graduation ceremony for phd

Ph.D. Hooding Ceremony

Hooding ceremonies for 2023-2024 ph.d. graduates.

The Graduate School will hold two hooding ceremonies for 2023-2024 Ph.D. graduates at  Duke Chapel  (401 Chapel Drive) on May 11, 2024:

May 11, 10:00-11:30 a.m.

Ph.D. Hooding Ceremony for Graduates in the Humanities and Social Sciences

May 11, 1:30-3:30 p.m.

Ph.D. Hooding Ceremony for Graduates in the Biomedical and Biomedical Sciences, Physical Sciences, and Engineering

Find which academic division your department or program belongs to . 

Google Map of parking lots, accessibility locations, and facilities for the ceremony

If you have questions about the hooding ceremony, please contact [email protected] . We thank you for your patience while event details are forthcoming.

2024 Event Information

• Graduates and guests may park in the Bryan Center Garage/PGIV (125 Science Drive) or the Science Drive Garage (3100 Cameron Blvd). The Bryan Center Garage is a four-minute walk from the Chapel, while the Science Drive Garage is a 15-minute walk away.
• Faculty and staff participating in the Ph.D. Hooding Ceremony may park in the Upper or Lower Allen lots, located on West Campus behind the Allen Building.
• Attendees may also park at any other convenient locations on campus. On-campus parking during commencement weekend will be free of charge.
• ADA parking is available in the parking lot immediately in front of the Bryan Center garage. If you have requested specific accommodations, Sondra Ponzi will be in touch with you directly by Tuesday, May 3.
• General parking on campus is on a first-come basis, so please allow plenty of time for parking throughout commencement weekend. Carpooling is highly recommended.
• The circle in front of Duke Chapel, on Chapel Drive, will not be accessible on May 7. If you need to drop off guests with mobility impairments, please use the circle off of Science Drive.
• Visit maps.duke.edu  for an interactive campus map.

See all event locations on a Google Map

In mid-April, electronic tickets will be distributed through Eventbrite.

• No food or drinks are permitted in Duke Chapel.
• The accessible entrance to the Chapel is located on the north side of the Chapel facing the Divinity School ( map ).
• There are no restrooms in Duke Chapel. The closest (ADA) restrooms are in the Divinity School, which will be clearly marked with directional signs ( map ).

If you are a doctoral degree candidate and you wish to  rent  apparel, complete this form to register for the university-wide commencement ceremony and order academic regalia. R ented apparel must be requested by March 1, 2024.

If you are interested in  purchasing  apparel, you may  click here .  The deadline to purchase doctoral apparel is February 16, 2024 and can be done by contacting Jeffrey Kahlmeyer in Duke Stores at 919-684-0060.

Apparel Pickup

Hooding how-to.

See our " Recipe for the Perfect PhD Hooding " video for quick tips and common mishaps to avoid.

The 2024 seating chart will be posted in May 2024.

Procedure for Hooding

Faculty: Join the line next to the first graduate your are hooding.

Graduates should stand on the left and faculty on the right.  

• Graduates should clearly pronounce their names to the Graduate School staff member standing by the front steps so that they can be relayed to the senior associate dean announcing the graduates.  

The hooding faculty will stand at the top of the steps and the graduate will stand on the next step. There will be a piece of tape on the steps to mark where they should stand.

Once a graduate has received their hood, Dean Barbour will greet them with a congratulatory fist bump.  

• Graduates should then return to their seats. Faculty who have finished hooding all their graduates should sit in the North Transept pews (on the opposite side of where they sat at the start of the ceremony).

The hooding ceremonies will be livestreamed for family, friends, and faculty who cannot attend in person. The livestream links will be posted closer to the event date. 

10:00 am Ceremony (Humanities and Social Sciences) 

1:30 pm Ceremony (Biological & Biomedical Sciences, Physical Sciences, and Engineering)

• ADA parking is available in the parking lot immediately in front of the Bryan Center garage. If you have requested specific accommodations, a member of the planning team in Graduate Student Affairs will be in touch with you directly in early May.
• If you need to drop off guests with mobility impairments, please use the circle off of Science Drive.
• The closest restrooms (in the Divinity School) are ADA-compliant.
• There will be assistive listening devices available at the sound board in the back left of the nave in the Chapel.

2022–2023 Dissertations

View the full list of Ph.D. dissertations, departments, and advisers for 2022–2023 graduates.  

Hooding Basics

The hooding ceremony is similar to a graduation in that faculty and students are dressed in  academic attire . During the ceremony, the name of each graduate is called, and the graduate goes on stage with his or her faculty adviser(s). The adviser places the doctoral hood over the head of the graduate, signifying his or her success in completing the graduate program, and the dean of The Graduate School then congratulates the graduate.

Each doctoral candidate is asked to invite a Duke faculty member to perform the hooding. The faculty member may be the candidate’s adviser or another faculty member of the candidate’s choice. If a faculty member is not available, the dean will perform the hooding.

• One-Person Hooding Illustration (PDF)
• Two-Person Hooding Illustration (PDF)

Proper Hooding Techniques (and Bloopers)

Past ph.d. graduation celebrations.

• 2022 recap, photos, and videos
• Ceremony for 2019-20 and 2020-21 graduates recap, photos, and videos
• 2021 recap, photos, and videos
• 2019 recap, photos, and video
• 2018 recap, photos, and video
• 2017 recap, photos, and video
• 2016 recap and photos
• 2015 recap, photos, and video

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• Academic Regalia

Doctoral Hooding

How doctoral hooding works.

The hooding ceremony is a unique recognition of the achievement of each student who has earned a doctorate or final master’s degree.

Each doctoral candidate is introduced individually during the ceremony. You will have your hood placed on you in front of the stage on the field. Both doctoral candidates and their faculty mentors should review these guidelines before Commencement.

See an example of how the hooding works.

Faculty Mentors

Your faculty mentor will hood you as a doctoral candidate. If you do not have a mentor present, a Commencement marshal will hood you.

The Procession

• You and your peers will walk into Carroll Stadium and sit according to school. You will follow the red school banners through the hall to guide you to your seat.
• If you’re hooded by a mentor, please walk in and sit with them.
• While you are robing in the lineup, you’ll receive two name cards to fill out. Fill out the cards with your name, making sure it is legible. The cards are for announcing you during the ceremony. If you think the announcer may not know how to pronounce your name, include pronunciation help.
• You should have your hoods unfolded and draped over the left arm. Carry your name cards in your right hand.

Instructions for Hooding

• Once your school is announced, stand with the person who is hooding you and walk to the stage. A marshal will give you instructions for where and how to get to the stage.
• Your hooder will wait in front of the stage near a platform. Students without a hooder follow the direction of the marshals.
• You will climb several steps to the stage. Please contact us if you have any difficulty climbing stairs.
• You will give your name cards to the reader, and they will introduce you. You will then walk across the stage.
• Once you leave the stage, walk in front of the stage.
• Your faculty mentor or a marshal will hood you. For the hooding, you should remove your cap and face away from the hooder. Once you’re hooded, return to your seat.

Commencement resources and social media channels

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Princetoniana Museum

The hooding ceremony.

Princeton University. Property of the Trustees of Princeton University.

Author wearing his Gown

History of the Hooding Ceremony

The hooding ceremony confers a special recognition upon graduates receiving masters or doctoral degrees. The hooding ceremony originated in European universities in the 11th or 12th century and was introduced to distinguish graduating students as they began their academic careers. Hooded robes, often required for warmth in unheated medieval libraries, were first used as a practical uniform for scholars as they studied and produced written works. However, over time the robes became largely symbolic. Universities then added colors to the robes to differentiate students by their academic majors, and the hoods later became detached ornaments, presented to graduates as part of the commencement ceremony [pictured at right is an example of a typical Princeton robe with a Science hood, author’s personal picture]. Hoods are still used today to represent a commitment to a scholarly life. While modern day undergraduates wear robes and caps, those with masters or doctorate degrees are presented with hoods to show their continued pursuit of knowledge. Such hoods are an expression of tradition and are used to communicate the wearer’s school, degree, and field of study for the rest of their lives.

Hooding Ceremony at Princeton University Today

For many years, there was no hooding ceremony at Princeton University although graduate students were able to attend commencement. However, today graduate students can attend both the Hooding Ceremony and a separate Commencement Ceremony. The Hooding Ceremony is unique in that graduates are individually recognized at that event which is currently held on Cannon Green behind Nassau Hall. Locations of the Hooding Ceremony since 1994 can be found here . The event is presided over by the University President and the Dean of the Graduate School and all advanced degree candidates who have completed all of their degree requirements (Ph.D. and Final Master’s) are welcome to attend. The President of the APGA (Association of Princeton Graduate Alumni) also participates in the event, welcoming the new Graduate School graduates into the APGA community. Dan Abramowicz, APGA President from 2004 through 2006, was honored to speak at both the 2005 and 2006 hooding events and his comments from the 2005 ceremony can be found here .

“The Hooding Ceremony is a special recognition for graduates receiving a final master’s degree or a Ph.D. All candidates are individually recognized at the Hooding Ceremony, whereas at Commencement students cannot be recognized individually. As with Commencement, all faculty and students wear academic regalia at Hooding. Ph.D. candidates may receive their hood from a faculty member (usually their adviser), who participates in the ceremony with them, or from the chief marshal. Students receiving a master’s degree will be hooded by the chief marshal. The Hooding Ceremony is for graduate students only and does not replace Commencement. The Commencement Ceremony, held the next day, includes graduate and undergraduate students and is the official conferring of degrees. The hooding of doctoral and master’s candidates prior to Commencement is an honored and special tradition at Princeton. For many participants it symbolizes the culmination of graduate studies and the degree recipient’s transition from student to colleague.” 1

West Statue

Although The Graduate School was formally established in 1900, graduate education at Princeton began much earlier, when James Madison graduated from the then “College of New Jersey” in 1771 and was allowed to stay for an additional year to study Hebrew with the school’s President, John Witherspoon. In the following years, more students were permitted to continue their education after graduation, but it was not until 1869 that a more formal system began to emerge with fellowships to encourage outstanding graduating seniors to stay on for additional studies. Andrew Fleming West was appointed the first Dean of The Graduate School after it was formally established and he served in that role from 1901 through 1928. There have been 15 deans (plus two acting deans) to date with Dean Sarah-Jane Leslie beginning her term of service in 2018. 2

Throughout Princeton’s history, graduate students were separated from the undergraduate students in a number of ways, including physical separation with the graduate student dormitory, The Graduate College, located about a half mile from the heart of the University. The impressive architecture of The Graduate College includes a beautiful quad featuring a statue of its first Dean, Andrew Fleming West as well as the expansive Proctor Hall, where graduate students ate while wearing those warming gowns. The Andrew Fleming West statue 3 within that quad faces the inspiring Cleveland Memorial Tower.

Ceremony in McCarter

Building the Graduate College involved significant controversy, with disagreements between then University President Woodrow Wilson and Dean Andrew Fleming West over the use of endowment funds and the location of the building itself. 4 During Dan Abramowicz’s tenure on the APGA Board of Governors (1999 – 2007), there was a strong desire to make closer connections between graduate students, graduate alumni and the broader University community. To that end, University President Shirley Tilghman, who served in that role from 2001 – 2013, launched a number of additional initiatives including holding the Hooding Ceremony in McCarter Theatre and providing room for more family and friends to participate in a simulcast of the ceremony presented in Richardson Hall. As a result, video of these ceremonies are available online. An image from one of the earliest ceremonies held in McCarter Theatre (June 2, 2003) is shown at left. 5

The Program for the 2005 ceremony reinforces the practical origins of gowns and hoods for graduate students an a way to stay warm in the cold halls of medieval European Universities as well as Princeton’s role in establishing the system of academic attire and a vibrant description of the meaning of the colors on the hoods.

“The colorful gowns and hood worn as part of the traditional costumes at American academic ceremonies had less glamorous origins – a heavy woolen gown and hood being necessities in the cold halls of medieval European Universities. But at least by the time of the Renaissance, academic gowns and hoods began to distinguish scholars by rank and degree, and to bear colorful marks of institutional affiliations. In the New World, distinctive formal academic garb began with the founding of Harvard College in 1636.

American scholars had close ties to the great German universities in the late nineteenth century, and the brilliant display of academic regalia at the 500th anniversary of the University of Heidelberg in 1886 – as well as at Harvard’s 250th in the same year and Princeton’s own Sesquicentennial in 1896 – encouraged a growing interest in academic ceremony and costume. In 1893 Princeton took the lead in establishing a code for U.S. academic attire; Princeton Trustee Colonel John James McCook’s 1894 intercollegiate statutes continue in force today almost without alteration.

Hoods embody the most important symbolism, and distinguish the wearer by both rank and academic discipline. Master’s hoods are generally shorter by one foot than doctors’. Each is bordered by a velvet band in the color assigned to the discipline in which the degree is granted. The colors you see this evening are blue for philosophy (as in doctor of philosophy, or “Ph.D.”), peacock blue for public affairs, orange or yellow for engineering, white for arts and letters, brown for architecture, and light brown for finance. The lining of each hood bears the degree-granting university’s own colors – at Princeton, orange with a black chevron, colors adopted by the undergraduate Class of 1869 since William III of the House of Nassau, in whose honor the University’s first building was named, was also Prince of Orange.” 6

The Programs and Agendas for the 2005 and 2006 events list the location, the members and order of The Academic Procession, the speakers, and the complete list of award recipients (accessible here: 2005 Program , 2005 Agenda , 2006 Program , 2006 Agenda ). The Agendas in particular demonstrate the level of detail and preparation required to pull off such an impressive event. Videos of the 2001+ events can be found on the Princeton University media website . 7

The ceremony has continued to evolve over time, and today graduates can ask their academic advisor to participate in the ceremony and place the hood on them. This practice was begun in 2015. 8 In 2012, the first guest speaker was included in the program (George Will *68). 9 Weather has played a role in a number of Princeton's Hooding Ceremonies over time, including the very first ceremony held in 1994, as detailed in a Conversation with Dean Redman where he discusses the origin of the Hooding Ceremony at Princeton. Since 2013, the University has tried to hold the Hooding Ceremony on Cannon Green. However, an unexpected thunderstorm that year forced the festivities indoors into nearby Whig Hall and graduates were simply handed their hoods as a formal ceremony wasn’t possible 10 . Similarly, in 2015 the threat of rain caused the organizers to reschedule the event into Richardson Auditorium 8 . Fortunately, the 2019 ceremony went off smoothly and was held under blue skies on Cannon Green, as planned (image below 10 ).

Daniel A. Abramowicz, Ph.D. *84, January 21, 2020

1) Princeton University, “Hooding Frequently Asked Questions,” n.d. (accessed November 1, 2019).

2) Princeton University, “The Graduate School – History,” n.d. (accessed November 4, 2019).

3) Princeton Alumni Weekly, “Rally ‘Round The Cannon” , September 14, 2011.

4) Christa Cleeton, “Building the House of Knowledge,” September 4, 2013, Mudd Manuscript Library Blog,(accessed November 4, 2019).

5) Princeton Weekly Bulletin, Volume 92, Number 29, Page 6, June 16, 2003

6) Hooding Ceremony Program of The Graduate School, Princeton University, “Order of Exercises, About the Hooding Ceremony” May 30, 2005.

7) Princeton University, Media Central (accessed December 3, 2019)

8) Princeton University, “At Hooding, advanced-degree recipients, advisers celebrate a long, successful journey” , by Morgan Kelly, Office of Communications, June 2, 2015.

9) Princeton University, “Carell sends seniors off with laughs at Class Day; Hooding held for Grad School” by Morgan Kelly, Office of Communications, , June 4, 2012.

10) Princeton University, “Advanced-degree candidates receive their hoods and degrees” by Ushma Patel, Office of Communications, June 5, 2013

11) Princeton University (accessed December 4, 2019)

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2024 Doctoral Hooding Ceremony

Saturday, May 11, 2024 at 9:00 a.m. Dean E. Smith Center

• Hooding Ceremony Speaker

Student Instructions

• Scholarships & Financial Aid
• Regalia Purchase

Photography

Faculty instructions.

• Accessibility Services, Seating & Parking

Parking Information

Guest information, frequently asked questions.

• Livestream broadcast

Additional Resources

Letter from the dean.

Graduate students represent the crossroads of research and impact. You have the knowledge to help solve society’s greatest challenges and serve the future of our state in the workforce and beyond. Our doctoral hooding ceremony will recognize these accomplishments. The ceremony will take place on Saturday, May 11, 2024, at the Dean E. Smith Center. We welcome family members, friends, and anyone else you would like to invite.

Each doctoral graduate student who participates in the ceremony will be called to the stage to have the hood of the commencement regalia conferred by their advisor or other departmental faculty member.

Please review the rest of our website for answers to frequently asked questions and other important information you will need to know about participating in the ceremony. Graduate students are also encouraged to attend the University-wide Commencement ceremony , to be held on Saturday, May 11 at 7:00 p.m.

Our graduate students provide countless hours of teaching, research, and service to our University, all while balancing your mental health and well-being, responsibilities, and personal endeavors.

As you reach this pinnacle in your graduate journey, know that our University, our state, and our world are enriched because of you. We are honored to gather and celebrate together.

Beth Mayer-Davis Dean of The Graduate School

Hooding Ceremony Program

Hooding ceremony speaker: dr. angeli achrekar.

Prior to joining UNAIDS in January 2023, Dr. Achrekar served as the Principal Deputy U.S. Global AIDS Coordinator for the U.S. President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR). Over the past 20 years with the U.S. government and PEPFAR, she has held prominent positions helping to lead the largest global health effort of the U.S. government to ensure life-saving HIV prevention and treatment services to millions of people around the globe and strengthen health and community systems across 50 countries.

She is a passionate public servant, dedicated to advancing global health and development, across sectors, especially for women and girls. Angeli brings to the position extensive leadership and management experience in HIV/AIDS and public health. Over the years, she has helped evolve the program for more person-centered care, protecting and increasing HIV/AIDS gains while also capacitating countries for broader healthcare delivery. Her deep program, policy and partnership development experience at the global and country levels has cultivated strong multi-sectoral partnerships for large-scale and transformational impact, fundamental to ending the AIDS pandemic.

She holds a Doctorate of Public Health from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, a Master of Public Health from Yale University, and a Bachelor of Science from the University of California, Los Angeles.

Angeli is married and the mother of beloved twin daughters. She loves poetry and nature. An unrelenting champion for health and rights for all, she believes in the power of service and partnership for change.

All May 2024 doctoral candidates, as well as 2023 August and December graduates, will receive an email invitation to the hooding ceremony in mid- to late February 2024. This email will be sent to your UNC-Chapel Hill email address (and/or personal email address) on record. August and December graduates should make sure to have an updated personal email address listed with the Office of the University Registrar through ConnectCarolina or [email protected] .

Please check all of your inboxes and folders in case the invitation is inadvertently directed to junk/spam folders. Please RSVP through the event registration system by March 31, 2024, with the name and email address of your hooding faculty.

If you have not received the invitation by March 15, 2024, please contact Kate McAnulty ( [email protected] ), senior associate dean for student affairs.

Please note, if you do not successfully complete all your degree requirements to have your degree conferred at the ceremony, you will not be allowed to participate in the hooding ceremony. No exceptions will be made.

Hooding Faculty Selection

Each doctoral graduate student will have the hood of the commencement regalia conferred by their adviser or other departmental faculty member. Please inquire as early as possible with your adviser whether they will attend the ceremony with you. If you have two faculty advisers, both can attend and hood you jointly.

If your faculty adviser is unavailable to attend the ceremony and confer your hood, you can request that another faculty member (preferably from your dissertation committee), your director of graduate studies, or your department chair confer your hood instead. The faculty member who confers your hood must be listed with The Graduate School as regular or fixed-term faculty.

If none of your faculty are available to confer your hood, the provost and the Royster Distinguished Professor will do so.

Please make sure that you and your hooding faculty have a clear plan of where to meet the morning of the ceremony. Given the heavy crowds as well as noise and visibility issues, we recommend a meeting location away from or even outside the entrance and check-in areas.

Day-of-Ceremony Instructions

Scholarships and Financial Aid

If you have borrowed a Federal Loan while attending Carolina, you must complete the Exit Counseling to learn about loan repayment. The Office of Scholarships and Student Aid will also notify you of this requirement via email.

If you have borrowed a Federal Perkins or Health Professions Loan or any long-term university loan, you must complete exit counseling by accessing the ECSI website . You may contact the University Cashier at [email protected] with any questions.

Student Regalia: Information and Deadlines

Student basic/keepsake black regalia will be available to purchase through Student Stores online beginning in early/mid-March, in-store (starting Thursday, March 21st through commencement weekend), and at the conGRADulations Fair on Wednesday, March 20th. These regalia are meant to be a cost-effective and eco-friendly option for graduating students (prices listed below). Please make sure to indicate whether you are a Ph.D., Ed.D., DNP, or DrPH student so that you can request the proper hood for purchase.

• Doctoral BASIC Package (Square Cap, Gown, Tassel) - $65.99 ($60.99 if purchasing with Tam [6-corner cap])
• Doctoral Hood - $39.99
• Doctoral Tam (6-corner cap) - $80 ($75 if purchasing with Basic Package)
• Individual Square Cap - $12.99
• Individual Tassel - $9.99

Announcements

Custom commencement announcements can be purchased through Balfour .

Generic announcements in packages of 10 may be purchased at Student Stores.

Every student who RSVPs through the event registration system will receive outreach from GradImages™ in advance of the ceremony. Please check all of your inboxes and folders in case the outreach is inadvertently directed to junk/spam folders.

• At the beginning of August, your diploma will be mailed to your home address as listed in ConnectCarolina.
• Your diploma will be printed with the diploma name as listed on your ConnectCarolina account.
• If you need immediate proof of graduation, you may download an electronic diploma (for a fee of $10.95) beginning mid-June 2024.
• If you require special handling (summer pick-up, FedEx, international delivery) for your diploma, please contact the Office of the University Registrar by May 10, 2024.
• More information on diplomas is available from the Office of the University Registrar .

If your department has a separate ceremony, check with your department to determine whether or not they intend to distribute diplomas at their ceremony. Diploma frames can be purchased at Student Stores .

Faculty rental regalia is currently available for ordering through Oak Hall via Student Stores . The site will remain open through Wednesday, April 3rd, and the regalia will be available for pickup at UNC Student Stores starting the Monday of commencement week (May 6th). Payment is due at time of pickup, and the return deadline to have your items back in-store is Friday, May 17th.

For additional questions, contact the Student Stores graduation department at  [email protected] .

Non-hooding faculty are invited to attend as a member of the general audience and will not participate in the academic processional. Seating will be reserved for faculty in Section 124.

Hooding Faculty

Hooding faculty should arrive at the Smith Center concourse level (Entrance D) to meet their students between 8:00 and 8:30 a.m. You do not need to check in. Additional information will be provided by the Graduate School or by the degree candidate.

Please make sure that you and your students have each other's contact information so that you can coordinate where to meet the morning of the ceremony. Given the heavy crowds as well as noise and visibility issues, we recommend a meeting location away from or even outside the entrance and check-in areas.

Your student(s) will receive a name card at check-in which will later be scanned by a staff member prior to them going on stage. Please help us make sure that your student(s) does not lose that card over the course of the morning's activities.

As soon as you connect with your student, please proceed to the first floor (lower level) and take a seat with them. If you are hooding more than one student, make sure you are all sitting together.

At the end of the ceremony after the platform party recesses, students and faculty will be free to exit the floor and connect with family and friends. There is no recessional for students and hooding faculty.

Due to the timing of afternoon events in the Smith Center, staff will direct everyone off the floor and into the stands as soon as the ceremony is over.

Accessibility Services, Seating and Parking

Services for students, faculty, and guests with disabilities or medical conditions are available.

Accessible parking for guests is available in the Williamson Lot across the street from the Smith Center by presenting a disability permit/placard or license plate. The lot will be clearly marked with the appropriate signage. Golf carts will pick up guests needing assistance from the lot and drop them at Gate A.

Accessible seating is located all along the concourse level in the Smith Center. No ticket is required for seating. If you require other accommodations (interpreter services, more specialized seating, etc.) or if you do not have a disability permit/placard or license plate, please contact Commencement Accessibility Services at [email protected] .

Students and faculty who have accessibility needs should contact Commencement Accessibility Services ( [email protected]) who will work with staff from The Graduate School and the Office of University Events accordingly to navigate ceremony details.

Students do not have designated parking, so all guest parking lots (see below) can be used by students.

Reserved parking for faculty and deans will be available either in the Smith Center Lot, behind the Koury Natatorium and the Smith Center, or in the top tier of the Manning Lot. If parking in the Smith Center lot, upon arrival, please pull up to the parking gate and advise the parking attendant of your name to gain complimentary access to the Smith Center lot.

Reserved parking for members of the platform party will be in the Smith Center Lot, behind the Koury Natatorium and the Smith Center.

Parking for guests will be available in most lots surrounding the Smith Center ( map of these parking lots ). They include: the Manning Lot (on Bowles Drive between the Smith Center and Family Practice), the Bowles Lot (on Bowles Drive behind Craige Residence Hall), and the Business School Deck.

Accessible parking is available in the Williamson Lot across the street from the Smith Center by presenting a disability permit/placard or license plate. Guests needing parking accommodations for the elderly and not having a disability permit, plate, or placard should contact Commencement Accessibility Services at [email protected] .

Guests should arrive between 8:00 and 8:45 a.m. and enter the Smith Center at Entrance A. Please do not bring gifts into the Smith Center.

No refreshments will be available at the ceremony. Please bring water and stay hydrated, especially if it is hot outside that morning.

International Guests

Students and scholars who want to invite family members to visit the United States as tourists may use the information below to assist those family members in applying for a visa.

• View this document to learn how you can invite family members to the U.S. for your commencement ceremony.
• Request a graduation application confirmation letter from the Office of the University Registrar . Please email [email protected] requesting a letter of confirmation for graduation for your family’s visa.

Local Visitors Bureaus

The Chapel Hill/Orange County Visitors Bureau and the Durham Convention and Visitors Bureau websites provide information on local lodging, restaurants, scheduled events, shopping, tours, and area resources.

Dean E. Smith Center Entry Policy

All guests and their belongings are subject to screening by entry personnel. The following items will not be permitted in the Smith Center:

• Backpacks, duffel bags, oversized purses, or computer cases
• Alcohol, bottles, cans, food, thermoses, coolers, drugs, chains, and fireworks
• Weapons, noisemakers, laser pointers and other items deemed inappropriate by Smith Center personnel
• Signs larger than 8.5 inches by 11 inches

Water is permitted as no refreshments will be available at the ceremony.

Directions to the Dean E. Smith Center

Address:  300 Skipper Bowles Drive, Chapel Hill, North Carolina 27514

From Virginia and points north

Take I-85 South to Durham. Exit left at US 15-501 in Durham and follow 15-501 approximately nine miles to Chapel Hill. Once in Chapel Hill, stay on US 15-501 Bypass (Fordham Boulevard). At around the seventh stoplight, turn right onto Manning Drive. The Smith Center is half a mile on the left on Skipper Bowles Drive.

From points west

Take I-85 North towards Durham. Exit just past Burlington onto NC 54 East (Exit #148, Chapel Hill Exit). Follow NC 54 for approximately 20 miles to Carrboro. Pass Carrboro Plaza on the right and stay on NC 54 for about four miles to the next stoplight, Manning Drive. Turn left on Manning Drive. The Smith Center is half a mile on the left on Skipper Bowles Drive.

From points east

Take I-40 West toward Chapel Hill. Exit at NC 54 West (Exit #273 A) and follow for approximately four miles. Once in Chapel Hill, continue to follow signs for NC 54 West, which means you will have to exit right under the first overpass. At the top of the exit turn right at the light. Follow NC 54 West/15-501 South until the second stoplight. Turn right onto Manning Drive. The Smith Center is half a mile on the left on Skipper Bowles Drive.

From points south

Take US 15-50 North toward Chapel Hill. Exit right onto US 15-501 Bypass in Chapel Hill. Turn left at first stoplight onto Manning Drive. The Smith Center is half a mile on the left on Skipper Bowles Drive.

Will the ceremony be livestreamed?

Yes, the the Doctoral Hooding Ceremony will be livestreamed.

What time do graduates need to arrive?

Students and their faculty advisors should arrive starting at 8:00 and no later than 8:30 a.m. in full regalia. Students will need to pick up and hold on to their name cards, which will be scanned before they cross the stage, so that their names show up on the screen(s) overhead.

Are tickets required for guests?

No tickets are necessary and there is no restriction on the number of guests invited per graduate.

When should guests arrive?

Guests should arrive between 8:00 and 8:45 a.m. and enter the Smith Center at Entrance A where programs will be available. Please do not bring gifts into the Smith Center.

How long does the ceremony usually last?

The ceremony will last no later than noon.

Will the names of graduates be announced?

Yes. Each doctoral graduate student who participates in the ceremony will be called to the stage to have the hood of the commencement regalia conferred by their adviser or other departmental faculty member.

Who can hood graduates?

Students should be hooded by their faculty adviser(s). If their faculty adviser(s) are unavailable, they can be hooded by another member of their committee and/or their program/department, such as their director of graduate studies or department chair. Students without available faculty will be hooded by the provost and the Royster Distinguished Professor. Students cannot be hooded by a non-faculty member, such as family, friends, or colleagues.

Can students be hooded during this ceremony but not officially graduate until later this year?

No. Only candidates who have met all degree requirements for this ceremony (and August and December graduates from the  previous  calendar year) will be hooded at this ceremony. If you officially graduate in a future semester, you will be invited to the following year's ceremony.

Where do students, faculty, and guests park?

Hooding Ceremony parking information

UNC Visitor Parking Information and Maps

Reserved parking for faculty and deans will be in the top tier of the Manning Lot.

Accessible parking is available in the Williamson Lot across the street from the Smith Center by presenting a disability permit/placard or license plate.

Is there accessible parking?

Accessible parking is available in the Williamson Lot across the street from the Smith Center by presenting a disability permit/placard or license plate. Guests who need accessible parking but not having a disability permit, plate, or placard should contact Commencement Accessibility Services at [email protected] .

How do students find out if and when departments are having ceremonies?

Please visit school and departmental ceremonies.

Is there housing on campus for commencement weekend?

No. Housing is not available on campus for parents and guests. A list of hotels in the area is available on the Chapel Hill/Orange County Visitors Bureau and the Durham Convention and Visitors Bureau websites.

How will I receive my diploma?

At the end of June, your diploma will be mailed to your home address as listed in ConnectCarolina. If your department has a separate ceremony, check with your department to determine whether or not they intend to distribute diplomas at their ceremony. Diploma frames can be purchased at Student Stores . Diplomas will not be available for pick-up.

The Doctoral Hooding Ceremony will be livestreamed.

• Office of the University Registrar , (919) 962-3956
• Commencement Accessibility Services, [email protected]
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• University Events Office — [email protected] , (919) 962-9154

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THE GRADUATE SCHOOL

• Academic Policies & Procedures

Commencement & TGS Hooding Ceremony

Please see below for important dates and information regarding the 2024 Commencement and the TGS hooding ceremony. We will continue to update this webpage as details become available.

2024 University Commencement

Commencement is open to all Northwestern graduates. It is a University-wide ceremony where graduates are commemorated as a whole. During the ceremony, students, faculty, and guest speakers address graduates and their families.

The 2024 Commencement ceremony will take place on  Sunday, June 9, 2024 at 10:30 AM at  United Center ( 1901 W Madison St, Chicago, IL 60612 ) .  Please refer to the University Graduation website  for details.

In addition to the University Commencement ceremony, each Northwestern school and The Family Institute host a ceremony or ceremonies for graduates.

Students who wish to participate in the University Commencement, a school ceremony, or both should pay careful attention to all deadline announcements as they are made closer to the ceremonies.  Please direct any questions regarding Commencement to the Office of Graduation and Senior Year Experiences (GSYE) .

  TGS PhD and MFA Hooding Ceremony  The Graduate School will host an in-person PhD and MFA hooding ceremony on Friday, June 7, 2024 at 2:00 PM  in Ryan Fieldhouse (2333 Campus Drive, Evanston, IL 60208)  on the north end of the Evanston campus to the east of Lincoln Street and Sheridan Road.  (Please note that this is the indoor practice football field — not the Ryan Field  football stadium on Central Street).  This annual ceremony formally recognizes participating PhD and MFA graduates of TGS programs that are in partnership with the following schools: The Weinberg College of Arts and Sciences The Kellogg School of Management The School of Communication The Feinberg School of Medicine The Graduate School Interdisciplinary Programs 2023–24 PhD and MFA graduates—Summer (September) 2023 through Spring (June) 2024—are invited to attend this year's hooding ceremony.  In order to participate in the 2024 PhD and MFA Hooding Ceremony, your PhD or MFA must be conferred in September 2023, December 2023, March 2024, or June 2024. Please note that Summer (August) 2024 graduates are not eligible to participate in this year’s hooding ceremony. If you will graduate in August 2024, you will be invited to participate in the 2024–25 PhD and MFA Hooding Ceremony, which will be held in June 2025.    Partner School PhD Ceremonies PhD students who graduate from TGS programs that are in partnership with the School of Education and Social Policy (SESP), the McCormick School of Engineering and Applied Science, and the Henry and Leigh Bienen School of Music are invited to participate in the respective partner school's ceremony instead of The Graduate School's ceremony. Please contact your school representative below for additional details about convocation ceremonies for these partner schools: Bienen School of Music : Linda Jacobs –  [email protected] McCormick School of Engineering :  [email protected] School of Education and Social Policy :  [email protected] Partner School MA, MS, and MPH Ceremonies TGS Master of Arts (MA), Master of Science (MS), and Master of Public Health (MPH) graduates should check with their departments or school convocation contact regarding eligibility and participation in any partner school ceremonies.  The Family Institute Ceremonies Graduates from the Master of Arts in Counseling and Master of Science in Marriage and Family Therapy should email  Kristen Catuara, Assistant Director for Administration at The Family Institute , at   [email protected]  with any questions about their ceremony.   Last Updated:  November 20 , 2023

The Graduate College » Current Students » Graduation

Ready to Graduate?

View Graduation Deadlines  for the current and upcoming semesters.

Run your Graduation Checklist first! The graduation application and all other required steps are located here. You can also use this application to check your graduation status .  

A guide to complete the Graduation Checklist can be found below. To view these documents, you will need  Adobe Acrobat Reader , a free download.

• View Graduate Certificate Checklist Guide  (PDF)
• View Non-Thesis Checklist Guide  (PDF)
• View Thesis Checklist Guide  (PDF)
• View Dissertation Checklist Guide  (PDF)
• View Library Dissertation Checklist Guide  (PDF)

Commencement Ceremonies

Whether you are a first-time graduate, graduate student, parent or UC faculty member joining in the celebration, this will be a memorable day for you. Find details and information on the Commencement website.

Spring 2024 Commencement Ceremony Details

The university will host Spring 2024 Hooding and Master's Recognition Ceremony on Thursday, April 25. More information can be found on the Commencement website. 

Fall 2023 Commencement Ceremony 

Congratulations Fall 2023 graduates! Fall 2023 Commencement Ceremony information can be found on the Commencement website.

Purchasing Regalia

Any graduating student may purchase regalia, regardless of their ceremony participation. 

Doctoral Regalia

Doctoral students participating at the ceremony are only permitted to wear the red UC regalia .

Spring 2024

Standard and Fine doctoral regalias are found on  Jostens.com .   The last day to order regalia is Wednesday, March 6, 2024.

Inquiries can be directed to Jennifer Smith-Hunter; call UC Bookstore at 513-556-1700 then press 3 or email her at [email protected].

Master Regalia

Graduate regalias are found on  Jostens.com .  The last day to order regalia is Wednesday, March 6, 2024.

After Graduation

• Order your final transcript  
• Where is my diploma?  
• Access your  certified electronic diploma

Graduate Commencement

Fenway Park

Sunday, May 5, 2024 10:00 a.m. ET

ON THIS PAGE:

Graduate Commencement Ceremony

Graduate Arrival (Gate B) – 8:00 a.m. Guest Gates Open (Gates A, D, E) – 8:00 a.m. Student Procession – 8:45 a.m. Ceremony Start Time – 10:00 a.m.

Fenway Park, 4 Jersey St, Boston, MA Rain or shine

Duration: Each ceremony will last 90-120 minutes. The graduate procession into Fenway will begin 1.5 hours before the ceremony start time.

The ceremony will be livestreamed for all who are unable to attend. Details will be on the commencement website on the day of the ceremony.

Eligibility

All Master and Doctorate (DNP, PharmD, DPT) level Boston candidates who are completing their degree requirements between Fall 2023 through Summer 2024 are eligible to attend the Graduate commencement ceremony.

Please note that all candidates receiving a degree in Doctor of Philosophy, School of Law, and College of Professional Studies will have their own specified ceremonies. Click here to find your eligible ceremony.

Eligibility FAQ

There are no commencement ceremonies held directly following Fall or Summer terms.  If you graduate within the 2024 school year (Fall 2023 to Summer 2024) then you are eligible to attend the Spring ceremony held in May 2024.

We strongly advise attending the ceremony held at your primary campus for your commencement. Each Northeastern campus will be hosting a ceremony for its graduates. Please  click here  view dates and locations for your ceremony.

A separate registration will be emailed from your specific global campus.

Each graduate can claim up to 6 guest tickets.

Ticket information and instructions for the 2024 Commencement Ceremony was emailed to students on April 2nd.

Extra tickets will not be available for the Commencement ceremonies. The allotted guest count is based on the number of graduates and the capacity of the venue.

Children 2 years or younger who are able to sit on an adult’s lap for the duration of the ceremony do not need a ticket. Please note that strollers are prohibited. Children older than 2 years must have a ticket. 

After your initial ticket registration, you can log back into the ticketing webpage to claim the remainder of your tickets until the day of the ceremony.

Student Speaker

Do you want to be a speaker at commencement.

Each year, graduating seniors are invited to submit a speech to be considered for inclusion in the Commencement ceremony. Any student graduating in December 2023, May 2024, or August 2024, who is participating in the graduate commencement ceremony on May 5, 2024 may apply.

Deadline:  March 25, 2024 .

Looking for more info on preparing for your graduation ceremony?

Find out everything you need to do (including applying to graduate) in the months, weeks, and days leading up to graduation—and tips for the day itself.

Memorabilia and traditions

Looking for a gift for your graduate? Northeastern has a variety of items to celebrate their accomplishments!

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UCLA Graduate Programs

Doctoral Hooding Ceremony Information for Candidates

Eligibility.

In order to be eligible to participate in the 2024 Doctoral Hooding Ceremony you must meet the following criteria:

• You must have filed a doctoral dissertation approved by the Division of Graduate Education during the Summer 2023, Fall 2023 or Winter 2024 term OR you must file a doctoral dissertation approved by the Division of Graduate Education during the Spring 2024 term on or before Monday, June 3, 2024, by no later than 5 p.m. PDT . For information on filing: filing your doctoral dissertation .
• In order to participate in the doctoral hooding ceremony , you must be a doctoral graduate.  Master’s students should contact their department regarding commencement ceremonies.

If you have eligibility questions, please contact Academic and Postdoctoral Services at [email protected] .

Participation

Graduates who filed in Summer 2023, Fall 2023 and Winter 2024 will receive invitations to the doctoral hooding ceremony beginning in late April. Doctoral candidates who successfully file in Spring 2024 will receive an email invitation from the Division of Graduate Education.

Guest Tickets

Due to the increasing number of doctoral graduates and limited seating capacity in Royce Hall, graduates will only be able to order up to four (4) guest tickets and request two (2) waitlist tickets.  Tickets can be ordered through myUCLA only beginning on April 22, 2024 .   Faculty do NOT need tickets. They are invited separately by the Division of Graduate Education. 

Electronic Option Only

• Guest tickets will be issued electronically in early June by the UCLA Central Ticket Office (CTO).

Waitlist Tickets

• Through MyUCLA , you can request two (2) additional waitlist tickets for the Doctoral Hooding Ceremony during your designated ordering cycle. We make every effort to grant all waitlist ticket requests. However, they are not guaranteed .
• Waitlist tickets will be determined via lottery on a rolling basis.
• Waitlist ticket decisions will be posted on MyUCLA . If your waitlist ticket request has been granted, the status will be updated on MyUCLA and you will receive your tickets electronically.

“Day of Event” Timeline

1:30 p.m. Graduates check-in at Royce Quad.  Graduate and faculty reception on the West Terrace of Royce Hall. Light appetizers and beverages will be served at the reception. Due to space restrictions, family members and friends may not accompany the graduates to the graduate/faculty reception in Royce Hall.

2:00 p.m. Doors open in the auditorium for guest seating.

2:40 p.m. Processional line-up begins. The official party will lead followed by the faculty and graduate processionals

3:00 p.m. Hooding ceremony begins . The anticipated duration is 2 hours.

5:00 p.m. (approx.) Post-ceremony gathering outside on Royce Quad.

Reader & Display Cards

A pink or yellow reader card will be provided to you when you check in at the ceremony, and will be used to announce your name as you come forward to be hooded. Should you have a difficult name to pronounce, please print the phonetic pronunciation of your name where indicated.

You will also receive a card with a QR code printed on it.  This will be used to project your name on a screen on the stage while you are being hooded.

Graduates are responsible for renting OR purchasing their own  cap ,  gown and  hood for the ceremony. Ordering can be completed through  Graduation, Et Cetera . Questions should be directed to Graduation, Et Cetera (A-Level of Ackerman Union, 310- 825-2587).

• The rental regalia is a standard black gown, flat cap, and blue hood.
• Graduate rental regalia ordering begins on April 8, 2024 .
• TIME SENSITIVE NOTE:  For those graduates who wish to order fine regalia that is specific to UCLA (blue gown, tam and tassel that is custom sized), regalia must be purchased no later than April 12, 2024, as delivery takes approximately 8 weeks.  Any questions?  Contact Graduation, Et Cetera.

If you are receiving your PhD degree, you should purchase/rent a Royal Blue hood .  However, professional doctoral degree recipients should request the appropriate hood color representing their fields of learning:

Environmental Science & Engineering – Golden Yellow Education – Light Blue Music – Pink Nursing – Apricot Public Health – Salmon Pink

NOTE: Graduation, Etc. is the official Jostens vendor for the purchase and rental of regalia. Thus, they are licensed to reproduce the official UC colors and brand their gowns as University of California. There are other regalia vendors with whom you wish to do business. However, please note that we have no corporate responsibility information from their factories to determine where their materials are being resourced, or how/where they are being produced.

Tips for preparing your gown for your big day:

• Remove the gown from the packaging and place on a hanger to allow the folds to fall out, and hang your gown in a high humidity area. Otherwise, it will be very wrinkled.
• If you wish to press your gown, turn it inside out and press with a warm , not hot iron. Steaming is also an option.
• Because it has a tendency to get very warm in the auditorium, please wear lightweight clothing underneath your regalia.

Following the event, you may return your rented regalia to the collection tables outside Royce Hall. Caps, gowns and hoods may be kept and turned in later if you are participating in a separate ceremony during commencement weekend.

Ceremony Photographs

Graduates will be photographed by GradImages as they are being hooded during the ceremony. Graduates may purchase prints following the event and will be contacted directly by GradImages.

Graduation Announcements

Visit Graduation, Et Cetera to purchase graduation announcements.

Graduation Portraits

Formal or candid portraits can be scheduled at the Campus Photo Studio on the A-level of Ackerman Union. Sittings may be arranged in person or by calling 310-206-8433. Academic attire will be furnished without charge for use in the Campus Photo Studio. Portrait prices vary according to individual needs.

Ceremony Details

• Graduates: Please leave valuables, purses, and backpacks with family members/guests, as there is no place to store or secure them during the procession and ceremony.
• The Processional: Candidates will be led into the auditorium by two pre-selected student marshals. Professional graduates (Ed.D., D. Env., D.M.A., D.N.P. and Dr. PH) should line up at the end of the procession so the last reader can correctly identify their degrees. Faculty participants will be seated on stage behind the official party.
• Hooding: At the appropriate time, graduates will be directed by event staff to stand by row and proceed to the left side of the stage. You will hand your pink/yellow and QR code cards to an event staff person at the top of the stairs. You will be cued when to proceed across the stage to be hooded.
• NO GUESTS ALLOWED ON STAGE –  We kindly ask that you refrain from bringing guests (e.g. children, other family members) on stage with you when you are hooded.  We realize this is a joyous occasion and you want to celebrate the moment with your loved ones.  However, due to liability concerns, the swift pacing of the ceremony, the limited space on stage and the high number of graduates (more than 300) who will be hooded, we cannot accommodate additional people on stage.
• Due to the high number of graduates and time constraints, only pre-designated platform party hooding marshals will hood the candidates rather than individual dissertation committee members. Chairs, co-chairs and members of a dissertation committee will be invited to stand when their respective candidate(s) cross(es) the stage to be hooded.
• After being hooded you will pose for a photo with the Vice Provost/Dean and shake hands with the Provost/Executive Vice Chancellor. A photographer will stop you as you leave the stage to take an official photograph before you return to your original seat.
• You will not receive your diploma at the ceremony.
• Recessional : The official platform party that is seated on stage will file out of the auditorium first, followed by the faculty, and then by the graduates who will be led by the two student marshals.

How to Wear Your Cap and Carry Your Hood

Instructions on How to Wear Your Cap and Carry Your Hood .

UCLA Transportation uses the Bruin ePermit System where your license plate is your permit.

The Bruin ePermit system works similar to a supermarket scanner with your license plate functioning as the barcode. When read, the numbers of your plate are automatically referenced against the parking database to verify a valid permit for the lot location.

Students and guests attending 2023 Commencement ceremonies are able to purchase a parking permit online, anonymously, and in advance through the Bruin ePermit Event Parking portal beginning on May 1st.

To avoid long lines at the self-service pay stations on campus, it is recommended to purchase your parking permit in advance of attending the Commencement ceremonies.

• General parking will be available in Parking Structures 4 and 5
• Each permit will only be valid for one vehicle on the date selected
• Guest account is not required
• Depending on space availability you may be redirected to park in an alternative parking location, no additional parking permit will be required
• Parking permits are non-refundable & non-transferrable

View the  parking map  and  instructions for obtaining a parking permit .

Day of parking will also be available at our various visitor parking locations using the self-service Pay Station machines or  ParkMobile . If utilizing Parkmobile you can use Parkmobile Zone 2590.

Accessible parking is available  across campus  and guests displaying valid DP parking placards or license plates who have purchased a Commencement permit may park in any legal parking stall with the exception of Passenger Loading (white curb) and Commercial Loading (yellow curb) spaces.

If you have questions, please contact us at  [email protected] or (310) 794-7433. For more information regarding the Graduate Celebration please visit the UCLA Commencement 2023 FAQs.

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• Events & Schedule
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• Student Information

University PhD Ceremony

The University Ph.D. Recognition Ceremony will be held on Friday, May 24 at 5:30 p.m. at Barton Hall. Watch the Livestream of the Ceremony here. --> At this event, we will celebrate and recognize the significant achievements of doctoral PhD, JSD, and DMA graduates from August ’23, December ’23, and expected May ’24 and August ’24. This special ceremony is for all Doctoral candidates to be individually recognized on stage and welcomed into the academy of scholars. Ph.D. candidates and their families, friends, and faculty members are invited to attend.  A reception with light refreshments will immediately follow the ceremony.

Cap & Gown Online Ordering until April 18th

Doctoral regalia must be worn by Ph.D. degree candidates.  An outfit will include a Ph.D. robe, Ph.D. hood, soft tam, and gold tassel.  You should wear your Ph.D. regalia at the Ph.D. Ceremony on Friday, Commencement on Saturday, and your college or field ceremony during the weekend. It is not necessary to wait until your degree is finalized.

Ceremony RSVP & Hooding Photo Instructions

To Participate in the Ph.D. Ceremony

Ph.D. candidates must RSVP by Wednesday, May 22, 2024. RSVP HERE

“Walking early” is permitted, so candidates may participate in the Ph.D. Ceremony prior to their degree being finalized.

Phonetic Pronunciation of Names at the Ceremony

To help the faculty reading your name during the ceremony, please enter details via this short Qualtrics form .

Hooding Photos Prior to Recognition Ceremony

May 24, 2024 3:00 – 5:00 p.m. ILR Conference Center, Room 229

The Graduate School invites Ph.D. graduates and their advisors to the ILR Conference Center for the opportunity to have a professional photographer capture posed photos acting out the ceremonial hooding prior to the formal Ph.D. Recognition ceremony on May 24, 2024. Photos will be shared with the graduates free of charge in the days following Commencement weekend.

Photographers and photo backdrops will be available between 3:00 and 5:00 p.m. in Room 229 at the ILR Conference Center, next to Barton Hall. Photographers will capture posed photos of Ph.D. graduates and their advisors acting out the ceremonial hooding, in which a faculty member places the hood over the shoulders of the graduate to signify their success in completing their graduate program.

Hundreds of Ph.D. candidates will be recognized at the event, so please plan to arrive early to avoid a last-minute rush to take your photos. The photographers and backdrops will not be available following the formal Ph.D. Recognition Ceremony.

Graduates are free to invite their advisors or another committee member to perform the hooding. In addition, Dean of the Graduate School and Vice Provost for Graduate Education, Kathryn Boor, will be available from 4:00-5:00 p.m. to hood graduates whose advisors are unable to attend. Graduates should wear their appropriate cap, gown, and hood. Faculty members may wear their regalia , but it is not required.

Graduates and their advisors do not need to RSVP to take advantage of this opportunity. However, candidates must RSVP to attend the ceremony in Barton Hall.

Please contact the Graduate School with any questions about this event: [email protected]

Ph.D. Hooding Photos May 24, 2024 3:00 – 5:00 p.m. ILR Conference Center, Room 229

Arrival and Event Schedule

All participants of the academic procession should be inside Barton Hall and lined in place by 5:15 p.m.  The program begins promptly at 5:30 p.m. as music begins and the University Marshal leads the formal procession of candidates, faculty, trustees, deans, provost, and president.

All PhD candidates will walk across the stage as each name is read, during the ceremony.  When the ceremony concludes, an informal reception will follow inside Barton.  All are welcome to enjoy refreshments at the reception until 7:30 pm.

Faculty Invitation

Photographs

Office of University Commencement Events B13 Day Hall, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853 [email protected]

May Future Dates

• May 24-26, 2024
• May 23-25, 2025
• May 22-24, 2026
• May 28-30, 2027

December Future Dates

• Sunday, December 22, 2024
• Sunday, December 21, 2025
• Sunday, December 20, 2026

© 2024 Cornell University

Web Accessibility Help

Convocation

Questions about Graduate School convocation may be sent to [email protected] .

Spring 2024 Ceremony

Date : saturday, may 11, 2024 location : bass concert hall schedule : 8:30 a.m. masters ceremony 11:30 a.m. doctoral ceremony, each ceremony is anticipated to last approximately two hours and will be available for live streaming. please see below for additional details..

The Graduate School will hold Convocation on May 11, 2024, to celebrate master’s and doctoral candidates graduating in the Summer 2023, Fall 2023 and Spring 2024 terms. 

During the ceremony, graduates and guests can expect a formal program with remarks from Dean Sarah Ades. Following remarks, graduates will have the opportunity to walk across the stage as their names are announced, with professional photographs capturing these memorable moments. Additionally, the doctoral ceremony will include a special hooding segment for graduates and degree candidates. Each ceremony is expected to last approximately 2 hours. In consideration of all graduates, we kindly request attendees to remain until the conclusion of the ceremony.

Graduate School Convocation Details

Registration for Spring 2024 Convocation has closed as of April 12, 2024.

Thank you for registering for the 2024 Graduate School Convocation. A record number of graduate students and their guests will attend the master’s ceremony this year, and we have reached capacity. We are so excited to celebrate with you and your guests. Unfortunately, there will be no additional guest tickets available for the master’s ceremony. However, we will be live streaming the ceremony, so your guests are able to watch from all around the globe.

Eligibility for participation extends to students who graduated in the preceding summer or fall term, as well as those who have applied to graduate and fulfilled all their degree requirements for the current spring term.

This year, we are implementing a new system called Marching Order to streamline the RSVP and communication process for the Graduate School Convocation ceremony. It is mandatory for all students planning to participate in the 2024 Graduate School Convocation ceremony to RSVP. Please note that attendance at the Graduate School Convocation is optional. 

Starting on February 26, 2024, eligible graduates will be sent an email invitation to the Graduate School Convocation. To participate, you must complete the registration process outlined in the email. Once registered, you will claim the allotted number of digital guest tickets available. 

For the master’s ceremony, graduates will receive up to 3 tickets, and for the doctoral ceremony, graduates will receive up to 5 tickets. Graduates are responsible for securing their guest’s digital tickets. 

All participants in the ceremony must wear regalia, which can be purchased from the University Co-op . Regalia orders should be placed by the deadline specified on the University Co-op website .

Doctoral PURCHASE Priority Ordering Date: March 1, 2024

Doctoral RENTAL Priority Ordering Date: March 29, 2024

Master's PURCHASE Priority Ordering Date: April 12, 2024

Graduates do not need a ticket to participate in the Graduate School Convocation if they have applied to graduate and have been approved, but graduates are responsible for securing their guest’s digital tickets.

For all family and guests (aged two years and above) attending the ceremony, tickets are mandatory. Each approved graduate will be allocated a specified number of tickets. These guest tickets are for general admission, and seating is available on a first-come, first-served basis. Importantly, these tickets are free of charge. 

Master’s graduates will receive up to 3 tickets after registering, and doctoral graduates will receive up to 5 tickets after registering. We ask that graduates only claim the number of digital guest tickets needed. 

As of April 15, 2024, a record number of graduate students and their guests will attend the master’s ceremony this year, and we have reached capacity. Unfortunately, there will be no additional guest tickets available for the master’s ceremony.

You MUST be registered for Convocation to claim tickets for your guests.

Livestream For any guest without a ticket, the ceremony will also be streamed online. The link will be provided on the day of the ceremony. 

Master's Ceremony:  Check-in begins at 7:30 a.m. Graduates arriving after 8:15 a.m. will be seated backstage.

Doctoral Ceremony:  Check-in begins at 10:30 am. Graduates arriving after 11:15 am will be seated backstage.

Participation in walking across the stage during the ceremony is limited to graduates, except in cases where assistance is required, and an approved accommodation has been granted through the Office for Students with Disabilities.

On the day of the ceremony, graduates are required to check in with Convocation staff. It is essential that graduates arrive fully dressed in their regalia. Please note that personal items such as backpacks, purses, or coats cannot be brought into the venue, nor carried across the stage with you. There is no secure area available for storage. To ensure convenience, we recommend carrying cell phones and keys on wristbands or utilizing clothing with pockets beneath the regalia.

The University arranges for professional photos of each graduate as they walk across the stage to receive congratulations during the ceremony. Graduates and their families have the option to purchase these photographs, but there is no obligation to do so. Photography provides complimentary color proofs to each graduate, which are sent to their permanent address within two weeks of graduation. In the event that you do not receive your proof or if you prefer to place your order by phone or email, please contact Flash Photography at 1-800-410-8070 or visit  flashphotography.com .

Accessibility at Bass Performance Hall

Wheelchair Assistance 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. Our team members are available to assist in guiding guests to their designated seating areas upon request. To ensure a seamless experience, please reach out to the Graduate School Convocation team with specific instructions regarding your needs. While every effort will be made to accommodate requests, please be aware that last-minute requests may be challenging for us to fulfill.

Language Accessibility Live interpretation services will be provided for both Spanish language and American Sign Language during the ceremony. A limited number of headsets will be available for checkout for Spanish language interpretation. Individuals requiring access to American Sign Language interpreters are encouraged to contact the  Graduate School staff in advance to make necessary arrangements.

Parking Complimentary parking will be offered in all university parking garages and on most surface lots. The closest parking garage is the San Jacinto Garage located at 2400 San Jacinto Blvd. Accessible parking is available in all UT Austin garages for those displaying a valid state-issued ADA placard or license plate. For a comprehensive overview of road closures, drop-off locations and traffic flow around Bass Concert Hall, please refer to the link here .

Drop-Off & Rideshare The pick-up and drop-off point for guests and rideshare services to Bass Concert Hall is on DeLoss Dodds Way in front of the venue. Parents and guests may enter Bass Concert Hall through the main entrance on 23rd Street (facing Darrell K. Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium). 

To ensure a safe and enjoyable visit to campus, the following safety procedures will be implemented:

• Backpacks, totes, or other bags larger than 12 inches in any dimension will not be permitted inside any of the Commencement and/or Convocation venues.
• All bags are subject to search by security personnel. Attendees are kindly requested not to bring any packages that cannot be opened or inspected.
• No outside food or drink, including water, may be brought into the venue*
• The University of Texas at Austin is a tobacco-free campus
• Bass Concert Hall and McCullough Theatre are no re-entry venues

*Exceptions will be made for those with disabilities, medical requirements and/orspecial needs. Patrons with specific/special dietary needs due to disabilities, medical conditions or special needs should contact the Graduate School Convocation team prior to attending the event to arrange for reasonable accommodations.

Prohibited items include :

• All forms of tobacco and tobacco products, including e-cigarettes, per UT Tobacco-Free Policy
• Large backpacks or luggage
• Outside food or drink (including water)
• Recording devices of any kind
• Cameras with detachable lenses or tripods
• Hard containers including glass and vases
• Items deemed as weapons (including pocket knives) and fireworks
• Banners, balloons and noisemakers
• Selfie-sticks
• Tablets 
• Pets (Trained service animals or service animals in training with identifiable vests will be allowed. Service animals must remain on leash or in a harness at all times.)

For additional information regarding Bass Concert Hall venue policies, please visit their website .

1. Will my name be read out loud? Yes, during the ceremony, the names, programs, and doctoral supervisors of attending graduates will be read aloud. Additionally, doctoral graduates will be hooded by their dissertation supervisor or dean. All graduates will have the opportunity to walk across the stage.

2. Are extra tickets available? Convocation tickets will be released in phases. After all graduates have registered to participate and claimed their initial allotted number of guest tickets, any additional tickets available will be communicated via email to all registered participants. 4/15/24 Update : A record number of graduate students and their guests will attend the master’s ceremony this year, and we have reached capacity. Unfortunately, there will be no additional guest tickets available for the master’s ceremony.

3. What if I forget to register for convocation by April 12, 2024?  Contact the Graduate School at  [email protected] .

4. May I participate in the ceremony if I do not complete all requirements for my degree during the spring semester?  No, participation in the ceremony requires the completion of all degree requirements, including the dissertation defense and submission of final paperwork, by the end of the spring semester.

5. May I participate in convocation if I completed all my degree requirements in a previous semester?  Yes, graduates who have completed all degree requirements in a previous semester are welcome to participate in Convocation. Please ensure to register for the ceremony by April 12, 2024.

6. Will I receive my diploma at the ceremony? No, diplomas will not be distributed at the ceremony. Approximately six weeks after the graduation date, your diploma will be mailed to the permanent address listed in your University of Texas at Austin directory information. If you prefer to pick up your diploma in person, please contact the Texas One Stop at 512-232-6988 to make arrangements or visit their office in Room 1 of the Main Building. To verify or update your address, please click  here .

7. What should I bring to the ceremony? Personal items such as backpacks, purses, or coats cannot be brought into the venue, and there is no secure area available for storage. To ensure convenience, we recommend carrying cell phones and keys on wristbands or utilizing clothing with pockets beneath the regalia.

8. Which colors should I choose for my academic hood and tassel? The University Co-op has charts to determine the colors of your college or school. The University of Texas at Austin uses the “Academic Costume Code and Ceremony Guide” by the American Council on Education.  Click here  to view the chart.

9. My family can’t make it to the ceremony. Can they watch it online?  Yes, we will be live streaming the ceremony, allowing your family to participate remotely. On the day of the event, the Graduate School will provide a link to view the ceremony on our website.

10. How can I find hotels for my guests?  The Austin area offers an abundance of lodging options for visitors.  Visit Austin  has information to help you plan your trip. Note that Commencement brings thousands of visitors to the city; we recommend making lodging plans sooner rather than later.

11. Where can I get graduation announcements? Invitations and announcements may be ordered from the  University Co-op .

12. I am an international student and I need a letter signed by the Graduate School to assist my family in obtaining a visa to attend my graduation ceremony. How do I get this? To obtain a letter signed by the Graduate School to assist your family in obtaining a visa for your graduation ceremony,  please complete the online form . Once submitted, the Graduate School will process your request and provide you with the necessary letter.

13. Will my guests need to print their digital tickets? Guests have the option of printing their digital tickets and bringing them to the ceremony, or can save the digital version on a mobile device. Staff will scan the QR code on each ticket for entry.

14. Am I required to attend the Graduate School Convocation ceremony? No, students have the option for which ceremonies they attend. As a reminder, each of the University’s colleges and schools will host individual convocation ceremonies. Some departments within the larger colleges and schools may host individual ceremonies based on the size of their graduating class. There will also be the University-Wide Commencement Ceremony where deans of each college and school will recognize graduates as a group. Review the entire weekend's schedule of ceremonies .

The  University-Wide Ceremony  will be held May 11, 2024, at Darrell K Royal–Texas Memorial Stadium.  Separate procession tickets are required for degree candidates to participate and for guests attending the university-wide ceremony. 

The University-Wide Commencement Ceremony is hosted by the President and is the formal ceremony at which graduates of all colleges and schools at UT Austin are recognized as a group. The ceremony includes remarks from university leadership, the student body president, and the commencement speaker, as well as the official conferral of degrees by the university president. The ceremony begins with a procession of all graduates, followed by faculty and university leadership. It concludes with a fireworks display.

Important Dates

Degree ceremonies

Booking your degree ceremony, on the day: useful links for guests.

University of Oxford degrees are conferred at degree ceremonies, held in the Sheldonian Theatre. You may graduate in person or in absence, either straight after you've finished your degree, or many years later. If you choose to graduate in person, you will be presented by your college, hall or society.

• Undergraduate or Taught Master's students:  you will automatically receive an email in Michaelmas Term of your final year of study with instructions regarding when and how to book your degree ceremony. If you have not received an email at this time, please contact your college for further information. They will be able to assist you or forward your query onto the Degree Ceremonies team for further investigation.
• Research students:  you will automatically receive an email with instructions on how to book your degree ceremony once you have been granted leave to supplicate. If you do not receive an invitation at this time, contact the  Degree Ceremonies team .
• Conferring your degree  in absentia:  Students can select to have their degrees conferred  in absentia  on Self Service when invited to register for a ceremony. If you are a member of the University of Oxford’s alumni and would like to have your degree conferred  in absentia , please contact your college who will arrange for your degree to be conferred at the next ceremony.

Your college will communicate with you regarding arrival, gowning, catering arrangements and any charges you may be required to pay.

Managing your Degree Ceremony Booking

Please note that colleges will present graduands only on certain dates. If you completed your degree a number of years ago and haven’t yet graduated, or if you are a candidate for the Oxford MA, please contact your college to confirm which dates will be available to you.

Important:  Degree ceremony bookings close 30 days prior to the ceremony date. Please note that cancellation – or changing to another ceremony – is not permitted within 60 days of a booked ceremony.

If you decide to withdraw from the ceremony during this time, your degree will be conferred at the ceremony in absentia and you will not be able to attend a future date. Your place may be offered to graduands on the waiting list for that ceremony.

If you are, due to exceptional circumstances, required to withdraw from the degree ceremony within the 60-day non-cancellation period your college may, on your behalf, seek permission from the Vice-Chancellor and Proctors (via the Degree Conferral Office) to exceptionally permit you to apply for a place at another ceremony. Exceptional circumstances might include, but are not limited to: students or their guests with serious illness (including covid-19), or other comparable serious and unavoidable difficulties. Exceptional circumstances do not include work commitments, volunteering commitments, holidays, visa issues (where visas applications have been left too late to be processed in time for the ceremony), the unavailability of guests or similar. You will be asked to provide evidence of these circumstances.

You should only ask to rearrange your ceremony in these exceptional circumstances, as vacant places cannot be filled at short notice and rearrangement will result in gaps in ceremonies and unnecessary delays for other students waiting to book a ceremony. 

Dates and times of remaining degree ceremonies in 2024

• Saturday 11 May 2024 (10:30, 13:30, 16:15)
• Saturday 18 May 2024 (10:30, 13:30, 16:15)
• Saturday 13 July 2024 (10:30, 13:30)
• Tuesday 23 July 2024 (10:30, 13:30)
• Friday 26 July 2024 (10:30, 13:30)
• Saturday 27 July 2024 (10:30, 13:30, 16:15)
• Saturday 3 August 2024 (10:30, 13:30, 16:15)
• Friday 27 September 2024 (10:30, 13:30)
• Saturday 28 September 2024 (10:30, 13:30, 16:15)
• Friday 8 November 2024 (10:30, 13:30)
• Saturday 9 November 2024 (10:30, 13:30)
• Saturday 16 November 2024 (10:30, 13:30)

Dates and times of confirmed degree ceremonies in 2025

• Saturday 18 January 2025 (in absence only)
• Saturday 1 March 2025 (10:30, 13:30)
• Saturday 8 March 2025 (10:30, 13:30)
• Friday 16 May 2025 (10:30, 13:30)
• Saturday 17 May 2025 (10:30, 13:30, 16:15)
• Saturday 31 May 2025 (10:30, 13:30, 16:15)

Booking my ceremony

Can i book a place at a ceremony if i have not completed my degree.

Taught students in their final year of studies will receive an invitation to book a ceremony. Students on taught courses, who are not in their final year, will not be able to book a place until the start of their final year.

Research students will not be able to book a ceremony until they have been granted leave to supplicate.

What if I cannot attend a degree ceremony on the dates I have been offered?

You may choose either to graduate in absence or to decline and contact your college for the next suitable date. If you select decline, it is unlikely that you will be able to graduate for at least a calendar year, because the degree ceremonies run on a cyclical basis and are allocated to capacity.

Am I able to attend a ceremony with my friends?

Once you have received your email invitation to book your ceremony, you may wish to discuss with your friends about selecting the same graduation date if available. The University cannot arrange for groups to attend together due to space limitations and the dates your college is presenting.

Will I be able to amend the details of my booking?

If you booked through Student Self Service (rather than your college), you will be able to amend your details, excluding the ceremony date, up until 60 days before your chosen ceremony (30 days for research and some modular course students). After that date you should contact your college.

If you need to amend the ceremony date please contact your college. 

Why am I being asked to provide information on the ‘Additional Nominated Contact’ when booking my ceremony?

Your college may use the additional contact details when sending information about college graduation events.

Can more than one degree be conferred at the same ceremony?

Yes, but only the most senior of your degrees will be conferred in person; the remainder will be conferred in absentia. You may also have multiple degrees conferred in absence at the same ceremony. If you are unsure which of your degrees is more senior, please contact your college who will be able to advise.

If you have been invited to a ceremony for your most recently awarded degree, but have previous Oxford degrees which have not been conferred; you may attend to confer your most senior degree and confer your other degree(s) in absence at the same time.

If you would like to attend a ceremony in person for each of your degrees, you must decline the invitation for your most recent degree and contact your college.

How do I request the non-Christian formula?

During a degree ceremony the awards MA, DD, DCL, DM, and MCh are admitted, by default, with the University's traditional Christian formula. If you wish to be admitted with the non-Christian formula, this has to be made clear when booking your degree ceremony.

Am I eligible for the Master of Arts?

The status of Master of Arts is a mark of seniority within the University which may be conferred twenty-one terms after matriculation. This is not an automatic process and to obtain your MA you must apply through your college to graduate at a degree ceremony (either in person or in absentia).

You must have had your BA or BFA conferred in order to take your MA. They can be conferred at the same ceremony provided that sufficient time has elapsed since you matriculated. You are not eligible to take an MA if your undergraduate degree is an Oxford integrated Master’s degree (MBiochem, MChem, MEng, MMath etc).

The Oxford MA allows you to reach a new status within the University and is not an upgrade of your BA or an additional qualification, it therefore has no subject or class. The University does not issue ECTS statements as proof of your MA. Please use your degree certificate as evidence of this award.

If you have conferred the Oxford MA you should list this instead of, not in addition to, your BA/BFA when listing your postnominals: E.g. Name, MA Oxf. 

There is an administrative fee of £100 for the MA conferral and certificate, paid through the University Store. A link will be sent by your college at the point of booking. 

Before the ceremony

Do i need to pay anything for graduation.

You will only pay a fee if you are having your MA conferred, which will cost £100. Please contact your college to enquire about how to pay the MA fee and if they require a payment for gowns, lunch etc. 

Failure to pay the MA fee before 30 days before your ceremony will result in your place in the ceremony being cancelled.

Is there anything that can prevent me from graduating?

The conferral of your degree is conditional on the passing of all required examinations. If you have any debts or dues outstanding to the University you may not be permitted to graduate.

If you are a research student, you must also submit an electronic copy of your thesis at least five working days before the degree ceremony. Candidates who fail to submit thesis copies prior to their ceremony date will forfeit their opportunity to graduate in person at a later ceremony. 

I need to submit my thesis. What should I do?

To graduate at a degree ceremony (even in absentia) DPhil, DClinPsych, MLitt, and MSc (Res) students will need to submit an electronic copy of their thesis to the  Oxford University Research Archive (ORA)  a minimum of five working days prior to their graduation date. If you matriculated prior to 1 October 2007, and have not yet submitted a copy of your thesis, you must submit a hard copy if an electronic copy is unavailable. 

If access to a student’s thesis needs to be restricted, please email  [email protected] .

How do I obtain my degree certificate and can I have my certificate before the graduation ceremony?

Your degree must be conferred at a graduation ceremony before a degree certificate can be issued. If you need proof of your degree before the ceremony, please register on our eDocuments service to access your  degree confirmation letter .

Once you have your degree conferred at a degree ceremony either in person or in absentia, you will automatically receive a degree certificate. If you have already had your degree conferred, but did not receive a certificate following the ceremony, or your certificate has been lost, destroyed, damaged or stolen, visit the  degree certificates  page.

For all ceremonies, if you have not received your degree certificate within three months of the date of your ceremony  and you fail to notify us of this within that period, you will be charged for a replacement certificate. Replacement certificates can be ordered through our  online shop .

The ceremony day for students

Where can i find the itinerary for my ceremony.

Your college will be in touch in the weeks leading up to your ceremony day to confirm your itinerary. They may also provide information such as how to register your attendance at the ceremony, obtain your guest tickets, gowning information, and details for any college events that are taking place before or after your ceremony. If you have any queries, please get in touch with your college. 

What should I wear to my degree ceremony?

Full academic dress must be worn at degree ceremonies, including a mortar board or soft-cap, and your preferred  sub fusc . Members of the University serving in H.M. Forces are permitted to wear dress uniform together with a gown. The uniform cap must be removed when in the Sheldonian Theatre. Ministers of religion may wear clerical dress, with a gown over, when attending ceremonies.

If you wear a headdress/scarf for religious reasons, a black scarf should be worn.

Students having a DPhil conferred should wear the gown of their existing University of Oxford status (and the hood if there is one) during the first part of the ceremony. You will change into the gown (and hood) of your new degree at the appropriate time during the ceremony.

Students having a graduate masters degree conferred, and students having the degree of BA, BFA, BTh, Undergraduate Masters (e.g. MBiochem, MChem, MMath etc.) conferred, should consult their college as to whether they should enter the ceremony wearing the gown of their current status, or the status which will be conferred. In all cases, the gown and hood of the status to be conferred will be required as a minimum.

Your college will advise you as to which gown(s) and hood(s) you will need.

You will be refused admission to the degree ceremony if you are not properly dressed. 

Will my name appear in the degree day brochure?

If you are having your degree conferred in person, your name will be printed in the brochure, providing you have given permission for this to happen when you book onto a ceremony. If you haven’t told us you would like your name printed, or are receiving your degree in absentia, your name will not be included. If you are attending in person and would like to update your preference (up until 30 days before the ceremony), you may do so by contacting your college office. It is not possible to make any changes within 30 days of the ceremony.

I’m conferring my degree in absentia; will my name still be read out during the ceremony?

Only the names of those having their degrees conferred in person will have their names called out during the ceremony.

How many guest tickets can I have, and is there a dress code for guests?

Graduands are entitled to two guest tickets. There is no formal dress code, however most guests dress for a formal occasion. Check with your college about any special considerations for your college graduation event.

IMPORTANT: Guests will not be allowed to enter the Sheldonian Theatre without a guest ticket. If you bring additional guests, or if your guests lose their tickets, they will be denied entry. 

What do I do if my guests or I have special requirements for seating at the Sheldonian?

Please indicate at the time of your booking if you have special requirements (for example due to a disability), and inform your college of your guests’ accessibility requirements, so that the event organisers can plan where to accommodate you most comfortably and conveniently.

The Sheldonian Theatre is a Grade I listed building. Please note that there are no lift facilities and the majority of seats are benches, some without back rests. Guests should be made aware that they may have to climb several flights of stairs to be seated.

The ceremony day for guests

When should guests arrive and how will guests be seated.

Only guests with a ceremony ticket will be allowed to enter the theatre. If you bring additional guests, or if guests lose their tickets, they will be denied entry.

Guests should arrive at the Sheldonian Theatre 45 minutes before the ceremony start time. Seating is on a first come, first seated basis so please arrive with your whole party should you wish to sit together.

What Health and Safety requirements do I need to be aware of at the Sheldonian Theatre during Degree Ceremonies?

Can children attend the ceremony.

Children may attend the ceremony at the Sheldonian Theatre.  However, it is important to follow the instructions of the Theatre's Stewards on the day as the following restrictions will apply:-

- Any child who cannot sit on a parent/guardian's lap will require their own Guest ticket.

- Guests with young children will be seated in the Stewards Gallery and away from the front row.  This area has easy access to toilet facilities as well as the family-friendly Cecil Jackson room.

- Guests with unsettled children may be asked to relocate to the Cecil Jackson room if the ceremony or other guests are disrupted.  This is a family-friendly, safer and more comfortable room, where live streaming of the ceremony is broadcast.   Please note that Guest tickets are still required to use this room.  Please do notify your college if you think it applicable to your guests. 

Can guests store personal items during the ceremony?

Please note there is limited space to store pushchairs or luggage but we will try to assist where we can.

Is it possible for guests to take photographs or record videos during the graduation ceremony?

We ask that you and your guests refrain from taking photographs or recording videos during the ceremony. This will avoid disrupting the experience for other students and guests. There are opportunities to applaud the graduands on the day at certain points during the ceremonies.

Following the ceremony, a copy of the recording will be available to purchase as a digital download. Please visit  Degree Ceremony Filming  for more information.

Will the ceremony be filmed, to allow friends and family who cannot attend the ceremony in person to watch too?

For friends and family who do not have a guest ticket, live streaming of the ceremony will be available at  https://podcasts.ox.ac.uk/odc-livestream . Just click on the correct date and time of your ceremony; the live stream will start a few minutes before the ceremony begins. In addition, some colleges organise viewing facilities on college premises for those that do not have tickets for the ceremony. Please confirm with your college as to whether they offer this. Following the ceremony, a copy of the recording will be available to purchase as a digital download. Please visit  Degree Ceremony Filming  for more information. Please be aware that by attending a degree ceremony at the University of Oxford, either as a graduand or as a guest, you may be captured in photography or film footage. Note that not all students choose to graduate in person at a graduation ceremony – you can also choose to graduate in absentia.

After the ceremony

When can i use the title ‘dr’ after completing my dphil.

The title of doctor should only be used once the DPhil degree has been conferred at a degree ceremony, whether this is attended or the degree conferred in absence. Students who have completed their viva or submitted corrections should not use the title until such time as the DPhil degree has been conferred, at which point it is officially recognised by the University. 

You may of course opt not to use the title of doctor and instead include ‘DPhil’ after your name, again once the degree has been conferred, although you should not use both the title of Dr and DPhil following the name at the same time. 

How can I stay in touch with the University?

Please click here for the digital  Degree Ceremony Brochure  which provides a detailed explanation of the ceremony, complete with a translation of the Latin Script.

For friends and family who do not have a guest ticket, the link for live streaming of the ceremony will be available  here . Just click on the correct date and time of your ceremony; the live stream will start a few minutes before the ceremony begins.

Systems & Services

Access Student Self Service

• Student Self Service
• Self Service guide
• Registration guide
• Libraries search
• OXCORT - see TMS
• GSS - see Student Self Service
• The Careers Service
• Oxford University Sport
• Online store
• Gardens, Libraries and Museums
• Researchers Skills Toolkit
• LinkedIn Learning (formerly Lynda.com)
• Access Guide
• Lecture Lists
• Exam Papers (OXAM)
• Oxford Talks

Related documents 

• Degree Ceremony terms and conditions
• Degree Ceremony brochure

Did you know?

You can watch a degree ceremony by live stream at  https://podcasts.ox.ac.uk/odc-livestream

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The Graduate College at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Doctoral hooding celebration.

Congratulations Graduates!

may 2024 Ceremony

Friday, May 10 at 10:00 a.m. State Farm Center

Find more information about the ceremony including the link to register on the May 2024 Doctoral Hooding Ceremony event details page .

For a complete list of the May 2024 Convocation Ceremonies happening across campus, please visit the Commencement Office website .

If you have difficulty viewing this embedded livestream, visit this link .

Doctoral Hooding

College of Professional Studies 2024 Doctoral Hooding and Graduation Ceremony

Location and Timing

The College of Professional Studies Doctoral Hooding Ceremony and Graduation will be held on  Thursday, May 9, 2024  from 10:30 a.m. onwards at Matthews Arena , 238-262 St. Botolph Street, Boston, MA 02115.

The doctoral hooding ceremony is a special, intimate ceremony designed for our doctoral students.

College of Professional Studies Doctoral Hooding 2024 FAQs

When and where will my ceremony be held.

Doctoral Hooding & Graduation Ceremony

Thursday, May 9, 2024, at 10:30 a.m. Matthews Arena , Boston Campus

Who is eligible to attend the 2024 CPS Doctoral Hooding and graduation ceremony on May 9, 2024?

Eligibility for 2024 Hooding Ceremony on May 9, 2024

2024 Degree conferral dates (EdD, DLP, DPT programs):

• September 2023
• December 2023

July 2024 and Summer 2024 conferral dates will be invited to the May 2025 ceremony.

I am graduating from a Northeastern global campus. Can I attend the in-person Commencement in Boston?  

We highly encourage you to attend the commencement ceremony at your primary campus. 

Each campus of the Global System will be hosting its own ceremony for its graduates. To view the dates and locations, please click here . 

You will receive a separate registration email from your designated global campus. 

What is the arrival time for graduates?

You will need to check in for graduation at 8:30 a.m. (subject to change) at the Gainsborough garage near the Matthews Arena parking lot. Failure to check in may result in your exclusion from the ceremony. It is very important that you do not arrive after 10:00 a.m.

What is the arrival time for guests?

Doors open for guests at 9:30 a.m. 

Where do I get my regalia/cap and gown?

The best way to ensure that you will receive your regalia is to have it shipped to you. You can choose this option when you are completing your ceremony confirmation process in MarchingOrder . 

However, campus pickup will also be available. The cap and gown pickup information for the Class of 2024 will be announced at a later date. 

If you plan to attend the graduation ceremony, your academic regalia, including a cap and gown, will be provided at no cost to you as a keepsake of this special occasion. 

Can I receive regalia if I am not attending the ceremony?

A cap and gown will only be provided to students attending the commencement ceremony or college celebration. 

Guest information: Where should guests park and sit?

The 2024 CPS Doctoral Hooding and Graduation Ceremonies will take place on Thursday, May 9, 2024, at Matthews Arena . 

Admission to the ceremony is by ticket only; general seating applies. Ceremony begins at 10:30 a.m. 

Parking and Transportation

Complimentary parking for the ceremony will be made available in the Columbus Garage (795 Columbus Avenue, Boston). The garage is a considerable walk from Matthews Arena. If your guest has a mobility issue, it is advisable that you provide a wheelchair and/or drop off your guest at the arena with an escort prior to parking. Parking is handled on a first-come first-served basis.

Guest Entry and Seating

Guests will be admitted by ticket only; general seating applies. Guests enter at the main entrance of Matthews Arena. 

Individuals with mobility issues may use the elevator located inside the main entrance. Northeastern University and/or Matthews Arena staff will be available to assist you. Specific seating locations have been designated within Matthews Arena for wheelchair access only. Guests who use wheelchairs are to be accompanied by no more than one escort and will be directed to these areas by facility personnel. Availability is on a first-come, first-served basis.

Graduates will be seated according to degree. Graduates should plan with their guests to meet after the ceremony at a specified location away from Matthews Arena. Your cooperation in doing so will help alleviate the congestion resulting from ceremony attendance and expected pedestrian and vehicle traffic within the immediate area.

Facility Protocol

For safety reasons, the following items are not permitted inside Matthews Arena for the ceremony:

• Backpacks or bags larger than 12″x 12″x 12.” Women’s handbags of acceptable size may be allowed entry after search.
• Baby strollers
• Outside food/beverages
• Wrapped gifts
• Laser pointers or similar items
• Firearms or other weapons
• Artificial noisemakers

All guests and their belongings will be subject to search, at the discretion of Northeastern University. Patrons with prohibited articles will be turned away at the entrances. There is no storage or check-in area for such items. Enforcement will be without exception.

Out of consideration for others, we ask that mobile devices be turned off during the ceremony and that all guests remain seated until the end of the ceremony and after all the graduates have left Matthews Arena.

How long is the graduation ceremony?  

The graduation ceremony is expected to last 2 hours. 

Out of consideration for others, we ask that you and your guests plan to stay for the entirety of the program.  

The graduate procession into the arena will begin 15 minutes prior to the ceremony start time. Please plan accordingly to see your graduate process into Matthews Arena. 

Will I be able to purchase graduation photos?

Yes, you will be given opportunities to “capture the graduation moment” in your official NU (Northeastern University) academic regalia. A professional photographer, GradImages , will be available at the ceremony. Proofs, with information on ordering photos, will be mailed by the photographer to all degree candidates immediately following the ceremony. You may also contact GradImages directly with your questions. 

How many guest tickets will I receive this year?  

Here’s some important info:

• Each doctoral graduate is invited to bring 6 guests to the CPS Doctoral Hooding ceremony in Boston.
• Admission to the ceremony is by ticket only; general seating applies.
• Children 2 years or younger who can sit on an adult’s lap for the ceremony do not need a ticket. Please note that strollers are prohibited. Children older than 2 years must have a ticket.
• You will claim your guest tickets when you confirm your attendance at the ceremony in Marching Order.

As a reminder, the graduation ceremony will be live streamed on the CPS graduation website for your loved ones who cannot attend in person.

Can my tickets be mailed to me?  

Tickets will be available electronically only through your graduate Marching Order account.

Will there be a transcription of the audio portion of the ceremony?  

There will be closed captioning available on the screen for individuals who are deaf or hard-of-hearing. 

Is the ceremony handicap accessible?

Yes. There is handicap seating throughout the arena. Availability is on a first-come, first-served basis.

I am a student with a documented disability and will need accommodation at the ceremony. What do I do to make these arrangements?

We understand that attending the ceremony can be a special and exciting moment, and we want to ensure that all of our graduates have a positive experience. If you need assistance or have questions, don’t hesitate to get in touch with Learner Services.

They can be reached at  [email protected]  or by phone at 1-833-NU-LEARN  (1-833-685-3276).

If you require any accommodation during the ceremony, we would like to make the process as seamless as possible for you. When registering for the ceremony through Marching Order, please kindly indicate on the registration form that you require accommodation so that it can be arranged ahead of time for you. We want to ensure that your ceremony experience is enjoyable and stress-free.

Will I receive my diploma at the ceremony?

This ceremony is exclusively reserved for eligible Doctoral candidates, and it represents a proud moment for both you and the university. Your faculty advisor will have the distinguished privilege of presenting you with your Doctoral Hood during the ceremony.

Your official diploma will be mailed to you four to six weeks after the Office of the Registrar has officially awarded your degree. Please be advised that for international mail, an additional one to two weeks should be allowed for delivery. These time frames are estimates and subject to change. Graduates will be notified of the exact diploma mailing dates in advance. Additionally, it is important to note that diplomas cannot be picked up on campus.

Please see the Commencement Office website for FAQs regarding diplomas or contact the Office of the Registrar at [email protected] . Please include your student ID number.

Where can I stay while visiting the Boston area?  

Northeastern is located within walking distance or a short drive from more than a dozen hotels in the greater Boston area. We suggest starting your search in the Back Bay area of Boston. 

If you have questions about the CPS Graduation or Doctoral Hooding ceremonies, please contact [email protected] or phone 1-833-NU-LEARN (1-833-685-3276).

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Community Blog

Keep up-to-date on postgraduate related issues with our quick reads written by students, postdocs, professors and industry leaders.

Finland’s PhD Sword and Hat Tradition

• By Dr Harry Hothi
• August 19, 2020

As my PhD graduation day neared in 2012, I was given the opportunity to travel to Toronto and I ended up missing the university ceremony, eventually receiving the doctoral degree certificate in the post a few weeks later. Had I been a PhD student in Finland, I would also have missed the Conferment ceremony and not received my PhD sword and hat. Let me explain…

Finland’s Doctoral Sword and Hat

Once the university is satisfied that the academic requirement for earning a PhD have been met, candidates are formally awarded their doctoral degree certificates which can be collected during graduation ceremonies similar to those in the UK or picked up from the university some-time later.

Whilst on paper you’ll now be a PhD holder, in Finland you’re not considered to be a proper Dr’ until you’ve been through the official ceremony of Conferment which involves receiving a doctoral hat and an actual doctoral sword! In fact, doctoral degree holders that haven’t gone through Conferment are ‘not allowed’ to wear their doctoral hats at any future ceremonies requiring them and must instead carry them in their hands!

The University of Oulu describes the Doctoral Hat as “a symbol of liberty…scholarship and freedom of research” and the Doctors Sword is “a symbol for the scientist’s fight for what he or she, in rigorous research, has found to be good, right and true”.

Conferment ceremonies take place every couple of years and as you can imagine are a big deal for new PhD holders/doctors. At the conferment ceremony, new doctors are presented with their PhD hat, PhD sword and certificate of conferment.

The PhD or Doctoral hat, which looks like a top hat, is normally black in colour, but this colour may also vary depending on the specific degree awarded; A Doctor of Medicine, for example, is associated with a green hat, whilst a Doctor of Fine Arts with a dark blue hat. It also usually displays the university emblem attached to a velvet ribbon.

On the evening before conferment day, a traditional sword-whetting’ ceremony occurs. At this, new PhD holders bring the sword that they’ll officially be presented with the next day and they sharpen this sword on a hand-turned grindstone that’s turned by the other people at the ceremony. This is usually followed by a short speech by the new doctor in which they describe the importance of the sword to them and how it symbolises the defence of knowledge and their responsibilities as a new doctoral degree holder. When they are worn in official ceremonies in the future, they are traditionally placed on the left side.

PhD Defence in Finland: The Dress Code

In addition to Finland’s PhD Sword and Hat customs, Finnish university PhD defences (i.e. the viva) are steeped in tradition when it comes to the academic dress code. Most commonly, male doctoral candidates wear a tailcoat and black waistcoat with black socks and shoes, or a dark suit or military uniform. Female candidates usually wear a long-sleeved, high-necked short black dress or two-piece suit. Candidates are not permitted to wear hats or any prominent jewellery.

The Custos and Opponent (I’ll explain what these mean further on), assuming that they themselves hold doctoral degrees, traditionally carry their doctoral hats in their hands when they walk into and out of the auditorium. During the actual examination, they place their hats on the table in front of them.

At the post-examination karonkka (celebratory dinner), most men usually wear a tailcoat but this time with a white waistcoat instead of black, whilst women tend to wear evening dresses. In more modern times however, there has been a trend towards men starting to wear black/dark suits and women short, formal dresses.

As well as the tradition of clothing, swords and hats, the process of submitting and defending a PhD thesis is itself a rite of passage of students. Read on to learn more….

Finding a PhD has never been this easy – search for a PhD by keyword, location or academic area of interest.

The Finnish PhD Defence

First off, in Finland when you have write up your thesis you can do so in two main ways. The first is the conventional way used in the UK and elsewhere of a continuous large document, more than 50,000 words in length. The second (and the most common) is to submit a shorter summary thesis combined with 3 to 4 published papers.

When it’s ready, the thesis is examined internally by a thesis panel made up of faculty within your institution. This process occurs during what is known as a Grand Seminar’, which hopefully concludes with your thesis being approved for review by external examiners. The external examiners will critically assess your research and the contents of your thesis and make suggestions for any edits or revisions if deemed necessary. The primary outcome you’re after here is approval from the external examiners for your thesis to move to the next stage: The Public Defence.

The levels of formality and adherence to past traditions does now vary to some extent across Finnish universities but traditionally, the next step is for the University Faculty to select an Opponent or Opponents and the Custos. The Custos is the name used to describe the person that will be chairing the public defence and the Opponent(s) are the people that will be formally debating with the PhD student about the content of their thesis (i.e. the examiners’).

Once the Opponent(s) and Custos have been appointed, a date for the public defence is set. At the University of Helsinki , for example, public defences usually take place on Wednesdays or Fridays at midday or at 10am on Saturdays; the actual examination however starts at a quarter past the hour, at time referred to as the “academic quarter”.

On the day of the defence, which takes place in a large auditorium and is open to any member of the public to attend, the public examination officially starts after the PhD student enters the auditorium, followed by the Custos and Opponent(s) (the order here is important).

The doctoral candidate will first deliver a “lectio praecursoria” which is a 20-minute presentation that introduces the work of their research and the methodology used. This is followed by short introductory remarks about the research by the Opponent, after which the formal cross-examination begins.

The formal examination can last several hours, with the Opponent systematically working through the content of the thesis and the doctoral candidate defending their work as questions arise. After examination by the Opponent is complete, he or she will (hopefully!) declare to the Faculty that the thesis should be accepted (i.e. that the doctoral degree should be awarded).

After this, the ‘floor’ is opened up to the general public, with anyone from the audience welcome to ask questions, moderated by the Custos. This sessions concludes with the PhD candidate, Opponent and Custos leaving the auditorium in the same order that they came in.

Assuming that they pass the examination, the successful doctoral candidate will traditionally invite their Opponent and Custos to a formal evening dinner known as a karonkka. These dinners are in themselves quite an event, with expectations of ‘fine’ dining, prepared speeches and smart dress.

The traditions involved in Finland for gaining a PhD and the symbolism of new doctors being presented with a Doctoral Hat and Sword is something quite special and one that I hope lasts for a long time to come. Had I done my PhD research in Finland, I wouldn’t have missed my Conferment Ceremony for the world!

Banner image source : https://blogs.helsinki.fi/eltdkpromootio2015/doctoral-conferment-ceremony/instructions/doctoral-hats-and-swords/

The purpose of research is to enhance society by advancing knowledge through developing scientific theories, concepts and ideas – find out more on what this involves.

The unit of analysis refers to the main parameter that you’re investigating in your research project or study.

The term research instrument refers to any tool that you may use to collect, measure and analyse research data.

Join thousands of other students and stay up to date with the latest PhD programmes, funding opportunities and advice.

Browse PhDs Now

Do you need to have published papers to do a PhD? The simple answer is no but it could benefit your application if you can.

Stay up to date with current information being provided by the UK Government and Universities about the impact of the global pandemic on PhD research studies.

Dr Jain gained her PhD in Molecular Oncology from the Indian Institute of Science. She is now a science illustrator and communicator, and works with TheLifeofScience.com to initiate conversations around sci-art and women in science.

Dr Rowe gained his PhD in the fields of Chemistry and Biological Sciences from the University of East Anglia in 2018. He is now a project coordinator for Norwich Science Festival and also for Pint of Science in Norwich.

Join Thousands of Students

The Office of University Ceremonies at Arizona State University serves to present the formal dignity of academic traditions to faculty, staff, students and the community in which the university operates.

Graduates are welcomed and encouraged to attend all graduation ceremonies and celebrations.

Commencement.

University Commencement represents the culmination of a student’s academic achievement. It is a time of celebration and reflection for students, families, friends, faculty and staff. It brings together a diverse community to share in the joy of accomplished goals.

Graduates from all of ASU's campuses are invited to participate in the commencement ceremony. University commencement is the university-wide celebration at which degrees are conferred upon graduating students by the president of Arizona State University. 

At University Undergraduate Commencement graduates are recognized by college and stand as a group to be presented prior to degree conferral.  At University Graduate Commencement, Master degree candidates will be recognized as a group, by college. Your college will be presented by your dean to President Crow. Master degree candidates should be wearing their hoods when they enter Desert Financial Arena via the west tunnel. Doctoral candidates will be hooded by a faculty mentor and will have their names called before crossing the stage. 

Convocations

College and cultural convocations are a time for smaller groups to gather and celebrate students’ graduation. The smaller setting provides the opportunity for individual recognition. Convocation events are where your name is called and you will cross the stage to receive congratulations.  For more information about a particular convocation, please contact the dean's office of the college, or contact the University Ceremonies Office for information about special interest convocations.

If your university academic requirements are met, you will receive your diploma in the mail. Diplomas are mailed approximately six to eight weeks after the degree conferral date. Graduates will receive an email notification via their ASU email account when their diploma has been mailed. Diplomas are mailed to the student's diploma mailing address, which can be viewed and updated from  My ASU . More information regarding diplomas can be found on the  University Registrar Services website. 

Need more information? Visit the graduation section of the university registrar’s Web site for more information.

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Spring 2024 Commencement

Graduate College: Thursday, May 9th, 2024 at 7:00 p.m.

Veterinary Medicine: Friday, May 10th, 2024 at 1:00 p.m.

Undergraduate Ceremony #1 (AGLS and BUS): Saturday, May 11th at 9:00 a.m.

Undergraduate Ceremony #2 (DESIGN and ENGR): Saturday, May 11th at 2:00 p.m.

Undergraduate Ceremony #3 (H SCI and LAS) Saturday, May 11th at 7:00 p.m.

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Commencement

Spring 2024.

May 2 – 4, 2024

McCamish Pavilion

This Week in Commencement

Congratulations, graduates.

Spring 2024 will feature five ceremonies at McCamish Pavilion, designed to honor each graduate within a comfortable timeframe. 

RSVP closed on March 15. Bachelor's and master's students who submitted an RSVP will receive four tickets each. Ph.D. ceremonies do not require guest tickets.

Important Dates

• Feb 19 – March 15 RSVP window for all graduates
• March 15 Early and late walk requests due
• April 15 Mobile distribution of tickets begins
• May 2 – 4 Commencement ceremonies
• May 3 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., President's Graduation Celebration

Share Your Story

Each semester, we celebrate graduates by telling your stories through social media, Georgia Tech news, and Commencement pre-show videos. 

Ways to Watch

If you can’t be in McCamish Pavilion in person, you can still catch every minute of the action! Find out about our on-campus watch party and live-streaming options.

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Graduation Information

You should apply for graduation during the semester in which you register for your final term. This is also known as applying for a degree. You must apply to graduate whether you plan to participate in the commencement ceremony.

Apply for Graduation (aka Degree)

Note: If you're an undergraduate student, visit Registration and Records for graduation information.

Prepare to Apply

Learn the graduation deadlines that apply to you. Review the semester hour requirement. If you're completing a master's degree, you must have at least 21 semester hours to apply for graduation. If you're a doctoral student, you must have at least 75 semester hours.

Complete Your Application in MyNIU

Log in to MyNIU . Select the Academic Records tile, click Application for Graduation, slide Select to Apply to Yes, then click Apply. Follow the steps to apply for graduation. There is a one-time, nonrefundable fee of $55 per degree. It will be charged to your account once you complete this application.

Keep Track of Your Progress

During your final term, an initial audit letter will be sent to your NIU email address. It's your responsibility to review the letter, as well as the Academic Requirements page in MyNIU . Contact your advisor with any questions.

If you won't complete the requirements on time, you must defer your graduation date . There's no charge to defer graduation.

Participate in Commencement Ceremony

Let us help you celebrate! Once you have applied for graduation, you will also need to take the steps required to participate in the commencement ceremony .

Privacy Settings and Your Name

Your privacy settings in MyNIU determine whether or not your name appears in the commencement program. If you restrict the release of your name in your privacy settings, your name won't be published or appear in the commencement program. The deadline to make changes to your privacy settings is the same as the deadline for submitting your graduation application (also referred to as application for degree).

Your Diploma

In order to receive your diploma, you must clear any monetary or other obligations to NIU. Your diploma will be mailed to you four to six weeks after the end of the term. Your diploma will be sent to your permanent address on file with Registration and Records. You can change your address in MyNIU , or by contacting Registration and Records at 815-753-0681 or [email protected] . To see when your diploma was mailed, visit the Michael Sutter website .

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Here are the speakers for Pitt’s graduate school commencement ceremonies

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This story will be updated as speaker details for some schools are finalized.

Graduate and professional schools at the University of Pittsburgh will hold ceremonies to recognize their graduates throughout April and May. Find information on participating in the festivities, guest tickets and regalia.

Here are this year’s celebrations, listed in chronological order.

Kenneth P. Dietrich School of Arts and Sciences

When: 11 a.m., Thursday, April 25 Where: Fitzgerald Field House Speaker:   Adrienne Washington (A&S ’10G, ’16G) is an assistant professor in the Department of World Languages, Literature and Linguistics at West Virginia University. Her sociocultural linguistics research explores the social use of language among intersectional communities of the African diaspora in various locations.

School of Pharmacy

When: 10:30 a.m., Friday, April 26 Where: Soldiers and Sailors Memorial Hall and Museum Speaker: The graduating student speakers at this ceremony will include  Abigail Stewart (PHARM ’22), class of 2024 president, and  Yuang Chen  (A&S ’17, PHARM ’23). 

School of Nursing

When: 11 a.m., Friday, April 26 Where: Carnegie Music Hall Speaker: Professor Catherine M. Bender (NURS ’79G, ’94G) is a leader in oncology research with two focus areas covering the changes in neurocognitive function associated with cancer and cancer therapy; and disease and treatment-related symptoms and how symptoms and other factor influence adherence to cancer therapy. Throughout her career she has received millions of dollars in research funding from organizations such as the National Institutes of Health, the Oncology Nursing Foundation and the U.S. Department of Defense.

Swanson School of Engineering

When: noon, Friday, April 26 Where: Bellefield Hall Auditorium Speaker: Raman Venkatesh is the first chief sustainability officer for Medtronic, a medical device company. Before this appointment, Venkatesh served as an advisor to several venture capital funds in healthcare, energy and mobility and was executive vice president of Aquaporin, a company focused on improving water treatment and use.

Graduate School of Public and International Affairs

When: 3:30 p.m., Friday, April 26 Where: Soldiers and Sailors Memorial Hall and Museum

Visit the GSPIA commencement page  to RSVP for the event and learn more.

School of Public Health

When: 6 p.m., Friday, April 26 Where: Carnegie Music Hall Speaker: Admiral Rachel L. Levine , assistant secretary for health within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, will speak at the ceremony.

School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences

When: 9:30 a.m. and 2 p.m., Saturday, April 27 Where: Soldiers and Sailors Memorial Hall and Museum Speakers: Pat Croce (SHRS ’77), a New York Times bestselling author and entrepreneur with ventures in sports medicine, hospitality and professional sports (including serving as a minority owner and CEO of the Philadelphia 76ers), will speak at the morning ceremony.  Gregory Meloy (SHRS ’07) will speak at the afternoon ceremony. He is a celebrated orthopedic surgeon practicing in his hometown of Altoona, Pennsylvania, who completed his residency under the tutelage of Freddie Fu . Attendees will also hear from Anantha Shekhar, senior vice chancellor for the health sciences and John and Gertrude Petersen Dean of the School of Medicine.

Find more SHRS commencement information online.

Joseph M. Katz Graduate School of Business

When: 10 a.m., Saturday, April 27 Where: Petersen Events Center Speakers: At this first-ever combined ceremony, all Pitt Business degree recipients will hear from Henry E. Haller Jr. Dean Gene Anderson as well as the student and faculty member of the year from both the Katz School and College of Business Administration.

School of Social Work

When: 5 p.m., Sunday, April 28 Where: Soldiers and Sailors Memorial Hall and Museum Speaker:  Anthony Estreet is chief executive officer of the  National Association of Social Workers , the largest membership organization of professional social workers globally. He also is a professor for the Master of Social Work program at Morgan State University.

School of Law

When: 11 a.m., Friday, May 3 Where: Soldiers and Sailors Memorial Hall and Museum Speaker: Emily Kinkead (LAW ’16) is a Pennsylvania State Representative committed to eliminating barriers for working families. Kinkead was elected to serve Pennsylvania's 20th Legislative District in 2020.

School of Medicine

When: 2 p.m., Sunday, May 19 Where: Soldiers and Sailors Memorial Hall and Museum Speaker: Jeanne M. Marrazzo succeeded Anthony Fauci as director of the  National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases . In this role, she oversees a $6.3 billion budget that supports research to advance the understanding, diagnosis and treatment of infectious, immunologic and allergic diseases to improve the health of millions globally.

— Kara Henderson, photography by Aimee Obidzinski

John Surma is Pitt’s 2024 spring commencement speaker

Help shape pitt it’s 10-year horizon plan, pitt extends the fall 2024 commitment deadline to may 15.

Trump angry he may miss son Barron's graduation, campaign events. Then announces NC rally.

Barron Trump is the youngest of Trump five children and his only child with Melania Trump. He celebrated his 18th birthday on Wednesday, March 20.

Donald Trump fumed Monday that he may not be able to go to his son Barron 's high school graduation ceremony due to the trial in New York, or campaign events or a key judicial proceeding for that matter.

But just hours later, the presumptive Republican presidential nominee's campaign announced he would hold a rally in Wilmington, N.C., this coming Saturday, April 20.

Nonetheless, Trump flared his anger at the Manhattan court case in remarks after Monday's proceedings concluded. Earlier in the day, the presiding judge, Juan Merchan, ruled that Trump will not be excused to attend arguments at the U.S. Supreme Court, and did not decide on his son's graduation ceremony next month.

"That I can't go to my son's graduation or that I can't go to the United States Supreme Court. That I'm not in Georgia, or Florida, or North Carolina campaigning like I should be," Trump said as he departed the Manhattan courtroom where jury selection began on Monday. "It's perfect for the radical left Democrats. It's exactly what they want."

The mention of the high court is a reference to next week's scheduled oral arguments on his claim that as president he enjoyed complete immunity from legal liability for any actions. It is an argument legal scholars have widely disparaged as unconstitutional.

The case filed against Trump in New York stems from what prosecutors say was a business fraud scheme to cover up an alleged hush money payment to a porn star in the weeks before the 2016 presidential election. Trump argues it is politically-manipulated to damage his 2024 White House campaign.

According to the timeline provided by the actress, Stormy Daniels, the alleged affair would have taken place when Barron was an infant.

Previous story: Chelsea Clinton defends Barron Trump after 'fair game' comment by Mike Sington

Which son was Trump referring to?

Trump has four other adult children: Donald Trump Jr., 46, Ivanka, 42, and Eric, 40, all with his first wife, Ivana, who passed away in July 2022. Trump also shares another adult daughter, Tiffany, 30, with his second wife, Marla Maples.

Barron Trump scheduled to graduate next month

In August of 2021, Barron enrolled at Oxbridge Academy, a fairly new school (founded in 2011) located off Military Trail just west of West Palm Beach, about eight miles from Mar-a-Lago. He is expected to graduate this May.

The Oxbridge Academy website lists graduation day as May 17, but does not specify a time. The former president owns a refurbished Boeing 757 in which he has flown across the country for rallies and presidential primary events this year.

Antonio Fins is a politics and business editor at  The Palm Beach Post , part of the USA TODAY Florida Network. You can reach him at  [email protected] .  Help support our journalism. Subscribe today .

Live updates

Trump fumes that judge in hush money trial could force him to skip son barron’s graduation.

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Donald Trump fumed Monday that his  Manhattan hush money trial may force him to miss his son Barron’s high school graduation – and flashed a tight-lipped smirk as he stood to face the first pool of potential jurors who may decide his fate in the historic case.

“I was looking forward to that graduation with his mother and father there, and it looks like the judge does not allow me to escape this scam,” Trump, 77,  told reporters in the hallway of Manhattan Supreme Court after the first day of trial.

Trump’s attorneys had asked Justice Juan Merchan not to hold the trial on Friday, May 17 so the ex-president can attend Barron’s graduation at Oxbridge Academy in Palm Beach, Florida.

But Merchan was non-committal.

“It really depends on if we are on time and where we are in the trial,” he said.

The back-and-forth came as a handful of possible jury members were screened in the case charging Trump with fudging business records to cover up a hush money payment to ex-porn star Stormy Daniels ahead of the 2016 presidential election.

The trial — the first criminal prosecution of a US president — could last up to eight weeks and will run every weekday except for Wednesdays.

Trump’s attorneys also requested to excuse the former president next Thursday in order for him to attend Supreme Court arguments on immunity claims he raised in another criminal case — but Merchan didn’t bite.

“Arguing before the Supreme Court is a big deal, and I can certainly appreciate why your client would want to be there, but a trial in New York Supreme Court … is also a big deal,” the judge said, rebuffing Trump lawyer Todd Blanche’s request.

Follow The Post’s live blog for the latest updates on Donald Trump’s “hush money” trial

“I will see him here next week,” Merchan added.

That ruling led to more ire from Trump in the hallway.

“He won’t allow me to leave here for a half a day to go to DC and go before the United States Supreme Court, because he thinks he’s superior, I guess, than the Supreme Court,” the GOP 2024 presidential frontrunner said. 

“I just want to thank you very much,” he added, sarcastically, “but that I can go to my son’s graduation, but then I can’t go to the United States Supreme Court, and I’m not in Georgia or Florida or North Carolina, campaigning. Like I should be. It’s perfect for the radical left Democrats. That’s exactly what they want.”

No jurors were selected Monday. Out of a first pool of 96 prospects, at least 50 were excused after saying they could not be fair and impartial when judging the ex-president, and 32 remained by the end of day.

Follow along with The Post's coverage of Trump's trial over his hush money charges

• Trump rails on gag order, says he should be on campaign trail instead of in court .
• Prosecutors want judge to fine Trump $3K, hold him in ‘contempt of court’ for alleged breaches of gag order .
• COLUMN: It’s disgusting to stop Trump from attending Barron’s graduation for a partisan sham trial that shames America
• ‘Soft-on-crime’ DA Alvin Bragg collected $850K in campaign donations after Trump indictment
• Trump smiles, nods at potential juror in ‘hush money’ trial who says he’s read ‘Art of the Deal’

Keep up with the trial’s latest updates on The Post’s live blog

“I just couldn’t do it,” one dismissed juror, a woman in her 30s with short hair, was heard saying in the hallway on her way out.

One prospective panelist, a bookseller from the Upper West Side, told the court that he feels no one is above the law — whether it’s a “former president or a janitor.”

The potential juror, who works at the Drama Book Shop in Midtown, responded to Question No. 31 in the juror handout, which reads, “Do you have any strong opinions or firmly held beliefs about whether a former president may be criminally charged in state court?”

“I feel that nobody is above the law, whether it be a former president or a sitting president or a janitor,” he said with a punch.

Trump  has pleaded not guilty  to 34 felony counts of falsifying business records for allegedly covering up a $130,000 payment to Daniels to silence her story about an alleged tryst – in what District Attorney Alvin Bragg says is a scheme to hide a damaging story from 2016 presidential voters.

Because it’s a criminal trial, the former commander-in-chief must show up at court every day that it’s in session. He faces up to four years in prison if convicted.

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Travis and Jason Kelce ‘graduate’ from college during a surprise ceremony in Cincinnati

The Kelce brothers took their podcast to their alma mater this week and the live show ended with a surprise — a long-overdue college graduation ceremony at the University of Cincinnati.

Travis and Jason Kelce returned to the university Thursday night to record a live episode of their podcast, “New Heights,” in front of thousands of fans at the Fifth Third Arena.

The live taping concluded with a surprise graduation ceremony for the football stars, during which they were both dressed in the classic graduation cap and gown.

University of Cincinnati President Neville Pinto — also in traditional graduation garb — presented the brothers with their diplomas, the Cincinnati Enquirer reported . Their parents, Donna and Ed Kelce, and UC athletic director John Cunningham joined them onstage for the mini ceremony.

After hugging Pinto but before grabbing his diploma, Travis Kelce downed an entire beer as “Fight for Your Right” by The Beastie Boys blared over the arena’s speakers.

Jason Kelce attended UC from 2006 to 2010 and Travis Kelce from 2008 to 2012, according to the university . The brothers played football for the school and shared the field for two years while their educations overlapped.

According to the Enquirer, Jason Kelce earned a marketing degree, but wasn’t able to make it to the commencement ceremony, and Travis Kelce finished his outstanding credits to complete his degree in interdisciplinary studies from the College of Arts and Sciences in 2022.

“A surprise commencement we’ll never forget,” the Cincinnati Bearcats said on social media alongside a carousel of images from the event.

“Congratulations to Travis and Jason on (finally) picking up their diplomas!”

Rebecca Cohen is a breaking news reporter for NBC News.

ASU 2024 spring graduation: When is it, what can I bring and where should I park?

Graduation day is less than a month away for students across Arizona. Arizona State University students will celebrate among thousands of their peers this May at the university’s spring commencement ceremonies.

Many who are set to graduate started their college careers in the midst of a global pandemic.

Last year, ASU celebrated 19,700 graduating students. Of them, 15% were international students, roughly 70% attended in-person and nearly half were Arizona residents. ASU, with campuses in Tempe and Phoenix, is one of the largest universities in the country with more than 140,000 students enrolled in total.

Here’s what to know before celebration day for the Sun Devils.

When is ASU graduation?

This year, spring commencement will be on May 6 for both graduate and undergraduate ASU students. The ceremonies will be at different times of day, allowing guests to attend both. The undergraduate ceremony will last around 90 minutes and no tickets are required for either ceremony.

ASU graduate commencement will be at 9 a.m. at Desert Financial Arena. Doors are set to open at 7:30 a.m.

Undergraduate commencement will be at 7:30 p.m. at Frank Kush Field at Mountain America Stadium. Doors are set to open at 6 p.m.

More than 30 school-specific convocations are scheduled throughout graduation week. For a full list, including locations and times, visit ASU’s site .

What can I bring to ASU's graduation?

Guests for graduation will have to adhere to ASU’s clear bag policy . All clutch bags larger than 4.5 by 6.5 inches will need to be transparent, such as a gallon-sized plastic bag. Seat cushions without pockets or zippers are allowed.

Other prohibited items:

• Outside beverages
• Tobacco or e-cigarette products
• Selfie sticks and tripods
• Full-size strollers
• Noisemakers
• All weapons

All guests with non-compliant bags will need to return items to their car.

Where should I park at ASU's graduation?

ASU’s campus includes multiple parking locations detailed on its site . General parking is free and on a first-come, first-serve basis.

Parking near Mountain America Stadium:

• Packard Drive Structure

Parking near Desert Financial Arena :

• Packard Drive South Garage
• Novus Parking Structure

A courtesy shuttle is available for guests with a disability or accessibility license plate who are parked at Lot 59. More information is online or by calling 480-965-6407.

Helen Rummel covers higher education for The Arizona Republic. Reach her at [email protected]. Follow her on X, formerly Twitter: @helenrummel .

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Trump hush money trial

Israel-Hamas war

SCOTUS arguments

Day 1 of Trump New York hush money trial

By Kara Scannell , Jeremy Herb , Maureen Chowdhury , Kaanita Iyer , Aditi Sangal and Elise Hammond , CNN

Fact Check: Trump falsely claims judge won't let him attend son’s high school graduation next month

From CNN’s Marshall Cohen

After leaving court on Monday, former President Donald Trump repeatedly suggested that Judge Juan Merchan would prevent him from attending his son’s high school graduation in May. 

“It looks like the judge will not let me go to the graduation of my son,” Trump said, before lamenting “that I can’t go to my son’s graduation.” 

Trump’s son Eric Trump ratcheted up the rhetoric by tweeting, “Judge Merchan is truly heartless in not letting a father attend his son’s graduation.”

Facts First:  The judge hasn’t ruled yet on Trump’s request to be excused from court so he can attend Barron Trump’s high school graduation.

Criminal defendants like Donald Trump are typically required to attend their case proceedings in person. Trump’s lawyers asked Merchan on Monday about whether their client could be excused for some events, including the graduation and the upcoming arguments in front of the US Supreme Court in one of Trump’s other criminal cases.

While Merchan didn’t let Trump attend next week's Supreme Court hearing – because Trump has to be in New York for the trial — he said it was too early to rule on the graduation.

Trump appeared to fall asleep during some moments of trial, New York Times' Maggie Haberman says

Former President Donald Trump appeared to fall asleep during the first day of the hush money trial , according to a New York Times reporter who was at the courthouse.

In one moment, his jaw kept falling onto his chest and he didn’t appear to pay attention to a note his lawyer passed him, New York Times senior political correspondent Maggie Haberman said.

“He appeared to be asleep. Repeatedly his head would fall down,” she told CNN.

The moment happened before jury selection began on Monday afternoon. According to the pool reporters inside the courtroom, Trump was leaning back in his chair with his arms folded and his eyes appeared to be closed for several minutes at a time.

Trump's team asked whether he could attend SCOTUS arguments next week. The judge said see you "here next week"

Judge Juan Merchan told Donald Trump's team he will see them next week when asked about the possibility of changing the schedule so the former president could attend Supreme Court arguments April 25.

Trump attorney Todd Blanche noted the former president "very much" wants to attend the arguments over whether  the former president may claim immunity  in special counsel Jack Smith’s election subversion case.

Prosecutor Josh Steinglass said there's no obligation that the defendant has to be present at the Supreme Court arguments, opposing the request.

"Your client is a criminal defendant," Merchan told Blanche. "He's required to be here" and not at the Supreme Court.

Merchan said he will see him "here next week."

Trump rails against hush money case after first day of trial

Former President Donald Trump railed against the criminal case against him in New York after the first day of jury selection on Monday. He called it a “scam trial” and a “political witch-hunt” in remarks outside the courtroom.

Trump was charged last year with  34 felony counts  of falsifying business records for his alleged role in a hush-money scheme  before the 2016 election . Trump has pleaded not guilty.

On Monday, Trump complained that he would not be able to attend his son's graduation from high school because of the trial.

The judge said he will not yet rule on Trump's request to skip the trial on May 17 for him to attend his son’s high school graduation. “It really depends on if we are on time and where we are in the trial,” Judge Juan Merchan said.

The post was updated with more comments from the former president.

What happened during the first day of the historic hush money trial against Donald Trump

From CNN staff

Lawyers on both sides are working to select a panel of 12 jurors and six alternates in the hush money trial against former President Donald Trump.  

On Monday, 96 prospective jurors were brought into Judge Juan Merchan’s courtroom to be vetted. More than half were excused after saying they couldn't be fair and impartial , and at least nine others were excused after raising their hand when Merchan asked whether they could not serve for any other reason.  

Before the selection process began, Merchan made several rulings on evidence that can be included in the trial. 

How the process will work:   

• Potential jurors will complete a questionnaire created by the judge with input from the attorneys for Trump and the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office.  
• If the potential jurors make it into the jury box, they’ll read their answers out loud. The attorneys and the judge can then ask follow-up questions to further vet them for possible conflicts or biases.  
• Eighteen potential jurors were called into the jury box Monday. Merchan questioned nine people before court ended for the day. One person was dismissed after she said she had firmly held beliefs about Trump. Merchan excused another juror who said his child was getting married on June 8.  
• The judge can dismiss prospective jurors for cause. Prosecutors and Trump’s defense team will also get 10 peremptory strikes they can use to remove a juror from the pool, no questions asked.  
• The identities of the jurors will remain anonymous but will be known to the attorneys on both sides.  

Why the jury is such an important factor in this case: Choosing a jury will be no easy task when the defendant is a former president who has been at the center of US politics for nearly 10 years now and a figure in the New York tabloids going back decades. Trump’s lawyers have already argued that he can’t get a fair jury in New York County because the jury pool is biased against him. The petition to move the trial was denied. 

Here’s what else to know:  

• Trump in court: Trump stood and turned around when he was introduced as the defendant, giving the prospective jurors a tight-lipped smirk , according to pool reports. Many prospective panelists who filed into the courtroom stretched their necks and lifted their heads to get a look at Trump once in their seats. According to the pool reporters inside the courtroom, Trump was leaning back in his chair with his arms folded and his eyes appeared to be closed for several minutes at a time.
• A hearing next week: Merchan said he will hold a hearing on April 23 on the district attorney's motion to sanction Trump for his social media posts that prosecutors allege violate the gag order against him. 
• Swatting incident: A couple of dozen emails were generated indicating that bombs had been placed in the area around the Manhattan courthouse, a law enforcement source told CNN. The threats were unfounded and ruled to be a "swatting" incident, the source said. 

Judge tells jurors not to converse among themselves — or others — about the case

Judge Juan Merchan again read the jury instructions, and told potential jurors that he will will read it numerous times throughout the process.

He told the potential jurors not to converse among themselves or others anything related to the case.

First day of court ends with 9 potential jurors questioned

Judge Juan Merchan adjourned court for the day after nine potential jurors had gone through the questionnaire.

He said he wants to start at 9:30 a.m. ET sharp tomorrow morning and encouraged everyone to be on time.

Biden shakes his head when asked whether he’s watching coverage of Trump’s criminal trial

From CNN's Donald Judd

President Joe Biden shook his head when asked Monday whether he watched any coverage of former President Donald Trump’s criminal trial. 

The question came as Biden held a bilateral meeting at the White House with Czech Prime Minister Petr Fiala.

Earlier Monday, White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre declined to comment on the historic event in New York, citing the ongoing nature of the trial and Trump’s position as the presumptive GOP nominee for president. 

In contrast, Jean-Pierre said, Biden would focus instead on his responsibilities as president.

Judge scolds defense team for returning late from break

From pool reports

Before jurors were brought back into the courtroom following a short afternoon break, Judge Juan Merchan gently admonished the defense team for returning late, according to pool reports.

Merchan said court will break for the day around 4:30 p.m. ET.

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