Graduate Students

Eligibility | Graduation Checklists | Honors


Convocation Ceremonies

Convocation ceremonies are celebrations hosted by individual schools, colleges, and/or departments just for their graduates. Each of these ceremonies may be different in form and structure and may range from a formal graduation ceremony to a casual reception. Specific questions about your convocation should be directed to your convocation coordinator. See the Schedule of Events for ceremony dates and times.


Commencement Ceremony

Saturday, May 11 at 9:00 a.m., University Arena ("The Pit")

The Commencement Ceremony is the campus-wide graduation ceremony for all students from all schools, colleges, and degree programs. Graduates will process across the stage to be recognized individually and will be given a diploma cover. Doctoral and terminal master's (Master of Fine Arts) degree candidates will be hooded.

 

Signup

All degree candidates who plan to participate in the the commencement ceremony and/or a convocation ceremony must complete the online sign-up form. The signup deadline is: 5:00 P.M. on Wednesday, May 8, 2013.


Commencement Program Listing

The Commencement program lists students with Spring 2013 pending graduation status. Your name will be listed as it exists in your student record.

 

Official name change requests can be made through the Office of Records and Registration before our program publication deadline of April 12, 2013 . You will also need to notify your advisor of any changes. For more information see Fastinfo Answer ID 3576.

 

IMPORTANT: If you have a privacy flag set in your student record, your name will NOT be printed in the program unless you do ONE of the following before our program publication deadlines:

By April 12, 2013 : Contact the Office of the Registrar at the campus where you attend to have your privacy flag removed permanently from your academic record.


OR


By April 19, 2013 : Sign a 'Limited Privacy Waiver' in our office (please remember to bring a picture ID) in order to release your directory information for commencement purposes only.

To check to see if your record has a privacy flag setting, search for yourself in the online UNM directory. Student entries are normally made 'public'. Those with a privacy flag on their account are not included in the directory. For more information see Fastinfo Answers.

 

Commencement Ceremony Instructions for Masters, Doctoral and Terminal Master's (MFA) Degree Candidates


General information

  • There will not be a rehearsal.
  • Graduates who participate in the commencement ceremony will be given a diploma cover. If you do not participate in the commencement ceremony, you may purchase a diploma cover at the bookstore.
  • Degree candidates will process across the stage and be recognized individually.
  • Graduates or guests with special needs should request appropriate accommodations when signing up to participate.
  • Flowers will be available for purchase at University Arena.

Hooding of Doctoral and Terminal Master's Degree Candidates

  • Doctoral and terminal Master's (Master of Fine Arts) degree candidates at the Commencement ceremony will be hooded.
  • You may select anyone with a faculty position (including faculty from other universities and emeriti) as your hooder.
  • You will be asked to enter your faculty hooder information on the graduation signup form. Please check with that person before entering his/her name on the form.
  • If you do not select a faculty hooder, you will be hooded by the dean of your school/college.
  • Masters degree candidates will not be hooded, but will process across the stage and be recognized individually.

Academic Regalia (Cap & Gown)

  • All ceremony participants must wear academic regalia available for purchase at the UNM Bookstore.
  • Master's degree and Education Specialist certificate candidates wear caps, gowns and hoods.
  • MFA and doctoral degree candidates wear caps and gowns but carry their hoods over their arms.

Arrival

Arrive to the University Arena wearing cap and gown for processional lineup at 8:00 a.m. Please see the Pit overview arena map.

  • Bachelors degree candidates will lineup on the West concourse level of the arena.
  • Masters and Doctoral degree candidates will lineup on the North upper level of the arena.

Please note that traffic and parking will be very congested. Plan to arrive early to allow time to park and walk from the parking lot to the University Arena. Parking for Commencement is free.


Name Card

Locate the table where you will find name cards, either the Doctoral table (include Master of Fine Arts) or the Masters table. Locate your name card. If there is no card for you, ask the person at the table to make one for you. If your name is difficult to pronounce, make sure you provide a phonetic pronunciation on the card under your name. Take the card and go sit in the area that is near the doctoral lineup area. For your reference, ceremony instructions are printed on the back of your name card.

 

Line Up and Processional

Marshals will instruct you when they are ready to line up students. Faculty hooders will process into the arena and be seated together with the doctoral candidates. The marshals will tell you when to start processing to the floor, and marshals on the floor will instruct you where to sit. (Note: Fire Marshal restrictions require that chairs be tied together. This makes for close quarters on the floor. Coats, purses and other personal items should be left with friends or family.) As directed by the Marshals, you will process onto "The Pit" floor.

 

Individual Recognition

Pay attention to the master of ceremonies who alerts you to approach the stage. Marshals will also instruct you when it is time to go to the platform. Readers on the platform will take your card and read your name.

 

  • Hooding of Doctoral and Terminal Master's (Master of Fine Arts) Degree Candidates
    Watch the person in front of you to see what will happen when you are hooded by your faculty hooder. See the sample video of a doctoral hooding (windows media player). Marshals will instruct you back to a seat (Note: you may not be in the same seat you were before approaching the stage. )

Graduation Photo

While you process across the stage for individual recognition, your photo will be taken by Grad Images. Proofs will be mailed to you by Grad Images if you have provided us contact information.

 

Ceremony Video

The ceremony will be videotaped and DVDs will be available for $20 per copy. Please place your order online on the Graduation Photos & Video page.

 

Recessional

When the ceremony ends, you will be instructed by the marshals to join the recessional. You can arrange ahead of time where you will meet family and friends outside the arena after the ceremony.

 

Quick Notes:

  • Family and guests will proceed to the main entrance of the University Arena. Doors open at 7:30 a.m.
  • Before getting in the processional line, please leave personal belongings (coats, purses, etc.) with friends/family.
  • Wear your cap flat on your head, not tilted. For Master's degree candidates, hoods are worn to the floor. For Doctoral degree candidates, hoods are carried on your arm.
  • The tassel goes on the right side until that part of the ceremony when you will be told to move it to the left.
  • The ceremony will begin promptly at 9:00 A.M. and lasts about 2 1/2 hours.