ANSWERS TO FREQUENTLY ASKED COMMENCEMENT QUESTIONS
Academic Regalia
Q.
What is academic regalia?
A.
Academic regalia consists of a cap, gown, and tassel. Undergraduates wear the proper colored
tassel for their field of study. Graduate students wear a black tassel and hood with the appropriate
colored trim. (Academic dress is discussed at the back of the program.)
Q.
How will students with honors be recognized?
A.
Students with honors are listed in the program at the beginning of the undergraduate section of
each college. Also, a student who is graduating with honors will cross the stage at the beginning
of the undergraduate section of each college. Students graduating with honors wear a gold honors
cord provided by the University.
Diplomas
Q.
When will diplomas be mailed?
A.
After final degree audit – approximately 45 days following commencement.
Facilities
Q.
Where are the restrooms?
A.
Both men’s and women’s restrooms are located in the University Center III Ballroom prefunction
area, just outside the Ballroom where graduates assemble.
Graduation Order
Q.
When will I graduate and walk across the stage?
A.
Within each college, the order of graduation is alphabetical based on last name. Graduate students
from all the colleges go first, followed by undergraduates from all the colleges. Undergraduates
graduating with honors will cross the stage at the first of their college undergraduate group.
Q.
When the graduates file in, through which doors will they enter?
A.
Through the North Foyer of the Convocation Center. There is no guarantee which side of the
Convocation Center the graduates will enter or sit, East or West. Half of the graduates enter the
North Foyer, East side, and half enter the North Foyer, West side.
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Q.
Which route will the students take in departure?
A.
The graduates will leave by way of the South Foyer (opposite the way the graduates entered the
Convocation Center).
Q.
Which route will the guests take in departure?
A.
The guests will leave by way of the North Foyer (opposite the way the guests entered the
Convocation Center) for Ceremonies # 3 and #4. At the other ceremonies guests will leave
through the South Foyer.
Q.
Who will cross the stage?
A.
All students who are graduating will cross the stage.
Photography
Q.
Does the University have a photographer taking pictures? And if so, whom do I contact for
copies?
A.
A professional photographer will take three photos of every graduate during the ceremony. You
do not have to contact the photographer. Graduates will receive information via e-mail, and proofs
will be sent after the ceremony and make available additional copies for a reasonable price.
Q.
Is a video being made?
A.
Please consult the commencement website to make arrangements for a commencement video.
Each commencement ceremony will be televised live on Time Warner Cable Channel #98,
Grande Cable Channel #21, and AT&T Cable channel #99. There will be a streaming video of
each ceremony. All ceremonies will be a live broadcast.
Q.
May guests move up front and take pictures?
A.
No. Fire codes prohibit guests standing in the aisles.
Receptions
Q.
Where and when will the receptions be held?
A.
There will be no university-wide receptions following the ceremonies.
Seating
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Q.
Why are tickets required?
A.
With the large number of students eligible to graduate, and the anticipated number of guests
wanting to attend, it is necessary to limit the size of the audience due to safety/ fire regulations.
Q.
Is there an overflow facility for guests who cannot be accommodated in the Convocation Center?
A.
Yes. The facility is the Retama Auditorium in the University Center for all ceremonies. The
ceremonies will be televised live in the overflow facility. Guest tickets are not required in the
Retama Auditorium.
Q.
Are there reserved seats for guests?
A.
There are reserved seats for persons with special needs, the elderly and special University guests.
Otherwise, only faculty, students, and the stage party have reserved seats. All other seating is open
to all guests. CHECK WITH USHERS! Guests are asked to not hold seats for latecomers.
Q.
Where is the special needs seating area?
A.
The disabled seating area is directly behind the student seating on the main floor and in
designated areas in the lower stands. We must limit the number of guests accompanying a special
needs or elderly individual in the disabled area. CHECK WITH USHERS!
Q.
May guests leave the Convocation Center before the end of the ceremony?
A.
We ask that all guests remain for the entire ceremony. If guests must leave, we do ask that they
do so quietly so as not to disturb others.
Q.
Where is the special University guest seating area?
A.
The special University guest seating area is located in the lower East bleachers, Section #108.
Special University guests should have special tickets for Section #108. CHECK WITH
USHERS!
Security If necessary, the UTSA Police Department will implementing additional security measures to
assure safe, orderly Commencement exercises.
Speaker President Ricardo Romo will be the commencement speaker at all Ceremonies.
Regent
There will be no regental representative at any of the December 2011 ceremonies.
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