When To Be There

Spring 2020 Graduation

Saturday, May 16, 2020

  • AA, AS, AAT and Texas Certificate High School Equivalency graduates report to the cafeteria of the Premier Learning Academy by 9:15 a.m. for the 10 a.m. ceremony.
  • AAS and Certificate graduates report by 1:15 p.m. for the 2 p.m. ceremony. Inform your guests that the doors to the auditorium will open one hour prior to the start of the ceremony.

Seating is on a first-come, first-serve basis. Carpooling is encouraged.

Where To Form Lines

Pick up your graduation information card in the cafeteria of the Premier Learning Academy, then proceed to line. Honors/highest honors designations will also be given out at this location. Form lines behind the sign with your degree plan. It is very important to pay attention to the marshals when it is time to enter the auditorium.

What To Do

Your graduation information card will have your name and graduate information on it. Make sure you hold on to these cards and carry them to the stage. Please remain in alphabetical order. This enables your family to follow along in the program. The seating arrangements are planned so that you will be in the correct alphabetical order to walk across the stage to receive your certificate or degree. You will be assisted by a marshal to enter the correct row. Do not leave any gaps–fill in all seats on each row.

All candidates will remain standing until President Nichols motions everyone to be seated. Candidates will then sit and remain seated until the Presentation of the Diplomas and Certificates.

For the Presentation of Diplomas and Certificates, Dr. Fliger, Vice President for Instruction, will ask the group to stand by saying, for example, “Will the candidates for Associate of Arts please rise.” This group will stand and wait until President Nichols confers the candidates.

Your marshal will then lead your group to where you will wait in line for your name to be called before crossing the stage to receive your diploma. Dr. Nichols will give you your diploma. Take it with your left hand and shake hands with your right hand. (Smile, there will be a photographer below taking pictures.) Continue across the stage, where another marshal will guide you to your row. Proceed back to your seat. Remain standing until all your group has returned to their seats. Dr. Fliger will signal for you to be seated. All groups will follow the same procedure.

At the end of the ceremony President Nichols will ask the graduates to rise and switch their tassels in honor of graduating. Remain standing for the recessional. The marshals will start the graduates in the recessional by signaling each row.

Announcements

Please do not leave your seats during the commencement ceremony. It is disruptive to other graduates and guests. Take care of personal business before you line up. Also, do not use cell phones or any other electronic devices.

Graduates will receive a “mock diploma” stating that diplomas will be mailed six to eight weeks after degree completion. Those who have already received a diploma will not receive another one.

You must have earned at least 40 semester hours at COM to be recognized for honors. You must also be graduating with one of the associate degrees. Honors status is not awarded for certificate programs. Your grade point average in the semester that you complete determines your honors status. GPA 3.5 to 3.79 is required for the honors status and 3.8 to 4.0 for highest honors status. This status is not posted until the day of commencement, and you will receive notice as you come to pick up your graduation information card at the appointed times on Saturday. If you have not completed your degree, you will not receive honors.

Thank you for participating in our commencement ceremony. Congratulations!

Contact Information

Please feel free to contact the Admissions and Records Office if you have any further questions at 409-933-8264.