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Graduate School

Doctoral Hooding

Congratulations on your upcoming commencement ceremony! We can't wait to celebrate with you. Read up on where to be and what to expect the day of graduation.

View Full Commencement Calendar

Visit the Registrar website for dates, tickets and additional day-of information.

Requirements

If you plan to attend the hooding ceremony, you must have:

Before the Ceremony

1. Buy Your Cap, Gown and Hood


Where to Buy

The University Bookstore

What to Buy

Your doctorate gown should be black and your tassel should be gold. Your hood depends on your discipline. Check with your program or department to confirm the correct doctoral hood.


2. Make Arrangements with Your Major Professor 

Your major professor will accompany you onto the stage and assist with your hooding. 

Remind Your Major Professor...

They will need to bring their own cap, gown and hood to the ceremony.

If Your Major Professor Cannot Be at the Ceremony...

If your major professor is on sabbatical or otherwise cannot attend the hooding ceremony, consult with your major professor to arrange for another member of your committee or faculty to accompany you onto the stage.


Optional: Order Personalized Announcements

You can order announcements through the University Bookstore if you'd like. Please allow two weeks for printing. The bookstore does not carry pre-printed announcements for the ceremony.

 The Day of the Ceremony


Where To Be

The large rehearsal hall in the Koger Center.

When to Arrive

At least one hour before the ceremony begins.

Attire

You should be robed and have your cap and hood when we begin organizing for the ceremony. Racks are available for hanging clothing and our staff will be in the rehearsal room for security during the ceremony.

Seating and Guests

Candidates and their director escorts are not assigned seats in advance. Guests are welcome and seating tickets are not required. 

Approximate Schedule

1 hour before ceremony

Candidates and faculty escorts should arrive at the Koger Center. Go to the large rehearsal hall to organize by college. 

30 minutes before ceremony

You will be seated in procession order.

20 minutes before ceremony

Faculty who wish to be part of the ceremony but are not hooding candidates should arrive. 

5 minutes before ceremony

Procession begins

1 hour after ceremony

The hooding ceremony ends. You will process out of the Koger Center after the Platform Party leaves the stage. A reception for you, your guests and the faculty will follow in the lobby. We look forward to celebrating with you!

Ceremony Procedures

1. Assemble by colleges. 

Signs for each college will be posted around the periphery of the rehearsal hall and we will have staff members to help you.

2. Receive lineup instructions from your organizing staff member.

You will receive a name card to hand to the marshal as you step onto the stage for hooding so they can present you. Do not misplace this card. If the pronunciation of your name or your director's name is not obvious, please write a phonetic spelling on the card.

3. Be aware of where your faculty escort is lining up.

Faculty will join the line behind their student to be hooded. If a faculty member is escorting more than one student, they will join the line behind their first student to be hooded. Any other student who is to be hooded by the same faculty member will line up behind the faculty member. Once onstage, that professor will remain to hood all of their students in order, regardless of their degree or alphabetic order.

If you do not have a major professor present to hood you...

Another professor in your college must assume that responsibility. If the faculty escort listed on your name card is not the one who will assist with your hooding, print the correct professor's name and include a phonetic spelling, if necessary. 

4. Walk in procession order and take your seat. 

Ten minutes before the scheduled ceremony time, we will leave the room in procession order and follow the University Mace Party on stage when we receive the signal. You will be seated in the order that you process. Please fill each row completely before starting the next row of seats.

We will explain the rest of the procedures that will take place during procession and hooding, including the correct way to fold and carry your hood. 

Photography

Professional and personal photographers may take pictures from an assigned area at the front of stage right (audience left). They must take their photos without interrupting the ceremony. Advise your photographer in advance that they must take candid shots. Please do not pause or pose while on stage.

Free, Professional Photography

Don't have your own photographer? Our photographer will take free, professional photos at the ceremony. 

Photo Galleries

Video

Questions?

Please contact gradcomm@mailbox.sc.edu.

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