As summer comes to an end and the new year rolls around, so does Fall commencement. Saturday, Dec. 14 is the official date for UTSA’s Fall commencement, hosted once again at the Alamodome. The College for Health, Community and Policy, College of Liberal and Fine Arts and the College of Sciences graduation ceremony will be held at 10 a.m. They will be followed by the Alvarez College of Business, College of Education and Human Development, Klesse College of Engineering and Integrated Design and the University College at 4:30 p.m.
Following the two commencement ceremonies is the Doctoral conferral ceremony which is set on Wednesday, Dec. 11 located at UTSA Arts Building Recital Hall.
Tassels, Mortarboards and Hard Hats
With the happy graduates come UTSA graduation traditions. Stoles and cords represent many significant achievements or involvements the student participated in during their time at UTSA. Tassels for undergraduates are worn on the right side until told to officially move it to the left signifying now they are college graduates. During the ceremony, many students, faculty and parents may notice the brightly decorated mortarboards, a tradition UTSA has embraced. All the Construction Science and Management students receive an orange hard hat they can wear at graduation.
Ring of legacy
Since 2012, all UTSA class rings have been placed at the Alamo, to “spend the night.” Over 10,000 rings have spent the night at the Alamo.
Spot the former Roadrunner
While attending the commencement ceremony, be on the lookout for some orange feet. Students wearing orange costume legs are reserved for former mascots, to signify their former role as Rowdy.
Longest-standing UTSA graduation tradition
Finally, the longest-standing UTSA graduation tradition is the Mariachi’s. Since the first commencement ceremony in 1976, UTSA has held a Mariachi performance to signify the culture between San Antonio and UTSA. Since then, this tradition has been the longest standing event at every commencement ceremony.
