Office of the Registrar

Preparing for Commencement

Graduation

Participation eligibility

Your completed application to graduate must be received no later than two weeks before the commencement ceremony. Review the graduation and commencement key dates carefully.

The ceremony in which you are eligible to participate is determined by:

  • The conferral date indicated on your application to graduate.
    • This also means: you cannot walk a semester earlier than your graduation date.
  • The assigned date and time designated to your college or department.
    • This also means: you cannot participate during a different ceremony, even if it matches your conferral date.

Graduation application changes

Updates to your graduation application, other than the commencement date, should be emailed to graduation@sfasu.edu.

Should you or your advising team notify the graduation office that you are not eligible to graduate when expected, your graduation application and commencement participation will be deleted. You must reapply for a different term’s graduation and will have the option to participate in that term’s commencement ceremony.

Not planning to attend your commencement ceremony?

Be recognized at graduation in absentia! SFA offers graduation candidates the ability to be recognized at the live commencement ceremony even if they're unable to attend.

Candidates must indicate they would like to be recognized through the online confirm graduation details form by the deadline stated on the Dates and Details page. These candidates will be recognized after the last college of each ceremony. The candidate’s name, personal message (optional), and photo (optional) will appear on the screen in the Johnson Coliseum, which can be viewed via the Facebook livestream.

Tickets required for commencement ceremonies

Tickets will help university officials ensure the venue is not overcrowded and adequate spacing can be maintained during the event. Admission to the ceremony is free. These tickets will only be valid for your specific commencement ceremony and are required to enter Johnson Coliseum. Children 0 to 4 years of age do not need a ticket.

The ticket allotment per candidate is 10 tickets, with the opportunity to get 10 additional tickets.

Reserving tickets (available for a limited time)

Ticket reservations are available for a limited time during your final semester. Monitor your mySFA email for instructions from graduation@sfasu.edu and visit the Applying for Graduation page for these and other details.

When the reservation window opens, tickets are reserved through mySFA:

  1. Log in to mySFA.
  2. Click on the "Academics" tab.
  3. Locate the "Graduation" box.
  4. Locate the "Confirm Graduation Details" link. Note: This link will only be visible during the reservation window.

If you need more than the maximum number of allotted tickets, your additional guests will need to follow the ticket procedure for general public. Guests unable to attend are invited to watch the ceremony via live-stream.

Candidate Attire

Following HOP policy 02-103 (PDF), candidates for graduation participating in the commencement ceremony must wear the appropriate academic regalia.

SFA's official regalia, adopted in spring 2021, consists of a custom black candidate gown with purple banded sleeves, piping and an embroidered SFA logo on both sleeves, and a purple stole with a 3D Flex Style patch. The purple tassel for the cap includes a custom, colored seal drop.

Commissioned U.S. military officers may wear their dress uniform to the commencement ceremony in lieu of the traditional regalia.

Purchasing your cap and gown

Our on-campus Barnes & Noble is the exclusive retail provider of official SFA regalia.

Barnes & Noble Bookstore
936.468.2108
7:45 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday
10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday
Closed Sunday

If you prefer to have your official SFA regalia shipped to you, visit the supplier's website directly, buildagrad.com/sfa, to place your online order.

We strongly suggest you try on the regalia at least one week prior to the ceremony, allowing time to secure a replacement if problems with sizing or zippers occur.

Stoles and honor cords

A purple stole, which students are permitted to decorate, is included in the official SFA regalia package.

Some campus organizations may provide additional stoles to their members. Inquire with your specific organization(s) to learn if they offer those.

Honor cords of any color may be ordered through the vendor of your choice. The Office of the Registrar does not have information regarding how or where you can purchase honor cords.

Mortarboard etiquette

The mortarboard is made to be worn flat on the head (parallel to the floor) and candidates will wear their tassels over the right eye throughout the conferral of all degrees. The ceremony will conclude with a welcome from the Alumni Association, at which time you will be instructed to move your tassel to the left.

Candidates are permitted to decorate their mortarboard.

The SFA Ring

Learn the history of the SFA Ring and details on ordering your own by visiting the SFA Alumni Association's website.

The Big Dip ceremony is a Lumberjack rite of passage. Invitations to participate are extended to students who have earned at least 60 credit hours and have purchased the official SFA Ring. If you have any questions, contact the Alumni Association at 936.468.3407 or alumni@sfasu.edu.

Business-casual expectations

Appropriate business-casual attire is to be worn under your gown. Casual sandals and stiletto heels are not appropriate. You will do a considerable amount of standing and walking as you are escorted to your ceremony seats located on the floor of the Johnson Coliseum.

Accessibility needs

Ceremony interpreting services

A sign language interpreter will be present on the platform during the commencement ceremony. Reserved seating for persons using sign language interpreter services will be available near the platform. 

Fingerspelling a candidate's name

  • Advance request: Provide specific information for the interpreter coordinator by completing the online Interpreter Request form.
  • On-site request: Prior to the platform processional, visit the Disability Services table located between the front entrance and The Jack Shop.

Candidates with a disability

If you are in need of assistance for your commencement ceremony, complete and sign the Commencement Accommodations Request form. Note that the form provides two day/time slots for you to visit with a representative from the Office of the Registrar prior to the ceremony. This meeting will occur at Johnson Coliseum, and you must provide a hardcopy of this document.

The registrar's office is committed to providing support for students with disabilities. To the greatest extent possible, we will observe confidentiality with respect to any request for accommodation. Students who feel they have not been accommodated appropriately may appeal the decision utilizing the university's appeals process.

Guests needing accessible seating

The Johnson Coliseum is an accessible facility.

Transportation from parking lot to facility

University police will provide cart transportation from the commuter parking lot to the bottom of the ramp outside the entrance of the Johnson Coliseum.

Courtesy wheelchairs

SFA has a limited number of wheelchairs, and availability is on a first-come, first-served basis. Disability Services will have a table at section 123 along the concourse, providing courtesy wheelchairs for ceremony guests.

Wheelchair seating

Platforms on the concourse level, located on each side of the ceremony stage, are designated specifically for wheelchair seating.

Contact

Office of the Registrar
936.468.2501
registrar@sfasu.edu

Physical Address:
Rusk Building, Room 202

Mailing Address:
P.O. Box 13050 SFA Station
Nacogdoches, TX 75962

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