CLASS Commencement Ceremony
December 20, 2013

• 9:00 a.m. - 12 noon
• Hofheinz Pavilion

Parking

Free parking will be available to graduates and their guests. Parking information, including locations for handicap-accessible parking, and map can be found on the UH Commencement Parking website.

• Students are strongly urged to park in Lot 16B, which is closest to Yeoman Field House where you report for the ceremony.
• Guests are urged to park in the new parking garage, which is closest to Hofheinz Pavilion. There will be ample UH Police and Parking Security guiding motorists on campus that day.

Guest Information

When inviting guests, please be advised of the following:

Hofheinz Pavilion

• Doors will open 1 hour before the ceremony.
  • CLASS Ceremony starts at 9:00 am. 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 Pavilion 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 becomes more challenging as the ceremony start time approaches and will take more time to get your guests to Hofheinz Pavilion and be seated.

Guests with Mobility Impairments

• Special seating is available, but limited. Please plan to arrive early.
• Hofheinz Pavilion doors will open at 7:30am, 30 minutes earlier than the scheduled opening time, for guests with mobility impairment, so that they may 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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Photographs

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. Guests will not be allowed to 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 or after the ceremony.

A professional photographer, "Flash Photography," will be on hand taking individual photos during the ceremony. "Flash Photography" will send the proofs via email to the graduation candidate so that prints can be ordered. The photographer will have the email address approved by the student on the walk card used during the ceremony.

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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Graduation Candidates

Information about Applying to Graduate

Although students may participate in Commencement, degree conferral is actually contingent upon successful completion of degree requirements and coursework by the end of the semester applied to graduate. An application for graduation and/or participation in the ceremony does not necessarily mean that a student will be approved for degree conferral.

Before you apply!

• Changes to your major or minor should be made before your application has been submitted. Please confirm that your major and minor information is listed correctly on myUH prior to submitting your graduation application.
• Graduation applications cannot be retracted. Once you submit a graduation application you must graduate if you meet graduation requirements.

How to apply

• Apply through your myUH account
  

Deadline to Apply

• October 4, 2013.  $25 application fee.
• Late applications accepted October 5, 2013 – November 1, 2013. Student name will not appear in printed program. $50 application fee.

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Status of your Graduation Application

Once you submit your application to graduate

When you submit your application to graduate, your primary major advisor will receive notification in their weekly reports. Your primary major advisor will then begin to collect all documents, petitions, etc. related to your degree progress and begin to make a preliminary recommendation for degree conferral. If your graduation is contingent on successfully completing any currently enrolled courses, you must first successfully complete those requirements before a decision can be recommended. If there are any other outstanding items that your primary major advisor is aware of and has already communicated with you about, these items will also need to be completed before a preliminary recommendation for degree conferral can be made.

*Your major advisor is your contact for questions related to the status of your application and the completion of your degree.*

Conditions that Warrant Immediate Disapproval

If there are requirements for your degree completion that will not be met by currently enrolled courses and your major advisor is not already aware of these outstanding items, your application could be disapproved before the end of the semester that you have applied to graduate.

A notification of that decision will be sent by UH (not CLASS) to you at your email address listed on your record. You will then need to work with your major advisor to complete any remaining requirements and apply for graduation again in the next feasible semester.

Approval Process

Once the semester officially closes (December 20, 2013) and all grades are posted (last day to submit grades is 72 hours after the close of the semester), a final recommendation will be made by your major advisor and the college Dean’s Office for Academic Affairs will begin their final review for degree conferral.

If you have successfully completed all requirements of your degree program, your application will be approved by CLASS and then sent to UH with final recommendation for degree conferral.

After UH has completed their review and has determined that all degree requirements have been satisfied, a final approval decision will be made and posted to your record.

A notification of that decision will be sent by UH (not CLASS) to you at your email address listed on your record.

Disapproval

Once the semester officially closes (December 20, 2013) and all grades are posted (last day to submit grades is 72 hours after the close of the semester), a final recommendation will be made by your major advisor and the college Dean’s Office for Academic Affairs will begin their final review for degree conferral.

If you have not successfully completed all pending requirements by that date, your application will be disapproved.

A notification of that decision will be sent by UH (not CLASS) to you at your email address listed on your record. You will then need to work with your major advisor to complete any remaining requirements and apply for graduation again in the next feasible semester.

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Attend the CLASS "READY…SET…COMMENCE!" Event

Mark your calendar as a must attend for all graduation candidates! Please attend either date (not both). You may “come and go” at any time during event hours.

Location: Elizabeth D. Rockwell Pavilion
2nd Floor of MD Anderson Library

• Pickup your graduation packet
  • Walk card used to cross stage
  • Verify pronunciation of your name
• Toast with the Dean to the CLASS of 2013!
• Have all of your commencement event questions answered
• PhD Candidate Hooding Demonstrations
• Donate to UH and get your UH Spirit Cords to wear during commencement (see below)
• Learn about CLASS Graduate Programs
• Join the UH CLASS Alumni Association
• Bookstore representatives available

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CLASS Exit Survey

CLASS wants your opinion! Each semester we invite graduating seniors to participate in the CLASS Exit Survey. Results are reported each year and the information gathered gives our college and departments valuable feedback about your time at the University of Houston. We use the information to get a better sense of what is working and what could be improved. Keep an eye on your email for a link to the survey!

Printed Commencement Program

We make every effort to ensure that all graduating students who apply on time (April 5, 2013 – October 4, 2013) are listed in the Commencement program.

If you apply for graduation during the LATE application period (October 5, 2013 – November 1, 2013) your name will NOT be listed in the Commencement program. We have a printing approval deadline that will preclude inclusion of late applicants.

Please also 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.

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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.

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 8:00am.

Bachelor candidates

• Bachelor candidates must wear the appropriate black commencement gown and black mortarboard cap with UH CLASS tassel.
• Please wear your tassels on the right side of the mortarboard.

Master candidates

• Master candidates must wear the appropriate black commencement gown.
• Master candidates must also rent the appropriate hood and bring it with them.
• Master candidates wear their hoods.
• Please contact the Director for Graduate Studies regarding the hooding ceremony process.
• Please wear your tassels on the left side of the mortarboard.

Doctoral candidates

• Doctoral candidates must also wear the appropriate hood and bring it with them.
• Doctoral graduates and candidates will be hooded during the ceremony.
• Please contact the Director for Graduate Studies regarding the hooding ceremony process.

Regalia Colors for All Departments Except Music

Regalia Colors for Moores School of Music Only

Bachelor and Master Candidates Regalia Purchase Prices †

† Prices do not include sales tax.

Doctoral Candidates’ Regalia Rental Prices †

† Prices do not include sales tax.
*PhD Hood & Tam w/Tassel are keepers and only the gowns will need to be returned to the Bookstore.

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Bookstore Graduation Fair

The Bookstore Graduation Fair will take place at the UH Campus Bookstore from September 24-27 (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 September 17 - October 19 through Herff Jones

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Invitations

Students can order personalized invitations and announcements from Herff-Jones Company, the authorized vendor for the University of Houston.

Orders may be placed online or 713-864-6464.

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Cougar Spirit Cord

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, $20.13) to any college or program of your choice (perhaps CLASS or your major?) and wear the cord at commencement to show your Cougar Pride!

Don't wait, click here and choose to give now! – you can pick up your Spirit Cord during the CLASS Ready…Set…Commence! Event

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Graduation Candidates with Mobility Impairments

Registered CSD graduation candidates

If you need any accommodations or have special requests, please notify the Center for Students with DisABILITIES (CSD) by December 6, 2013

Center for Students with DisABILITIES (CSD) 
Registered CSD graduation candidates needing any additional services or have special request must notify the Center for Students with DisABILITIES (CSD) at least 2 WEEKS prior to their scheduled commencement ceremony. Center for Students with DisABILITIES (CSD)
(713) 743-5400 or http://www.uh.edu/csd

All other mobility impaired graduation candidates, parents and guests needing any special accommodations or mobility assistance should contact the commencement coordinator for their college ceremony no later than May 1 (Spring)/December 1 (Fall)

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What to Expect, day of Commencement

Arrive: No later than one hour before your ceremony is scheduled to begin.

• CLASS Ceremony starts at 9:00 a.m. Graduation candidates should arrive no later than 8:00 am.

The closer it is to the starting time of the ceremony parking becomes more challenging and will take more time to go through the process to get in line. Please plan for enough time to travel and arrive safely.

DO NOT BRING any purses, bags, umbrellas, etc. There is no storage space (secure or otherwise) for you to leave your personal belongings.

Where: Yeoman Field/Sports Court in the Alumni Center

Recognition of Candidates: Recognition will proceed in department alphabetical order. 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 the Dean.
3. Continue to behind stage where you will, again, have your picture taken by a professional photographer.
4. Go back to be seated. [This will probably not be the same seat you had before crossing the stage. Do not bring/leave any valuables at 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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Baccalaureate Candidates Graduating with Honors

Once the Fall 2013 semester has officially closed 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."

Catalog Prior to Fall 2010

Catalog Beginning Fall 2010 or after

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Where is my diploma?

Diplomas are normally mailed two weeks after degrees have been approved by the college and officially conferred and posted by the university. Degree conferral for Fall 2013 candidates does not begin until January 2, 2014. Please be aware that the College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences may take an additional 4-6  weeks to award all degrees. Students can check the status of their diploma at  MichaelSutter.com/UH.

Diplomas are mailed directly to student 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.

Alumni 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 Get Help 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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For questions not answered in this website

Undergraduate students

Your major advisor is your contact for questions related to the status of your application and the completion of your degree.

If you have questions related to the CLASS Commencement Ceremony, please contact:

CLASS Undergraduate Commencement Ceremony Coordinator
CLASSgraduation@uh.edu
713-743-4001

Graduate students

Master and PhD candidates who have questions about the ceremony and degree conferral process are asked to email:

Anna Marchese
CLASS Graduate Studies Program Director
amarchese@uh.edu

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