144th Spring Commencement
May 8-9, 2026
William “Billy” J. Nicks, Sr. Building (Baby Dome)
May 8-9, 2026
William “Billy” J. Nicks, Sr. Building (Baby Dome)
Candidates
College of Agriculture, Food, and Natural Resources
School of Architecture
Marvin D. and June Samuel Brailsford College of Arts and Sciences
College of Business
Whitlowe R. Green College of Education
Roy G. Perry College of Engineering
College of Juvenile Justice
College of Nursing
School of Public and Allied Health
Undergraduate Studies
Friday Commencement Speaker
Tarrynce G. Robinson, Ed.D.
Superintendent of Schools, West Allis–West Milwaukee School District
Dr. Tarrynce Robinson, a native of Houston, Texas, currently serves as Superintendent of the West Allis–West Milwaukee School District in Wisconsin. With more than 26 years of dedicated service in education, Dr. Robinson has built a distinguished career as a transformational leader committed to equity, excellence, and opportunity. His prior leadership roles include principalships at Pleasantville Elementary, Foerster Elementary, Holland Middle (Houston ISD), and Bailey Middle (Spring ISD), as well as serving as a School Support Officer in Houston ISD.
Saturday Commencement Speaker
U.S. Congressman Emanuel Cleaver, II
Missouri’s Fifth Congressional District
Emanuel Cleaver, II is now serving his tenth term representing Missouri’s Fifth Congressional District, the home district of President Harry Truman. He is a member of the House Committee on Financial Services; Ranking Member of the Subcommittee on Housing and Insurance; member of Subcommittee on Capital Markets; and member of the U.S. Helsinki Commission.
Frequently Asked Questions
Friday, December 12 Commencement (Doctoral and Master’s Candidates):
Graduation candidates should report to the Student Recreation Center at 5:00 p.m. for the 6:00 p.m. Commencement Convocation.
Saturday, December 13 Commencement (Undergraduate Candidates):
Graduation candidates should report to the Student Recreation Center at 7:00 a.m. for the 9:00 a.m. Commencement Convocation.
Friday, December 12 Commencement (Doctoral and Master’s Candidates):
Baby Dome and Alternate Viewing Sites will open at 4:30 p.m.
Saturday, December 13 Commencement (Undergraduate Candidates):
Baby Dome and Alternate Viewing Sites will open at 7:30 a.m.
Alternate Viewing Sites
- Student Recreation Center
- Willie A. Tempton, Sr. Memorial Student Center – Opal Johnson Smith Auditorium.
Undergraduate students who graduate with honors will be recognized by gold cords worn with academic attire at commencement. A student may graduate with honors in one of the following three categories:
- Summa Cum Laude Cumulative GPA of 3.9-4.00
- Magna Cum Laude Cumulative GPA of 3.7-3.89
- Cum Laude Cumulative GPA of 3.5-3.69
Honors cords will be distributed at graduation rehearsal.
- Horns or artificial noisemakers
- Umbrellas
- Fireworks
- Lawn or folding chairs
- Backpacks or bags
- Illegal substances, weapons or firearms
- Bicycles or skateboards
- Coolers, bottles, cans or other containers
- Food/drinks
- Infant seats or strollers
- Flowers, balloons, gifts
- Banners
Each ceremony is expected to last two hours.
Starting November 1 through December 2, candidates for graduation will only be able to apply for “conferral only.” “Conferral only” candidates will not be able to participate in the fall commencement ceremony, and their names will not be listed in the commencement program. Their diplomas, however, will be mailed to the most recent mailing address in PantherTracks.
Please direct all questions and concerns related to degree retrieval, degree audits, and honors status to the Registrar’s Office at registrar@pvamu.edu.
All questions regarding the 30th Fall Commencement Convocation should be directed to the Office for University Special Events and Protocol at events@pvamu.edu.