TAMU Law Spring Commencement

Student Graduation Checklist 

 

Students planning to participate in the spring commencement in Fort Worth must complete the below items for all students as well as the items for their specific program.

Return to Commencement Main Page

All students must:

Complete graduation application; pay the graduation fee

Deadlines:

  • February 1​6, 2024 Last day to apply for May degree without a late fee
  • April 1, 2024: Deadline to have your name printed in the program and recognized at commencement
  • April 30, 2024:  Last day to apply for May graduation

After ensuring you meet all degree and graduation requirements, submit your graduation application online by the deadline date published in the Academic Calendar for the semester you plan to complete your degree requirements.  The Application for Graduation link is in the "Degree Evaluation" channel on the My Record tab in Howdy

The online application system will be accessible 24 hours a day, every day, until 11:59 p.m. on the 60th class day. After that time, students must apply for graduation through the Office of Student Services by email or in person on the first floor of the law school building (1515 Commerce St., Fort Worth, TX 76102).

Important Questions You Need to Verify on the Graduation Application:

  • Is your degree/curriculum information correct on the graduation application?
    • Ensure your degree/curriculum information is correct before submitting your application; including major and certificates (LLM and MLS).
  • Is your name correct on the graduation application?
    • Make sure your legal name is accurate. This is the name that will appear on your diploma.
  • Did you select a valid diploma mailing address?
    • Please ensure you have selected a mailing address for your diploma that will be valid after graduation. Diplomas will be mailed 2-3 weeks after your degree is awarded. If you need to make any changes to this address after applying, please email changes to degree-audit@tamu.edu. The deadline to make changes to this address is 5 p.m. on May 3, 2024.
  • Will you be attending the ceremony?
    • A survey will be sent to all degree candidates from the Office of Student Affairs to respond if you will or will not be attending the spring commencement ceremony.

Attention LLM and MLS students: Make sure to meet all requirements outlined by the Graduate and Professional School. Please email grad@tamu.edu with any questions regarding degree clearance.

Attention JD students: Contact Student Services (law-registrar@tamu.edu) with any questions about degree clearance.

Check graduation status

Prior to commencement:

Review your graduation application status using the “Graduation" channel on the My Record tab in Howdy. If you have any questions, please contact the Office of the Registrar's Degree Audit staff at 979-845-1089 or degree-audit@tamu.edu.

After commencement:

After commencement, LLM and MLS students may confirm their final graduation status by checking their unofficial transcript. Awarded students will have their 'Awarded Degree' and 'Degree Date' sections populated with the appropriate information. Final graduation status’ may take a week or more to process and will not be immediately available for viewing. Moreover, graduation status for LLM and MLS students in the residential graduate program may take up to 30 days after commencement before degrees awarded will appear on their unofficial transcript.

Due to the varying nature of the JD professional program, JD students may have a minimum wait of 30 days before degrees awarded will appear on their unofficial transcript.

Complete commencement attendance survey

Deadline: March 25

This survey is emailed to students who qualify for spring commencement and must be completed to account for attendance at the commencement ceremony.

Review and update address and name on Howdy

Deadline: March 25 to be recognized in the commencement program

Confirm the correct name, spelling, and address are the most up-to-date. Diplomas will be printed with the name on Howdy and sent to the address on Howdy.

Questions? Contact Office of Student Services at law-registrar@tamu.edu or call 817-212-4001.

Remove directory holds
Deadline:  March 25 to be recognized in the commencement program

Under the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA), if you withhold any of the following information your name will not be printed in the commencement program:

  • your name
  • program of study (college, major, or campus)
  • degrees
  • honors and awards received

Students planning to participate in the commencement ceremonies, please go to Howdy, and select the “My Information” icon, scroll to the bottom of the page to remove any directory holds you may have placed on the previously mentioned items. Due to the production of the commencement program, students must initiate FERPA holds no later than March 25 to have information withheld from the program.

If you elect to withhold your name from directory information, you also will be unable to participate in the appropriate graduation ceremony and we will be unable to verify your graduation information to employers after your degree has been conferred. Students should contact the Degree Audit section staff at degree-audit@tamu.edu to make any changes or ask any questions.

Order regalia

Link to order regalia: https://www.balfour.com/tamulaw 

Deadline: April 7

All graduates who participate in the ceremony must wear the appropriate commencement attire and are required to wear the TAMU regalia for the degree they will be awarded. 

Contact Student Affairs for ADA accommodations or special situations needed for graduate or guest seating

Deadline:  March 25

Degree candidates or guests needing disability accommodations in order to participate should contact Allison Pawlowski via email (apawlowski@law.tamu.edu) by March 25.

For additional information, please refer to the Disability Accommodations section of our website.

Pay off any outstanding balances

All outstanding balances must be paid in full prior to the release of diplomas. Be sure to check your student account using the “Billing Tuition And Fees” channel on the My Finance tab in Howdy for any outstanding balances. Students should contact Student Business Services with any questions regarding outstanding balances.

Pick up tickets from TAMU School of Law or Will-Call

All graduates can randomly draw a ticket bundle from TAMU School of Law the week before commencement or on the day of commencement at the Dr. Jim Vaszauskas Center for the Performing Arts will-call booth. Each ticket bundle will include nine (9) tickets with assigned seating. Every guest must have a ticket to enter the facility, no matter what age. The ticket bundle includes seating directly around each other.

Extra tickets that the graduate does not need can be returned to the law school or at Dr. Jim Vaszauskas Center for the Performing Arts will-call booth on the day of the ceremony to be dispersed to those who would like additional tickets.

If picking up additional tickets, please be aware that the seating is assigned and guests may not be sitting all together.

 

JD Specific Tasks

Apply for concentration if applicable

Deadline: March 25 to be recognized at commencement

Concentration applications: https://law.tamu.edu/current-students/registrar-student-services/forms-applications

Complete pro bono requirements

Deadline: March 18, 2024 at 5:00 PM CST

All graduating JD students must complete 30 hours of pro bono work and submit them through REVS for approval by March 18, 2024 at 5:00 PM to be considered for graduating in spring commencement.

For more information, click here: https://law.tamu.edu/current-students/student-affairs/equal-justice-program

Pick up recognition items (cords, sash) if applicable

Latin Honor Cord

  • For JD students expected to graduate with Latin Honors, honor cords will be distributed by the Office of the Associate Dean of Academic Affairs during the last week of final exams. Eligible students will be contacted by email with instructions on picking up their honors cords.
  • Cord is made of 2 strands: Gold on gold

Military Cord & Coin

  • Students who indicate that they are a member of the armed services will receive a military cord and coin at check-in of commencement. 
  • Cord is made of 3 strands: Red, white, and blue

Phi Delta Phi Legal Honor Society

  • JD students who are members of the Phi Delta Phi Legal Honor Society will receive a cord and will be emailed further information.
  • Cord is made of 3 strands: Red, blue, and gold

Law Review

  • JD students who are members of Law Review will receive a symbolic sash and will be emailed further information.
  • Symbolic sash: White sash with burgundy lettering

Journal of Property Law

  • JD students who are members of the Journal of Property Law will receive a symbolic sash and will be emailed further information.
  • Symbolic sash: Maroon and white
Complete Bar Readiness survey

Deadline: March 1

The survey will be emailed to students who qualify to take the bar exam.

Complete Career Service exit survey & interview

Deadline: April 5

Link for the survey and interview will be sent out by email to graduating JD students. 

 

LLM & MLS Specific Tasks

File degree plan

Deadline:

  • June 1 for December degree
  • November 1  for May degree
  • April 1 for August degree

https://ogsdpss.tamu.edu/

LLM and MLS students must submit an official degree plan for approval through the Graduate and Professional School Document Processing Submission System (DPSS).

Apply for certificate(s) if applicable

Deadlines:

  • March 25 to be recognized at commencement
  • May 2 to receive certificate

Students must apply for their certificate by filling out this form: Graduate Programs Certificate Declaration.

Contact your advisor if you have questions. 

Pick up recognition item if applicable

Military Cord & Coin

  • Students who indicate that they are a member of the armed services will receive a military cord and coin at check-in of commencement. 
  • Cord is made of 3 strands: Red, white, and blue
LLM ONLY - Complete Bar Readiness survey

Deadline: April 15

The survey will be emailed to Masters of Laws (LLM) students who qualify to take the bar exam.