UHCL celebrates graduates, holds virtual ceremony

More than 1,200 University of Houston-Clear Lake Hawks applied to graduate this May. Like other colleges and universities, University of Houston-Clear Lake Commencement will be a slightly different experience this year. The ceremony, originally scheduled for May 17 at NRG Arena, will be held virtually in July. For those wanting to participate in a more traditional, face-to-face ceremony, graduates will also have the option to participate in the next face-to-face ceremony currently scheduled for December 2020.

“The COVID-19 pandemic prevents us from gathering in the traditional way to celebrate spring 2020 commencement” UH-Clear Lake President Ira K. Blake said. “While we will not be gathering this May, I want to assure graduating students that we will be celebrating their accomplishments and ushering them in as alumni. And, we also will graduate and celebrate graduates again in a traditional ceremony in the fall.”

The virtual commencement ceremony will be held on July 17, 6:30 p.m., and will contain many of the same elements of the face-to-face ceremonies with student speakers and remarks from university leadership, as well as a formal induction into the UHCL Alumni Association.

In addition, during the week of the regularly scheduled commencement in May, graduates will be provided virtual congratulations from President Blake and the Alumni Association. Graduates also will have the opportunity to participate in other Alumni Association-related events, which will welcome them into the Alumni Association as well as allow university faculty and staff to celebrate them.

“We realized that we still have a safe and creative way to celebrate our graduates,” said Director of Alumni Engagement Carri Hill. “Over the next couple of weeks, we will contact our graduates with the specific details about activities that should be a completely safe and fun way for the students to show their school pride and celebrate this huge accomplishment.”

More than 1,200 university students have applied to graduate this semester, including approximately 775 undergraduate students and more than 400 graduate students.

Registrar Bryan Heard emphasized that all students who have met the requirements of their degree programs would still be graduating in May. The university will evaluate eligibility of those students who applied to graduate and post degrees to transcripts by early June.

“Students can expect to receive diplomas at the address on file within eight weeks after degree posting,” said Heard. “Our office is open its normal business hours to answer questions related to commencement. In addition to the virtual ceremony, graduating students will be invited to participate in the next face-to-face ceremony, which we hope to have in the fall.”

For more information about UHCL Commencement, call the Office of the Registrar, 281-283-2525, or visit the Commencement webpage.