The South Texas College of Law Spring 2011 commencement ceremony will be held on Saturday, May 21, at 11 a.m. in the George R. Brown Convention Center.
A reception for graduates, family, and friends will be held immediately following the ceremony.
How do I get there and where do I park?
Directions and parking information for the George R. Brown Convention Center can be found at: http://www.houstonconventionctr.com/Home/MapsParking.aspx.
Is the George R. Brown Convention Center ADA-accessible?
Yes. All lower level lobbies (A-E) are accessible and elevators are available in all lobbies for access to levels two and three. Access to the Hilton Hotel is available via the sky bridges on levels two and three. You can view the George R. Brown Convention Center floor plans for all ADA entrances at: http://www.houstonconventionctr.com/Home/FloorPlans.aspx.
What time do I need to arrive for the ceremony?
Graduates should arrive at the George R. Brown Convention Center no later than 10 a.m. to line up for the procession.
How many guests may I have at graduation?
We do not limit the number of guests per graduate.
What hotel accommodations are available for guests?
Four Seasons Hotel
1300 Lamar
Houston, TX 77010
(Local Reservations) 713-550-1300
(Toll Free Reservations) 800-332-3442
Ask for the South Texas College of Law Corporate Rate
Rates through 12/31/2011:
Superior King: $225 plus tax ($195 plus tax during June, July, August 2011)
Deluxe King: $255 plus tax
The Hilton-Americas Hotel
* Valid: Friday/Saturday Nights: May 20 – 21, 2011
$125 single/double rate
Reservations at: 1-800-HILTONS (must be made no later than Wednesday, April 27, 2011)
Limited to first 30 reservations
Holiday Inn Express & Suites Downtown
1810 Bell Street
Houston, TX 77003
(Local Reservations) 713-652-9400
(Toll Free) 1-800-Holiday
Ask for the South Texas College of Law Corporate Rate
Singles and Double Doubles: $99 plus tax
Standard Suites: $109 plus tax
Deluxe Suites: $119 plus tax
The Hyatt Regency Hotel
1200 Louisiana
Houston, TX 77002
(Local Reservations) 713-646-6926
(Toll Free Reservations) 800-233-1234
Refer to Corporate ID #91739
Discounted rate throughout 2011: $129 plus tax
Marriott Courtyard & Residence Inn
Courtyard: (916 Dallas St.) 832-366-1600
Residence Inn: (904 Dallas St.) 832-366-1000
Ask for the South Texas College of Law Corporate Rate
Any Friday/Saturday Nights: $95 plus tax (limited number of available rooms)
Overflow and Sunday – Thursday rate: $137 plus tax .
How do I order my cap and gown?
Law school regalia, consisting of a robe, hood, and mortarboard, should be ordered through the campus bookstore. For more information, contact the bookstore at 713-646-1756.
What is the charge for my cap and gown?
There is no charge to the graduate for the law school regalia. The rental cost is picked up by the college.
Where do I pick up my cap and gown?
All law school regalia can be picked up at the campus bookstore two weeks before the commencement ceremony. The bookstore will post a notice when the regalia are available. The graduate is responsible for bringing the law school regalia to the ceremony and returning the regalia to the bookstore as instructed by its employees. Failure to return the entire law school regalia will result in the graduate’s being charged full price for replacing the regalia.
If I own my own cap, gown, and hood, can I wear it?
No, all graduates must wear the South Texas College of Law regalia provided for you by the campus bookstore.
Can I wear a hood from an organization or from the institution where I received my Master’s or Ph.D.?
No, it is the tradition of South Texas College of Law, as well as the proper etiquette, for graduates to wear only one hood at a time.
How do I know if I will graduate with honors?
Graduates with high grade point averages may have one of three “honors designations” bestowed upon them. These are identified at the graduation ceremony with the appropriate colored honor cord:
- Summa Cum Laude (gold) – cumulative grade point average of 3.667 or better;
- Magna Cum Laude (silver) – cumulative grade point average of 3.500-3.666;
- Cum Laude (white) – cumulative grade point average of 3.300-3.499
For the purposes of the commencement program, honors are based on the last available cumulative grade point average. A final determination is made once all grades are received for the last semester of school and final class ranks are compiled. The “honors designation” will be printed on the diploma and noted on the student’s final transcript.
Can I wear cords from my fraternity or other organizations?
No. The only honor cords worn at commencement are the honor cords issued by the Office of the Registrar to the Summa Cum Laude, Magna Cum Laude, and Cum Laude graduates. No other cords are allowed to be worn.
How do the graduates line up for the ceremony?
Graduates report to a staging area known as the robing room, where you will be greeted by staff from the Office of the Registrar. You will pick up an index card with your name and honors, if applicable. You will then line up alphabetically.
Will I receive my diploma at the ceremony?
Because your final grades will not be in before the commencement ceremony, you will not receive your diploma on graduation day. You will, however, receive a “faux” diploma during the ceremony.
When should I expect to receive my diploma?
Diplomas will be distributed by the Office of the Registrar after all the grades are posted (grades are due 28 days after the last exam). Diplomas should be available for pickup in February for December graduates and July for May graduates. Occasionally there are some late grades that might delay the distribution of the diplomas.
What happens at the ceremony?
Law school graduates are “hooded.” You will march in alphabetically and sit in the reserved-seating section in front of the stage. During the hooding phase of the ceremony, all graduates are to be seated except for those approaching the stage to receive their faux diplomas. The student marshal will indicate when it is time for each row to proceed to the stage. The graduates will approach the steps on the far-right side of the stage. The ceremony will move from stage right to stage left.
Graduates will each perform the following actions in the ceremony:
- Stop in front of the diploma station, extend your right hand to shake hands with the dean, and take the “faux” diploma in your left hand (a professional photograph will be taken at this time; please face the camera with the dean).
- Walk across the stage to the hooding stations; the faculty marshal will indicate which hooding station to go to. Graduates will be hooded by either a faculty member or a guest hooder. If you have a guest hooder (see details below) you will go to the last hooding station.
- Hand your hood to the hooder.
- Turn your back to the hooder.
- The hooder will place the Doctoral hood on you.
- Exit the stage.
- A professional photographer will be at the bottom of the steps to take a final graduate picture of you. If you have a guest hooder, he/she will exit with you and have a photo taken with you.
- Return to your seat and be seated. All graduates should remain in their seats until the end of the ceremony.
Who is eligible to be a special guest hooder?
If you have a parent, spouse, sibling, grandparent, significant other, aunt, uncle, or cousin who is a South Texas graduate, and you would like that person to hood you, please complete the guest hooder form (see Guest Hooding) and return it to the Office of Development and Alumni Relations. We regret that we cannot grant permission for a guest hooder who did not graduate from STCL.
What should guest hooders wear?
Guest hooders themselves do not wear regalia in the ceremony. Instead they should dress in business attire.
Not all of my family and friends will be able to attend the commencement ceremony. Will the ceremony be videorecorded?
Each year the Office of the Registrar has the ceremony videotaped. A DVD is made and given to each graduate when he/she picks up his/her diploma.
Is there a dress code for graduation?
There is no formal dress code; however, most graduates wear business-like attire under their robes. Wear comfortable shoes (but no sneakers or flip-flops).
Will my stcl.edu e-mail account terminate after I graduate?
Your e-mail account will terminate nine months after you graduate. For more information, contact Christina Trunzo, Office of Development and Alumni Relations, at 713-646-1793 or stclalumni@stcl.edu.
How long will I be allowed to keep my locker after I graduate?
You may keep your locker for three weeks after you graduate. For more information, contact Tanya Holmes, Office of Student Organizations, at 713-646-1845 or tholmes@stcl.edu.
How can I stay in touch with South Texas College of Law and my classmates after I graduate?
Once you graduate you are automatically a member of the South Texas College of Law Alumni Association. You are invited to join the Online Alumni Community, a networking site where you can search a directory of alumni, join various alumni groups, keep abreast of South Texas College of Law news, and learn about and register for alumni events. For more information about the Online Alumni Community, contact Christina Trunzo at 713-646-1793 or stclalumni@stcl.edu.
