Dates, Times, Location for Ceremonies:

Commencement Ceremony - Latest Information

• With the exception of active duty military personnel (see below), all graduates must wear the appropriate academic regalia to participate in the commencement ceremony. Caps, gowns and hoods may be purchased at the LU Bookstore: phone (409) 880-8342 or visit the website.
• Candidates should wear their tassels over the right eye until the degree is awarded and over the left eye afterward.
• Candidates are encouraged to wear comfortable shoes. There will be a good deal of standing and walking during the ceremony, including inclined surfaces.
• Candidates should leave purses, jackets and other personal items with a friend or family member. There will not be a secure place to leave these items during the ceremony and graduates may not be returning to the rooms.
• Candidates make sure you have bobby pins and safety pins on hand to secure cap, hood, and gown.

Active duty military personnel are encouraged to wear their Class A or Dress Blue Uniform.

Red, White and Blue Military Service Cords will be made available to any active duty, guard/reserve or veteran student interested in wearing one during the commencement ceremony. Students interested in allowing Lamar University to honor their service with a Military Service Cord should contact the Office of Veterans Affairs at (409) 880-8437 or by emailing va@hrfjk.com.

To be designated an honor graduate, an undergraduate member of the graduating class must:

1. Have completed at least 60 hours at Lamar University.
2. Have a grade point average (GPA) of at least 3.50 for all undergraduate course work attempted at Lamar University.

These students are recognized at commencement by wearing red and white honor cords and will have their honor announced as they cross the stage.

Only course work attempted at Lamar University will be included in the GPA calculation for honors. Transfer course work will not be included in the calculation of GPAs for honors. All grades earned at the undergraduate level at Lamar University will be considered for graduation honors – excluding those exempted by Academic Fresh Start, Academic Appeals or Grade Replacement¹.

Cum laude – 3.5 to 3.64

Magna cum laude – 3.65 to 3.79

Summa cum laude – 3.8 to 4.0

The honor recognized at the commencement ceremony is based on the grade point average as of the 12th class day of the current term (4th class day of the summer term for summer graduates).

Because the degrees are not conferred until after commencement, the current term grades are not taken into consideration when recognizing Latin Honors at commencement. Transcripts and diplomas after graduation, however, will reflect the final GPA after all grades are in.

Eligible students will be contacted, by email, prior to commencement and will be allowed to pick up their honor cords during a designated timeframe indicated in the eligibility email. Students who do not pick up their cords during the given timeframe before the ceremony can pick their cords up at commencement. All students will be required to provide their ID to pick up their honor cords.

Graduate students, obtaining a master or doctorate degree, will not be eligible for Latin Honors. Graduate students are required, by Graduate Studies, to maintain a 3.0 or higher to graduate. If you are a part of an honor society you may wear the cord they provide.

If you have questions regarding this policy, please contact uggraduation@hrfjk.com.

¹ Eligibility for the Otho Plummer Award will still be determined using all completed coursework regardless of exemptions that disregards previous grades.

Your official name as entered in Lamar University's records system will be used for graduation unless a name change is processed by Records Office (Wimberly 102, 409-880-8365) by the payment deadline. You will need to complete an official Name Change form. However, if a student wishes to add or remove a maiden or middle name for the diploma and commencement program, they just need to indicate the change on their graduation application.

Generally, diplomas will be available for pick up in the Wimberly building in room 112. If you are NOT able to pick your diploma up at the Wimberly building. Please allow four to six weeks for delivery. It will be mailed to the address indicated on your graduation application. If all of your courses have not yet been graded at the time of commencement, your diploma will not be available. We will mail your diploma to the mailing address you provided on your graduation application as soon as all course grades have been entered and eligibility is confirmed.

Additional or Replacement Diplomas

If you would like to order additional copies of your diploma, please notify us at grgraduations@hrfjk.com for graduate students and uggraduation@hrfjk.com for undergraduate students. Additional diplomas are $25 each.

Additional or Replacement Diploma Form

Transcripts

Degrees will not be posted on transcripts until the end of third business day following commencement exercises. If you need an official transcript reflecting your degree, ask to place a "Hold for Degree" notice on your transcript request.

Fees

• Be sure to remove confidentiality restrictions on your account if you want your name included in the program, website and press releases. You will be notified by email if you have a confidentiality restriction.
• Release of Directory Hold Form sign & date bottom line of form to release confidentiality hold.
• Check this website the Monday before commencement to see if your name is on the graduation list.
• Pick a place to meet family and friends after the ceremony.
• As you celebrate your accomplishment, please remember this is an important academic ceremony and be respectful of those around you. The possession or use of alcohol, noisemakers such as air horns, fireworks, balloons, flags, confetti, banners, selfie sticks or illegal substances is strictly prohibited. This list is not comprehensive. If a device is disruptive to the other guests or graduates it will not be allowed in the arena or on the floor.
• Please remember that there is a clear bag policy in place and no other bags will be allowed into graduation.
• Saving seats at the graduation ceremony is not permitted. Please arrive together and find your seats as a group to ensure fairness for all. 
• Flash Photography will be your official commencement photographer. Every graduate will be photographed at the ceremony. If you have not received proofs within 2 weeks of the ceremony, please contact Flash directly at 888-325-3930 or at FLASHphotography.com.
• Verification Request Form-Eligibility to Graduate if your employer requires notification of eligibility to graduate, complete this form.
• Requirements for Tuition Rebate Program for Eligible Undergraduates. If you believe you qualify, please complete the Tuition Rebate form. Must be completed before commencement. Students who have already graduated and who did not apply for the tuition rebate may not apply following graduation.
• Did you miss the application deadline? You can still submit a paper application to your graduation coordinator. Fill out the graduation application and return it to your coordinator. Master level graduates and doctoral candidates should contact grgraduation@hrfjk.com. Undergraduate level graduates should contact uggraduation@hrfjk.com. 

Forms

• Verification Request Form-Eligibility to Graduate if your employer requires notification of eligibility to graduate, complete this form.
• Release of Directory Hold Form sign & date bottom line of form to release confidentiality hold.
• Additional or Replacement Diploma Form.
• Name Change form.
• Summer 2024 Graduation Application.