Graduation and Commencement

Graduation

Application for Graduation

A student who plans to receive a degree from Texas A&M University-San Antonio must apply for graduation. Please review the Graduation Services website for specific deadlines. The degree will not be conferred unless the candidate has completed the application process on or before the designated deadline. There is a $50 application fee that is assess to your tuition statement and must be paid before the end of the semester for the diploma to be released. 

Graduation applications are reviewed after the deadline to apply to graduate under the particular semester in which the student applied. Deadlines can be found on the Graduation Services website. 

Late Application for Graduation

Students who miss the deadline to apply for graduation by the designated date can submit an appeal form in Jagwire, however, appeals submitted late may result in names not being added to the commencement program distributed during the commencement ceremony. There is a $50 application fee that is assess to your tuition statement and must be paid before the end of the semester for the diploma to be released. 

Degree Audits

The student’s assigned academic advisor does a preliminary verification. The student is responsible for completing all coursework and submitting any or all of the following to A&M San Antonio within two weeks of the end of a term (see the Academic Calendar for End of Term dates) in which graduation is expected:

  • Outstanding transcripts    
  • CLEP, AP, and IB credit
  • Petitions or substitutions
  • Change of major/minor
  • Change of catalog

A final degree audit occurs once all grades are posted and end of term processing has been completed by the Registrar's Office. The degree plan is reviewed by the student’s assigned academic advisor once again, and degrees will be awarded on transcripts. Email notification will be sent to student email addresses once degrees have been awarded on transcripts, and an additional email will be sent once diplomas have been ordered via Parchment. 

Use of Official Name on Diploma

Diplomas will be printed with the legal name on files, unless the graduation application indicates a change to the first name as a preferred name has been declared.  Name changes can be submitted to the Registrar's office to update, and for graduation purposes, changes need to be made at least 3 months prior to the end of the semester.  Students may use a preferred first name on their diploma regardless of whether they have legally changed their name.  Students who want their preferred first name listed on their diploma must submit this information by the deadline for their graduation application.

 The preferred first names are limited to alphabetical characters, diacritical marks, and spaces. The preferred first name must be an allowable format.  A&M-San Antonio reserves the right to reject preferred name requests that are offensive, obscene or that use derogatory language. 

Commencement

Commencement is the ceremony in which candidates for the award of degree are recognized. Actual degrees are not awarded at the commencement ceremony. A final degree audit must be completed before a degree is officially awarded. A degree audit will not be completed unless the candidate applies for graduation in the term in which they intend to graduate.

Commencement Participation

Students are expected to participate in the commencement ceremony corresponding to the semester in which their graduation application is submitted, unless there are extenuating circumstances. Students with extenuating circumstances can reach out to Graduation Services for review.

Commencement Honors

Students participating in a commencement ceremony may be recognized with commencement honors. Commencement honors are determined by using the institutional grade point average at the end of the semester immediately preceding the semester in which the student is a candidate. Courses in progress are not eligible for commencement honors GPA calculation. 

Prior to the May and December Commencement ceremonies students will be notified if they are eligible to participate with commencement honors at the commencement ceremonies.

Participation with university honors at commencement does not imply that the student will be awarded University Honors. Students must achieve an honors eligible grade point average once final grades are posted for the semester in which the student is a candidate.

University Honors

Students may graduate with University Honors provide they meet the institutional GPA requirements below at the time of the graduation:

  • Undergraduate students who earn a grade point average of 3.5 to 3.69 will merit Cum Laude.
  • Undergraduate students who earn a grade point average of 3.7 to 3.89 will merit Magna Cum Laude.
  • Undergraduate students who earn a grade point average minimum of 3.9 will merit Summa Cum Laude.