Commencement

Spirit of the Mustangs Graduate Walk
Graduating seniors, Master's candidates and Doctorate candidates will meet at their respective college and their dean/faculty will walk them over to the Spirit of the Mustangs Plaza.  A reception will follow in the Clark Student Center, Comanche Suites.

• Gordon T. and Ellen West College of Education and Professional Studies
• Lamar D. Fain College of Fine Arts
• Prothro-Yeager College of Humanities and Social Sciences
• McCoy College of Science, Mathematics and Engineering

• Dillard College of Business Administration
• Robert D. and Carol Gunn College of Health Sciences and Human Services

The doors will open approximately 1 hour prior to each ceremony. Graduates should arrive no later than 4:30pm for the ceremony at 6:00pm on Friday, May 15th, 8:30am for the 10:00am ceremony and 12:30 PM for the 2:00pm ceremony on Saturday, May 16th. Report through the west entrance (closest to Midwestern Parkway) of the D.L. Ligon Coliseum and make your way to the Don Flatt Gym. Signs will indicate where the graduates will line up. NOTE: graduates who arrive late, after the lines have moved to the coliseum, will be seated at the back and will cross the stage in that order, instead of sitting with others in the same programs.

If your name is unique or frequently mispronounced, please leave a message for the announcer at 940-397-6978 prior to 5:00pm, Wednesday, May 13th. First state your name clearly and distinctly, the degree you will be receiving such as Bachelor of Arts or Master of Arts, major English, and then slowly spell your name and say your name an additional time.

ADA Accommodations: Graduates requiring ADA accommodations please contact the Registrar's Office, 940-397-4321. Guest ADA seating will be available on the gym floor. Volunteers will be available to assist with seating. 

Attendance at Commencement is a degree requirement unless you are officially excused. If you are absolutely unable to attend, contact the Office of the Registrar to request permission to graduate in absentia. Graduates will not be allowed to walk at a later ceremony. Limits on capacity at the various ceremonies mean we cannot allow students to walk in other ceremonies. All ceremonies will be livestreamed. The livestreaming link will be available closer to the event date.

Regalia:  The MSU Bookstore will be selling caps, gowns, and other graduation items. Shop in the store or on the website, https://www.bkstr.com/midwesternstatestore/home. Custom announcements and MSU rings can be ordered from Herff Jones at https://herff.ly/msutexas. For more information, please contact the Bookstore at 940-397-4303.

Honors: Cords for Honor Bachelor's candidates (cum laude, magna cum laude, summa cum laude) are available for purchase in the bookstore. You can view your GPA by logging in to your Degree Works or your portal account.

Dress: All graduates will wear an Academic Gown and a Mortar Board. All tassels should be worn on the right and will be shifted to the left together, except for Master's candidates who will wear their tassels on the left the entire ceremony. Casual wear is not appropriate. Graduates may not wear jewelry or flowers on the gown and may not carry a purse or camera. There will be no secure place to leave valuables during the ceremony. Pin car keys to the inside of the gown if necessary. All master’s candidates will have hoods which they will carry on the left arm so they can be hooded during the ceremony. The hoods will be issued by the Bookstore.

Decoration of Mortar Boards: The administration has stated that mortar board decorations must adhere "flat" to the top (square portion) of the mortar board only. Decorations are not to be placed anywhere beneath the top of the mortar board, neither attached to the cap portion supporting it, nor dangling from any part of the mortar board.

Diplomas: When you walk across the stage, you will be handed a diploma cover. Grades for graduates will be submitted the week following commencement. If all of your degree requirements are completed and all financial, academic, and financial aid obligations are met, diplomas will begin being mailed approximately 6-8 weeks after commencement. Students who did not complete degree requirements will be notified by email.

Photographer: A photographer will take photos as you shake hands with President Haynie and as you exit the stage. The photograph with the President is candid, so you will not have to stop to pose.  Proofs will be emailed to the account you indicate on the line-up card.  If your email or address changes, please update your records in Banner Self-Service and contact the Audit Team in the Office of the Registrar at graduationconnection@msutexas.edu.

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