We are proud to invite our Summer 2026 doctoral graduates and Fall 2026 doctoral degree candidates to participate in the University’s December Doctoral Hooding Ceremony on Thursday, December 10th, at 10:00 a.m. in the UNCG Auditorium. To prepare for the 2026 December Doctoral Hooding Ceremony, follow the checklist below.
We congratulate you on your accomplishment and look forward to seeing you at the ceremony. Please contact commence@uncg.edu if you have questions about the ceremony.
Student Check List
RSVP. All students who plan to participate in the ceremony MUST RSVP. Emails will be sent to your UNCG inbox beginning in February, prompting you to submit your RSVP.
Doctoral students must RSVP by November 4th.
Order Regalia.
All doctoral regalia purchases must be completed online here, or by telephone, 336-334-5563. To ensure on-time receipt of purchased regalia, doctoral graduates/candidates must complete their purchases 8 weeks before the event, by October 15th. Doctoral students have the option to rent their gown, but would still need to purchase tam and hood. Please call the UNCG Bookstore directly to start this process – 336-334-5563.
Pay the graduation fee. $125.00 must be paid to the Cashiers and Student Accounts Office for Fall 2026 graduate candidates.
Watch your email! Additional messages will be sent as the ceremony date nears. Final instructions will be emailed in November to all students who RSVP that they will attend.
To review protocols and procedures for the Doctoral Hooding Ceremony portion, please click here.
Doctoral Hooding Spring 2022
What to expect the morning of the ceremony
The UNCG Doctoral Hooding Ceremony is a formal, traditional, academic exercise. The ceremony will begin with a processional of all participants, followed by greetings and speeches from academic dignitaries, the conferring of degrees, recognition of graduates as names are called, hooding of the doctoral students, and the recessional. The UNCG School of Music will provide music. The ceremony is expected to last about 1.5 hours.
Participating Students
Arrive at Taylor Theatre no later than 9:00 a.m. for check-in (expect heavy traffic). Click here for a map of your assembly area and entrance.
There is NO rehearsal.
No guest tickets are required. Parking is complimentary behind the Weatherspoon Art Museum. Click here for a parking map.
Commencement programs will be provided in a digital format on the Commencement Website. Names of the Summer 2026 graduates and Fall 2026 graduation candidates will be included in the program.
All student names will be called, and students will walk across the stage to be recognized. Doctoral students will be hooded by faculty.
The ceremony begins promptly at 10:00 a.m.
Tips for an Enjoyable Commencement Experience
Eat breakfast! The ceremony will last approximately 1.5 hours.
If you, a friend, or family member has restricted mobility or is deaf or hard of hearing, we have information listed below. Please contact commence@uncg.edu if you have questions or concerns.
Parking is free and no passes are required for students or guests.
Expect heavy traffic on the day of the Doctoral Hooding Ceremony.
We will follow University and UNC System COVID-19 protocols that are in place at the time of the ceremony. Closer to the date, please visit the Spartan Safe website for the current protocols.
Security and emergency medical personnel will be available to provide a safe environment for all commencement participants and guests.
All electronic devices should be turned off to help ensure that all guests can hear and enjoy the ceremony.
The DoctoralHooding Ceremony will begin promptly at 10:00 a.m. and is expected to last approximately 1.5 hours.
Be sure to come back to Commencement Central on December 10th at 10:00 a.m. to watch the Doctoral Hooding Ceremony livestream. Following the ceremony, the video will be available on the Commencement YouTube page.
Restricted Mobility
A drop off location in front of the auditorium will be blocked off for those with restricted mobility. The UNCG Auditorium is handicap accessible, please refer to the map here for accessible entrances.
Deaf and Hard of Hearing
Reserved seating for guests who read American Sign Language will be available at the front, house left side of the Auditorium. Please contact commence@uncg.edu if your guests need seating in this section.
Doctoral Hooding Livestream
Be sure to come back to Commencement Central on December 10th at 10:00 a.m. to watch the Doctoral Hooding Ceremony livestream. Following the ceremony, the video will be available on the Commencement YouTube page.
Faculty Information
If you expect to participate in the Doctoral Hooding Ceremony by hooding a student, you will be contacted by the Commencement Coordinator when your student has submitted their RSVP. These emails will be sent in September.
For questions about faculty participation, please contact commence@uncg.edu.
There is no faculty processional at the Doctoral Hooding Ceremony. Faculty and staff attending as guests do not need to wear regalia. No tickets will be required for faculty attending as guests.
Faculty members who are expecting to participate in the ceremony by hooding a student will be contacted separately.
For questions about faculty participation, please contact commence@uncg.edu.
Only those doctoral candidates who have successfully defended their dissertation may participate in the Doctoral Hooding Ceremony. Students defending in the spring semester are expected to participate in the May ceremony. Students defending in the fall semester are expected to participate in the December ceremony. Students completing all degree requirements by the end of the Summer Session may participate in either the following December or following May ceremony. Students must apply before required due dates (see Academic Calendars) to graduate, pay the graduation fee, and notify the Graduate School.
Students who plan to defend after the cut-off date for graduation may apply to participate in that semester’s hooding ceremony but will not be listed in the program. These students will be listed in the commencement program during the semester in which they complete all degree requirements. Participation in the hooding ceremony does not presume graduation from the University. Doctoral candidates will not earn degrees nor be graduated from the University until they have completed all degree requirements.
The University of North Carolina at Greensboro has core values of Honesty, Fairness, Trust, Respect, and Responsibility. In keeping with our values of Respect and Responsibility, all graduating students are to respect the dignified nature of the ceremony. Formal academic regalia is required for all degree candidates participating in the University of North Carolina at Greensboro commencement ceremonies. It is the responsibility of the degree candidate to secure academic regalia prior to the ceremony from the University Bookstore and to bring it to the ceremony. Only adornments provided and/or approved by the university, such as stoles and cords, are allowed.
Candidates for degrees must wear robes appropriate to their degree.
Graduate candidates for doctoral degrees wear the appropriate hoods around their necks and down their backs.
Cords or stoles representing registered student organizations, University recognized honor societies, students with an international affiliation, members of recognized social fraternities and sororities, military and veteran students, and members of athletic teams are allowed.
Undergraduate degree candidates place tassels on the right side of the mortarboard until their degrees are conferred at the commencement ceremonies. The tassels are switched to the left side as a part of the ceremony and are worn on that side any time thereafter.
No modifications may be made to the regalia gown.
FAQ
Diplomas are mailed out approximately 12 weeks after the commencement ceremony. Please contact the Graduate School for questions and information.
Contact the Cashiers and Student Accounts Office at 336.334.5831 or cashier@uncg.edu.
Contact the Graduate School to change your name in our system. Be sure to also enter your preferred name in your commencement RSVP to ensure your name is called correctly at the ceremony.
No, tickets are not required for students or guests.
Yes, students who attend the ceremony will have their names called. Doctoral candidates will be hooded and have their names called.
The Grad Team is pleased to provide this complimentary service for each graduate during the commencement ceremony. Please do not contact the school with inquiries related to photographic service. For information about commencement photographs, go to The Grad Team UNCG webpage.
Please submit this form if you have guest in need of a visa invitation letter for Fall 2026 ceremonies. Some countries have longer wait times for family members to receive appointments for visas, so please contact commence@uncg.edu if you have additional questions.
Click here to view the graduation participation policies.
Doctoral Summer graduates who wish to walk in the Spring ceremony, please contact the Graduate School to confirm eligibility.
The names of the August degree candidates/graduates appear only in the December commencement program.
School/Department Ceremonies
The following is not a comprehensive schedule of all Fall 2026 school and department ceremonies taking place. Students with questions regarding their school or department ceremony should contact their respective academic department for more information.
Schools or departments that would like their ceremony information to be provided below can contact commence@uncg.edu for assistance.
