Sunflower FAQs

The ceremony is scheduled to start at 3:30 p.m. on Saturday, May 9, 2026 at the Gregory Gym. Ceremony participants may enter the gym at 2:30 pm and must be lined up by 3:00 p.m. Graduates should enter through the ground floor main doors (as if you were using the Gym).

Guests may enter the historic gym up the exterior steps on Speedway starting at 3:00 p.m. Only guests with disabilities should enter through the ground floor main doors.

Please note that RecSports will be enforcing the Texas Athletics clear bag policies for both graduates and guests.

The University clear bag policy will be in effect. You can review that policy, as well as the prohibited items list and other security policies, on the University’s website.

1. All graduates must have completed an Application for Graduation, and must have completed sufficient hours to graduate. Students who cannot complete the online application should contact the Student Affairs Office. The graduation application is due Monday, March 23.
2. All graduates must complete the Sunflower Ceremony RSVP form by March 23.
3. 3Ls must complete a Graduate Employment Survey and a CSO exit interview.

December 2025 and May and August 2026 JD and LLM graduates may participate. LLMs followed by JDs are recognized in alphabetical order. Diplomas are not distributed at the ceremony but mailed to graduates later. Visiting students may not participate.

Traditional Law School academic regalia is a business suit.  While white suits – along with khaki and seersucker – have been a longstanding tradition from the Law School’s beginning, business attire of any hue are appropriate for both men and women. Caps and gowns are not prohibited, but are not customary.

The Sunflower Ceremony is a formal event commemorating your graduation from a professional school; additionally, there are always many prestigious guests in attendance. Neither shorts and other casual clothing nor formal, dressy attire more suitable for a party are appropriate. Flip-flops and other non-professional shoes may not be worn. Graduates who fail to comply with the dress code may be excluded from the ceremony.

Students who are interested in wearing formal doctoral regalia are encouraged to attend the evening University-wide ceremony, featuring live music and fireworks. Students may choose to wear their business professional attire or doctoral regalia at the evening ceremony.

No. Seating at the Sunflower Ceremony is first-come, first-seated. There will be plenty of seats available, so invite everyone you know!

Invitations can be ordered at the University Co-Op. It’s recommended you order at least 2 weeks before graduation to ensure that your announcements and invitations arrive in time. Visit www.universitycoop.com for online order forms, or visit The Co-Op.

Yes. Your children may sit in a designated row just behind the graduate seating, on the right as they face the stage. There will be sufficient seating for the children and ONE accompanying adult per family. Please let Dean Bangs know if you need an additional adult, as reserved seating is limited. The children will be able to join you as your row stands up to walk across the stage.  The accompanying adult(s) should then meet the children as they come off the stage.

Yes.  You will hear directly from the University’s official photography vendor after the ceremony.

The ceremony is expected to last approximately two hours.

Will food/refreshments be provided?

You and your guests are warmly invited to join us at the Law School after the ceremony for light refreshments. It is a wonderful time to mingle with other graduates, as well as the faculty.

If mobility is not a concern, please park in the San Jacinto Garage. The roads around the Stadium will be closed because of the University ceremony, and we encourage you to walk back to the Law School after the ceremony for the reception.

Guests with disabilities can be dropped off at 21st and Speedway. Vehicles can then proceed to the Brazos Garage. Please find a map of the ADA drop-off route here.

Guests with disabilities may be dropped off on 21st Street near the corner of Speedway; the car can then proceed to Brazos Garage. There will be no disability parking on site.

Guests may bring personal wheelchairs, and there will be a small wheelchair accessible section on the arena floor, with room for one accompanying able-bodied guest per wheelchair.  There is also room for wheelchairs at the end of each seating row.

The university is unable to provide wheelchairs for individual use. Those requiring wheelchairs or other supportive equipment for the duration of their time here in Austin should plan on making their own accommodations for the equipment prior to arriving on campus. Families interested in renting wheelchairs are encouraged to contact a local provider. 

Make any additional disability accommodation requests at least five days prior to Commencement activities. While every effort will be made, the University may be unable to fulfill last-minute requests.

Yes, we are planning to live-stream the ceremony on the Law School’s YouTube channel.

The university-wide ceremony is also on Saturday, May 9, at 7:00 pm in DKR Stadium. Graduates are recognized in groups by college/school. The traditional academic (cap and gown) or law school regalia (business suit, with your sunflower) must be worn. The Texas Athletics clear bag policy will be enforced.

Graduate Ticketing
All graduates must secure a graduate ticket to enter DKR-TMS for Commencement. Claim your ticket at this link, using your EID as the promo code.

Guest Ticketing
Tickets are not required guests.

If you want to rent academic regalia for the evening ceremony or grad photos, the Co-op deadline is March 13. The rental includes only the gown and hood. Pins and tams must be purchased separately.

Prior to graduation, the Student Affairs Office will make doctoral robes and hoods (not pins or tams) available to borrow for pictures on campus. Sign ups coming soon.