General Commencement
Commencement Ceremony Details
CONGRATULATIONS, GRADUATES!
Congratulations on reaching this significant milestone in your academic journey! Graduation marks the culmination of your hard work and dedication, and the Commencement Ceremony is the event that celebrates your accomplishments.
Below are at-a-glance details for the Commencement Ceremony. Please use this webpage as the most up-to-date resource for details to prepare for and attend the Commencement Ceremony.
Ceremony Details & Timeline
Date
- TBA
Location
- TBA
Time
There willl be two ceremonies for Spring Graduates to attend:
- Ceremony Time: TBA.
- TBA: Arrival time for graduates.
- TBA: To manage traffic, guests will be admitted into the building no earlier than one hour before the ceremony.
- TBA: Ceremony begins
- The ceremony can last up to 3 hours. Please plan to stay until the end of the ceremony.
Guest Details
- Guests will not be required to register or have a ticket.
- Guests will be admitted to the venue one hour before the ceremony.
- For graduates being dropped off at the required arrival time of two hours before the ceremony, please note that your guests will not be admitted into the building venue until one hour before the ceremony.
Parking and Venue Policies
Parking
TBA
ADA Accommodations
TBA
Bag Policy
TBA
Prohibited Items
TBA
Watch the Ceremony Live
On the day of the ceremony, your loved ones may visit hccs.edu/live to watch the ceremony live.
*IMPORTANT* Commencement Registration Deadline: TBA
How to Register for Commencement
Regularly Check Your HCC Student Email: Once you have applied for graduation by the deadline, you will receive an email invitation from MarchingOrder. This email will contain a link and instructions on how to register for the Commencement Ceremony.
- Starting in September, MarchingOrder will send out registration steps to approved graduates' HCC student email addresses every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. To ensure you don't miss any important updates, please consistently check your HCC student email. Be sure to also check your spam folder, just in case.
- Please note that if you have not met with your academic advisor to apply for graduation, you will not receive the link to register for the Commencement Ceremony.
Register for Commencement by TBA Deadline: To participate in the Commencement Ceremony, you must register by the TBA deadline. Please mark this date on your calendar and prioritize registering before this cutoff. Only graduates who are registered by this deadline will be allowed to walk in the ceremony.
Register Early to Secure Your Preferred Ceremony Time: Due to the building's capacity limitations, there is limited space available for each of the ceremony times. We strongly recommend registering early to ensure you can attend the ceremony at your preferred time. Remember that you will only be permitted to participate during the ceremony time you register to attend.
More About MarchingOrder
In the MarchingOrder Commencement registration platform, graduates will be able to:
- Choose Ceremony | Register for the Commencement Ceremony.
- Download GradPass | GradPass is a student's ticket to enter the Commencement Ceremony. A GradPass will be automatically assigned and can be downloaded. A GradPass will also be scanned when graduates walk across the stage. A GradPass can be scanned from a mobile device or printed.
- Record How to Pronounce Your Name | Use Say It Right to record your name via telephone to assist the professional announcer with pronouncing your name correctly.
Cap/Gown (Regalia) and Celebratory Items (Invites, Frames etc)
An approved cap and gown is required to participate in the Commencement Ceremony. Below are the details on how to purchase an approved cap and gown.
- Grad gown -$48.98
- Grad cap - $9.98
- Grad tassel - $9.98
Purchase Online: Please click here to purchase cap/gown and other items (announcements, frames etc). The deadline to purchase online with a standard shipping fee is TBA. The shipping fee will be applied at the time of purchase.
Honors and Honor Cords Eligibility
Associate Degree candidates who meet the criteria below are eligible for Honor Cords for the ceremony.
- Honors: 3.35 – 3.59 Cumulative GPA
- High Honors: 3.60 – 3.79 Cumulative GPA
- Highest Honors: 3.80 – 4.00 Cumulative GPA
- Considerations
- Students completing a Certificate of Completion do not receive honor cords.
- The cumulative GPA used for the Fall ceremony is through the Summer semester.
- Fall semester grades will not be considered in determining eligibility for honor cords. However, they will be reflected on your academic records.
- The Cumulative GPA for the Spring ceremony is through the Fall semester
- Spring semester grades will not be considered in determining eligibility for honor cords. However, they will be reflected on your academic records.
Prior to the ceremony, qualifying graduates can pick up Honor Cords at the HCC Bookstore locations. Qualifying graduates may also stop by the Honor Cords table on the day of the Commencement Ceremony.
Graduation and Commencement Help
Student Services
For more information regarding Graduation and Commencement, call 713-718-8222 (option 1) or send an email to hcc.gradceremony@hccs.edu.