Commencement FAQs

What is the difference between commencement and graduation?

Commencement ceremonies are the services held in May each year. These are the ceremonies in which the achievement of the degree or certificate is recognized and celebrated by the college and the students’ friends and family.

Graduation is the process of being awarded a degree or certificate. All students wishing to graduate must apply for graduation by the application deadline that is advertised on the Academic Calendar. Applying for graduation is a college requirement that must be met by each student wishing to graduate. If you do not apply for graduation, you have not met all your degree requirements.

What day is commencement?

Commencement Ceremony 1: Tuesday, December 9th @ 4:00 pm
Due to the capacity of the venue for the December commencement we will have two ceremonies. The first ceremony will begin at 4:00 pm and graduates are encouraged to arrive in their regalia at least 1 hour prior to the start of the ceremony. All graduates will be distributed 6 tickets to provide to guests.

***Important: Graduates that indicated “Yes” on their December graduation application will be sent notice to their SWTX Office 365 email which will provide which ceremony and time they will be participating in. The ceremony and time that is on the graduate email notice and tickets are final due to limitations with capacity at the venue.

Commencement Ceremony 2: Tuesday, December 9th @ 7:00 pm
Due to the capacity of the venue for the December commencement we will have two ceremonies. The second ceremony will begin at 7:00 pm and graduates are encouraged to arrive in their regalia at least 1 hour prior to the start of the ceremony. All graduates will be distributed 6 tickets to provide to guests.

***Important: Graduates that indicated “Yes” on their December graduation application will be sent notice to their SWTX Office 365 email which will provide which ceremony and time they will be participating in. The ceremony and time that is on the graduate email notice and tickets are final due to limitations with capacity at the venue.

What do I wear and where do I get it?

• All participants must wear academic regalia that is approved and provided by the institutional departments. This applies to gowns, caps, stoles, cords, etc. No custom regalia may be used at the ceremony.
• Caps, gowns, and tassels are available at the Campus Bookstore.
• The tassel is worn on the right side of the cap until the end of the commencement ceremony when graduates are instructed to shift the tassel to the left side.
• It is recommended that you take your regalia out of the bag and place it on a hanger a few days before your ceremony in order to decrease the wrinkles.
• Caps may be decorated as long as it is in good taste. Decorations may not include profanity, reference to alcohol or controlled substances, political statements or symbols, or political party references.

Do I need tickets for my guests and family to attend commencement? (NEW: Please Read)

Yes, each SWTX graduate will receive 6 tickets to provide to guests due to the size of the venue.

Can I participate in commencement if I have not completed all my requirements?

Only students who have applied for graduation before the deadline are allowed to participate in the commencement ceremonies.

Can I participate in a different ceremony other than the one for my respective degree?

Graduates should attend the designated commencement ceremony as per their SWTX email notice.

Can a military student wear their dress uniform in lieu of the cap and gown?

Students in the military must also wear academic regalia. Uniforms may be worn underneath the regalia.

Is there a commencement rehearsal?

No, there is no rehearsal for commencement. Please arrive early before the scheduled start time for check-in and lineup.

What time should I arrive for commencement?

You should arrive 1 hour prior to the start time.

I walked in the ceremony, does that mean I graduated?

No. Participation in a commencement ceremony does not imply or infer the awarding of a degree at the time of the commencement ceremony; a final degree audit must be completed before a degree is officially awarded.

Why won’t I get my diploma at commencement? I have completed my degree.

Diplomas for graduates who have officially completed their certificate/degree programs will be mailed in January 2026 to the mailing address on record. Transcripts with degree information can be requested on our transcript request page approximately 2-3 days after the official closing of the semester as per the Academic Calendar.

*All obligations (fines, transcripts, device check-out, etc.) with the college must be cleared before diplomas and official/final transcripts will be issued.