CLASS Commencement 2012

Graduation Candidates

• You will need to arrive in full academic regalia by 8:00 a.m., one full hour before the ceremony. At that time, we begin lining everyone up in the Yeoman Fieldhouse, inside the UH Athletics/Alumni Center.
• Parking in lot 16B
• Regalia - UH Bookstore
• Announcements UH Bookstore
• Mobility Assistance
  • Registered CSD student: notify CSD 713.743.5400
  • All other candidates: contact the CLASS Commencement Coordinators 713.743.4001 - CLASSgraduation@uh.edu

Guests

• There are no tickets and you may invite as many guests as you would like
• Seating in Hofheinz Pavilion is limited and available on a first-come basis.
• If needed, overflow seating for guests will be available in the Science and Engineering Research Center in Classrooms 100 and 101 located directly across the street from Hofheinz Pavilion.
• Parking in (new!) stadium parking garage
• Mobility Assistance
  • Seating is available, but limited. Please plan to arrive early.
  • The doors will open at 7:30 am, 30 minutes earlier than the scheduled time, ONLY for persons with mobility impairment to be comfortably seated.
  • In order to accommodate as many mobility impaired guests as possible, there will be a strict limit of one guest to accompany the mobility impaired guest in the reserved seating area. We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause your group.

Pre-Commencement Reception

• 7:00 to 8:30 a.m.
• O’Quinn Great Hall just inside the Athletics/Alumni Center.
• Please bring your guests and enjoy coffee, juice and light refreshments prior to the ceremony.
• UH faculty, staff, and alumni will be there to help you celebrate your accomplishment.
• Please RSVP online by May 1 if you plan to come to the pre-commencement reception. (so we can be sure to bring enough goodies!)

If you have questions about the CLASS Commencement Ceremony, please contact our Office of Academic Affairs at 713-743-4001, or email CLASSgraduation@uh.edu.

Stay Connected

• Take the Cougar Graduation Challenge
• UH Class of 2012 Facebook page
• Make a gift to the College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences

If you have questions about the CLASS Commencement Ceremony, please contact our Office of Academic Affairs at 713-743-4001, or email CLASSgraduation@uh.edu.

Graduation Application

Need to apply for graduation? Apply through your myUH account. Deadline: is February 24, 2012 with a $25 fee. Students can make a late application for graduation between February 25, 2012 and March 23, 2012 with a $50 fee.

This page contains all the information you need if you are participating in the Spring 2012 General Commencement.

Spring 2012 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 Spring 2012 semester. An application for graduation does not necessarily mean that you have been approved for graduation.

• 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
• Guest Information
• Information for persons with DisABILITIES
• Where do we park?
• How long does the ceremony last?
• 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?
• What is a Cougar Spirit Cord and how do I get one?

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 Spring Commencement for the Spring 2012 graduating class of the College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences. The CLASS Commencement is scheduled for Friday, May 11 at 9:00 AM in Hofheinz Pavilion.

CLASS Pre-Commencement Reception:
The College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences will be hosting a Pre-Commencement Reception from 7:00 to 8:30 AM in the O'Quinn Great Hall of the Alumni Center. Graduation Candidates and their guests are invited to come and enjoy a light continental breakfast, coffee and juice prior to the ceremony. UH faculty, staff, and alumni will be there to celebrate with you in your achievement.

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Will my name be listed in the Commencement Program?

We make every effort to ensure that all graduating students who apply on time (November 4, 2011 -  February 24, 2012)  are listed in the Commencement program. If you apply for graduation during the LATE application period (February 25, 2012 – March 23, 2012) your name will NOT be listed in the Commencement program. We have a printing approval deadline that will preclude inclusion of late applicants.

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 
  • CLASSgraduation@uh.edu 
  • 713-743-4001
    
    
• Graduate students 
  • Anna Marchese - 713-743-4012

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Where do I order invitations and What do I wear?

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 8:00 AM.

You may also order your invitations through Herff Jones online or call 281.379.3825.

Bachelor and Master's Candidates

Doctoral Candidates

Notes:

• Gown distribution begins April 23 through graduation day. 
• PhD Hood & Tam w/Tassel are keepers and only the gowns will need to be returned to the Bookstore.

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Graduation Fair

The Graduation Fair will take place at the UH Campus Bookstore from February 28 - March 2 (Tues-Fri) from 9:00am to 4:00pm. Order your official cap, gown, tassel, stole, diploma frame, announcements, rings, and spirit cords! Come prepared to take grad-photos too! Gowns provided.

Please visit the Bookstore Graduation Fair page. Cap and gown orders may be placed through Herff Jones.

Drawing at the Event!

Please register during the week for (1) free cap & gown giveaway, and (2) free photo package. Drawing Friday at noon.

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Guest Information

When inviting guests, please be advised of the following:

• Doors will open 1 hour before each ceremony. CLASS ceremony starts at 9:00am. Doors will open at 8:00am for seating.


• If you are saving seats for other guests, you will be required to release them 15 minutes prior to the beginning of the procession.
  • This 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

Information for persons with DisABILITIES

Registered CSD graduation candidates

• If you need any accommodations or have special requests, please notify the Center for Students with DisABILITIES (CSD) by April 27, 2012.

Center for Students with DisABILITIES (CSD) 
(713) 743-5400
http://www.uh.edu/csd/

All other mobility impaired graduation candidates 

• Please contact the CLASS Commencement coordinators to plan how we can best accommodate your needs on this exciting day.

CLASS Commencement Coordinators 
713.743.4001
CLASSgraduation@uh.edu

All other mobility impaired guests

• Seating is available, but limited. Please plan to arrive early.
• The doors will open at 7:30 am, 30 minutes earlier than the scheduled time, ONLY for persons with mobility impairment to be comfortably seated.
• In order to accommodate as many mobility impaired guests as possible, there will be a strict limit of one guest to accompany the mobility impaired guest in the reserved seating area. We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause your group.

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Where do we park?

Graduates and guests attending the general Commencement for CLASS 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.) Download the parking map for commencement.

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How long does the ceremony last?

The CLASS Commencement should last approximately 2 ½ hours, from 9:00AM until 11:30AM.

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. Undergraduates who are graduating with honors may purchase honors cords from the University Bookstore for approximately $14.00 plus tax. 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.

Students graduating with University Requirements (aka: Career requirements or General Requirements) from a catalog before the 2010-2011 catalog:

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 (all of which must be A, B, C,... letter grade courses) 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.

Students graduating with University Requirements (aka: Career requirements or General Requirements) from the 2010-2011 catalog or after:
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 fifty-four (54) hours (all of which must be A, B, C,... letter grade courses) 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 fifty-four (54) hours was completed.

Once the Spring 2012 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."

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When and where do I show up, and what do I do?

When?

You should arrive in full academic regalia no later than 8:00AM for Commencement.

Where?

Graduation Candidates

• Yeoman Field/Sports Court in the Alumni Center 

Family and Guests

• Should be directed to Hofheinz Pavilion.

The closer it is to the starting time of the ceremony parking becomes more challenging and will take more time to get your guests to Hofheinz Pavilion and be seated and for graduation candidates to get to the Alumni Center and go through the process to get in line. Please plan for enough time to travel and arrive safely.

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. There is not a place to secure your belongings during the ceremony. You will not return to the same seat after you cross the stage, so you will not be able to leave your belongings at your seat.

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 Doctoral, then Masters, then Bachelors.

As you approach the edge of the stage

1. Give your name card to the person collecting the cards.
2. Walk across the stage to shake hands with the President and Dean.
3. Continue to behind stage where you will, again, have your picture taken by a professional photographer.
4. Go back to your seat.
5. Remain seated until all students have been recognized. (You will not be allowed to leave the ceremony early. Please be respectful of all participants in the ceremony.)
6. 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!

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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

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When do I actually get my diploma?

Diplomas are normally mailed two weeks after degrees have been approved and officially conferred and posted. Decisions of awarding degrees does not begin until May 14, 2012. 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.

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What is a Cougar Spirit Cord and how do I get one?

Don't be left out at graduation.

Give to the University of Houston and get your Cougar Spirit Cord today!

The Cougar Spirit Cord is a symbol of your pride and a way to help make more scholarships available to next year's students or show support for a program that's made a difference in your UH experience.

Make a minimum $15 donation (perhaps a gift in honor of your class, $20.12) to any college or program of your choice and wear the cord at commencement to show your Cougar Pride!

Don't wait, click here and choose to give now!

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