Do graduation candidates have to RSVP to attend commencement?
About two months before each commencement weekend, detailed instructions, including the RSVP link and deadline, are emailed to the official UNT email accounts for all students approved to graduate that semester. Summer graduates who have been given approval to participate in spring commencement ceremonies will be included at that time, or they will participate in the following fall ceremonies. RSVPs must be completed by the deadline. After completing the RSVP process, graduates will receive an email confirming their RSVP has been received.
What do I do if I didn't RSVP before the deadline?
Graduation candidates who missed the RSVP deadline should contact your academic college advisor for guidance.
What elements are included in commencement ceremonies?
UNT's Undergraduate College Commencement Ceremonies are hosted by college deans and honor graduates with pomp and circumstance. The ceremonies include traditional graduation moments – wearing regalia, degree conferral, the calling of graduate names and crossing the stage.
The Doctoral and Master's Commencement Ceremonies are hosted by Toulouse Graduate School and recognize the accomplishments of students who completed post-graduate studies. Doctoral and M.F.A. candidates (recipients of terminal degrees) are hooded by their faculty mentor(s).
Does commencement include virtual ceremonies?
No, however, regardless of whether graduation candidates were physically in Denton while earning their degree, or if they completed most or all of their courses through distance learning, we invite and encourage those students to participate in our ceremonies on the UNT campus so they can cross the stage, see and hear their name announced and be contragulated in person by UNT leadership.
Can my family watch me participate in my in-person ceremony if they're not able to attend?
Commencement ceremonies are held with a livestream available on the commencement website that is archived for playback the week after commencement.
I couldn't or didn't want to participate in previous ceremonies or my guests and/or I couldn't attend my ceremony as assigned. May I return in the future to participate and cross the stage?
Graduation candidates may contact their academic college to see if they are able to accommodate your request.
Does UNT host summer commencement ceremonies for students who graduate in the summer?
UNT does not host commencement ceremonies during the summer. Students who fulfill graduation requirements and are approved to graduate during the summer can either participate in the previous spring commencement ceremonies (if they apply to participate and are approved to do so) or they can participate in the next fall commencement ceremonies.
Is the event ticketed? How many guests may graduates invite?
Tickets are not required commencement ceremonies. Seating for guests is available on a first-come, first-served basis. Doors open one hour prior to the start of each ceremony. The ceremonies will be streamed live from commencement.unt.edu for those unable to attend in person.
What can guests and graduates bring/not bring to the ceremony?
The Coliseum and the Murchison Performing Arts Center enforce a clear bag policy for all commencement events. Only clear bags up to 12” x 12” as well as small bags, roughly the size of an adult human hand, are allowed into the venue. Balloons and noisemakers are not be allowed into the Coliseum. See a complete list of prohibited items in English or in Spanish. Graduates and guests with prohibited items will be required to discard or return prohibited items to their vehicles before being allowed to enter. Leave prohibited items in your vehicle or at home.
Metal detectors will be positioned at Coliseum and MPAC entrances used by graduates, guests and platform party members. Anyone entering the commencement venues must pass through a metal detector before proceeding to the seating or staging areas.
Where do guests and graduates park?
Graduates should park in the west side of Lot 20 to allow family and guests to park on the north and east sides of the lot. Graduates can easily access the west side of Lot 20 by entering the lot from the service road. Guests should enter campus via North Texas Boulevard off of I-35E and park in Lot 20, which is on the west side of the Coliseum. Follow the signs to be directed to the first available parking space. See the directions and parking page for more details.
Be prepared to walk a distance as there is limited parking immediately adjacent to the venues. It may take up to 10 minutes to walk from some parking locations.
Accessible parking will be in Lot 26 and 27 off of Highland Street which is across the street from the Coliseum. Accessible parking includes disabled parking as well as parking for guests or graduates with mobility limitations or who cannot walk for 10 minutes on a hot day. Parking lot attendants will not be checking for ADA placards and will not turn drivers away from parking in the Accessible lot.
The drop-off point for graduates or guests is on the east side of the Coliseum in the circle drive off Avenue D and can be reached by going east on Eagle Drive, then north on Avenue C, then west on Maple Drive.
A limited number of accessible parking spaces are available near the Murchison Performing Arts Center for guests attending ceremonies in the MPAC.
The Coliseum and MPAC enforce a clear bag policy for all commencement events. Only clear bags up to 12” x 12” as well as small bags, roughly the size of an adult human hand, are allowed into the venue. Balloons and noisemakers are not be allowed into the venues. See a complete list of prohibited items in English or in Spanish. Graduates and guests will be required to discard or return prohibited items to their vehicles before being allowed to enter. Leave prohibited items in your vehicle or at home.
What kinds of accommodations are available during ceremonies?
ADA accessible seating is available along the top rows of the lower seating area in the Coliseum. These areas are designated as such. ADA accessible seating is available at the Murchison Performing Arts Center upon request.
ASL interpreters are at all commencement ceremonies and guests who need to see the interpreter should sit in Section 120 in the Coliseum or in the front, left 10-15 rows or left balcony of the MPAC. Contact commencement@unt.edu if you have further questions or need additional accommodations.
Accessible parking will be in Lot 26 and 27 along Highland Street, which is across the street from the Coliseum. Accessible parking includes handicapped parking as well as parking for guests or graduates with mobility limitations or who cannot walk for 10 minutes on a hot day. Parking lot attendants will not be checking for handicapped placards and will not turn drivers away from parking in the Accessible lots.
The drop-off point for graduates or guests is on the east side of the Coliseum in the circle drive off Avenue D and can be reached by going east on Eagle Drive, then north on Avenue C, then west on Maple Drive.
A limited number of accessible parking spaces are available near the Murchison Performing Arts Center for guests attending ceremonies in the MPAC.
All ceremonies are livestreamed and will also be made available for later viewing in the week following commencement with captions provided.
Are there other ways to celebrate my graduation?
UNT provides several opportunities where graduates can celebrate their accomplishments!
Where is regalia pricing and information located, including tassel color?
Official UNT regalia may be purchased at the Barnes & Noble Bookstore on campus or on the Josten's website. Online purchase orders will be shipped to the student's address. Doctoral student rentals and faculty rentals are shipped to the bookstore for pick up prior to commencement ceremonies. Payment is due at that time. Learn about regalia order deadlines and pricing. For answers to other regalia, ring and announcement questions, email SM8085@bncollege.com.
What if a graduate can't afford to purchase or rent a cap and gown?
A limited number of graduation caps and gowns are available for rental at no charge through the Mean Green Gowns for Grads program. We do not want the price of a cap and gown to prevent students from celebrating their huge academic accomplishment.
For answers to other regalia, ring and announcement questions, email SM8085@bncollege.com.
Why don’t graduates receive their diploma at commencement? When will they receive their diploma?
Diplomas are printed and mailed to official UNT mailing addresses within eight weeks of commencement following the receipt of final grades and after verification that the candidate has met all requirements for graduation. It is the responsibility of the graduate to ensure UNT has the correct mailing address on file after graduation. Graduates are asked for their diploma address on the graduation application and should verify and/or update their mailing address by logging into my.unt.edu with their EUID and password. Learn more about diplomas.
Will guests or graduates receive programs at their ceremony?
Printed programs are not distributed at commencement ceremonies, but a digital version of the program is available online a few days prior to the ceremonies. Programs are available for pick up at the Alumni Center in the days leading up to and immediately following commencement weekend.
What does it mean to graduate with honors?
Undergraduate students whose overall grade point average (found on the degree audit), based on both grades earned in UNT courses and transferred courses, is at least 3.500 or better can graduate with honors, also called Latin honors. These are the distinctions of cum laude, magna cum laude and summa cum laude. Learn more about graduating with honors.