Commencement

The University of North Texas Health Science Center at Fort Worth commencement ceremony, held each spring semester, is intended to recognize students who will complete all graduation requirements by the end of the spring semester and those that completed their requirements in the previous fall or summer semesters. In some cases, students ask to participate (“walk”) in commencement although they will not complete all graduation requirements in that semester.

Students are only eligible to participate in commencement if they will complete all degree requirements prior to the last day in their spring semester. Students with course(s), an internship or rotation to be completed in the upcoming summer or fall semester would not be eligible to participate in the previous spring commencement.

Students who would like to request to participate in a ceremony outside of their actual graduation semester should send an email to their College’s Dean and/or Associate dean for eligibility and approval.

The Difference Between Participating in Commencement and Graduating

For questions regarding these procedures, please email registrar@unthsc.edu.

2024 Commencement Ceremony

Wednesday, May 22nd, 2024
1:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Dickies Arena

The 2024 Commencement Ceremony will be livestreamed! Please share the following URL with your friends and family who are unable to attend!  2024 HSC Commencement Ceremony on Livestream

Regalia

Summer and Fall 2023 and Spring 2024 Graduates are able to order regalia, announcements, rings and diploma frames in a one-stop shop. Proceeds from announcements and diploma frames benefit Student Scholarships at HSC! To order any of the above items, please visit the Herff Jones website by clicking HERE.  The deadline to order graduate regalia for the 2024 Commencement Ceremony is April 27^th, 2024.

Regalia Descriptions
Stoles and Cords

Faculty Hooder Resources

Faculty Hooder Training Video

Dickies Arena Parking and Entry Information

Student and Guest parking is available at Dickies Arena in the Yellow/Purple Lots and the Chevrolet Parking Garage for $20.00. Additional parking is available in the Green Lots at Will Rogers for $12.00. Parking & Pricing Map

• GRADUATES must arrive no later than 12:15 pm and will enter the arena near the northeast staircase on street level at the North Exhibit Entrance. Student Entry Map
• GUESTS can arrive starting at 12:00 pm and will enter the arena at the SOUTH, WEST OR EAST ENTRANCES. Tickets are not required for this event. Accessible seating is available throughout the arena on a first-come, first-serve basis. Guest Entry Map

Handicap Parking is available in all of the parking locations and on all floors of the Chevrolet Parking Garage.

Students and guests who are using ride share services should be dropped off at the west entrance of the arena, in the drop off lane at Dickies. Guests can be picked up for ride share on Harley Avenue, which is located on the North end of the building. Guests should exit the building from the North and proceed to Harley Avenue using either the stairs or ramp to the street level.

Dickies Arena ADA/Accessibility Information 

Dickies Arena has ADA decks on the plaza and gallery levels. Guest services staff will help guests who need wheelchair assistance. Dickies Arena ADA decks are usually one-wheel chair and one-companion per deck which may split up the party, but there are numerous ADA areas spread around the arena.

Dickies arena also has six wheelchairs that can be used on rotation so guests can be helped from the door to their seats, but wheelchairs cannot be kept throughout the ceremony. Guests can bring their own wheelchairs as well and sit at any of the ADA platform decks.

Guests who are seeking ADA parking are encouraged to park in Dickies Arena Yellow Lots on Trail Drive. Guests have access to an elevator, located to the left of the southeast circle stairs that will bring guests to the Simmons Bank Plaza.

For more information on ADA/Accessibility information at Dickies Arena, please visit https://dickiesarena.com/ada-accessibility-information/

Guest Services Map- Plaza Concourse

Dickies Arena Policy Information

Visit https://dickiesarena.com/event-policies-and-faqs/ for more information on event policies at Dickies Arena.

• All guests are required to go through a security and bag check prior to entering the arena.
• Bag Policy: Bags are not to exceed 12″x6″x12″.  A clear tote, small purse, small fashion backpack, small clutch, plastic storage bags and drawstring bags are acceptable. Dickies Arena Bag Policy. Cameras and camera bags are allowed inside the arena.
• Balloons, confetti, and noisemakers are prohibited in Dickies Arena.
• Flowers are approved and will also be available for purchase inside the arena. Prices will range from $20 – approx. $50, cash and credit cards will be accepted.
  • Floral Bouquets – assorted selection of flowers
  • Roses – rose bouquets in various sizes
  • Graduation themed stuffed animals
  • Assorted Lei’s

ADA Accommodations

If you need disability accommodations to fully participate in this event, please contact Brandie Wiley, Director of the Office of Disability Access at brandie.wiley@unthsc.edu. Please submit requests by May 1^st to allow sufficient time to arrange the accommodation.

Invitation Letter

If you would like to invite family or friends from abroad, students can provide an invitation letter to their visitor(s) to present with their visa application, we suggest that you, yourself write a letter for the visitor(s). See a suggested template below.

Invitation Letter – Commencement

Consular officials from the U.S. Department of State have stated that B-2 tourist/visitor visa applicants do not need an invitation letter from the school in order to process a visa application and that the letters are not helpful. Invitation letters are not a documentation requirement in order for visitors to apply for a tourist visa.

For specific required documentation, please refer to the specific U.S. Embassy website that your visitor(s) will be going to for their interview: http://www.usembassy.gov

Commencement Contact

Latrice Moore, M.Ed
Director, Center for Student Life
Latrice.Moore@unthsc.edu