Commencement Information
December 2022 Commencement Program
NOTE: Commencement dates for the 2022-2023 academic year are August 6, 2022, December 16, 2022, and May 12, 2023.
Houston Christian University will recognize all graduates from December 2022 in one commencement ceremony at Husky Stadium/Dunham Football Field on Friday, December 16, 2022 at 7:00 p.m. The gates for guests will open at 6:00 p.m.
Should inclement weather conditions prevent the Friday commencement ceremony, it will be held on Saturday, December 17th at 5:00 P.M. Gates for guests will open at 4:00 P.M.
For family, friends, and guests that are not able to attend, online streaming will be available for viewing the commencement ceremony at HC.edu/live on Channel 1.
Tickets
The number of tickets allotted to each graduate will be 10. Tickets may be picked up during the Grad Fest on Thursday, December 1, 2022 from 4:00 P.M. to 6:00 P.M. Children under the age 2-years old will not require a ticket.
From Friday, December 2, 2022 to Thursday, December 15, 2022, graduates may pick up their tickets during regular business hours (Monday through Friday, 8:00 A.M. to 5:00 P.M.) in the Office of Academic Records (Brown Administrative Complex #154).
If there are extra tickets, students may request up to two tickets on a first come first serve basis on Friday, December 16, 2022 in the Office of Academic Records starting at 9:00 A.M.
Graduates can designate a proxy to pick-up tickets on their behalf by e-mailing grad@hbu.edu and providing the proxy’s first and last name.
Identification is required for any individual picking up tickets.
If you do not have the ability to pick-up your tickets at any time prior to Commencement, your tickets will be provided to you in the same manner that you will receive your regalia. Please email hbubookstore@hbu.edu to coordinate regalia pick-up.
Professional Picture
After receiving a commemorative diploma tube, each graduate will walk to the podium for their name to be called. Graduates will then process to the marked mid-point (40-yard line) to wait for the preceding graduate’s photo to be taken before walking to the 50-yard line for their professional photo opportunity.
Each doctoral graduate will be hooded and photographed at the 40-yard line of the football field with the dissertation chairs; then their individual photo will be taken at the 50-yard line.
Honor Cords
Undergraduates students who have completed a minimum of 60 semester alpha-grade hours in residence at HCU and have earned a cumulative GPA of 3.50 or higher may claim the honor cord at HCU’s University Store on Wednesday, December 14th, 2022. The University Store will also have honor cords available on the day of graduation.
Dress Code
As the ceremony is outside, graduates should dress according to the weather conditions. Additionally, footwear is restricted to flat shoes or tennis shoes. Absolutely no high-heeled shoes are allowed on the stadium turf.
This is an important day and each graduate’s attire should reflect the occasion. Dresses, white or light-color shirts or blouses and dark slacks and shoes are appropriate; jeans are not appropriate. Purses, suit coats, or other valuables must remain with a graduate’s guests as these will not be allowed on the Husky Stadium field.
Cap & Gown
Graduates receiving a bachelor’s or master’s degree must arrive wearing their gown (ironed and zipped up), hood, cap on their head, and tassel on the right front side of the cap. Bobby pins may be used to secure the cap. Doctoral graduates should dress as outlined above except for the hood, which should be carried separately.
Caps must not be decorated, and the elastic is worn at the back of the head. Graduates who received honor cords may wear them during the ceremony with the middle knot of the honor cord behind the neck and the honor cords on top of the gown. The University Store (281.649.3258) may be contacted should any graduate lack a cap and gown.
Parking & Drop Off Area
Guests who need ADA accessible parking, with a disability parking placard, may park in Lot 5. (Campus map) Lot 5 is also available to drop-off graduates and guests; vehicles will then be directed to park in adjacent parking lots. All other parking lots will be open for graduates and guests on a first-come, first-served basis.
Special Accommodations
Limited special accommodation seating for guests will be available on a first-come, first-served basis. Guests in need of these seats must arrive at the gates (30) minutes prior to gates opening.
Degree Conferral
All degrees will be conferred and noted officially on the transcript on December 23rd, 2022 at 4:00 P.M. Should you need to request an official transcript, please visit: https://hc.edu/academics/records/transcripts/
Diplomas
As a December 2022 graduate, the diploma that will be awarded to you will reflect Houston Christian University as the conferring institution. Diplomas will be available for pickup or mailing on a date to be determined. More information will be sent to your HCU email address.
Cap and Gown Information
Please contact the University Store for detailed information.
Ceremony Etiquette for Graduates
Approved honor cords from the following Honor Societies may also be worn during graduation – Sigma Theta Tau (Nursing), Alpha Kappa Delta (Sociology), Psi Chi (Education), Kappa Delta Pi (Education), Phi Alpha Theta (History), Delta Mu Delta (Business), Beta Beta Beta (Science/Math), Omicron Delta Kappa (Science/Math), Iota Sigma Pi (Science/Math), Alpha Epsilon Delta (Science/Math), Alpha Chi, Sigma Pi Sigma, Theta Alpha Kappa (Christianity), American Red Cross & Alpha Mu Gamma (Spanish). Honors College students may also wear their Honors College medallions. Sorority or fraternity sashes, stoles, and medallions are not allowed for the commencement ceremony.
Degrees with Distinction
Honors at graduation are awarded to undergraduate baccalaureate students who have completed a minimum of 60 semester alpha-grade hours in residence at HCU and have earned an appropriate number of grade points to be eligible for the honors indicated. An average standing of 3.50 or higher entitles the student to graduate cum laude; 3.70 or higher magna cum laude; 3.90 or higher summa cum laude.