Spring 2026 Graduation

Throughout your final semesters, please keep an eye on your Temple email, as advisors from the College of Liberal Arts Center for Academic Advising will email you with important information and deadlines regarding your academics, applying to graduate, and the graduation ceremonies.   

Please read through all the information on this webpage. If you still have questions, please contact one of these two emails: 

• [click-for-email]: For questions on graduation ceremonies, ticketing, parking passes, regalia, accommodations, etc.
• [click-for-email]: For questions on graduation applications, degree requirements, diplomas, completion letters, etc.

For December graduates only: Please remember to keep your Temple email active by updating your password when prompted. This will ensure you receive information on the graduation ceremonies in May.

Applying to Graduate

In your final, graduating semester, you will be asked to complete a Graduation Application. The application is short and confirms details about your academic record. You will be emailed when the application is available for your graduating term.

It is very important that you wait until your final semester to apply. See below for when you should complete your application:

• May: Apply during the Spring semester
• August: Apply during the Summer I or II semester
• December: Apply during the Fall semester

**Please note that your graduation application will remain active ("under review") until all final grades are posted and reviewed. After a review of your final semester grades, your application will either be approved or denied.  

**Graduation applications are not connected to participation in graduation ceremonies. You must separately RSVP to any ceremonies you wish to participate in.

How to Apply to Graduate 

To submit a graduation application, please go to TU Portal > Student Tools > Records > Apply to Graduate. 

If you are pursuing a certificate(s), the system will force you to apply for the certificate program(s) when you apply for your BA/BS degree.  

How Do I Change My Name on My Diploma? 

If you would like to update your diploma name, please follow directions on the Registrar’s website by the listed deadline.

Graduation Pre-Approval/Academics 

It is your responsibility to review degree requirements and ensure you are on track.  CLA Advising is here to help, and we encourage all students to check in with advisors regularly throughout their academic journey.  

In the months before your graduation semester, your records will be reviewed carefully by an Academic Advisor to ensure that your final semester’s roster is accurate and will fulfill your remaining degree requirements.  

If your roster is sound, you will receive a graduation ‘pre-approval’ email which lists your roster(s) and confirms these would fulfill your degree requirements. 

If your roster has issues, you will receive an email explaining what you must change in your roster to ensure you can graduate. You will need to revise your roster per the email instructions. If you have concerns about what changes are needed you should meet with an Academic Advisor.

Graduation Ceremony

Graduation ceremonies are meant to celebrate all that you have achieved at Temple; they are a physical representation of the bridge from your undergraduate degree to life beyond. As a CLA student, you will have the opportunity to attend two different graduation ceremonies:

• University Commencement: The main University Commencement celebrates graduates from all schools/colleges at Temple. This commencement ceremony is ticketed, and students can only invite four guests. You will not cross the stage during commencement. For more information on University Commencement, please Temple's Commencement website.

• CLA Graduation Ceremony: The CLA Graduation Ceremony celebrates graduates from our college only. This ceremony is not ticketed; however, students can invite a maximum of 10 of guests. You will cross the stage and have your picture taken during this ceremony.

Please note that you will not receive your diploma at either ceremony, as the ceremonies themselves do not indicate an official ‘graduation’ from Temple.  

Can I decorate the cap? 

Students are welcome to decorate the caps they purchase as long as the resulting decoration is not offensive. 

I have Latin Honors; where and when can I get my cords? 

Students can pick up Latin Honors cords at the front desk of the CLA Advising Center (Gladfelter Hall 120) when tickets and parking passes are available.

How can I order my regalia (cap/gown)? 

You can order your cap and gown online to ship-to-store or to ship-to-home. Here is the link to purchase regalia online.

• The ship-to-store deadline for in-store pickup is March 15, 2026. In-store pick-up will start April 20, 2026.
• The ship-to-home deadline is April 10, 2026.
• If students miss the online ordering deadline, regalia can be purchased in-store starting April 20, 2026.

When Will I Get my Degree/Diploma?

Usually, a student can expect it to take up to eight weeks to have their degree conferred and receive information about ordering their diploma. This does not include any period when the university is closed. Delays can happen if there are issues with your grades or student record.

After your final semester grades post, CLA Advising reviews your records once again and either approves or denies your graduation application.  

At this point, the Office of the University Registrar (OUR) works on conferring your degree, a process that takes a few weeks. Once that’s completed, you can order transcripts that show your degree is completed.

After they confer your degree, OUR also requests your diplomas from an external company, which processes the requests and sends you a digital diploma to your chosen email address (from the graduation application). That email with the digital diploma includes instructions on how to order a physical diploma. 

• You can read about diplomas on OUR’s website. 

You must have all holds lifted from your record, including, but not limited to, financial, athletics, library, disciplinary and health services holds to receive a transcript and/or diploma.

Senior Portraits

Please email Prestige Photography directly ([click-for-email]) if you have any questions about the photo session or photographs. No office in the College of Liberal Arts handles nor organizes senior portraits.