The day you graduate, you become such an important part of the greater Lamar University community. Active alumni actually make the degrees more valuable because they give the university greater visibility. Through you, more people will see LU as an outstanding school that produces exceptional graduates who involve themselves in their communities and remain in contact with their alma mater. Nothing we have ever achieved at Lamar would have happened without the active support and engagement of our dedicated alumni.
For more information about ways to get involved through the Office of Alumni Affairs and how to become an Annual Alumni Donor, visit the Alumni website.
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 12th class day of the current term (4th 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.
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.
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
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.