Steps to Graduate

Prepare for Graduation

Congratulations on nearing the completion of your academic program! As you approach this significant milestone, it's essential to stay informed about the necessary steps to graduate and participate in the Commencement Ceremony.

Graduate Checklist: Fall 2026

Graduation signifies the successful completion of all academic program requirements. Upon meeting these requirements, you'll receive your diploma and have your credential reflected on your official transcript.

The Commencement Ceremony is the event where you, alongside your peers, walk across the stage to celebrate your accomplishments with friends, family, and faculty. 

Please follow the steps below to ensure you don't miss any required deadlines. 

Graduation and Commencement Steps + Timeline

  1. Academic Advising

    In order to apply for graduation, you have to meet with an Academic Advisor first. Your Academic Advisor will determine if you have completed all the academic program requirements to apply for graduation. Approval from an Academic Advisor is required to apply for graduation. Please review "Step 2" below for important details regarding graduation application deadlines. 

    If you do not know your Assigned Academic Advisor, please go to Navigate Success and select Student Sign In. Next, log in and select the Academic Progress tile. Lastly, select the Advisor on the left to view your Assigned Academic Advisor.

    Contact Your Academic Advisor

    Use Navigate Success or visit a campus Advising office to contact your assigned Academic Advisor. 

    Navigate Success

  2. Graduation Application Deadline: October 16

    If your Academic Advisor determines you have completed all the academic program requirements to be approved to apply for graduation, your next step is to submit the graduation application. The link to apply for graduation will not appear in your Student Center unless an Academic Advisor approves you.

    Steps to Apply for Graduation:

    1. Log in to your Student Center.
    2. Select the Academic Records tile.
    3. Select the link on left to apply for graduation. 

    Graduate Applications Submitted after Deadline

    Students who apply for graduation AFTER the October 16 deadline and meet the academic program requirements will receive their diploma and have it reflected on their transcript. However, they will not be permitted to walk across the stage at the Commencement Ceremony. 

    Graduate Applications Submitted by October 16

    In order to be eligible to participate in the Commencement Ceremony, graduates must apply for graduation AND register for the Commencement Ceremony by the deadline.

  3. Register for Commencement Ceremony by October 30 Deadline

    Regularly Check Your HCC Student Email: Once you have applied for graduation by the deadline, you will receive an email invitation from Tassel. This email will contain instructions on how to register for the Commencement Ceremony.

    • Starting in August, Tassel will send out registration steps to approved graduates' HCC student email addresses every Monday, Wednesday and Friday. To ensure you don't miss any important updates, please consistently check your HCC student email. Be sure to also check your spam folder, just in case.
    • Please note that if you have not met with your academic advisor to apply for graduation, you will not receive the link to register for the Commencement Ceremony. 

    In the Tassel Commencement registration platform, graduates will be able to:

    • Choose Ceremony | Register for the Commencement Ceremony. 
    • Download StagePass | StagePass is a student's ticket to enter the Commencement Ceremony. A StagePass will be automatically assigned and can be downloaded. A StagePass will also be scanned when graduates walk across the stage. A StagePass can be scanned from a mobile device or printed. 
    • Distribute Guest Tickets: Information on how to distribute your guest tickets will sent to your student email (or email you used when setting up your profile in Tassel) mid-November. Look for subject line: Your Graduation Tickets Are Available | Information on Claiming & Distributing Tickets Inside
    • Record How to Pronounce Your Name | Use Say It Right to record your name via telephone to assist the professional announcer with pronouncing your name correctly.

    Register Early to Secure Your Preferred Ceremony Time: Due to the building's capacity limitations, there is limited space available for each ceremony time. We strongly recommend registering early to ensure you can attend the ceremony at your preferred time. Remember that you will only be permitted to participate during the ceremony time you register to attend.

    See Commencement Ceremony details

    Register for Commencement by October 30

    To participate in the Commencement Ceremony, you must register by the October 30 deadline. Please mark this date on your calendar and prioritize registering before this cutoff. Only graduates who are registered by this deadline will be allowed to walk in the ceremony.