corner

Institute of Health Sciences-Houston Center

News

Texas Woman's University cordially invites you to the

TWU Institute of Health Sciences - Houston Center Commencement

Sunday, December 14th, 2008 at 2:00 p.m.

George R. Brown Convention Center
Exhibit Hall A
*Upon arrival, Graduates will report to the 2nd floor staging area: Registration A
*
1001 Ave De Las Americas
Houston, TX 77010
(713) 651-9243
http://www.houstonconventionctr.com/

You are strongly encouraged to explore the Convention Center web site for details, including maps and directions, floor plans as well as parking information.

Please visit this TWU web site often for updates that will be made frequently as Commencement draws closer.  Further preparatory instructions for those participating as graduates in this Graduation Ceremony will be posted as information becomes available.

Ordering Commencement-Related Items
Caps/gowns, announcements and rings may be ordered on-line with Herff-Jones:  www.herff-jones.com/college/graduation/.  Once there, you will need to select Texas Woman's University - Houston, and follow the screen of your choice to choose your product.  [Please be careful with your school selection.  If you happen to mistakenly choose Texas Woman's University - Denton/Dallas, your order will be shipped to the TWU Bookstore in Denton.]  It is important to secure your order with Herff-Jones as soon as possible; the web site will close for on-line orders October 31st.  All cap and gown orders will be shipped to Majors Scientific Books (7205 Fannin; Houston, TX  77030; 713-799-9922), and can be picked up beginning about the 5th of December, 2008.  For those individuals not in town, you may either pick up your regalia order at the bookstore on Saturday, December 14th (between 9:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m.) or you can have your order mailed to you through UPS for a small fee.  Please get in touch with Majors Scientific Books through a personal visit, by phone, or by emailing rtorres@majorsscientific.com to make arrangements.

Photography
Candid Campus Photography Inc. will be capturing a photograph of each graduate as you walk across the stage and receive your diploma.  A photo station with studio lighting and backdrop to take portraits in cap and gown will also be available before the ceremony.  By October 17th, a photo information form will be available on this web site.  It will be imperative that all graduates complete that form two weeks prior to Commencement.  Following Graduation, the photography company will email students regarding their photo, and mail a hard copy to the permanent address for purchase.  Candid Campus respectfully requests that students channel their questions through staff at TWU and refrain from contacting them directly until meeting face-to-face at Commencement.

Diplomas
ALL DIPLOMAS WILL BE MAILED 14 WEEKS AFTER DECEMBER 14th, 2008.  (Please note that all holds on students' accounts must be cleared before transcripts and diplomas can be issued.  This includes parking tickets, library fines, account balances, etc.)  Otherwise, new graduates can expect their diplomas approximately three months after graduation.  If you are moving following commencement, please submit to the Enrollment Services Office (1st floor) a written request for an address change as soon as possible and specify on this request, "New address for mailing diploma".
 

SPECIAL NOTE TO GRADUATES: 
In order to ensure a smooth flowing ceremony, we respectfully request your full cooperation in the following items.

Considerations with Children
Commencement is a ceremony filled with much tradition and distinction.  It is an honorable occasion marking the various academic achievements that have culminated in this special graduation from TWU.  As you consider bringing children to this event, please be advised that "little ones" three years old and younger will be granted admittance without a ticket; four years and over will require a ticket for entrance.  The preference would be for the child to be held in the lap of a ticket-holder during the event.  If a baby carrier is additionally brought, a ticket will also be necessary, as there is no space on the floor for the carrier to be placed.  It is requested you not bring strollers into the Convention Center.  With space being limited, there is just no place to store them during the ceremony.  Please make plans accordingly to leave strollers in your car.  We appreciate your cooperation in contributing to the decorum this ceremony lends to each graduate crossing the stage.
 

Guest Tickets
Only students who marked on their application that they will be attending the commencement ceremony are eligible to order tickets for family and friends (i.e., "guests").  Tickets for guests must be issued because of our growing number of graduates attending Commencement.  There will be seven tickets available for each graduate.  All seven tickets are designated for guests; the graduate does not require a ticket.  Please get with the Registrar (1st floor) to make your ticket arrangements.  Requested tickets for guests can be picked up in the Enrollment Services Office (1st floor) beginning November 17th (tentative date).  It is encouraged that your guests arrive early.  Please be advised that guests must have a ticket to enter the Exhibit Hall.  Our apologies, but guests without tickets will be denied admittance.  Those of you not able to pick up your tickets at TWU will be able to retrieve them at the Will Call table on site at the Convention Center prior to the ceremony.

Line Up
Graduates are expected to arrive already dressed in cap and gown by 1:00 p.m. for line-up formation in the 2nd floor staging area, Registration "A".  ONLY CANDIDATES will be allowed in this assembly area.  A tremendous amount of coordination is required to make sure all are present in the correct order, have the name pronunciation verified, and to double-check personal appearance.  We cannot stress enough the importance to be on time.  There is much to be accomplished in that brief hour prior to the beginning of the ceremony.  A last check for attendance will be run at 1:15 p.m.   Those students not in line at that final call time will need to be placed at the end of the line - NO EXCEPTIONS!  Once you have arrived and are placed in line, do not leave your position.  You will be departing the Registration "A" area in two lines descending down the elevators for a formal entrance into the Exhibit Hall.


Line Up ~ Basic Guidelines
Additionally, as there will be no dressing room for graduates, it will be necessary to take with you only what you will wear and carry as you walk across the stage.  There will be no place to leave clothing and/or other personal items during the ceremony.  As a courtesy to all others present, we ask that you turn off your cell phones if you are leaving them in your belongings with family members.  For those of you planning to carry your cell phone, double check to make sure it is on a vibrate setting.  Please make arrangements prior to your arrival for personal matters to be handled.

NOTE:  Doctoral candidates will receive specific instructions about hooding upon arrival.  Please plan to be at the Convention Center one hour early to ensure that all preparations will be completed prior to the beginning of the ceremony.


Wishing you well...
Congratulations again from all of us at TWU Houston Center on this milestone of an academic achievement!  We wish you the very best as you move out into the professional world with TWU as an integral part of your educational foundation.  We are proud to have walked with you a while on this path of your life's journey!