General Graduation Info and Related Programs

• The Registrar's office will be sending emails pertaining to the application process.
• Be on the lookout for these emails during the Fall and Spring semesters.
• Please carefully read the deadlines for turning in all documents. In addition to the application for graduation, there are additional forms which will need to be completed and submitted directly to the Registrar's Office.
• An email from the Registrar's Office will be instructing you to make an appointment with your advisor to review your degree plan, your transcript, and the checklist for graduation. This process is NOT required for Optometry students. The Assistant Dean for Student Affairs does not need to meet with all of you for a graduation audit or signatures.

During this meeting, information will be provided about the Graduation Dinner and Awards Ceremony and Commencement. We will discuss the Commencement processional and recessional, and provide a detailed agenda of the ceremonies.

• Wednesday, May 6, 3-4 p.m.
• RSO Events Room #304
• Casual attire
• Items to be completed
  • Information sheet
  • Phonetic name cards

During this session, all exit materials will be distributed. Heavy hors d'oeuvres will be served. This is a come in and go event.

• Wednesday, May 6, 2020, 4-6 p.m.
• RSO Events Room #301
• Casual attire
• Pick up your academic regalia, financial aid packets and information on Alumni Services, etc.
• Meet with Partners in Education representatives

The Graduation Dinner and Awards Ceremony will take place on Thursday, May 7, 2020, at 6:30 p.m. at Security Service Event Center. Fourth Year Scholarship and Award recipients will be recognized.

In early March, check your email for an e-vite to the event. Your RSVP and tickets are required for the event. Each graduate will receive one ticket and four tickets for guests. Tickets will be disseminated to graduates at the Graduation Finale on May 6. If you don't need all of your tickets, feel free to share them with your RSO Classmates. Business attire is recommended.

The online portal to order your academic regalia and graduation announcements will open early in the Spring term.

To ensure we receive your academic regalia before the graduation ceremonies, your academic regalia must be ordered by the deadline determined by Herff Jones. The site will remain open after that deadline date for announcements and ring orders.

Students have the choice to rent (approximately $180) or purchase (approximately $900) their academic regalia. Unless you are planning to go into academia as a profession, renting is the most common practice. More information will be available when the UIW commencement information is updated on the Herff Jones website.

Announcements may be purchased through Herff Jones.

Visit the Herff Jones website to learn more.

Diplomas are not given out during commencement when you walk the stage. It takes approximately six to eight weeks after Commencement to receive your diploma. University diplomas are coordinated through the Registrar's office and printed by a third party vendor. Diplomas are sent directly to the graduate from the diploma vendor using your Permanent Address in BannerWeb. Students will receive an email from the vendor when the diplomas ship.

Please make sure that your Permanent Address is updated in Bannerweb BEFORE May 10, 2019. Double check your student account to ensure your account is clear, as an outstanding balance can place a hold on diploma and transcript release.

Some state licensing boards do require a duplicate diploma or copy of the diploma. If this is the case for you, please contact Student Affairs and we can generate an official Confirmation of Graduation letter to support your license application. This official letter has been sufficient for the state optometry boards in the past but clarification should be addressed by the specific state board in question.

You can request a transcript by following the instructions below. Please note, if this is for a state license, typically they will require the transcript to include the degree conferral date. Therefore, please be sure to indicate you need the transcript to be released only after the conferral date has been added. Though the Registrar's office does prioritize our graduates, this can take a few weeks post-graduation.

Order your official transcript

University of the Incarnate Word has partnered with Credentials Solutions, Inc. to provide a web-based transcript service. You may request a transcript be sent electronically, or by mail, and you may attach any required documents to your transcript request. The PDF transcript that is produced using this service contains the identical information as a paper transcript and can be certified as unaltered by uploading the file to the company's website. Credentials Inc. has also been granted the authority to respond to any inquiries regarding the transactions.

Please note: University of the Incarnate Word does not release copies received from other institutions. If you need a transcript from a prior institution, you must contact that institution.

On the UIW Registrar's Webpage, click on the Transcript Request tab, or use this Transcript Request link to order your transcript.