Commencement

If you're unsure which ceremony to attend, check your degree type in SOS or the student portal. You can also contact your program advisor. For additional questions, please email us at commencement@sjcd.edu.

Graduates are required to let us know they want to walk across the stage. The deadline is Sunday, May 3. Please check your San Jac student email for the RSVP invitation to let us know you'll be there.  

All updates about commencement will be sent to your San Jac email so be sure to check it for confirmation emails after you RSVP.

Graduates will receive an email with details about arrival time and location. Allow time for parking.

Look professional and feel comfortable! Pro tip: Arrive dressed and ready to walk on stage since there is no dressing area.

Required: 

• Cap and gown 
• Black tassel

Under Your Gown: 

• Business / professional attire 
• Comfortable dress shoes
• Weather-appropriate layers in case it's raining

Check out this grad tips video on Facebook.  

Graduation caps, gowns, and tassels (regalia) can be purchased as a bundle at the campus bookstore for:

• Bachelor regalia with a pennant: $107.96

• Bachelor pennant Only: $53.98

• Associate regalia: $53.98

If you already own a solid black gown and cap, you’re welcome to wear them. The college uses a black tassel, which you can purchase in the bookstore.

Women wear their caps throughout the ceremony. Men remove their caps for the invocation. 

No high school cords, stoles, medals, or tassels are allowed to be worn, with the exception of early college high school medals shown below. Only the following approved specialty regalia, cords, stoles, medals, or tassels will be allowed to be worn:

• Honors graduates: medals given by the honors department
• Phi Theta Kappa: gold stole or blue and gold cords ordered by student
• National Technical Honor Society: gray and purple cords or stole ordered by student
• Dual Credit graduates: San Jacinto College medallion given by the high school or dual credit office
• Veterans: red, white and blue cords given out at commencement registration area

For many students, decorations on graduation caps (mortar boards) are a symbol of pride and accomplishment. 

To ensure that commencement exercises remain dignified celebrations of achievement of all students, we provide the following guidelines and expectations. Here are a few examples of decorative ideas for highlighting your celebratory achievement:

• Your graduation year
• An expression of “thanks” to family, a teacher, a friend
• A symbol of the branch of the military you belong to or may be joining
• Acknowledgment of an institution where you plan to continue your studies
• The American flag, Texas flag, or your home country’s flag
• A logo or shield of your Greek social, honorary affiliation, or honor society
• A symbol or message highlighting your major or student organization affiliation

Decorations are limited to the top of the mortar board. Embellishments that are higher than one inch or that hang over the side are prohibited as they may be distracting or interfere with another person’s view.

All rules and regulations in the San Jacinto College Code of Student Conduct will be in effect during commencement. In particular, the following messages or images are prohibited on mortar boards at commencement:

• Obscene messages or images
• Images or messages that incite violence
• Libel or defamation (false statements about another person or organization that hold the person or organization up to hatred, ridicule, or contempt)

Should a graduate fail to comply with these expectations, the student will be asked to remove decorations or purchase a new non-decorated mortar board to wear during commencement. The graduate’s original mortar board will be returned to the graduate after the ceremony. Failure to comply may result in the graduate’s exclusion from the ceremony.

Thank you for supporting your graduate! 

• Enter through the main entrance which is the west entrance

• Guest doors open at 8:30 a.m. for the morning ceremony, 12:30 p.m. for the afternoon ceremony, and 4:30 p.m. for the evening ceremony.

• Keep in mind this is a formal event that may feel long for small children (2 hours)
• Hashtag your photos so we can share: #WeAreRavens #Graduation2026 #FutureGraduate 
• Don't bring balloons, noise makers, or strollers

There is no limit. We just ask that students RSVP and include the number of guests they plan on attending. Tickets are not required for guests.

While we want to celebrate with ALL your loved ones, here are some ways to include those who can't attend: 

• A live stream link will be on this webpage and also shared on our social media closer to the ceremony date
• Share the link with family members
• Record a special message for those who can't be there
• Share program photos with your name highlighted