Commencement

 

The UNT Health Fort Worth commencement ceremonies, held each spring semester, is intended to recognize students who will complete all graduation requirements by the end of the spring semester and those that completed their requirements in the previous fall or summer semesters. In some cases, students ask to participate (“walk”) in commencement although they will not complete all graduation requirements in that semester.

Students are only eligible to participate in commencement if they will complete all degree requirements prior to the last day in their spring semester. Students with course(s), an internship or rotation to be completed in the upcoming summer or fall semester would not be eligible to participate in the previous spring commencement. Participating in the commencement ceremonies is not mandatory, but optional. Students will be mailed their diploma after the commencement ceremonies take place.

Students who would like to request to participate in a ceremony outside of their actual graduation semester should send an email to their College’s Dean and/or Associate dean for eligibility and approval.

The Difference Between Participating in Commencement and Graduating

For questions regarding these procedures, please email registrar@unthealth.edu.

Graduates in graduation robes and caps

2026 Commencement Ceremony

Wednesday, May 20, 2026

Morning Ceremony:

10 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. – College of Health Professions, College of Biomedical and Translational Sciences, College of Public Health and the College of Nursing

Afternoon Ceremony:

3 p.m. – 5:30 p.m. – College of Pharmacy and Texas College of Osteopathic Medicine

Dickies Arena

1911 Montgomery St.

Fort Worth, TX 76107

English Commencement Program

Spanish Commencement Program

This event will not be ticketed, and there is not a limit on the number of guests that graduates can invite to the ceremony. Dickies Arena can hold more than 11,000 guests, and UNT Health historically hosts around 6,000 guests at Commencement.

Commencement Ceremony Live Stream

Unable to attend the Commencement Ceremony in-person? Check out the live stream of the ceremonies here:

Morning Ceremony

Afternoon Ceremony

Commencement Ceremony Regalia, Attire and Behavioral Expectations

The UNT Health Commencement Ceremony is a formal event, and the attire and behavioral expectations outlined below are designed to provide a ceremony that focuses on the recognition for UNT Health’s graduating students. UNT Health strives to uphold a safe and respectful environment for all students and guests, and the expectations outlined below and the policies on the Dickies Arena website are critical for achieving that aim. Consistent with UNT Health’s Free Speech policy (UNT Health policy 1.104), the commencement ceremony is subject to content-neutral time, place and manner regulations to maintain focus on our students and their accomplishments.

Regalia and Attire Expectations

Official Regalia: Students must wear the official, university-approved gown, hood and tassel corresponding to their specific degree level (Doctoral, Master's or Baccalaureate). Students will not be able to participate in the commencement ceremony without the official, university-approved gown, hood and tassel. In lieu of regalia, students participating in military commissioning / officer promotion as part of the commencement ceremony are permitted to process into the ceremony in their official military uniform and will be provided an opportunity to change into regalia after military commissioning/officer promotion.

View Regalia Descriptions

Graduation Cap Decoration Expectations:

  • Surface: All decorations must lay completely flat on the top of the mortarboard. Items that obstruct visibility (e.g., flowers, stuffed animals, crowns) or any items that protrude upwards or hang off the sides of the cap are prohibited.
  • Functionality: The center tassel button must remain accessible, and the tassel must be able to move freely from each side during the ceremony.
  • Content: Prohibited content includes offensive language, derogatory statements or any references to weapons, alcohol or illegal drugs.
  • Specific Prohibitions: For professional licensure programs, students are to refrain from placing professional titles (e.g., "RN," "DO") on their caps before the degree is officially conferred.

Adornments (Cords and Stoles): 

  • Content: Prohibited content includes offensive language, derogatory statements or any references to weapons, alcohol or illegal drugs.
  • Specific Prohibitions: For professional licensure programs, students are to refrain from placing professional titles (e.g., "RN," "DO") before the degree is officially conferred.

Attire Under Regalia: All students are expected to wear business professional attire. Prohibited attire includes articles featuring offensive language, derogatory statements or any references to weapons, alcohol or illegal drugs.

Inspection of Attire: All regalia and clothing are subject to review during line-up and as needed during the course of commencement ceremony proceedings. Students wearing unapproved or inappropriate items will be asked to remove them. Students who fail to meet attire guidelines will be asked to leave the ceremony or escorted away from the event.

Commencement Behavioral Expectations

Personal Conduct: Commencement is a formal institutional event. Any student who is disruptive or fails to follow the instructions of commencement staff may be escorted from the venue. Students are also responsible for following all UNT Health policies, including the Student Code of Conduct and Civility (UNT Health Policy 7.105).

Note: Dickies Arena has its own expectations for all guests, including students, available here. Guests, including students, who violate the Dickies Arena Disruptive Behavior Policy are subject to removal from the venue.

Event Participation: Students are expected to remain seated and stay for the entire duration of the ceremony out of respect for their fellow classmates. Exceptions will be made for students’ use of restroom facilities, personal illnesses, emergencies or for students’ practicing of religious beliefs in a more private space.

Prohibited Items: Dickies Arena prohibits certain items from the facility, including the stage. The full list can be found here. Some prohibited items are included below for ease of reference:

  • Noise-making Devices: Air horns, whistles, bells, vuvuzelas and other noisemakers are prohibited.
  • Projectiles: This includes beach balls, balloons, inflatables and frisbees in addition to streamers, glitter, confetti, etc.
  • Signs, flags or banners: Signs, flags or banners exceeding 11” x 17” or attached to a pole/stick. Signs must be relevant to the event and cannot display obscene or offensive language/pictures... [Dickies] Management reserves the right to prohibit or remove a sign/banner/flag at any time.
  • Large umbrellas: Small collapsible umbrellas are permitted if it can be placed under one’s seat.
  • Solicitation of any kind: Unapproved product sampling, pamphlet distribution
  • Outside food, beverage and alcohol
  • Illegal drugs or substances

Dickies Arena Parking and Entry Information

Student, Faculty and Guest parking is available at Dickies Arena in the Yellow Lot, Montgomery Lot and the Chevrolet Parking Garage for $20. Additional parking is available in the Green Lots at Will Rogers for $15.

Morning Ceremony: 

  • GRADUATES and FACULTY must arrive no later than 9:15 a.m. and will enter the arena near the northeast staircase on street level at the North Exhibit Entrance.
  • GUESTS can arrive starting at 9 a.m. and will enter the arena at the SOUTH, WEST OR EAST ENTRANCES.

Afternoon Ceremony:

  • GRADUATES and FACULTY must arrive no later than 2:15 p.m. and will enter the arena near the northeast staircase on street level at the North Exhibit Entrance.
  • GUESTS can arrive starting at 2 p.m. and will enter the arena at the SOUTH, WEST OR EAST ENTRANCES.

Tickets are not required for this event. Accessible seating is available throughout the arena on a first-come, first-serve basis.

Handicap Parking is available in all of the parking locations and on all floors of the Chevrolet Parking Garage.

Students, Faculty and guests who are using ride share services should be dropped off at the west entrance of the arena, in the drop off lane at Dickies. Guests can be picked up for ride share on Harley Avenue, which is located on the north end of the building. Guests should exit the building from the north and proceed to Harley Avenue using either the stairs or ramp to the street level.

UNT Health Parking

Students and guests are welcome to park on the UNT Health campus in all lots except Lot 1 and Lot 6.

Dickies Arena ADA/Accessibility Information 

Dickies Arena has ADA decks on the plaza and gallery levels. Guest services staff will help guests who need wheelchair assistance. Dickies Arena ADA decks are usually one wheelchair and one companion per deck which may split up the party, but there are numerous ADA areas spread around the arena.

Dickies arena also has six wheelchairs that can be used on rotation so guests can be helped from the door to their seats, but wheelchairs cannot be kept throughout the ceremony. Guests can bring their own wheelchairs as well and sit at any of the ADA platform decks.

Guests who are seeking ADA parking are encouraged to park in Dickies Arena Yellow Lots on Trail Drive. Guests have access to an elevator, located to the left of the southeast circle stairs that will bring guests to the Simmons Bank Plaza.

For more information on ADA/Accessibility information at Dickies Arena, please visit https://dickiesarena.com/ada-accessibility-information/

Dickies Arena Policy Information

Visit https://dickiesarena.com/event-policies-and-faqs/ for more information on event policies at Dickies Arena.

  • All guests are required to go through a security and bag check prior to entering the arena.
  • Bag Policy: Bags are not to exceed 12″x6″x12″.  A clear tote, small purse, small fashion backpack, small clutch, plastic storage bags and drawstring bags are acceptable. Cameras and camera bags are allowed inside the arena.
  • Flowers are approved and will also be available for purchase inside the arena. Prices will range from $20 to approximately $50. Cash and credit cards will be accepted.
    • Floral Bouquets – assorted selection of flowers
    • Roses – rose bouquets in various sizes
    • Graduation-themed stuffed animals
    • Assorted Lei’s

Closed Captions

  • Click on the links above to access the livestream for the ceremony that you would like to watch.
  • If you are attending in-person at Dickies Arena, please turn off your sound to avoid disturbing others.
  • On the livestream, tap the CC button in the bottom right corner to follow along.

ADA Accommodations

If you need disability accommodations to fully participate in this event, please contact Brandie Wiley, Director of the Office of Disability Access at brandie.wiley@unthealth.edu. Please submit requests by May 1 to allow sufficient time to arrange the accommodation.

Faculty Hooder Resources

As part of the ceremony, graduates will also have the opportunity to request a hooder. Students may select a UNT Health faculty member within their discipline or a family member who holds a terminal degree in the same discipline.

Additional details — including hooding requests and ceremony logistics — will be provided to graduates later from the Center for Student Life and Jerrie Vasquez, Assistant Director of Programmatic Engagement.

Invitation Letter

If you would like to invite family or friends from abroad, students can provide an invitation letter to their visitor(s) to present with their visa application. We suggest that you yourself write a letter for the visitor(s). Access an invitation letter template here!

Consular officials from the U.S. Department of State have stated that B-2 tourist/visitor visa applicants do not need an invitation letter from the school in order to process a visa application and that the letters are not helpful. Invitation letters are not a documentation requirement in order for visitors to apply for a tourist visa.

For specific required documentation, please refer to the specific U.S. Embassy website that your visitor(s) will be going to for their interview: https://www.usembassy.gov

Commencement Contact

Jerrie Vasquez
Assistant Director, Center for Student Life
Jerrie.Conly@unthealth.edu