Graduation Checklist

If you believe you are close to meeting the requirements to graduate, make sure to review your DegreeWorks and the degree requirements. Please schedule an appointment to meet with your academic advisor prior to submitting an application for graduation.

All Islanders are required to apply for graduation through S.A.I.L.. The graduation application is not solely for participation in the Commencement ceremony; you must apply for graduation even if you do not plan to walk in the ceremony. If you have any questions regarding the application for graduation, please contact the Office of the Registrar at registrar@tamucc.edu.

Be sure to review the Important Dates so you do not miss any deadlines, such as when to submit transcripts with pending transfer coursework or when to expect your degree to be awarded.

All graduates must wear only approved TAMU-CC regalia to participate in Commencement. Regalia can be purchased through the Campus Store.  

Purchase Regalia

For approved Commencement attire and adornments, please review the Day of Commencement checklist below.

Graduates that have applied for the Spring 2022 Commencement will receive email correspondence regarding the RSVP in March 2022. Check your Islander email, alternate email listed in S.A.I.L., spam filter, and junk mail, in case it landed there. It is essential that you adhere to deadlines so that planning can move forward. The RSVP email gives instructions for any special information we may need to know about you or your guests.

Certain undergraduate students who graduate in a timely manner and attempt no more than three hours in excess of the minimum number of semester credit hours required to complete their degrees may be entitled to a tuition rebate of up to $1,000 after graduation. Tuition rebate applications must be submitted prior to Commencement.

Spring 2022 graduates will check in at the American Bank Center Exhibit Hall lobby. During check-in, you will verify the phonetic spelling of your name, complete an information card for Flash Photography, and receive instructions on the procession line. 

Check-in begins an hour and a half prior to the scheduled ceremony. You must be checked in at least 15 minutes prior to the ceremony start time in order to participate. 

Undergraduate students (students who will receive a bachelor's degree) will pick up their Latin honor cords for academic honors at Commencement in the student room. 

Latin honor cords distributed to graduates for the ceremony are calculated based on the student's cumulative TAMU-CC grade point average through the semester prior to graduation. The official honors designation, which includes the calculation of the current semester's grades, will be indicated on the final transcript and diploma. 

Latin Honor Colors and Eligibility

Academic Honor	Cord	Eligibility Criteria
Summa Cum Laude	Silver	Cumulative GPA 3.9 and above
Magna Cum Laude	Blue	Cumulative GPA 3.7 to 3.899
Cum Laude	Green	Cumulative GPA 3.5 to 3.699

All graduates must wear only approved TAMU-CC regalia to participate in Commencement. 

Guidelines for appropriate attire and adornments at Commencement have been established by the Provost, the Commencement Coordinator, and the University Registrar in order to preserve the importance of the occasion and to show respect for the University, its graduates, and their families. Formal academic regalia consisting of black academic gowns and mortarboards are the dress of the day. Students may choose what attire they wish to wear underneath their regalia, but clothing is mandatory, as are shoes. Bare feet will not be permitted in the arena, as this is not hygienic. Apart from decorated caps (which are permitted), non-permitted adornments are not acceptable. The following outlines the adornments and attire that are acceptable to be worn as part of the academic regalia at Commencement.

Adornments to the traditional academic regalia may include but are not limited to cords, stoles, medallions, and pins.

1. Graduation Cords
   1. Only those who have achieved an academic honor or are members of an academic honor society are entitled to wear honor cords.
   2. Latin honor cords are worn by undergraduate students who have earned the designation based on their cumulative institutional GPA at the start of the graduating semester. Students must also have completed at least 45 undergraduate semester hours at this institution. To recognize the considerable effort of the undergraduate students who earn Latin honors, the color of the cord signifies the level of honor:
      • Summa Cum Laude – silver
      • Magna Cum Laude – Islander blue
      • Cum Laude – kelly green
   3. Veteran or military students may wear a red, white, and blue wrapped cord.
   4. Cords may not be used for any other designation unless by specific permission from the Office of the Provost through the Registrar within 30 days prior to the ceremony via written request.

2. Stoles, pins, and medallions may be worn only to signify participation in an officially recognized student organization, athletics, or a specific program recognized by the University (e.g., fraternities, sororities, chapters, student clubs, and affiliated cocurricular clubs).

Leis will be distributed on the day of Commencement as graduates arrive for check-in. For more information about leis, please contact Islander Alumni Association at info@islanderalumni.org or 361-825-5787.

Guaranteed leis sales begin the first day of Grad Fair and end one month prior to Commencement. Extra inventory will be sold leading up to Commencement until it is sold out. Click here to check inventory and order now. Please note that leis will no longer be sold on the day of Commencement.

The American Bank Center is located at 1901 North Shoreline Blvd. in Corpus Christi, Texas. 

 

COVID-19  

American Bank Center is an ASM Global managed facility and adheres to “VenueShield” – an advanced environmental hygiene and operational protocol developed for more than 325 ASM facilities around the world. All protocols are aligned with public health authorities, medical and industry experts. VenueShield reduces physical touchpoints, increases venue sanitation, and cleanliness, and provides health monitoring guidelines and services. Please review the COVID-19 Safety Guidelines.

The Following Items Are Not Permitted

No balloons, vases, air horns, beach balls, camera bags, or tripods will be allowed in.  

Bag Policy

All guests are subject to a search of their person and their property.

No purses, bags, or containers larger than a small clutch bag, outside food or drink, alcohol, drugs, weapons, pets (exception: service animals), distracting and noise-making objects, balloons, and any other large celebratory items are not allowed as these may infringe upon the integrity of the ceremony and the safety of graduates and guests. Smoking is strictly prohibited.

Parking

Students are responsible for checking any academic holds on your S.A.I.L. account. Financial Aid and/or Business Office holds will prevent you from receiving your transcript and diploma. Also, make sure your permanent address is up to date so that we can mail your diploma to the correct address. 

Printed and digital diplomas are not distributed at the Commencement ceremony. For the availability of diplomas, please refer to the Important Dates.

If you are graduating from the University, you will be required to complete an exit loan counseling session for any student loans you have taken out during the course of your attendance.  

Failure to complete an Exit Loan Counseling session will result in a hold being placed on your student record. This hold will prevent you from registering for classes, obtaining transcripts, and completing other official academic matters. 

You can order your transcript online on your S.A.I.L. account. Please log in and view your “Unofficial Transcript” to ensure your degree is awarded prior to ordering your official copy. 

Your Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi diploma provides you with a free and lifetime membership to the National Islander Alumni Association. This Islander network is a powerful one, made up of over 52,000 individuals since the campus was founded in 1947.

Whether you’re looking to reconnect with old friends or make a whole batch of new ones, becoming an active member can help you connect with other Islanders just like you. You'll find many opportunities to be engaged, including joining a chapter, attending events like homecoming, mentoring a student, or signing postcards for newly admitted Islanders. The Alumni Association looks forward to adding you to our spirited group of active alumni, and we hope to see you at an event very soon!

Flash Photography will be photographing each graduate at the Commencement ceremony. Complimentary proofs will be mailed to you within one week of the ceremony. If you have any questions, please contact Flash Photography via their website. 

TAMU-CC Marketing and Communications hosts Commencement videos and photos online for students to share the memories.