Commencement

Graduates should arrive 90 minutes before the scheduled start of their ceremony to allow adequate time for parking, security screening, check-in and lineup.

• 10 a.m. ceremony: Arrive by 8:30 a.m.
• 2 p.m. ceremony: Arrive by 12:30 p.m.

All graduates will go through security before proceeding to check-in. Please allow additional time for traffic, parking and walking to the venue.

Guests may enter the Fertitta Center one hour before the ceremony.

• 10 a.m. ceremony: Doors open at 9 a.m.
• 2 p.m. ceremony: Doors open at 1 p.m.

Tickets are not required for UHCL guests. Seating is general admission and available on a first-come, first-served basis. Saving seats is not permitted.

Graduate and guest parking is available in the TDECU Stadium Garage, located on Holman Street across from the Fertitta Center.

Parking is $20 per vehicle, per entry. The University of Houston is a cashless campus, so please be prepared to pay by credit card.

TDECU Stadium Garage DIRECTIONS

All graduates and guests will be required to go through security screening, including metal detectors and bag checks.

The Fertitta Center enforces a clear bag policy. Permitted bags include:

• Clear plastic, vinyl or PVC bags no larger than 12" x 6" x 12"
• One-gallon clear plastic freezer bags
• Small clutch purses no larger than 4.5" x 6.5"
• Medically necessary items following inspection

Backpacks and other non-approved bags are not permitted. Graduates and guests are encouraged to bring only essential items to make entry into the venue as efficient as possible.

Prohibited items include weapons, alcohol, outside food and beverages, backpacks, laser pointers, noisemakers, signs, banners, balloons, fog horns and confetti poppers.

UHCL offers custom graduation caps and gowns. Please contact the UHCL Campus Store to order these items or for more information. Please wear the provided regalia (caps and gowns) to commencement. Please review the UHCL How to Wear Your Regalia instructional video on how to wear the regalia and/or master's hood (for graduate students). Information on donating regalia for future graduates can be found on the Gowns for Grads program webpage.

We recommend wearing comfortable shoes since graduates are on their feet for extended periods of time. Please remember this celebration is a formal ceremony and nice attire under the regalia is recommended.

Additional Attire Information

There is no secure location for graduate belongings during the ceremony. Please bring only what you need. Purses, bags and other personal items should be left with a guest or secured in your vehicle whenever possible.

Graduates will receive their name card during check-in. Eligible undergraduate Latin Honor recipients will also receive their honor cords at check-in.

University Marketing and Communications will be taking pictures throughout the day and sharing via social media.

Every student will be photographed twice at the commencement ceremony. Free proofs will be mailed and emailed within a week of the ceremony. If you have any questions, please contact Flash Photography.

If a valid UHCL email address is available via the graduate's E-services account, the photographer will email participating graduates a link to the commencement photograph proofs. 

Family and friends who are unable to attend in person will be able to watch the ceremony through the UHCL commencement livestream found on this webpage.

Please review your primary name and mailing address in E-Services and make any necessary updates by December 4. If you need to make a legal name change for your diploma, please submit the Personal Information Change Form.

Please check this website before leaving for the ceremony for the latest information, including maps, graduate check-in locations, venue entry instructions and other day-of-event details.

Graduation announcements, diploma frames and packages are available at the online UHCL Campus Store through Herff Jones. The UHCL Campus Store will also be onsite the day of the ceremony.

Diplomas are mailed 10 to 12 weeks after the official closing of the semester to the primary mailing address on file. The mailing address can be updated on your E-Services account.

The name reflected on the diploma is based on the official name on file in E-services. Contact the Office of the Registrar for name changes.

Duplicate Diplomas

Duplicate diplomas are $36.50 and can be ordered by accessing UHCL Online Diploma Services.