General Graduation Information
APPLYING FOR GRADUATION
Students eligible to apply for graduation must submit an application online via ASSIST by the published deadline on the Guide to Graduation and Commencement website.
Undergraduate students will be eligible to apply for graduation online via ASSIST upon completion of 100 credit hours and achievement of a minimum total GPA of 2.0 or higher and must be following a degree-seeking program.
Graduate students may apply for graduation online via ASSIST when the student is close to completing degree requirements. If a student is graduating from a Graduate Certificate program, a separate form must be completed and submitted. Please visit the Graduate College website for more details.
Applications received after the published deadline may be processed for the next available graduation date. Graduation application deadlines are necessary for timely notification of outstanding deficiencies prior to graduation and to allow students sufficient time to clear such deficiencies. Students who have successfully completed all the requirements for their degree will be required to graduate in the term during which they satisfy such requirements.
GRADUATION APPLICATION FEE
A nonrefundable graduation fee of $50 is charged for undergraduate and graduate degrees. This fee will be charged to the student’s UTRGV account viewable online. This fee is applied towards costs associated with processing of applications for graduation, auditing for degree completion, printing, packaging, and shipment of diplomas, as well as costs of facilities for Commencement ceremonies along with other related expenses. The fee is assessed to all students regardless of plans to participate in Commencement ceremonies.
DEGREE AUDIT AND GRADUATION CLEARANCE
Upon submission of a graduation application a preliminary degree audit will be completed to determine a student’s academic progress toward degree. Students will be notified of outstanding deficiencies prior to graduation and be provided with a deadline to clear such deficiencies. To remain a degree candidate for the semester graduation is planned, all degree program requirements must be met by the deadline published. A final degree audit will be processed upon posting of final semester grades to verify degree completion. Students unable to clear degree requirements by published deadline will be required to submit a Transfer Graduation Date form.
TRANSFER OF GRADUATION DATE
Degree candidates not clearing for graduation by the established deadline are required to submit a Transfer Graduation Date form to change their graduation application date to a future semester. This form is available online via the Graduate College website for graduate students and on the U Central website or counter for undergraduate students.
COMMENCEMENT EXERCISES
The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley holds commencement ceremonies in December and May.
All students participating in a commencement ceremony are required to purchase the proper graduation regalia from the University Bookstore or otherwise borrow appropriate regalia for the major and college. Students will not be permitted to participate without proper regalia. Students may participate in only one ceremony and are subject to requirements for eligibility to participate based on degree progression and outstanding requirements.
CORRESPONDENCE
Correspondence regarding graduation requirements, deficiencies, and commencement ceremonies will be disseminated in a timely manner throughout the final term of a student's enrollment, via UTRGV student e-mail account. The Degree Audit Systems and Support Office (Degree Audit Team) will communicate information regarding graduation requirements, deficiencies, clearance for graduation, and all respective deadlines. Degree progression and outstanding requirements can be viewed in Degree Works via ASSIST. The Office of the University Registrar will communicate information regarding graduation and commencement ceremonies. UTRGV e-mail must be monitored regularly for related degree audit, graduation, and commencement ceremony correspondence. For timely delivery of diplomas, students must have an accurate address recorded in ASSIST. Degree candidates will not receive special consideration for lack of knowledge of graduation requirements, deficiencies, or deadlines.
DIPLOMA
Students who successfully meet degree requirements are entitled to receive one printed diploma. Students who wish to have a maiden or other previous name added to the diploma must notify the Office of the University Registrar at least four months prior to graduation. Only the student's official full name according to her/his academic record will be printed on the diploma.
UTRGV diplomas will only document the degree and major(s) earned; however, completion of approved minors, concentrations and certificates will be noted on the final, official transcript. For undergraduate students, the diploma will include any Latin honors designation earned including Cum Laude, Magna Cum Laude and Summa Cum Laude.