Congratulations on reaching this milestone in your academic journey!
Below you will find essential information regarding the May commencement ceremony, term-by-term defense deadlines, your step-by-step graduation checklist, fee payments, and commencement awards.
May Commencement Ceremony Details
The Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences commencement ceremony takes place annually in May to honor our graduating master's and doctoral students.
- Date: Friday, May 7, 2027 Event time: TBA (Estimated duration: 2 hours)
- Location: TTU Allen Theatre (Inside the Student Union Building on the TTU campus, 2625 15th Street, Lubbock, TX 79409)
- Reception: A post-ceremony reception will immediately follow in the Red Raider Ballroom (directly across from the Allen Theatre).
Ceremony Protocols & Guest Policy
- Guest Limit: There is no limit on the number of guests each graduate may invite.
- Arrival Time: Graduates and participating faculty should arrive at the Allen Theatre by 1:00 PM wearing full regalia.
- Personal Items: There is no secure storage for personal belongings or valuables during the ceremony. Please leave purses, bags, and coats with guests or bring only items that fit in your pockets.
- Hooding & Faculty: All M.S. and Ph.D. graduates will walk the stage and be hooded. Please confirm with your faculty mentor that they plan to attend and order regalia.
- Diplomas: Official diplomas for May graduates will be available for pickup during the reception following the ceremony.
Graduation Key Dates at a Glance
Missing a posted deadline will delay your graduation to the following semester. Plan ahead with your advisor and committee.
Graduation Key Dates (2026–2027)
| Graduation Task | Fall 2026 Term | Spring 2027 Term | Summer 2027 Term |
|---|---|---|---|
| Intent to Graduate Due | September 4 | February 1 | June 4 |
| Defend Thesis / Dissertation | October 23 | March 26 | June 28 |
| Final ETD Submission & Signatures | October 30 | April 2 | July 5 |
| Remove All I / PR Grades | November 9 | April 16 | July 9 |
| Official Graduation Date (on Diploma) | December 11 | May 7 | August 13 |
Step-by-Step Graduation Checklist
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- Submit the to your Student Affairs Advocate. (Ph.D. students must have a first-author paper accepted, in press, or published).
- Select a Dean’s Representative on your form. The Dean's Representative must hold a primary GSBS graduate faculty appointment outside your concentration.
- Review the .
- File your electronic . A new form must be submitted if your graduation date changes.
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- 3 Weeks Before Defense: Send defense notification details to your department coordinator and Student Affairs Advocate using the .
- 2 Weeks Before Defense: Debbie Martinez will email your official title page for review. Email the full draft of your thesis/dissertation to all committee members and the Dean’s Representative.
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- Complete the official and verify your diploma mailing address.
- Order cap, gown, and hood through if participating in May commencement.
- Pay your student graduation fee and ETD fee via WebRaider / HSC Bursar's Office.
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- Bring official signature pages to your defense:
• M.S. Students: and .
• Ph.D. Students: , , and the . - Submit signed forms to the GSBS Office immediately following a successful defense.
- Bring official signature pages to your defense:
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- Review the and adhere to the .
- Email your final PDF and completed to Pamela Johnson (pamela.johnson@ttuhsc.edu).
- Ph.D. Graduates Only: Complete the mandatory .
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- Diploma Distribution: May graduates receive diplomas at commencement. December and August graduates receive diplomas via mail from the Registrar’s Office.
- Optional Binding: GSBS does not require a physical bound copy. Personal or mentor copies can be ordered via after ETD approval.
Action Items: Fees, Regalia & Reader Cards
Reader Card & Post-Graduate Survey
At the end of March, all graduating students will receive an email link to the Post-Graduate Plans & Reader Card Survey. This survey collects your non-Ï㽶ֱ²¥ contact information and the exact degree/name text to be read aloud as you walk across the stage.
Graduation Fees
- Graduation Fee: $100 fee posted to your WebRaider account in April (applicable to May graduates). Once notified, students have 48 hours to pay.
- ETD Processing Fee: Ph.D. graduates pay an additional $50 Electronic Thesis/Dissertation fee.
Regalia Pick-Up & Shipping
Cap, gown, and hood orders are handled through West Texas Graduation Services. If you selected in-store pickup, regalia is available the week prior to graduation at their local storefront. Unclaimed regalia is delivered to the GSBS Office prior to commencement. Shipped orders begin dispatching two weeks before graduation.
West Texas Graduation Services
2904 50th Street | Lubbock, TX 79413
Phone: (806) 744-7737 | Web:
GSBS Commencement Awards
Each year at the May commencement ceremony, the Graduate School recognizes exceptional student achievements through prestigious academic and leadership awards.
K. Wyatt McMahon Outstanding Graduate Student Award
Honors a doctoral student who demonstrates exceptional academic achievement, groundbreaking research contributions, and leadership. The recipient serves as the commencement speaker during the graduation ceremony.
Dean’s Recognition Award
Celebrates two master’s students for academic excellence, leadership, and community impact (one from the GMES program and one from a research-based M.S. track). Recipients participate in the ceremony by reading the official GSBS seal description.
Award Nomination & Selection Criteria
Faculty nominate eligible students based on academic excellence, conference presentations, peer-reviewed publications, fellowships, and leadership in the Graduate Student Association, Student Research Week, or community outreach. Department chairs submit top nominees to a GSBS faculty review committee for final selection.