Doctoral Hooding Ceremony

The Doctoral Hooding Ceremony is held at the end of each semester. This event is different and separate from the Commencement Ceremonies which are held only in the Spring and Fall semesters. In the hooding, doctoral candidates are celebrated and hooded by their Supervising Professor and Dean on stage.

University Commencement is a ceremony for all graduates celebrated as a whole where they will all stand and be recognized at the same time. In School-based Commencement ceremonies, both undergraduate and graduate candidates from each school are celebrated and officially graduate with a degree, given that the students have met all of the requirements and their degree is conferred. In this ceremony, the students will be called by name and walk across the stage. Commencement ceremonies are held at the conclusion of each spring and fall semester. The University Commencement is only held in the Spring semester. Diplomas are mailed out 6-8 weeks after commencement to the master’s candidates. Doctoral graduates receive their diplomas at the commencement ceremonies and at the summer Doctoral Hooding Ceremony. Diplomas for doctoral candidates who do not attend the commencement will be mailed out 10-12 business days following the commencement ceremony.

NOTE: The Hooding ceremony, University Commencement, and School-based Commencement are three separate events with separate RSVPs.

• Hooding Ceremony: RSVP sent from The Office of Graduate Education via Email.
• University Commencement: RSVP through Orion
• School-based Commencement: RSVP through Orion

Doctoral candidates are highly encouraged to attend both the Hooding Ceremony and the Commencement in the Fall or Spring to celebrate their achievements.

The Office of Graduate Education will send out email to all doctoral candidates that have applied to graduate this semester with an RSVP survey, once the hooding date has been set. The Office of Graduate Education uses the RSVPs to create the seating chart, script, and program.

RSVPing for the University Commencement or School-based Commencement through Orion does NOT mean you RSVP’d for the Doctoral Hooding Ceremony.

NOTE: The Hooding ceremony, University Commencement, and School-based Commencement are three separate events with separate RSVPs.

• Hooding Ceremony: RSVP sent from The Office of Graduate Education via Email.
• University Commencement: RSVP through Orion
• School-based Commencement: RSVP through Orion

STUDENTS: Doctoral regalia is required for participation. You can rent/purchase your regalia here.

• October 24, 2024 Last day to order PhD Regalia for Purchase
• November 1, 2024 Last day to order for on-time PhD Regalia Student Rental
• Note: Regalia Orders will ship to the bookstore and be available for pick up early December. Cost includes $150 for the custom rental gown and hood. The Tam is $130.00 and purchased. For Purchasing all of the custom UTD Regalia please email hjcollegetx@sbcglobal.net and the purchase deadline is October 24, 2024. Last Day to Return Regalia without a Late Fee is December 20, 2024. If you have any questions on renting PhD regalia, please contact the UT Dallas Bookstore.

It is customary for the Supervising Professor to hood their doctoral candidate on stage along with the Graduate Dean. If there is a co-chair, they have the option to also assist in the hooding. It is the student’s responsibility to contact their hooding professor to confirm that they have accepted to hood them on stage. In the event that the Supervising Professor is unable to hood the student, the student may ask any member of their committee.

Hooding professors will receive instructions, the script, and seating chart closer to the event date.

All hooding professors are required to wear regalia to hood their students on stage. Hooding professors can order regalia from the bookstore by using the faculty order form.

All hooding professors are required to wear regalia to hood their students on stage. Hooding professors can order regalia from the bookstore by using the faculty order form. Hooding professors may also check with their departments for available regalia that they can borrow.

FACULTY: Faculty/Hooding Professors can rent their regalia from the bookstore using the faculty order form

• November 12, 2024 Last day to rent PhD Regalia for Faculty
• Faculty will get an email once their order is ready for pickup

The ceremony begins promptly at 1 p.m. Doctoral Candidates and their hooding professors should arrive no later than 12:00 p.m. at the ATEC Lecture Hall location to line up together and receive further instructions. No walk-ins accepted. The ceremony will start promptly at 1:00 p.m

Each candidate may invite up to 5 guests. Guests should plan to arrive early in order to find parking and be seated in the auditorium before the processional by 12:45 p.m. Doors will open at 12:00 p.m. See parking map (pdf) for hooding and commencement.

Live streaming of the event will be available on the webcasts page.

Also a DVD of the ceremony will be available for purchase.

Diplomas for doctoral candidates will be mailed out 10-12 business days following the commencement ceremony. If you have any questions regarding your diploma, please contact the Office of the Registrar at graduation@utdallas.edu.