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Graduation is an exciting time full of celebration and opportunity. The College of Science is dedicated to ensuring the graduation process is as stress-free as possible.

A few things to remember:

What is the difference between graduation and commencement?

Graduation refers to the process of having your degree awarded (conferred). An audit of your transcript and degree plan takes place when you are in your final semester and reviewed again after final grades are posted. This happens after commencement. Keep this in mind as you follow the process below.

Commencement refers to the ceremony that takes place twice a year: in May and in December.

Your diploma is not given to you at the Commencement ceremony. 

Because your diploma is not given to you at commencement, you can participate in the ceremony without having actually graduated. 

If you are walking in the Spring Commencement but still taking courses in the Summer to finish your degree, you are graduating in the Summer and not in Spring. This distinction is important. 

You can only walk in the Spring Commencement as a Summer graduate if you are taking no more than 6 hours in the Summer. If you lack 7 or more hours toward your degree and take them in the Summer, you can only participate in the December Commencement, however, you are still a Summer graduate.

Only students graduating in the summer or fall can attend the December commencement. Spring graduates can only attend the May commencement.

SPRING 2024 GRADUATES and later:

Only students who are registered for their final courses can be confirmed for graduation by the Graduation Clearance Office for the College of Science. Academic advisors are responsible for forwarding the names of all eligible students to the College of Science Graduation Clearance Officer.

The Graduation Clearance Officer for the College of Science is Ms. Margaret Gutierrez. Once Ms. Gutierrez reviews a student's record after their academic advisor has given her the name, that student will be CONFIRMED for graduation, and will be invited to attend a mandatory Graduation Information Session.

Students' records are reviewed again after final grades are posted for VERIFICATION and degree awarding (degree conferral).

After you have been confirmed for graduation:

Once final grades are posted and your degree is audited to verify you obtained all your credits (1 to 2 months) you will receive your diploma in the mail (2 to 3 months after the end of the term). 

If you are lacking any credits to award the degree,  you will receive an email from Ms. Margaret Gutierrez (margareg@utep.edu) and/or your assigned academic advisor with instructions on what to do next. 

However, if you know you did not pass a course, it is best to reach out to your assigned academic advisor right away.

Summer graduates lacking 7 or more hours, or who elected to participate in the Fall Commencement when they were confirmed, will obtain their diploma in the mail before they attend Commencement in December. 

Names of Summer graduates will appear in the Fall Commencement program ONLY, even if the student walks during the Spring Commencement ceremonies.

NOTE: Final transcripts will state your degree has been awarded sooner than obtaining your diploma in the mail in all cases.