Doctoral Hooding Ceremony

• Parking is free and no passes are required for students or guests.
• Expect heavy traffic on the day of Commencement.

• 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 Doctoral Hooding Ceremony will begin promptly at 10:00 a.m. and is expected to last approximately 1.5 hours.
• Click here for a link to the guest parking map.
• Be sure to come back to Commencement Central on December 12th at 10:00 a.m. to watch the Doctoral Hooding 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 [email protected] if your guests need seating in this section.

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 November.

For questions about faculty participation, please contact [email protected].

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 that are expecting to participate in the ceremony by hooding a students, you will be contacted separately.

For questions about faculty participation, please contact [email protected].

Click here for the outlined procedures.

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 master’s or doctoral degrees wear the appropriate hoods around their necks and down their backs. 
• Undergraduate degree candidates who will graduate with Commencement Honors wear colored stoles and tassels provided by the university. Only one tassel is worn during the commencement ceremony. 
• 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. 
• Mortarboards may be decorated on the top only and must be non-distracting to the ceremony and other graduates. 
• No modifications may be made to the regalia gown. 

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 [email protected].

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 commencement ceremony will have their name 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 no later than November 1st if you have guest in need of a visa invitation letter.

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.