About 3,700 students are expected to participate in the UTRGV’s Fall 2023 commencement Dec. 15 at Main Lawn on the Brownsville campus and Dec. 16 at the Bert Ogden Arena in Edinburg.
“We have invited more than 3,700 students to participate in commencement ceremonies this fall,” University Registrar Sofia Almeda said. “ … Invitations to participate in commencement are based on degree progress as of the time.”
The commencement ceremony on the Brownsville campus will begin at 9 a.m. with the College of Fine Arts, followed by the School of Nursing and the School of Social Work.
Then, the College of Engineering and Computer Science graduates will walk the stage with the College of Sciences and the College of Health Professions.
The commencement ceremony will end with the College of Liberal Arts, Robert C. Vackar College of Business & Entrepreneurship and the College of Education and P-16 Integration.
In the Bert Ogden Arena, the first ceremony will begin at 8:30 a.m. with the College of Fine Arts, Robert C. Vackar College of Business & Entrepreneurship and the College of Health Professions.
At noon, the College of Engineering and Computer Science, the College of Sciences and College of Education and P-16 Integration ceremony will commence.
At 3:30 p.m., the School of Social Work, the School of Nursing and the College of Liberal Arts commencement is scheduled to begin.
“In Brownsville, there are no guest tickets required,” Almeda said.
However, there is limited seating for the Edinburg ceremony and tickets for guests will be distributed to students’ guests for entry, she said.
Jennifer Rodriguez, a psychology senior, said she cannot believe she is graduating.
“I should have graduated back in 2022,” Rodriguez said. “Even if I graduate in 2023, I’m just grateful.”
She said her advice for seniors is taking your classes seriously and pacing yourself.
Violet Soto, a rehabilitation services senior, said it feels good to graduate after four years.
The best advice for future seniors is “get a planner,” Soto said.
“Understand that you’re going to struggle and things will be hard,” she said. “But it’s OK to experience that and let yourself feel that.”
Almeda said her advice for graduating seniors is “paying very close attention to their campus email” because the Registrar’s office sends “a lot of very important communication.”
She also recommends buying regalia in advance and planning ahead for traffic and for parking on commencement day.
UTRGV is filled with traditions, including the memory stole and the ringing of the bronze bell at commencement ceremonies.
“A stole can be purchased through the bookstore and many students wear that,” Almeda said. “Students choose to give the stole after to some person who has been helpful in their journey.”
For the ringing of the bell, “a small number of students will be invited to the stage to ring the bell in commemoration of commencement day,” she said.
The Rider asked the graduates about their plans after commencement.
“I’m planning on going into casework, specifically with children,” Rodriguez said.
Soto will be starting a master’s in rehabilitation counseling and working part time at the university.
“Focusing on getting through these two years of master’s,” she said. “I’m excited to be able to learn all the clinical skills to open my own practice one day.”
Almeda said graduation is “a major milestone in the lives of our students.”
“Many of our students are first generation,” she said. “We know that the achievement of a college degree is pivotal in their lives and can really transform the trajectory for them in terms of their professional lives and any additional aspirations they may have, such as graduate school or a professional school.”
The university will also have an online transmission for the Fall 2023 commencement ceremonies, according to the website. www.utrgv.edu/live
