TEXAS A&M UNIVERSITY-COMMERCE
PROCEDURES

12.01.-------- Attendance of Faculty at University Commencements
Effective May 1, 2007

1. Purpose

The attendance of faculty at university commencements is required. It provides (1) a support and encouragement to graduating students, and (2) a positive image of the university to families and friends joining graduates at a commencement ceremony.

Accomplishing these purposes requires the active involvement of the individual faculty member and his/her department head and academic dean in developing an appropriate plan suitable to the success of each commencement ceremony.

2. Plan for Faculty Participation at Commencement

Every department shall develop a plan during each semester and second summer term about which faculty members will participate in a college and/or Graduate School commencement(s). A list of faculty members planning to participate in a commencement, along with names of those excused for legitimate reasons, will be submitted by department heads at least two weeks before the commencement date to appropriate college deans. The college deans will promptly forward the names of those planning graduate ceremony to the graduate dean. The graduate dean may ask college deans to send additional names of graduate faculty members if inadequate numbers are submitted for the Graduate School ceremony. Faculty members will continue to informing their college deans through department heads if they develop a reason for being unable to attend the commencement at the eleventh hour.

______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

CONTACT FOR INTERPRETATION: Provost and Vice President for Academic and Student Affairs