Graduation Information

Please read below for information on graduation and commencement.

First, you need to know the difference between GRADUATION and COMMENCEMENT!

Short version:  Graduation is when you earn your degree, Commencement is when you celebrate your accomplishment! 

• GRADUATION occurs when your degree is awarded after you have completed all of your courses and degree requirements. Graduation can be at the end of Fall, Spring, or Summer semester, depending on when you finish your courses.  After you have graduated and your degree is verified, your diploma will be sent to you through the mail.
• COMMENCEMENT is the ceremony when students walk across the stage in cap and gown to celebrate graduation. Commencement ceremonies are held each May (Spring) and December (Winter).   Diplomas are NOT handed out at Commencement - they are mailed to students after grades are verified and will arrive approximately 8-12 weeks after  the graduation date.
  • Which commencement do I attend?
    • Fall graduates participate in the December/Winter commencement ceremony.
    • Spring graduates participate in the May/Spring commencement ceremony.
    • Summer graduates can elect to walk in the ceremony before their graduation (May/Spring) or after their graduation (December/Winter).  Summer graduates are the only students who can "choose" which ceremony they wish to participate in, because there is no ceremony in August/Summer.  Per university policy, summer graduate names will only appear in the December/Winter commencement program.
      
      

GRADUATION INFORMATION - Spring and Summer 2022 Graduation

• UNDERGRADUATES
  • Application Process:  
    • Undergraduate CHS students wishing to apply for Spring or Summer 2022 graduation should complete the application online: https://chsmayauggrad2022.questionpro.com/.  Once your application is submitted, you will receive a confirmation email.
      • Deadline for Spring 2022 Applications:  
        • February 18 is the “on time” deadline. Applications submitted by this date will be assessed a diploma fee of $35.  The fee increases to $50 for applications submitted after this date.
          • April 15 is the final (late) deadline to apply if you want your name to appear in the official commencement program.

• • • • Deadline for Summer 2021 Applications:  
        • July 15 is the “on time” deadline. Applications submitted by this date will be assessed a diploma fee of $35.  The fee increases to $50 for applications submitted after this date.
          • If you wish to walk in the May Commencement Ceremony, you should apply for graduation by April 15 so you will be invited to the ceremony and included in any other communication.
          • Summer Graduates' names will only appear in the December commencement program.
    • After the application:  
      • We review your records to ensure you are on track to complete degree requirements by your intended graduation date.  
        • We will contact you as soon as possible via your official University email if there are any issues or problems with your application. Make sure to check your miners email!  
          • No news is good news - if you do not hear from the Assistant Dean in the 2 weeks after you submit your application, you were in the classes you need to graduate when your application was reviewed.
        • If there are no problems with your applications, your next contact will be the a confirmation email from the Assistant Dean in mid-February (see next section).
      • Starting mid-February, the application will be processed through the registrar’s office. Once the registrar's office has processed your application, you will get an email from the Assistant Dean confirming your application and you will see the Diploma Fee ($35 for on-time; $50 for late) posted to your student account. 
      • Pay this fee the same way you pay tuition – online, in person at Mike Loya, etc. 
    • Degree Verification:
      • After final grades are posted, the Assistant Dean will review your records and verify you have met all degree requirements.  
      • You will get an email from the graduation office after your degree is verified to confirm your diploma mailing address so it can be mailed.  Make sure to keep checking your utep email until you have received the graduation office verification.  Your diploma will not be mailed until you confirm your address!
      • If there are any issues after grades are posted, you will get an email from the Assistant Dean.  Again, make sure to keep checking your utep email until you get the confirmation from the graduation office.
        
        
  • GRADUATE STUDENTS
    • Graduate CHS students wishing to apply for graduation should refer to the Graduate School Website for information on applications and deadlines.  
    • Process:  Graduate applications for degree are completed online for Spring and Summer 2022.
    • Verification:  The graduate school verifies degrees after final grades are posted.

COMMENCEMENT INFORMATION - Spring 2022

All updates about the UTEP Commencement Ceremonies will be posted at https://www.utep.edu/commencement/.  

• UNDERGRADUATES & GRADUATE STUDENTS:
  • Are invited to participate in the University Commencement Ceremony
    • The Spring 2022 Commencement Ceremony that will includes the College of Health Sciences is Saturday, May 14, 2022 at 1:00 PM at the Don Haskins Center.  
    • August 2022 graduates who apply for graduation by April 15 will be invited to attend the May 2022 Commencement Ceremony.  Check your email!
    • All information and updates about the University Commencement Ceremonies can be found on the UTEP Commencement Website at https://www.utep.edu/commencement/. 
    • After your graduation application is approved by the graduation office, you will receive an invitation from graduation@utep.edu to the UTEP Commencement Ceremony.  You must RSVP to this invitation if you plan to attend!
    • Regalia:  You can purchase required graduation regalia (cap and gown) at Grad Fair (March 8 - 10 at the UTEP Bookstore: https://alumni.utep.edu/commencementcorner).  You can also purchase your regalia after this date through the UTEP Bookstore.
    • Undergraduate students who are on track to earn Graduation Academic Honors (Summa Cum Laude, Magna Cum Laude,  and Cum Laude) will get an email from the Assistant Dean in April with information on picking up their Honor Cords.  Honors cords are provided by the College of Health Sciences as a gift to those who are on track to earn honors.

 GRADUATE STUDENTS ONLY:

• • All CHS graduate students are invited to the CHS Graduate Hooding & Recognition Ceremony.  At this ceremony, masters candidates are hooded by their faculty and doctoral students are presented with their faculty.  Doctoral students are hooded at the University Commencement Ceremony.  
    • The CHS Hooding Ceremony will take place Tuesday, May 10, 2022, at 6:00 PM in Magoffin Auditorium on UTEP's Campus.
    • Graduate students who are on track to graduate in May 2022 as well as those who have applied to graduate in August 2022 will be invited to this ceremony. 
      • Students must submit your graduation application by April 15 to be invited to the ceremony.
    • You will receive a separate invitation to the CHS Graduate Hooding & Recognition Ceremony.  Please RSVP to this invitation if you plan to attend the Hooding Ceremony.

Useful Links:

• Official UTEP Commencement Site
• UTEP Alumni Association Grad Fair
• Graduate School Graduation Information

Please contact the CHS Student Support Center at studentsupportcenter@utep.edu with any questions related to CHS Graduation or the CHS Graduate Hooding & Recognition Ceremony.