Commencement Ceremony

Summer 2026 graduates who have applied for graduation are eligible to participate. If you are a previous semester graduate and would like to participate in this commencement, please contact sswcommencement@uta.edu.

Graduate messages are messages from graduates that will be shown prior to the start of the ceremony.  These messages could be to family, friends, peers, faculty, staff, etc.  

The deadline to make this change is July 17, 2026.

We will have a live reader during commencement who will read the names of each graduate, and we want to make sure that all names are pronounced clearly and correctly to the best of our abilities to ensure you have a meaningful day. 

Commencement will begin at 11AM with a procession. During commencement, graduating doctoral and master’s students can look forward to a hooding ceremony and bachelor’s students can look forward to the cording ceremony. All graduates will participate in our traditional social work pinning ceremony.

We will also be recognizing outstanding students who were nominated for awards.

After the ceremony, we will have a reception for students, families, faculty, and staff at the University Club. 

Our Summer Commencement will be held at Texas Hall (701 West Nedderman Dr., Arlington, TX 76019) on Friday, August 7, 2026 at 11AM.

A regalia is required for all graduates/candidates in attendance. Regalia can be purchased online or in-person through the UTA Bookstore.  

Doctoral candidates who have not purchased their regalia yet should contact m.hall@follett.com.

Graduate check-in will be from 9:30AM–10:45AM at Texas Hall West entrance (across Trinity Hall). We will have a student procession where graduates will be lined up to enter together at the beginning of the ceremony, so graduates are encouraged to arrive before 10:45AM, as the ceremony will begin promptly at 11AM. Graduates arriving late are not guaranteed assigned seating. 

Guests can begin arriving at 10AM.

Tickets are not required for graduates.

Guest tickets will be required to enter Texas Hall. Graduates will be able to request the number of guest tickets they need through the RSVP form. Each graduate is initially limited to 5 tickets. If you need additional tickets, please contact sswcommencement@uta.edu. Please note, additional tickets are not guaranteed.

Children under the age of two do not need a separate ticket if they can sit on their parent/guardian’s lap.

Graduates will be able to share their ADA needs and the ADA needs of their guests through the RSVP form. If you have already submitted your RSVP, but did not include the accommodations you need, please contact sswcommencement@uta.edu by July 10, 2026.

The commencement ceremony will last approximately 2 hours. All graduates and guests are asked to respect other graduates and their families by remaining until the END of the ceremony. The ceremony will be followed by a reception open to both graduates and guests at the University Club.

Graduates and guests can park in the following areas: Lot 30, Lot 34, and West Campus Garage. ADA accessible parking is available on Nedderman Drive, Lot F6, Lot F8, and West Campus Garage. Please see the map below for the locations of each parking area.

For directions to Texas Hall, please visit the Texas Hall website. Texas Hall has a drop-off and pick-up area at the turn around on the North side of the facility where guests can be dropped off and picked up.

Flash Photography will photograph every graduate and provide proofs via email.

Live streaming will be available for guests who are unable to attend the in-person ceremony.