (66) hours completed at the University of Houston.
Further, the honors calculation will include all hours completed in the semester in which the first of those final sixty-six (66) hours was completed.
| Honors Categories and GPAs | |
| Summa Cum Laude | 3.75 to 4.0 GPA |
| Magna Cum Laude | 3.50 to 3.74 GPA |
| Cum Laude | 3.25 to 3.49 GPA |
Once the Fall 2009 semester has officially ended and all grades have been
posted, your honors status will be updated accordingly and will be engraved
upon your diploma.
Undergraduate students who have completed the graduation requirements of the Honors College may graduate with special honors designations. Please see your advisor in the Honors College for more information.
Undergraduate students who successfully complete a senior honors thesis/project and who are not members of the Honors College graduate with "Honors in Major."
Attention Doctoral Graduates and Candidates
Information TBA
Is the Ceremony recorded?
The ceremony is recorded and made available to for all to view online shortly after the ceremony. The ceremony video can not be purchased, to view the ceremonies from Fall 2008, Spring 2008 or Spring 2009, click the links below.
(Quicktime Player required; videos open in standalone player)
When and where do I show up, and what do I do?
When?
You should arrive in full academic regalia no later than 8:00 AM for Commencement.
Where?
Students should report to Yeoman Field/Sports Court in the Alumni Center. Family and guests should be directed to Hofheinz Pavilion. Please do not be late. If you arrive late, it may be difficult to find a nearby parking place, and it will be difficult to get you into the processional.
Special note: Women graduates, for safety precautions, please leave your purses with your families. The CLASS commencement staff cannot be responsible for safeguarding your personal belongings.
What do I do?
Information TBA
Tassels
Undergraduates, please wear your tassels on the right side of the mortarboard.
Graduates
Please wear your tassels on the left side of the mortarboard.
Recognition of graduates and candidates
Recognition will proceed in departmental order, beginning with Anthropology. Each graduate will be announced in alphabetical order starting with Bachelors, then Masters, then Doctoral.
More Information TBA.
As you approach the edge of the stage
- Give your name card to the person collecting the cards.
- Walk across the stage to shake hands with the Dean and other dignitaries.
- Go back to your seat.
- Remain seated until all students have been recognized.
- Follow the person in front of you when the recessional begins.
The line should be continuous. Staff will direct candidates and graduates to the stage, a few rows at a time. Many people have volunteered to help direct this special event. Just follow their instructions, watch the person in front of you and enjoy family members, friends, cheering, clapping, and flashing cameras. Have a great time!
How do I get a good photograph?
Family and friends should feel free to bring cameras and video recorders and take as many pictures as they desire. However, they must remain in their seats during the ceremony. They must not stand in the aisles, and under no circumstances will they be permitted on the floor of the hall! We also suggest that family photographers take photos at home and at other locations on campus prior to the ceremony.
A professional photographer, "Flash Photography," will be on hand taking individual photos during the ceremony. "Flash Photography" will send the proofs to you so that you can decide if you want to order additional copies. The photographer will already have your mailing address. If you do not receive the proofs within 30 days of your commencement program please contact:
Flash Photography at 800.410.8070.
When do I actually get my diploma?
Diplomas are normally mailed eight weeks after degrees have been approved and officially conferred and posted. Decisions of awarding degrees does not begin until January 4, 2010. Please be aware that the College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences has 60 days from the official closing date of the semester to award degrees. Students can check the status of their diploma at MichaelSutter.com/UH.
Diplomas are mailed directly to students at the most current address provided through their myUH student account. The diploma printing company will also send email notifications to diploma recipients indicating when diplomas have been mailed. It’s important to keep contact information updated in myUH to avoid shipment delays.
Alums graduating as of Summer 2008 and/or who have placed order(s) for additional diplomas from other graduating semesters, can check their Diploma Order Status online. Contact AskShasta if you have additional questions about your diploma order.
Please note: Effective September 1, 2009, there is a $25.00 fee for each additional diploma ordered (postmarked by or fax received on or after this date). This fee does not apply to the initial diploma mailed upon graduation, but will apply to additional quantities as requested via the diploma order form.*
*The fee is applicable to diplomas requested as a result of a diploma name change. Diploma names must be provided at the time of completing the online graduation application. Failure to do so may result in a $25 diploma order fee for subsequent name changes.
Related link: Graduation Process and what to do page
Congratulations to all on this momentous occasion!
