About Commencement

Earning a degree from The University of Texas at Arlington is an honor and an accomplishment. While you'll often hear the terms "graduation" and "commencement" used interchangeably, there are actually significant differences.

Applying for graduation is a process whereby students nearing the completion of their degree requirements formally alert the University of their expectation to graduate.

Graduation, or the act of earning a degree, refers to the successful completion of all credit hours and other degree requirements (such as practicum hours) in a particular academic program. Every May, August, and December, each School and College may confer academic degrees. Students are considered degree candidates or candidates for graduation until final grades are submitted, fees paid, and other university obligations satisfied. Students are still considered a degree candidate at the time of their commencement ceremony, because final grades are typically not posted by that time.

Commencement is the formal ceremony held to publicly recognize and congratulate the degree candidates. Every May and December, each School and College convenes their own commencement ceremony and reception for their graduates and their families and guests. While commencement ceremonies are held over several days, the Saturday date of each commencement weekend is always the official graduation date for that term and will be the date of graduation listed on all diplomas. May festivities also include a reception for all undergraduate students graduating with honors (Summa Cum Laude, Magna Cum Laude, and Cum Laude).

Graduation Celebration is an all-campus event held every May which is open to UT Arlington students, families and guests. It features a processional of degree candidates, remarks from the president of the University, a keynote speaker, music, and fireworks.

History and Traditions

UT Arlington History

With a commitment to life-enhancing research, teaching excellence and service to the community, The University of Texas at Arlington is emerging as the major research university in the heart of North Texas. Founded in 1895 as a private liberal arts institution, UT Arlington achieved senior college status in 1959 and became part of The University of Texas System in 1965. Now the University's over 25,000 students pursue more than 180 bachelor's, master's and doctoral degrees in an extensive range of disciplines. Of UT Arlington's 150,000 alumni, well over 96,000 live in North Texas. Their presence helps the University create an annual economic impact of $1 billion on the region and adds an immeasurable dimension to the University community.

The University Mace

mace Maces, a symbolic staff of high office, are often traditional elements in academic processions. UT Arlington's mace, designed and created in 2007 by Texas State Artist and Professor David Keens with the assistance of Metal Art Adjunct Professor Fred Miller, is distinctly non-traditional. The UT Arlington mace is an undulating, artistic design of metal and glass that reflects the traditional symbols of academia in a dynamic and contemporary way. Almost completely made of clear glass, it is only upon closer observation are University's colors seen in glass below the round, etched-metal University seal. Surrounding the seal is a contemporary wreath design in transparent glass symbolizing the pursuit of higher education. Below the seal, wreath and colored glass is a forged metal contemporary nest. Below the nest is a transition into the past with etched transparent glass depictions of the institution's past names: in effect, an ethereal space of time past, Keens said. All of these sections rest on a long, swirled-glass, undulating tendril, reflecting the linear flow of time. It is a tangible image of history, prestige, formality, creativity, innovation and the uniqueness of UT Arlington.

Academic Regalia: An Overview

The origins of academic dress date back to the 12th and 13th centuries, when universities were taking form. The ordinary dress of the scholar, whether student or teacher, was the dress of a cleric. With few exceptions, the medieval scholar had taken at least minor orders, made certain vows, and perhaps been tonsured. Long gowns were worn and may have been necessary for warmth in unheated buildings. Hoods seem to have served to cover the tonsured head until superseded for that purpose by the skull cap.

Gowns: Today's gown for the bachelor's degree typically has pointed sleeves and are untrimmed. It is designed to be worn closed. The gown for the master's degree is also untrimmed, has an oblong sleeve, and opens at the wrist. The rear part of its oblong shape is square cut, and the front part has an arc cut away. The gown may be worn open or closed. The gown for the doctor's degree has bell-shaped sleeves and also may be worn open or closed. The gown is faced down the front with black velvet; three bars of velvet are used across the sleeves. These facings and crossbars may be of velvet of the color distinctive of the disciplines to which the degree pertains, thus agreeing in color with the binding or edging of the hood appropriate to the particular doctor's degree in every instance. Black gowns are typical for all degrees.

Hoods: In all cases, the material and color must be the same as that of the gown. The length of the hood worn for the master's degree is three and one-half feet, and for the doctor's degree, four feet. The hood worn for the doctor's degree only shall have panels at the sides. Hoods are lined with the official color or colors of the college or university conferring the degree; more than one color is shown by division of the field color in a variety of ways, chevron or chevrons, equal division, etc. The binding or edging of the hood is to be velvet or velveteen, and the color should be indicative of the subject to which the degree pertains. No academic hood ever has its border divided to represent more than a single degree.

Caps: Black mortarboards are traditional. A long tassel is fastened to the middle point of the top of the cap only and to lie as it will thereon. The tassel should be black or the color appropriate to the academic subject, with the exception of the doctor's cap that may have a tassel of gold.

From the American Council on Education Web site.

For information on ordering UT Arlington academic regalia, click here.


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Message from the President Schedule of Events Ticket Information About Commencement Directions & Accommodations Graduation Celebration Photos and Videos Contact Information Information For Graduates Guests Faculty	About Commencement Earning a degree from The University of Texas at Arlington is an honor and an accomplishment. While you'll often hear the terms "graduation" and "commencement" used interchangeably, there are actually significant differences. Applying for graduation is a process whereby students nearing the completion of their degree requirements formally alert the University of their expectation to graduate. Graduation, or the act of earning a degree, refers to the successful completion of all credit hours and other degree requirements (such as practicum hours) in a particular academic program. Every May, August, and December, each School and College may confer academic degrees. Students are considered degree candidates or candidates for graduation until final grades are submitted, fees paid, and other university obligations satisfied. Students are still considered a degree candidate at the time of their commencement ceremony, because final grades are typically not posted by that time. Commencement is the formal ceremony held to publicly recognize and congratulate the degree candidates. Every May and December, each School and College convenes their own commencement ceremony and reception for their graduates and their families and guests. While commencement ceremonies are held over several days, the Saturday date of each commencement weekend is always the official graduation date for that term and will be the date of graduation listed on all diplomas. May festivities also include a reception for all undergraduate students graduating with honors (Summa Cum Laude, Magna Cum Laude, and Cum Laude). Graduation Celebration is an all-campus event held every May which is open to UT Arlington students, families and guests. It features a processional of degree candidates, remarks from the president of the University, a keynote speaker, music, and fireworks. History and Traditions UT Arlington History With a commitment to life-enhancing research, teaching excellence and service to the community, The University of Texas at Arlington is emerging as the major research university in the heart of North Texas. Founded in 1895 as a private liberal arts institution, UT Arlington achieved senior college status in 1959 and became part of The University of Texas System in 1965. Now the University's over 25,000 students pursue more than 180 bachelor's, master's and doctoral degrees in an extensive range of disciplines. Of UT Arlington's 150,000 alumni, well over 96,000 live in North Texas. Their presence helps the University create an annual economic impact of $1 billion on the region and adds an immeasurable dimension to the University community. The University Mace Maces, a symbolic staff of high office, are often traditional elements in academic processions. UT Arlington's mace, designed and created in 2007 by Texas State Artist and Professor David Keens with the assistance of Metal Art Adjunct Professor Fred Miller, is distinctly non-traditional. The UT Arlington mace is an undulating, artistic design of metal and glass that reflects the traditional symbols of academia in a dynamic and contemporary way. Almost completely made of clear glass, it is only upon closer observation are University's colors seen in glass below the round, etched-metal University seal. Surrounding the seal is a contemporary wreath design in transparent glass symbolizing the pursuit of higher education. Below the seal, wreath and colored glass is a forged metal contemporary nest. Below the nest is a transition into the past with etched transparent glass depictions of the institution's past names: in effect, an ethereal space of time past, Keens said. All of these sections rest on a long, swirled-glass, undulating tendril, reflecting the linear flow of time. It is a tangible image of history, prestige, formality, creativity, innovation and the uniqueness of UT Arlington. Academic Regalia: An Overview The origins of academic dress date back to the 12th and 13th centuries, when universities were taking form. The ordinary dress of the scholar, whether student or teacher, was the dress of a cleric. With few exceptions, the medieval scholar had taken at least minor orders, made certain vows, and perhaps been tonsured. Long gowns were worn and may have been necessary for warmth in unheated buildings. Hoods seem to have served to cover the tonsured head until superseded for that purpose by the skull cap. Gowns: Today's gown for the bachelor's degree typically has pointed sleeves and are untrimmed. It is designed to be worn closed. The gown for the master's degree is also untrimmed, has an oblong sleeve, and opens at the wrist. The rear part of its oblong shape is square cut, and the front part has an arc cut away. The gown may be worn open or closed. The gown for the doctor's degree has bell-shaped sleeves and also may be worn open or closed. The gown is faced down the front with black velvet; three bars of velvet are used across the sleeves. These facings and crossbars may be of velvet of the color distinctive of the disciplines to which the degree pertains, thus agreeing in color with the binding or edging of the hood appropriate to the particular doctor's degree in every instance. Black gowns are typical for all degrees. Hoods: In all cases, the material and color must be the same as that of the gown. The length of the hood worn for the master's degree is three and one-half feet, and for the doctor's degree, four feet. The hood worn for the doctor's degree only shall have panels at the sides. Hoods are lined with the official color or colors of the college or university conferring the degree; more than one color is shown by division of the field color in a variety of ways, chevron or chevrons, equal division, etc. The binding or edging of the hood is to be velvet or velveteen, and the color should be indicative of the subject to which the degree pertains. No academic hood ever has its border divided to represent more than a single degree. Caps: Black mortarboards are traditional. A long tassel is fastened to the middle point of the top of the cap only and to lie as it will thereon. The tassel should be black or the color appropriate to the academic subject, with the exception of the doctor's cap that may have a tassel of gold. From the American Council on Education Web site. For information on ordering UT Arlington academic regalia, click here.
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Information For

About Commencement

History and Traditions

UT Arlington History

The University Mace

Academic Regalia: An Overview