We have reimagined our commencement with a creative drive-thru ceremony for 2020! We invite you and your family to join us on Saturday, August 22, 2020 to celebrate the occasion of your commencement during a drive-thru ceremony at the Wagner Noël Performing Arts Center on our Midland Campus.
Graduates will have the opportunity to receive a UTPB diploma cover and take a socially distant photo with President Woodley during the drive thru ceremony. More information about the time students should arrive will be shared soon. We ask that you indicate your intention to attend the ceremony by completing the Drive Thru Commencement Registration Form. If you do plan on attending, please order your cap and gown by calling the bookstore as soon as possible. In-store pick-up at the bookstore is free. Please note: a cap and gown will not be required but it is encouraged!
Appropriate COVID-19 precautions will be in place for the health and safety of all attendees. Graduates should exit vehicles only at designated stations and all attendees should maintain six feet of social distance between others. UTPB campus rules and regulations will be in effect.
We want you to get the most out of your day by following these instructions:
Station 1 - Checking in
- Please bring only one vehicle per graduate. If possible, we highly recommend the graduate not be the driverand be seated on the passenger side of the vehicle to facilitate exiting and re-entering at the designated station.
- Enter theMidland Campus by turning right onto Energy Road from FM 1788, and follow the signs to the check-in tent. Please be cautious while driving through campus during commencement. Traffic will stop frequently. (please see map below)
- Graduates should already be wearing their regalia (cap, gown, and tassel) and bring their name card with them to the ceremony. Name cards will be sent by mail to the address provided on the graduation application of the graduate.
- The graduate’s vehicle should stop at the check-in tent to register. This should only take a few minutes; please keep your vehicle running and remain in your vehicle.
- If graduates do not have their name card, they will be given further instructions at the check-in tent.
- UTPB staff will be located at various locations throughout the ceremony. Please utilize their assistance.
Station 2 - Graduate Exits Vehicle
- Signage will indicate where the graduate should exit the vehicle.
- Only the graduate should exit the vehicle. We recommend that the graduate not be the driver of the vehicle and be seated on the passenger side for easy exit and re-entry.
- The graduate should carry the degree cover and provided name card and follow signage and staff instructions for entering the staging area.
Station 3 – Graduate Crosses Stage and Takes Photo with Dr. Woodley
- Once the graduate is at the designated location, they may remove their mask for their photo.
- Photos will be taken by a professional photographer. Commencement photographs can be purchased; instructions will be provided to the graduate following the ceremony.
- While guests of the graduate will be able to take additional photos from their vehicle, we ask that the guests of the graduate drive up to Station 4 once the graduate has crossed the stage. The graduate will re-enter the vehicle at Station 4.
Station 4 – Graduate Returns to Vehicle as a UTPB Alumnus!
- After leaving the stage, graduates will proceed to Station 4 to re-join their guests and prepare to exit.
- Gradates will join more than 18,000 proud UTPB Alumni! Information from the Falcon Alumni Network will be provided.
Station 5 – Graduates Exit
- Congratulations! Thank you for attending the 2020 Drive Thru Commencement Celebration.
- You will exit by turning right onto HWY (please see map below)
- Please drive home safely and visit often!
Again, congratulations on your graduation from UT Permian Basin! We are so proud of all you have accomplished, and we look forward to you joining us on August 22, 2020 for the Drive Thru Commencement Ceremony.
We ask that you indicate your intention to attend the ceremony by completing the Drive Thru Commencement Registration Form. If you have questions, please contact the Office of the Registrar at registrar@utpb.edu.
Directions:
- Graduates should utilize Business 20 (Highway 80) to approach FM 1788 from the East or the West
- Graduates will travel north on FM 1788 until they reach the Wagner Noël (Midland Campus) entrance
- Graduates will enter the parking lot using the orange route
- Graduates will exit the parking lot using the red route and turn right onto highway 191
