Before Commencement

Countdown to Graduation!

Six Easy Steps to Graduation!
In order to graduate, you must complete the following:

1. File an intent-to-graduate form in your academic dean’s office early in your next-to-last semester of study. You should meet with your academic advisor prior to registering for your final semester’s classes.
2. Complete the courses for your final semester. Be sure that all “I” (incomplete) grades are completed and all official transcripts from other universities are filed in the Registrar’s office.
3. Update your current address (where you presently reside) and your permanent address (parent or guardian’s address) online at: my.tcu.edu…Student Center…Personal Information. The addresses are important as you will receive mailings from the Registrar, the Chancellor’s office and other key university personnel concerning graduation. Your address is also provided to the professional photographer and videographer. (NOTE: If you have FERPA set on your account, your address will not be given.)
4. Complete exit requirements for your student loans. Please contact the Financial Aid office at financialaid@tcu.edu if you need help completing these requirements. View your loans borrowed at TCU at: my.tcu.edu…Financial Aid…Financial Aid Home…Loan Summary Link.
5. Satisfy all financial obligations, including graduation fees, in the Financial Services office.
6. Order your diploma and cap and gown online at: my.tcu.edu…Student Center…, My Academics…, Diploma/Cap and Gown Ordering. (Order cap and gown five weeks prior to Commencement to avoid rush fee.)

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Order your cap, gown & diploma

Caps and gowns may be ordered online through my.tcu.edu. Click on Student Center…, My Academics and select the "Diploma/Cap and gown ordering" link. Cap and gown orders placed after April 6, 2012 are subject to a late fee. Late orders can be placed by calling 281-353-2774 or emailing hjcollegetx@sbcglobal.net. The gown is rented; however, graduate students who wish to purchase the gown and/or hood may contact Herff Jones at 281-353-2774. Graduates may keep the cap and tassle. Latin Honors are printed on the diploma. All honors are announced from the podium and are printed in the program. There are no cords for Latin Honors. Some organizations provide honor cords to wear with the gown. Contact your organization for this information.

If you cannot attend commencement, check the "Not Attending Commencement" box. Candidates must provide name, student ID number, degree information and a permanent mailing address. Diplomas will be mailed in June.

When ordering your diploma at my.tcu.edu, remember that tradition suggests your full name (First Middle Last) for the diploma, no nicknames or titles. The name published in the commencement program will be the same as the name on your academic records at TCU. Contact the Registrar's office if you need to make a change to your name for program. The deadline for online diploma ordering is April 6, 2012. All accounts must be paid by May 1, 2012.

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Pick up cap & gown (Note: Thursday instead of Friday)

• Thursday, May 10, 2012 9:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. or Saturday, May 12, 2012, two hours prior at Daniel-Meyer Coliseum

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Almost Alumni Handbook

This book is published annually and is mailed to each family of a potential graduate and is available in each college’s dean’s office. The book contains all information about commencement, including resources for out-of-town guests. For questions about this book, please call 817-257-7802. A handbook will be mailed to the family of the degree candidate at their permanent address.

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Announcements/invitations

Graduates can order announcements or invitations through the University Bookstore 817-257-7844 or visiting www.tcubookstoreonline.com. Candidates may invite an unlimited number of guests.

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Transcripts and incomplete grades

Incomplete Grade deadline is March 16, 2012 unless you have filed an extension or are working on Thesis/Dissertation. You cannot graduate with an “I” that has not been removed. Deadline for receiving transcripts from another college is May 7, 2012. Please make arrangements with your professors at the other university in order to make this deadline. Please contact Kristi Harrison in the Registrar’s Office at 817-257-5090 or k.harrison@tcu.edu if you have any trouble with this deadline.

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Payment of fees

The graduation fee is charged to all degree candidates including students graduating "in absentia" to your student account. Once you are listed as a degree candidate, this is a non-refundable fee even if your graduation is deferred for academic or financial reasons. Your student account, including this fee, must be paid in full by May 1, 2012.

• Undergraduate: $55.00
• Master: $65.00
• Doctorate: $100.00

Master and Doctorate fees
The following items require separate payment and cannot be charged to the student account. Please submit a separate check or cash payment to Financial Services for:

• Thesis archiving: $10.00
• Dissertation archiving: $10.00

If you have any questions please contact: Student Financial Services - Student Accounts 817-257-7836.

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Senior Class Legacy

The Senior Class Legacy is a way for you to leave a permanent reminder of your time on campus for future Horned Frogs. Your $50 gift to the TCU Annual Fund will be donated to the University area of your choice. As a thank you for your gift, you will have the opportunity to honor three individuals in the Commencement program and a custom engraved brick will be placed along with those of your fellow graduates in front of the Mary Couts Burnett Library. For more information, please contact Harmonie Farrow at 817-257-6906 or harmonie.farrow@tcu.edu.

To leave your legacy, go to www.seniorgift.tcu.edu by March 7, 2012.

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Senior Toast and Fiesta with Chancellor Boschini

Celebrate graduation with your friends at Senior Toast! Don’t miss out on the FREE fajita dinner, music, door prizes and a purple margarita toast given by Chancellor Boschini!

Wednesday, May 9, 2012, 5:30 p.m.
Brown-Lupton University Union

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Other useful links

Registrar’s Office - www.reg.tcu.edu/gradinfo.asp
Graduate Studies - http://www.graduate.tcu.edu/?d=page&pid=sp121&parent=74

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Day of Commencement

Saturday, May 12, 2012

10:00 a.m.

AddRan College of Liberal Arts

College of Fine Arts

University Programs

M. J. Neeley School of Business

3:00 p.m.

Brite Divinity School

College of Communication

College of Education

College of Science & Engineering

Harris College of Nursing & Health Sciences

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Commencement reception

The Commencement reception is from noon until 2:00 p.m. at the Brown-Lupton University Union, 2901 Stadium Drive, on the TCU campus.

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When & where to meet

All degree candidates will line up in Daniel-Meyer Coliseum north concourse no later than 9:15 a.m. for the 10:00 a.m. ceremony and 2:15 p.m. for the 3:00 p.m. ceremony. Each degree candidate must have a number card for the processional. Bring the card you receive in the mail. If you misplace it, a replacement can be obtained at the Registrar's table, located in the upper concourse, prior to commencement.

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Guests

Tickets are not required. Each degree candidate may invite an unlimited number of guests. The ceremony lasts 2 1/2 - 3 hours. The doors open 1 hour prior to commencement. There is no reserved seating except for disabled. If someone in your party needs assistance with disabled seating, call 817-257-7802.

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Parking

Due to ongoing construction, there may be changes to existing parking. Please see map. If possible, carpooling is highly recommended and we encourage you to arrive early. We apologize for the inconvenience and appreciate your understanding as TCU continues to work to improve its facilities.

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Professional photography

Flash Photography will be set up on the floor of the Coliseum to take pictures of all graduates. Three pictures will be taken: one with the Chancellor, one with your dean and a posed shot after you exit the stage. Flash Photography will mail proofs to that student's permanent address and email the student a few days after the event with instructions on how to order photos. If you have any questions, please call 817-924-2626 or email flash10@aol.com.

You may also take informal photos with your family during the reception at the Brown-Lupton University Union.

Red Productions will produce a DVD of the Commencement ceremony. Included in the DVD is the entire ceremony, each graduate on stage with the Chancellor, highlights from the reception and a special reception for the students with a perfect 4.0 GPA. The company will mail information about ordering DVDs.

NOTE: If you have FERPA set on your TCU account, your address will not be given to the professional photographers.

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Live streaming video

TCU commencement will be streamed live on this Web page for those who cannot
physically attend the ceremony.

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After Commencement

Hometown News

After commencement, use this page to locate and print a news release announcing your student's graduation or selection to the Dean's or TCU Scholar's List. (It will take about six to eight weeks following commencement to gather and upload the data necessary to generate the news release.)

Enter the student's last name in the search field, then click "search." Click on your student's name when it appears on the screen to access a PDF-format news release, which can be printed from your computer. Graduating students who also qualified for Dean's or TCU Scholar's List will appear twice; be certain to print both news releases for your scrapbook or files.
 
Feel free to use the space at the bottom of the news release to add other information about your student, including other academic honors received, grandparents' names, high school attended, college organizations and extracurricular activities, etc. We encourage parents to submit these news releases to your local newspaper, which may choose to print the information.

If there is a mistake in your student's news release, please contact Holly Ellman at h.ellman@tcu.edu to update the information and have a corrected release posted to this site or sent to you.

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Other useful links

TCU Alumni: www.froglinks.com
Registrar’s Office: www.reg.tcu.edu/gradinfo.asp
Graduate Studies: www.graduate.tcu.edu

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Important Numbers

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