Commencement

Commencement ceremonies are held at the conclusion of the Fall and the Spring terms.

Because commencement exercises are meaningful experiences in the academic lives of students, all students are encouraged to participate when possible.

Students are permitted to participate in only one ceremony per degree.

A student may be excused from commencement exercises and be permitted to graduate in absentia with approval from the Registrar’s Office. Please submit a written request to the Registrar’s Office not less than two weeks prior to the commencement exercise.

Students lacking a maximum of seven semester hours toward degree completion may petition for permission to participate in commencement exercises. Students wanting to defer participation in a commencement ceremony a semester may request by petition to their Dean for approval. No student will be approved to defer participation past one long semester of their degree being conferred. Completion of the form requires a concrete plan for earning the remaining degree requirements. The specific requirements for that plan will vary by academic discipline. Whether or not the plan is adequate will be determined by the dean. Petition to Participate in Commencement Form

Students must submit the form to their respective dean no later than March 15th for Spring participants and October 15th for Fall participants. The dean may require an in-person consultation. Normally the petition will be approved or denied within five business days of receipt of the form. Students denied permission to participate in commencement exercises by their respective dean will have five business days to appeal in writing to the Associate Provost. Students granted permission to participate in commencement exercises by either their respective dean or the Associate Provost must file an application for degree and pay the graduation fee by March 15th for Spring participants or October 15th for Fall participants. Students filing for graduation after their respective deadline will be charged a late fee and are NOT guaranteed inclusion in the printed commencement program.

Participation in commencement exercises is not equivalent to graduation. Students granted permission by their respective dean or the Associate Provost to “walk” in the ceremony are not official graduates. They will not receive diplomas nor will their degrees be posted to their transcripts until all their degree requirements have been completed. Degree conferral dates will not be retroactive. The official degree conferral date will correspond to the semester in which the students' outstanding degree requirements are completed. Students failing to graduate after the expiration of one academic year must reorganize their respective degree plan to conform with the current catalog as well as must submit another application for degree and pay another graduation fee by the applicable deadlines.

All degree requirements must be met, or your degree will not be conferred. Students have failed to graduate because of the following:

1. Official transcripts must be received before courses can be officially accepted toward degree requirements. Emails and print outs of grades will allow you to "walk" at the commencement ceremony; however, your degree will not be conferred nor will you receive your official diploma until your official transcript is received.
2. UMHB Cumulative Grade Point Average must be 2.0 or higher to graduate.
3. Chapel and Fine Arts Experience requirements must be met. Refer to the undergraduate catalog for details.

Students may petition the Registrar's Office for permission to delay participation in commencement exercises if students are unable to participate in the ceremony immediately following their degree completion. Students wanting to defer participation in a commencement ceremony a semester may request by petition to their Dean for approval. No student will be approved to defer participation past one long semester of their degree being conferred.

Undergraduate students who aspire to graduate with honors from the University of Mary Hardin-Baylor without participation in the University Honors Program must complete a minimum of 60 hours in residence at UMHB and maintain a cumulative grade point average of 3.6000 to 3.7499 for cum laude designation, a cumulative grade point average of 3.7500 to 3.8999 for magna cum laude designation, or a cumulative grade point average of 3.9000 or better for summa cum laude designation.

There is no limit to the number of guests per graduate.

Tickets are not required for the commencement ceremony.

Yes, we encourage you to bring water to the commencement ceremony to ensure you stay hydrated since the concession will not be open.

In case of inclement weather, other UMHB facilities or the Bell County Expo Center may serve as an alternate venue. Notifications of a venue change will be publicized as soon as one is determined via the UMHB website, Facebook pages, email, and text messaging system.

1. Health safety measures
   • Mask optional
   • COVID policies - https://www.umhb.edu/coronavirus/covid-19
2. Prohibited Items
   • Please be aware of the following items that are not allowed within the gates of Crusader Stadium. All bags are subject to search.
   • No Laser Pointers/Lights
   • No Artificial Noisemakers
   • No Pets
   • No Balls or Frisbees
   • No Tobacco Products (including e-cigarettes)
   • No Alcohol
   • No Weapons, including pocket knives or pocket tools
3. Umbrellas inside Crusader Stadium should not obstruct the view of other spectators. Please be courteous to those around you.
4. Wheelchair accessible areas are available on both sides of the stadium. Accommodations for wheelchairs are in sections 104, 106, 202, 204, 205 and 207.

Please arrive one hour before ceremony Check in is located on the field at the end of the tunnel

1. At the check in table, you will receive your Name Card which you will hand to the announcer when you walk across the stage.
2. Fill out the information on the back of the card which will be used in graduation pictures. This card is important. If you do not pick up your card, we will assume that you are not here and will pull your name from the lineup – meaning that your name will not be called during the commencement ceremony.
3. Family and other guests are not allowed past check-in. Please leave your purse and cell phone with your family or friends at this time as we do not have a secure place to store them.
4. When you arrive, you will need to be wearing your full regalia which includes the robe, mortarboard (hat), tassel, purple and gold cords.
5. Honor scarves will be issued to honor students up check-in.
6. Tassels: | Bachelors - Tassel goes on right | Masters - Tassel goes on left

1. Your diploma tube contains a congratulatory letter from the President. YOUR DIPLOMA WILL BE MAILED TO THE ADDRESS YOU SUBMITTED ON YOUR APPLICATION FOR DEGREE WITHIN EIGHT WEEKS. This allows time for confirmation all degree requirements have been met.
2. If you owe the Registrar’s Office official transcripts or test scores, your diploma will be mailed upon provision of required documentation.
3. Please ensure that you notify the Registrar’s Office immediately of any ADDRESS CHANGES. When the diploma is ordered, you will receive a digital diploma from Parchment and in the same email, you will be given a 72 hour window of time to change the address the diploma will be mailed to.
4. Under no circumstances will a diploma be released prior to the official degree conferral date.
5. Diplomas will not be released to students owing a balance to UMHB.

1. Degrees are awarded by college. Rise one row at a time as directed by the graduation marshals. Make sure to bring your card with you. Form a line starting at the bottom of the stairs. The first person in line should proceed up the stairs, hand his/her card (name side up) to the awaiting attendant, then stand on the X mark taped on the stage until his/her name is called. The second person in line should proceed up the stairs and stand on the X mark taped on the stage. The third person in line should proceed to the middle of the stairs and stand on the X mark taped on the stairs.
2. The attendant will hand the name card to the announcer. The announcer will call out that person’s name and honors. When the announcer calls out the first person’s name, he/she will begin to cross the stage. As the first person crosses the stage, the second person standing on the stage should proceed to the first person’s spot, hand his/her card (name side up) to the attendant, then stand on tape X mark until his/her name is called. The person waiting on the stairs simultaneously should proceed to the stage and stand on the X mark taped on the stage. The person waiting at the bottom of the stairs simultaneously should proceed to the middle of the stairs and stand on the X mark taped on the stairs and so on.
3. When you cross the stage, head directly for the President. A Dean will be standing mid-stage to congratulate you as you go by. Aim for the X mark taped on the stage in front of the President. Extend your hand to receive your diploma tube from the President.
   A photographer will take your picture. After receiving your diploma tube, exit the stage and proceed to the green screen for another photo. Once it is taken, go directly back to your seat.
4. THE PHOTOGRAPHER WILL SEND THE PROOFS BY EMAIL. It’s your decision at that time whether or not you wish to purchase them.
5. Gentlemen, please remove your hats during the invocation, the national anthem, and the benediction. Special awards will be presented. If your name is called, come up on the podium side of the stage, receive your award, pose for a picture, and then return to your seat from the diploma tube side of the stage.

1. The platform party marches out first, followed by the faculty. (Please ask family and other guests to remain seated until the recessional fully concludes.)
2. Attendants will queue graduates to exit one row at a time. Attendants will lead graduates out of the ceremony.

The seats for the commencement ceremony will be numbered. You will be seated with your college. When you pick up your name card during check-in, make note of the number on the card. The number on the card will be your seat number.

• Commencement is a special time for graduates, family and friends. Please respect others. You may be removed if guidelines are not followed.
• No Laser Pointers/Lights
• No Artificial Noisemakers
• No Pets
• No Balls or Frisbees
• No Tobacco Products (including e-cigarettes)
• No Alcohol
• No Weapons, including pocket knives or pocket tools

1. Video will be streaming live during the ceremony. The site is www.umhb.edu/live.
2. A recording also will be made. The recording will be available for download from the Alumni website.
3. No guests will be allowed on the field after commencement. Guests are encouraged to meet their graduate on King Street.

1. Following the ceremony, lost & found items will be taken to the UMHB Police Department.
2. To claim items, please contact the police department at (254) 295-5555.

Students should dress in appropriate attire that aligns with UMHB dress code under their academic regalia. Students are allowed to decorate their mortarboards as long as they remain within the UMHB Christian values. Only UMHB approved cords may be worn as part of your regalia. Honor sashes will be given out on the day of graduation when you check in.