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Graduation is an exciting time full of celebration and opportunity. The College of Science is dedicated to ensuring the graduation process is as stress-free as possible.

A few things to remember:

What is the difference between graduation and commencement?

Graduation refers to the process of having your degree awarded. An audit of your transcript and degree plan takes place when you are in your final semester, and then again after final grades are posted which happens after commencement. Keep this in mind as you follow the process below.

Commencement refers to the ceremony that takes place twice a year: in May and in December.

Your diploma is not given to you at the Commencement ceremony. 

Because your diploma is not given to you at commencement, you can participate in the ceremony without having actually graduated. 

If you are walking in the Spring Commencement but still taking courses in the Summer to finish your degree, you are graduating in the Summer and not in Spring. This distinction is important. 

You can only walk in the Spring Commencement as a Summer graduate if you are taking no more than 6 hours in the Summer. If you lack 7 or more hours toward your degree and take them in the Summer, you can only participate in the December Commencement, however, you are still a Summer graduate.

Only students graduating in the summer or fall can attend the December commencement. Spring graduates can only attend the May commencement.

SPRING 2024 GRADUATES and later:

Only students who are registered for their final courses can be confirmed for graduation. Your assigned advisor will email you if you are eligible to graduate this term so you can attend a Graduation Information Session. The list of advisors (with their email listed) and their advisees can be found on our website here.

After you have been confirmed for graduation:

Once final grades are posted and your degree is audited to verify you obtained all your credits (1 to 2 months) you will receive your diploma in the mail (2 to 3 months after the end of the term). 

If you are lacking any credits to award the degree,  you will receive an email from Ms. Margaret Gutierrez (margareg@utep.edu) with instructions on what to do next.  However, if you know you did not pass a course, it is best to reach out to your assigned academic advisor right away.

Summer graduates lacking 7 or more hours, or who elected to participate in the Fall Commencement when they applied, will obtain their diploma in the mail before they attend Commencement in December. 

Names of Summer graduates will appear in the Fall Commencement program ONLY, even if the student walks during the Spring Commencement ceremonies.

NOTE: Final transcripts will state your degree has been awarded sooner than obtaining your diploma in the mail in all cases.