Meet with your advisor for a graduation check appointment to confirm the classes you plan to take BEFORE the last day to add a class for your final semester.  If you make any schedule changes after this graduation check appointment, be sure to confirm with your advisor whether the changes still fit with your approval for graduation.

Confirm your record is accurate. Make sure your major and any minors you are pursuing are listed accurately in your myUH Student Center. Contact your advisor immediately for assistance if you see any inaccuracies. Note that you may not add majors or minors after the Official Reporting Day of your final semester unless you are enrolled in all of the courses to complete that major or minor.

Review your personal contact information. Go to myUH Self Service > Personal Information to make sure your mailing address, phone number, and email address are updated and will be current for at least three months following your graduation.

Adjust your Directory Information settings. Under the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA), if you withhold any of the following information your name will not be printed in the commencement program: Students planning to participate in the commencement ceremonies will need to remove these three directory holds in your myUH Self Service portal. 

• your name
• program of study (college, major, or campus)
• degrees, honors, and awards received

Apply for graduation in your myUH Student Center before the deadline to apply for graduation posted in the University of Houston Academic Calendar. [myUH Student Center > myUH Self Service > Advising > Apply for Graduation]

Clear Holds and Incomplete Grades. Ensure all academic and financial holds are resolved and any incomplete grades have been finalized with the Registrar's Office. 

Check Your Email. All important updates regarding your graduation status will be sent to your official University of Houston email address. 

Understand what happens after you apply for graduation. Once you submit your application, your graduation status will be listed as “Ready for Review” until you are formally approved or disapproved, which will take 4-6 weeks after the official close of the academic term. 

• If your graduation is approved, the Office of the University Registrar will send your diploma through the mail, typically within 2-3 months after the close of the graduating semester. 
• If your graduation is disapproved, a notice of this decision will be sent to you at your official Cougarnet email address. Contact your advisor immediately to make a plan to complete any remaining requirements and apply for graduation again the next semester.

Visit the UH Commencement site. Find all the details about your college ceremony  including timeline, participation requirements, and guest ticketing and attendance.

Order Your Regalia. All graduates participating in the University or College commencement ceremonies must wear proper academic regalia - the traditional black mortarboard cap, black gown, and a tassel in the color of your graduating college. You will not be allowed to participate in Commencement if you are not attired in appropriate regalia.

• Order your cap and gown through the UH Bookstore.
• Plan to attend the Graduation Fair for assistance with ordering a cap and gown, announcements and invitations, UH rings, and diploma frames. If you have questions regarding these items, call the bookstore at 713-741-7095 or visit the UH Bookstore website.
• You are responsible for picking up and dropping off your rented cap and gown.
• Get Your Cougar Spirit Cord.
• Attend the Ring Ceremony hosted by the UH Alumni Association.

Review the University Career Services Quick Career Resource Guide. Find relevant career resources, such as Career Development Action Plans, assessments, and preparation guidance.

Attend mock interviews on campus. Practice makes perfect! Career counselors can conduct mock interviews with you to better prepare you for your upcoming interview. Bring a copy of a job description and your resume to the appointment so your career counselor can resemble a real interview as closely as possible. Schedule an appointment in Cougar Pathway.

Pay any outstanding balance. Be sure to check your myUH Self Service portal for any outstanding balances. All balances must be paid in full before your diploma will be mailed. Contact Student Business Services with any questions regarding outstanding balances.  

Make a plan to pay back your student loans. if you start educating yourself about loan repayment now, your life will be a lot easier after graduation. Mandatory loan counseling will help answer some basic questions, but make sure you understand your payment options and requirements sooner rather than later.

Get contact information for your references. You will want to know how to contact your references over the next few months during your job search–it may make or break you in your job search. A quick email, phone call, or office visit now to ensure your contact information is up to date make sense.

Connect with friends and colleagues. You’ve studied together, encouraged each other, and shared the ups and downs of college life. Too often the last day of college is the last time people see their college friends before everyone heads out into their career worlds. Make time for final visits, walks down memory lane, and promises to stay connected with these important people in your life.

Join the exclusive network of over 300,000 alumni as a Forever Coog. To help you stay connected and engaged with your beloved alma mater, complete our alumni checklist:

• Rub Shasta’s Paw for Good Luck.
• Show Off Your Class Ring. (You Earned It!)
• Take Graduation Pictures, and Use the Hashtag #TrueWellEverBe