Dates, Times, Location for Ceremonies:

Commencement Ceremony - Latest Information

• With the exception of active duty military personnel (see below), all graduates must wear the appropriate academic regalia to participate in the commencement ceremony. Caps, gowns and hoods may be purchased at the LU Bookstore: phone (409) 880-8342 or visit the website.
• Candidates should wear their tassels over the right eye until the degree is awarded and over the left eye afterward.
• Candidates are encouraged to wear comfortable shoes. There will be a good deal of standing and walking during the ceremony, including inclined surfaces.
• Candidates should leave purses, jackets and other personal items with a friend or family member. There will not be a secure place to leave these items during the ceremony and graduates may not be returning to the rooms.
• Candidates make sure you have bobby pins and safety pins on hand to secure cap, hood, and gown.

Active duty military personnel are encouraged to wear their Class A or Dress Blue Uniform.

Red, White and Blue Military Service Cords will be made available to any active duty, guard/reserve or veteran student interested in wearing one during the commencement ceremony. Students interested in allowing Lamar University to honor their service with a Military Service Cord should contact the Office of Veterans Affairs at (409) 880-8437 or by emailing va@lamar.edu.

Latin Honors GPA Policy

To be eligible to graduate with honors, an undergraduate student must have completed 60 hours of coursework at Lamar University with a cumulative GPA of 3.5 or higher. These students are recognized at commencement by wearing red and white honor cords and will have their honor announced as they cross the stage.

Only course work attempted at Lamar University and following high school graduation (or the equivalent) will be included in the grade point average calculation for honors. Transfer course work will not be included in the calculation of GPAs for honors.

Cum laude – 3.5 to 3.64

Magna cum laude – 3.65 to 3.79

Summa cum laude – 3.8 to 4.0

The honor recognized at the commencement ceremony is based on the grade point average as of the 12^th class day of the current term (4^th class day of the summer term for summer graduates). Because the degrees are not conferred until after commencement, the current term grades are not taken into consideration when recognizing Latin Honors at commencement.

Eligible students will be contacted, by email, prior to commencement and will be required to provide email at check-in, indicating they will receive an honor code.

Diplomas disbursed at commencement will not include honors. Students, who are eligible to receive honors, will receive an additional diploma in the mail that will signify which honor they received. Please allow two to four weeks for receipt.

If you requested additional diplomas, we will enclose them with the diploma documented with honors.

Graduate students, obtaining a master or doctorate degree, will not be eligible for Latin honors. Graduate students are required, by Graduate Studies, to maintain a 3.0 or higher to graduate. If you are a part of an honor society you may wear the cord they provide.

If you have questions regarding this policy please contact uggraduation@lamar.edu.

• Latin Honors Policy (revised Summer 2022)

Your official name as entered in Lamar University's records system will be used for graduation unless a name change is processed by Records Office (Wimberly 102, 409-880-8365) by the payment deadline. You will need to complete an official Name Change form. However, if a student wishes to add or remove a maiden or middle name for the diploma and commencement program, they just need to indicate the change on their graduation application.

Generally, students will receive their diploma at the END of the commencement exercises. If you choose NOT to attend the ceremony, diplomas will begin to be mailed the week following the commencement ceremony. Please allow two to four weeks. It will be mailed to the address indicated on your graduation application. If all of your courses have not yet been graded at the time of commencement, your diploma will not be available at commencement. We will mail your diploma to the mailing address you provided on your graduation application as soon as all course grades have been entered and eligibility is confirmed.

Additional or Replacement Diplomas

If you would like to order additional copies of your diploma, please notify us at grgraduations@lamar.edu for graduate students and uggraduation@lamar.edu for undergraduate students. Additional diplomas are $25 each.

Additional or Replacement Diploma Form

Transcripts

Degrees will not be posted on transcripts until the end of third business day following commencement exercises. If you need an official transcript reflecting your degree, ask to place a "Hold for Degree" notice on your transcript request.

Fees

• Be sure to remove confidentiality restrictions on your account if you want your name included in the program, website and press releases. You will be notified by email if you have a confidentiality restriction.
• Release of Directory Hold Form sign & date bottom line of form to release confidentiality hold
• Check this website the Monday before commencement to see if your name is on the graduation list.
• Pick a place to meet family and friends after the ceremony.
• As you celebrate your accomplishment, please remember this is an important academic ceremony and be respectful of those around you. The possession or use of alcohol, noisemakers such as air horns, fireworks, balloons, flags, confetti, banners, selfie sticks or illegal substances is strictly prohibited. This list is not comprehensive. If a device is disruptive to the other guests or graduates it will not be allowed in the arena or on the floor.
• Students leaving the ceremony early will not be able to pick their diploma up as they leave. Diplomas are only awarded at the end of the ceremony, we will mail all other diplomas the week following commencement.
• Flash Photography will be your official commencement photographer. Every graduate will be photographed at the ceremony. If you have not received proofs within 2 weeks of the ceremony, please contact Flash directly at 888-325-3930 or at FLASHphotography.com.
• Verification Request Form-Eligibility to Graduate if your employer requires notification of eligibility to graduate, complete this form
• Requirements for Tuition Rebate Program for Eligible Undergraduates If you believe you qualify, send completed Tuition Rebate form to uggraduation@lamar.edu for review.
• Did you miss the application deadline? You can still submit a paper application to your graduation coordinator. Fill out the graduation application and return it to your coordinator. Master level graduates and doctoral candidates should contact grgraduation@lamar.edu. Undergraduate level graduates should contact uggraduation@lamar.edu. 

Forms

• Verification Request Form-Eligibility to Graduate if your employer requires notification of eligibility to graduate, complete this form
• Requirements for Tuition Rebate Program for Eligible Undergraduates If you believe you qualify, send completed Tuition Rebate form to uggraduation@lamar.edu for review.
• Release of Directory Hold Form sign & date bottom line of form to release confidentiality hold
• Additional or Replacement Diploma Form
• Name Change form
• Spring 2023 Graduation Application