Frequently Asked Questions

Please visit the TWU Registrar website to find forms, timelines and requirements to apply for graduation and to receive your diploma. 

Graduating seniors (those receiving a baccalaureate degree) whose cumulative grade point average (GPA) reflects excellent scholarship are awarded their degree cum laude, magna cum laude, or summa cum laude. A minimum of 30 semester credit hours must be earned at TWU before the final semester to qualify for this recognition. The cumulative GPA ranges for these graduation honors designations are listed below.

• Summa Cum Laude — 3.900 +
• Manga Cum Laude — 3.700 – 3.899
• Cum Laude — 3.500 – 3.699

Graduation honors recognition at the commencement ceremony is based on the cumulative GPA at the end of the semester prior to the final semester. Graduation honors recognition, as recorded on the diploma or posted to the official transcript, is based on the cumulative GPA at the end of the final semester.

Thank you for asking! Yes, some of our colleges do have additional celebrations planned for the graduating class.

The College of Nursing and the College of Health Sciences both celebrate their graduates with additional formal ceremonies. Please reach out to those programs individually for full details.

Honors Cords

Undergraduate students eligible to purchase and honors cord must order in person at the TWU Campus Bookstore, located at 402 Administration Drive, Denton, TX 76204

Veterans Cords

The TWU CARE and Registrar’s Offices proudly recognize the service and sacrifice of our student veterans and active-duty military members at graduation.

Graduating students who are veterans, reservists, or members of the National Guard are eligible to receive complimentary red, white, and blue honor cords to wear during the commencement ceremony. (Please note: dependents are not eligible.)

To apply for veterans honor cords visit https://twu.edu/veterans/veterans-student-services/veterans-honor-cords/

For any questions, please contact the CARE Office at (940) 898-2789.

Special College Cords

Several other colleges and programs provide involved and member students with honors cords or graduation cords. Please contact your member organization for more information.

• Senior Giving (Legacy) Cords

We understand how important it is to plan around this special event. At TWU, it is our target to keep each commencement ceremony within 90 minutes.

Yes, we are happy to share that a contracted professional photographer is available to take images of all students as they cross the stage.

Student photos are contracted through the vendor GradImages. Once the photos are available, the students receive an email and can view photos, placing orders as needed. 

We are thrilled that you have many people to celebrate your accomplishments! Currently, each student has been allocated a specific number of tickets. Through student communications, a pool of additional or donated unused tickets is available on a first-come, first-served basis. Please reference the TWU Ticketing Policy. 

Our preferred vendor will be on-site with a limited number of stoles, caps, and gowns for purchase on the second floor of Pioneer Hall, rooms 201 and 202.

TWU encourages guests to travel light and refrain from bringing bags. Bags up to 4.5"x6.5" in size are permitted into the arena. Clear bags must be no larger than 12"x12"x6". Medical and parenting bags are permitted and are subject to search.

Pepper spray and pocket knives.

All confiscated items may be returned to your car or picked up at TWU PD offices – Monday through Friday, 8:30 am to 5 pm.

• TWU PD Address: 1201 Oakland St, Denton, TX 76204
• Phone: (940) 898-2911

We are so happy that our graduating classes continue to grow. With several ceremonies each day, we try to maintain a tight timeline.

The doors will open one hour prior to each ceremony, close during the student and faculty processional and then reopen to late seating about 15 minutes after the ceremony start.

We do allow people to line up in advance of the doors opening.

We are excited to host each guest for the ceremony they wish to attend. Currently, the doors will open one hour before each ceremony, temporarily close during the procession, and then reopen for late seating. You may wait outside the arena, on the sidewalk, to secure an advanced position in line for the ceremony you would like to attend; however, due to the ticketing policy and each family's desire to view and celebrate their student, only ticketed guests for specific ceremonies are allowed entrance during the allocated time.

TWU welcomes our smallest guests. Once you have navigated bag check, inside Kitty Magee Arena, south of the bleachers on each side is designated stroller parking. Strollers are not permitted in the general seating areas, as they occupy seats allocated for other guests. You are welcome to stand with your occupied stroller in the back corners of the arena or leave the stroller and sit in the general seating area with your child on your lap.

Yes! It’s time for hugs and photos!

Denton

Please meet our newest TWU Alumni across Bell Avenue. There are several landmark locations for the perfect photo. A list of popular campus “hot spots” is below, great for first photos of our newest alumni.

• TWU Blagg Huey Library
• TWU Hubbard Hall
• TWU Sign – corner of Bell & Administration Drive
• The iconic TWU Fountain
• Texas Pond
• Dr. Bettye Myers Butterfly Garden I
• Carroll Abbot Wildflower Sanctuary, Dr. Bettye Myers Butterfly Garden II
• Pioneer Woman Statue at Pioneer Circle
• Redbud Lane south of ACT Tower
• Your Dream, Your Legacy Mural
• Old Main Building

Commencement is definitely something worth watching! That is why we have a livestream and overflow seating already arranged. Enjoy from the comfort of your chosen location by clicking on the livestream link.  

If you would rather join the campus community as they celebrate our students’ accomplishments, overflow seating is available in Blagg-Huey Library.   

We ask that if you are in the arena, please respect others around you. We would like you to have the opportunity to fully engage in the ceremony. Guests are asked not to hold their phones to video the ceremony.  

For our guests that are hearing impaired, seating has been reserved in view of an ASL interpreter.

Designated handicap or wheelchair accessible seating has also been provided. 

Please ask an onsite TWU Volunteer to help you find acceptable seating.  

Please note: TWU does not provide personal mobility devices such as walkers, wheelchairs, or scooters for use during commencement activities. Guests are encouraged to bring their personal mobility devices or to reserve necessary items through a local medical equipment company.

The Houston ceremony venue is now at:

Fort Bend Epicenter
28505 Southwest Fwy, Rosenberg, TX 77471

Directions to Fort Bend Epicenter

Fort Bend Epicenter Map and A-Z Guide

Find the bag policy for Fort Bend Epicenter.

Please refer to the Fort Bend Epicenter A-Z Guide for prohibited items and behavior.

Please refer to the stroller policy at Fort Bend Epicenter.

You can find information about ADA/Accessibility accommodations, wheelchair and companion seating, and more at the A-Z Guide for Fort Bend Epicenter.

Fort Bend has a beautiful fountain located on the west side of the venue. Join the tradition of previous grads and have your photos taken here. 

The doors will open at 2:00  pm, one hour before ceremony start.

We do allow people to line up in advance of the doors opening. 

We are thrilled that you have many people to celebrate your accomplishments! Currently, each student has been allocated a specific number of tickets. Through student communications, a pool of additional or donated unused tickets is available on a first-come, first-served basis.

At this time, additional ticketing requests are filtered through the President’s Office.  Please contact the Office of the TWU Houston campus president at Houstonofficeofthepresident@twu.edu.

Our preferred vendor will be on-site with a limited number of stoles, caps, and gowns for purchase by the south entrance, in the private reception rooms.

We are so excited for you to explore our new venue and claim the best seats for your family. The doors will open at 2:00 pm.

Please remember to have your ticket available for quick entry. 

Commencement is definitely something worth watching! That is why we have a livestream and overflow seating already arranged. Enjoy from the comfort of your chosen location by clicking on the livestream link.  

We ask that if you are in the arena, please respect others around you. We would like you to have the opportunity to fully engage in the ceremony. Guests are asked not to hold their phones to video the ceremony.