March 2, 2023
Dear College of Education Graduate Students,
We hope that this message finds you well and that you are enjoying a successful and productive semester. As the end of the academic year approaches, we are excited to share some updates regarding the upcoming spring commencement ceremony.
Please note that this communication is immediately intended for master's and doctoral students who are planning to graduate in May or August of 2023.
Spring Ceremony
First and foremost, we are thrilled to invite all eligible College of Education graduate students to participate in the COE college-wide commencement ceremony on May 6 at 8:00 a.m. at the Moody Center, as well as the university-wide ceremony that evening. We anticipate the day being one of excitement and emotion in honor of our Longhorn students and families who will be celebrating this milestone.
Changes to Ceremony Participation
Please note that COE graduate students will be unable to participate in the Graduate School ceremony, as these two ceremonies unfortunately overlap due to a scheduling conflict. We are confident, however, that our COE ceremony, as it has for the past few years with combined graduates, will provide a wonderful opportunity for you to celebrate your achievements with your fellow COE students in the new Moody Center.
Eligibility Update
Walking in May:
We are also pleased to announce a change to our policy regarding eligibility to walk during the May ceremony. Previously, students completing coursework during the summer were not able to participate in the May ceremony. We are now delighted to inform you that students completing their coursework over the summer are invited to walk in the May (spring) ceremony, if eligible. Graduate students who anticipate completing their coursework in August and are interested in walking in May should consult with both their advisor and their respective graduate coordinator to determine eligibility. Eligible students must notify their graduate coordinator that they intend to walk in the May ceremony no later than March 31, 2023.
Graduating in May:
Please note that all graduate students who will complete their coursework in May must submit the application for graduation by the March 31 deadline for evaluation and approval by the department.
In Absentia:
The Graduate School recently announced that students whose progress toward May 2023 graduation was delayed due to COVID or the winter storm may petition to register in absentia during the summer 2023 semester in order to provide them with extra time to finish. Additional information regarding in absentia registration can be found here.
Fall and Spring Commencement Combined
We also want to let you know that, moving forward, the College of Education will have one inclusive commencement ceremony - in the spring only - that will encompass all eligible graduates of the College of Education from fall, spring and summer sessions. The decision to forego the fall commencement ceremony, which many other colleges and schools have also done, was made in the interest of creating a more unified and celebratory experience for all graduates, and we believe it will allow us to fully honor the accomplishments of each and every one of our students, together. We are excited to see this change and look forward to celebrating with you at the upcoming spring ceremony.
We are pleased to share these updates and to celebrate your accomplishments with you in the coming months. Additional information regarding the COE ceremony, graduation eligibility for those completing in summer and other commencement-related information will be coming soon.
Congratulations on the outstanding progress you've made to reach this milestone. We are proud of your hard work and dedication, and we look forward to celebrating with you soon.
Sincerely,
Dean Martinez, Associate Dean Loukas and Associate Dean Bartholomew
CHARLES R. MARTINEZ, JR., Dean
ALEXANDRA LOUKAS, Associate Dean for Graduate Studies and Research
JOHN BARTHOLOMEW, Associate Dean for Academic Affairs
College of Education | The University of Texas at Austin
