FAQs about graduation day.
General Commencement for Spring 2013 Hilton College graduates is Friday, May 10, at 7 p.m. at Hofheinz Pavilion.
- Click here for UH Commencement Site.
- Click here for UH Commencement Parking Site.
- Click here for UH Web Broadcast.
- If you are a graduating undergraduate student, please click here to take the Undergraduate Exit Survey.
- If you are a graduating graduate student, please click here to take the Graduate Student Exit Survey.
Every fall and spring, the graduates of Hilton College don their mortarboards and collect their hard-earned degrees as part of the University of Houston's General Commencement. And every semester, students have an array of questions about when and where the ceremony will be, how to apply for graduation, rehearsals, ordering caps and gowns, and more. Here are the most frequently asked questions about Commencement Day and some helpful answers for students and their families.
 How do I apply for graduation?
Apply through your myUH account. The deadline to apply for graduation is Feb. 22, 2013, with a $25 filing fee. Students can apply late from Feb. 23 - March 22, 2013, with a $50 filing fee.
Spring 2013 candidates – Please note that although you may participate in Commencement, your graduation is actually contingent upon successful completion of your degree requirements and coursework by the end of the Spring 2013 semester. An application for graduation does not necessarily mean that you have been approved for graduation.
When and where is the ceremony?
The next Conrad N. Hilton College of Hotel and Restaurant Management Commencement is scheduled for Friday, May 10, 2013, at 7 p.m. at Hofheinz Pavilion. Once again, we will be sharing the stage with the Colleges of Technology and Education.
Will my name be listed in the Commencement program?
We make every effort to ensure that all graduating students who apply on time are in the Commencement program. However, please be aware of the following information: If at any time you have requested privacy protection for your academic records, your name cannot be published in the program by law unless you have indicated on your application for graduation that you want your name to be included. Although your name might not be included in the printed program, you will still be individually recognized by name as you cross the stage.
What do I wear?
Academic regalia (the traditional black mortarboard cap and black gown) are required for all graduates. The University of Houston has selected Official UH Regalia, and we strongly encourage you to purchase your regalia at the UH Bookstore.
| Regalia Colors for Hilton College | | | Tassels | Hoods | | Baccalaureate | Navy Blue | None | | Masters | Black | Red, white, navy blue |
Note about tassels: Undergraduates, please wear your tassels on the right side of the mortarboard. Graduates, please wear your tassels on the left side of the mortarboard.
Where can I buy my invitations, class ring and cap and gown?
Graduation invitations, UH class rings and your academic regalia (cap and gown) all can be purchased at the UH Bookstore located in the University Center. You also can make a purchase online with Herff Jones.
Are there any required meetings that I must attend before the ceremony?
| Yes, there is a mandatory meeting you must attend if you plan to participate in the ceremony. This meeting is the only opportunity to discuss graduation and ask questions. Plan on attending one of these meetings: | | | | Monday, March 18, in Sanders Studio, Room 249 | 10 – 11 a.m. | | Tuesday, March 19, in Sanders Studio, Room 249 | 11:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. | | Wednesday, March 20, in Sanders Studio, Room 249 | 12 – 1 p.m. | | Thursday, March 21, in Sanders Studio, Room 249 | 1 – 2 p.m. | | Friday, March 22, in Sanders Studio, Room 249 | 2 – 3 p.m. | | | | |
When is the Graduation Fair?
The Graduation Fair will be at the UH Main Campus Bookstore—126 University Center—on Feb. 26 through March 1, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Representatives will be there to assist in ordering caps, gowns and hoods as well as announcements, UH rings and diploma frames. Cap and gown orders also may be placed online—click here to order.
Will I graduate with honors?
Undergraduate students who complete their degree requirements will graduate with the stated academic honors if they achieve the following grade point averages (GPAs) earned in the last 66 hours completed at the University of Houston. The honors calculation also will include all hours completed in the semester in which the first of those final 66 hours was completed.
Honors Categories |
GPAs | | Summa Cum Laude | 3.75 to 4.0 GPA | | Magna Cum Laude | 3.50 to 3.74 GPA | | Cum Laude | 3.25 to 3.49 GPA |
Once the Spring 2013 semester has officially ended and all grades have been posted, your honors status will be updated accordingly and printed on your diploma.
Undergraduate students who have completed the graduation requirements of the Honors College may graduate with special honors designations. Please see your advisor in the Honors College for more information.
Undergraduate students who successfully complete a senior honors thesis/project and who are not members of the Honors College will graduate with honors in their major.
What do my guests need to do?
When inviting guests, please be advised of the following: - Doors will open one hour before each ceremony.
- Saved seats will be released 15 minutes prior to the beginning of the procession and will be strictly enforced by security and ushers.
- Doors to Hofheinz Pavilion will close if maximum capacity is reached. This decision is made by the fire marshal and not the University.
- Hofheinz Pavilion will be completely cleared after each ceremony.
Where do we park?
Graduates and guests attending Commencement are asked to park in Lot 16. We strongly suggest that family and friends arrive well before the ceremony starts.
What about special access?
Students who are mobility impaired will need to contact the commencement coordinators within their college no later than April 15, 2013, regarding their scheduled ceremony for any additional assistance or requests.
Students needing any additional services or have special requests must notify the Center for Students with DisABILITIES (CSD) at least 2 WEEKS prior to their scheduled commencement ceremony. Center for Students with DisABILITIES (CSD) can be reached at 713.743.5400 or http://www.uh.edu/csd/ for any additional assistance and/or specific questions.
Is there a rehearsal before the ceremony?
Students will line up at Yeoman Field/Sports Court in the Alumni Center at 5:30 p.m. on Friday, May 10, 2013. It is very important to arrive for line-up at the scheduled time.
When and where do I show up, and what do I do?
You should arrive in full academic regalia at 5:30 p.m. on Friday, May 10, 2013, at the Yeoman Field/Sports Court in the Alumni Center. Family and guests should go directly to Hofheinz Pavilion.
Note: Please leave purses, cell phones and other personal belongings with your families. The Hilton College Commencement staff cannot be responsible for safeguarding your possessions.
How long does the ceremony last?
Commencement should last approximately two hours, from 7 to 9 p.m.
Is there a reception after the ceremony?
Yes. We invite you and your guests to join us before the ceremony for a reception at the Hilton University of Houston's Waldorf-Astoria Ballroom. We'll announce the time of this reception when it's confirmed.
How do I get a good photograph?
Family and friends should feel free to bring cameras and video recorders and take as many pictures as they like. However, they must remain in their seats during the ceremony. They cannot stand in the aisles, and under no circumstances will they be permitted on the floor of the hall. We also suggest that family photographers take photos at home and at other locations on campus prior to the ceremony.
A professional photographer, Flash Photography, will be taking individual photos during the ceremony. Flash Photography will send the proofs to you so that you can decide if you want to order prints. The photographer will already have your mailing address. If you do not receive the proofs within 30 days of your Commencement, please contact Flash Photography at 800.410.8070.
When do I get my actual diploma?
Diplomas are normally mailed eight weeks after degrees are approved and officially conferred and posted. This process does not begin until (date to be determined). Please be aware that Hilton College has 60 days from the official closing date of the semester to award degrees. Students can check the status of their diploma at MichaelSutter.com/UH.
Diplomas are mailed directly to students at the most current address provided through their myUH student account. The diploma-printing company will also send e-mail notifications to diploma recipients indicating when diplomas have been mailed. It's important to keep contact information updated in myUH to avoid shipment delays.
Please note: There is a $25 fee for each additional diploma ordered. This fee does not apply to the initial diploma mailed upon graduation, but will apply to additional copies as requested on the diploma order form.
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