TO ALL CANDIDATES FOR WINTER 2009 GRADUATION:

  1. General Plan.  The Fall 2009 Commencement exercises will be held in the Steinke Physical Education Center on Friday, December 18, 2009.  There will be TWO  ceremonies.  One will be at  4:00 p.m. and the other at 7:00 p.m.  Seating will be reserved for degree candidates and faculty; seating of all guests, however, will be on an unreserved, first-come, first-serve basis.

    4:00 p.m.                                                                       
    Education                                                                        
    Engineering                                                                       
    University College                                                           

    7:00 p.m.
    Agriculture, Natural Resources and Human Sciences
    Arts and Sciences
    Business Administration

  2. Rehearsal for Commencement.  Candidates will assemble in the Steinke Physical Education Center at 9:45 a.m., Friday, December 18, 2009.  Further instructions will be given at that time.
  3. Caps and Gowns.  Bachelor and master gowns may be purchased at the Texas A&M University-Kingsville Bookstore during regular store hours.  The gowns will be in stock beginning October 16.  Caps and gowns should be purchased no later than 1 MONTH prior to graduation in order to guarantee a proper fitting robe.  If you need to purchase or rent a doctoral gown, contact the Bookstore as soon as possible.  These are made specifically for the individual and therefore take extra time.  PLEASE MAKE SURE THAT YOU WEAR DARK COLORED SHOES, SOCKS, AND/OR NYLONS AND THAT YOUR GOWN IS PRESSED PRIOR TO THE GRADUATION CEREMONY.  If you have any questions, please call 593-2601.
  4. Absolute Deadline for All Grades for Graduation.  All grades for candidates for graduation must be in the Office of the Registrar by 9:00 a.m., on Tuesday, December 15. Candidates taking courses from other universities must arrange to meet this deadline.  The deans will attempt to notify any candidate who fails to qualify for graduation.  Please be available so you can be reached by telephone on Wednesday, December 16, 2009.  If you learn that you cannot graduate, please notify your dean immediately.
  5. Correspondence Courses.  Any student taking a correspondence course needed for the degree should complete the course and take the final examination no later than November 20, 2009.  If you have any questions, please call 593-2861.
  6. Incomplete Grades or Change of Grades.  Any student who has an I in a course from a previous semester or term is responsible for completing the course by November 20, 2009 and reminding his/her instructor that the final grade must be submitted to the Office of the Registrar by December 15, 2009.  The removal of an I and any other grade changes must be reported by the student to his/her Dean on or before this date. 
  7. Repeated Courses.  All candidates must file a "Request for Adjustment of Repeated Courses" form to update their GPA and grades.  This must be done by December 15, 2009.  This form should be marked "December 18, 2009 Graduation."  Those courses which are  being repeated this semester should also be included so that all changes may be made on your record in time for the final graduation check-out.  If you have any questions on items 6 and 7, please call 593-2811.
  8. Thesis and Research Project.  The deadline for filing final and approved copies of all Master’s theses and for having confirmation of completion of research projects in the Graduate Office is November 24, 2009.
  9. Comprehensive Examination for Graduate Students.  Master’s candidates must arrange with their committee chairs to complete their comprehensive examinations in time for a report to be submitted to the Graduate Office no later than November 24, 2009.  If you have any questions on items 8 and 9, please call 593-2808.
  10. Fees and Fines.  All library fees or other fines due to the University must be paid before commencement rehearsal on December 18.
  11. In Absentia Graduation.  All candidates are expected to be present to receive their diplomas.  If it is not possible for you to attend the commencement ceremony, your degree can be awarded in absentia provided you notify the Office of the Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs in writing by December 15 and give sufficient reason for non-attendance.   You may fax your absentia notice to: 361-593-3107.
  12. Tuition Rebates for Undergraduate Students.  The state of Texas is providing financial incentives for students who complete their undergraduate degrees by attempting no more than three (3) hours in excess of the minimum number of semester credit hours required for the degree.  To be eligible for rebates under this program, students must meet the following conditions: (1) they must have enrolled for the first time in an institution of higher education in the fall 1997 semester or later, (2) they must be requesting a rebate for work related to a first baccalaureate degree received from a Texas public university, (3) they must have been a resident of Texas, must have attempted all coursework at a Texas public institution of higher education, and must have been entitled to pay resident tuition at all times while pursuing the degree, and (4) they must have attempted no more than three hours in excess of the minimum number of semester credit hours required to complete the degree as specified in the catalog under which they were graduated.  Hours attempted include transfer credit, course credit earned exclusively by examination, courses that are dropped after the official census date, for-credit developmental courses, optional internship and cooperative education courses, and repeated courses.  Courses dropped for reasons that are determined by the institution to be totally beyond the control of the student shall not be counted.

    If a student also chooses to complete the requirements for a teaching certificate, the number of credit hours for both the baccalaureate degree and the teaching certificate will be considered the minimum for the rebate.

    The rebate for eligible students is a maximum of $1,000.  To apply for the rebate, please complete the attached application form and submit it to your academic dean prior to receiving the baccalaureate degree.

  13. General Property Deposit.  Each student pays a one-time charge of $10 to insure the institution against losses, damages, and breakage in libraries and laboratories.  Texas A&M-Kingsville collects the $10 General Property Deposit the first semester in which a student enrolls.  This is a refundable charge and is available upon request after the student graduates or withdraws, less any loss, damage, or breakage caused by the student.  Application forms and instructions are available in the Business Office.
                                       

Sincerely,
Rex Gandy, Provost and Vice President
 for Academic Affairs


 

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