Undergraduate Student FAQs
When does UNLV hold graduation ceremonies?
Both in the spring (May) and winter (December). In the spring, two ceremonies
are held in one day; colleges are assigned to participate in either the
morning or the afternoon ceremony. At winter commencement, all colleges
participate in one ceremony.
Are tickets necessary for guests?
No. Seating is on a first-come, first-served basis.
Where should I park?
Ample parking is available outside the Thomas & Mack Center. Handicapped
parking spaces are located in all sections of the Thomas & Mack Center
parking lot.
When should I arrive for commencement?
Guests, graduates, and faculty should
arrive one hour before the ceremony begins.
How long is the typical graduation ceremony?
Approximately three
hours.
What are the dates and times of future commencements?
Dates and times of future
graduation ceremonies will be posted on the commencement website
as soon as they are set. If they are not posted there, they have not
yet been set.
How can I find the Thomas & Mack Center?
For those guests unfamiliar
with the layout of the university, a campus
map is available on the left in the gray bar.
Where do I get my cap and gown?
All commencement-related materials (invitations,
announcements, caps, gowns, tassels, class rings, etc.) may be purchased
from the UNLV
Bookstore, which can be reached by phone at 702-736-3955.
Where can I find information about the commencement reception?
Each of
the colleges sponsors its own reception; please contact the appropriate
college to check on reception times and locations.
How do I get my actual diploma?
It will be mailed to the address on the
student's graduation application within eight to 10 weeks of commencement.
What size is the diploma?
Undergrad & Masters is 8.5 x 11. Law & Dental is 11x14.
Can I participate in May commencement if I am due to graduate in the summer?
August
and December graduates typically participate in winter commencement. Summer
graduates who wish to participate in May commencement must get permission
from the Enrollment Services Center (SSC C).
When should I apply for graduation?
The student should initiate the graduation application process two semesters before the proposed date of graduation. Initiation must be done in person at the Enrollment Services Center (SSC C). Three weeks should be allowed for Enrollment Services to prepare the application packet; the student should then return to the Enrollment Services Center pick up the application and take it to his or her college advisor. When the college completes its evaluation of the application, the student should pick up the signed application and take it to Student Cashiering Services for payment of the $50 application fee (there is an additional fee of $20 if the application is submitted for payment late). For more information about applying for graduation, please refer to the Undergraduate
Catalog.
What is the difference between "applying to graduate" and "signing
up to participate in commencement"?
The graduation application process
involves UNLV staff reviewing a student's records to determine if he or
she is eligible to graduate. After the student initiates the graduation
application process, Student Enrollment Office staff members and the appropriate
college advisors determine if the student has taken the necessary courses
and then process the paperwork that will allow the student to officially
graduate (or that informs the student what requirements must still be met
in order to graduate). This process should not be confused with the process
of signing up to participate in commencement.
When and where should I sign up to participate in the graduation ceremony?
Students
who intend to participate in the graduation ceremony should sign up to
do so at the UNLV Bookstore;
this will ensure a seat is reserved for each participating graduate. (Students
usually sign up to participate at the time they purchase the cap, gown,
and tassel, which are typically available about six weeks before each ceremony.
Students will be notified by mail when the regalia is available for purchase.)
During the sign-up process, students will be asked to complete a form,
and they will receive a name card that is necessary for them to participate
in the ceremony. Students may sign up to participate in commencement and
purchase their regalia as late as the Friday before commencement, but it
is recommended that they complete this process in the weeks preceding the
ceremony. For more information, please contact the UNLV
Bookstore at 702-736-3955.
Graduation Hotline: 702-895-3229