The University of Houston’s Spring 2025 commencement ceremonies marked a historic milestone, with 7,040 students earning their degrees across 19 ceremonies—the largest graduating class in UH history. Behind the scenes, the Division of Administration and Finance played a crucial role in ensuring that each ceremony was safe, seamless, and celebratory for students and their loved ones. Planning begins months in advance, and the numbers tell the story of their dedication.

Copy & Print Services

The Copy & Print department is responsible for producing all commencement programs for the UH System universities. This spring, they:

• Printed 20,317 total commencement programs
• Used 110,000 sheets of paper
• Used 40,634 staples
• Printed 692 pages

Campus Store

The Campus Store supports graduates by hosting Grad Fair events and helping students purchase the correct regalia. For Spring 2025:

• Graduating students purchased $173,000 worth of regalia

Parking & Transportation

With thousands of guests arriving on campus, Parking & Transportation ensures smooth access to ceremonies. This spring:

• 16,000 vehicles were accommodated in lots and garages
• 30 staff members worked a combined 1,125 hours

Cullen Performance Hall

Cullen Performance Hall once again served as a key venue. This spring:

• Hosted 9 commencement ceremonies over three days

Commencement Safety

Safety is a top priority. Multiple departments coordinate logistics to ensure a secure environment.

University of Houston Police Department (UHPD)

• Deployed 40 police officers and 50 security officers
• Monitored video surveillance 24/7 throughout the ceremonies

Office of Emergency Management (OEM)

• Staffed the command center at Fertitta Center
• Spent 15 hours planning and 30 hours supporting ceremonies

Fire & Life Safety

• Had 8 staff members working a total of 145.5 hours over four days
• Participated in 7 planning meetings with the Office of Protocol and Special Events

University Information Technology (UIT)

For those unable to attend in person, UIT streamed all 19 ceremonies, resulting in:

• 36,974 total views
• Viewers from 42 countries

Facilities/Construction Management

After the celebrations, Facilities/Construction Management ensures the campus is clean and reset.

This spring:

• Over 800 trash bags were filled during commencement season

Commencement is the culmination of years of hard work for students, and the Division of Administration and Finance is proud to support this milestone by ensuring every detail is handled with care and precision.