Frequently Asked Questions

A virtual commencement is an online celebration of graduates’ achievements. Sam Houston State’s virtual commencement will include speeches from invited guests, students and academic leaders as well as academic traditions that you would typically experience at in-person commencements. It will also include a chance for each student to submit personalized content that can be shared through social media and other channels.

The ceremony will be live on the graduation website and streamed on YouTube.

Just share the YouTube link with them and they can watch from where ever they are. Just remind other viewers that the ceremony begins at 1 p.m. CST.

You can watch the ceremony live at 1 p.m. CST on August 1. The ceremony will be available for viewing after that time.

The virtual ceremony will include elements of a traditional ceremony, including leadership remarks, conferral of degrees, and induction into the Sam Houston State Alumni Association. Following the virtual ceremony, graduates, friends and families may explore additional digital content created for each. The content on these pages is tailored more specifically to those communities of learning, including individual student recognition with shareable digital slides. 

Yes, names will be read. Click on your college’s name on the graduation website after 1:30 p.m. CT on August 1 to access the online college ceremonies. You will be able to navigate the commencement site to hear messages from college deans and listen to names of graduates being read.

Students can locate the college to which they belong in DegreeWorks or in the Commencement Program.

#SHSU20

Yes. Whether you’re a student, parent, sibling, professor, classmate, mentor, or friend of a Sam Houston State University student graduating this year, share your photos and congratulatory messages! Help us honor the Class of 2020, and be sure to use #SHSU20 to join the conversation.

It will be archived on the university’s official YouTube channel.

Graduates will receive three official commencement programs, an honor cord if applicable, an alumni pin and a commemorative commencement invitation suitable for framing in their package.

Students, families and friends will be viewing the virtual ceremony online from the comfort and privacy of their own homes. It is not required that students wear a cap and gown while they watch the virtual ceremony.

We encourage graduates to post pictures of their in-home celebrations to social media platforms with the hashtag #SHSU20.

All 2020 graduates are invited back to campus so we may recognize your accomplishments, individually and as a class, once in-person commencement resumes.

Yes. Cap and gown refunds should be requested through the Herff Jones website.

Yes. Requests for additional programs can be made by contacting the Registrar's Office after August 1.