Commencement — Guest Information

Details & Instructions

We're excited to welcome you as we celebrate our graduation candidates. Explore the options below for details and important instructions as you prepare to attend UT Tyler commencement.

As a formal ceremony, all attendees are expected to abide by any protocol or guidelines issued by the university.

• Attendees must follow all written and verbal instructions.
• Attendees must remain seated during the ceremony and remain for the entire ceremony.
• Graduates are required to wear formal academic attire.
• Cell phones or other electronic devices must be silenced.
• The use of air horns and any other artificial noisemaker, fireworks, balloons, flags, or banners is prohibited.
• Any attendee who is disruptive or fails to follow instructions may be escorted from the venue. 

Each UT Tyler graduate and guest deserves to enjoy a ceremony that reflects the candidate's significant accomplishment without inappropriate or excessive interruptions.

Guest Ticketing

Students will reserve tickets within the Commencement Registration through the Tassel portal. Tickets can ONLY be claimed by the GRADUATE. 

• • Admission to the ceremony is free, however, ALL guests are required to have a ticket for entry.
  • Tickets are only valid for your specific ceremony.
  • ALL guests need a TICKET (including infants / toddlers) 
  • If a guest, including children and infants, does not have a ticket they will NOT be allowed to enter the event.
  • Ticketing rounds will NOT OPEN or be visible until the stated opening time for each round. 
  • Tickets MUST be CLAIMED by the GRADUATE. They will NOT automatically be added to the students TASSEL account.
  • If a graduate FAILS to claim their allotted tickets in a particular round, there is NO GUARANTEE that tickets from that round can be provided later. 

How are ticket allotments determined?

We begin with the maximum occupancy permitted in the Cowan Center under Fire Code and subtract the number of graduates who have indicated they will be participating in the ceremony. The remaining available seats are then divided equally among participating graduates to determine the initial guest ticket allotment.

We follow a similar process for subsequent rounds, evaluating the remaining available seating to determine whether additional tickets can be offered.

• Round 1:
  • Opens: Wednesday, October 28th at 10:00am CST
  • Closes: Monday, November 9th at 11:55pm CST 
    • Every participating graduate receives the same initial ticket allotment for their ceremony.
    • Graduates must log into TASSEL and claim their allotted tickets during this round.
    • Tickets are not automatically assigned or reserved.
      This round is NOT first-come, first-served. Your allotted tickets will be available throughout the entire round, whether you claim them on the first day or the last.
    • Any unreserved tickets will be evenly allotted to the students that had already reserved their tickets for the Round 2 ticketing.
• Round 2:
  • Opens: Wednesday, November 11th at 10:00am CST
  • Closes: Wednesday, November 18th at 11:55pm CST 
    • Graduates who claimed their initial allotment in round 1 may have the opportunity to claim additional tickets, depending on availability.
    • Any unreserved tickets will be available to be reserved for the Round 3 ticketing on a first come first serve basis until all tickets are reserved.
• Round 3: (If tickets are available)
  • Opens: Tuesday, December 1st at 10:00am CST
  • Closes: Saturday, December 12th at 1:00pm CST
    • If tickets remain after the first two rounds, they will be made available on a first-come, first-served basis until all available tickets have been claimed.

It is the candidate's responsibility to ensure all ticketing information is relayed to their guests. 

Friends and family members unable to attend, are welcome to view the live streaming broadcast of the ceremony from the UT Tyler Youtube channel. 

 

Parking

Parking lots will open 1.5 hours prior to the ceremony start time and will be available for guests and students on a first come first serve basis.

Interactive Parking Map

PARKING will be OPEN PARKING in following designated lots  2/ 4 / 6 / 7 / 8 / 9.

• Friday, December 11, 2026
  • 7:30 am CST
    • School of Nursing
  • 11:30 am CST
    • College of Engineering
    • School of Health Professions
      
      
• Saturday, December 12, 2026
  • 7:30 am CST
    • College of Arts and Sciences
    • School of Education
  • 11:30 am CST
    • Soules College of Business 

Seating Opens - Event Map

Directional signage will be setup around the campus to help direct students and guests to the proper entrances.

Friday, December 11, 2026

• • 8:00 am CST
    • School of Nursing
  • 12:00 pm CST
    • College of Engineering
    • School of Health Professions

Saturday, December 12, 2026

• • 8:00 am CST
    • College of Arts and Sciences
    • School of Education
  • 12:00 pm CST
    • Soules College of Business 

•  

 

The following items are not allowed inside the venue. 

• Balloons
• Bullhorns
• Confetti Shooters
• Drinks
• Food
• Infant Carriers – unless the carrier can fit in the seat without resting on armrests.
• Megaphones
• Microphones
• Noisemakers
• Posters
• Strollers
• Pets, excluding certified service animals.

*Due to fire code regulations, tickets for the Commencement Ceremony are limited as it will be held indoors. Everyone attending the event, regardless of age, including infants, newborns, and children, must possess a ticket.