Candidates
Presentation of Degrees
Doctoral Degrees
Doctoral candidates will be hooded on stage by faculty only this year, please know that tassels must be worn on the left. Doctoral degrees will be presented first. During the ceremony the provost will introduce the Dean of the Graduate School who will present the candidates to President Hanbury.
When called to the stage for the presentation of candidates for degrees, you will either be directed to the left (toward the University President) or right (toward the Dean). Please follow the directions of the stage attendants to ensure an orderly procession. Photos will be taken for all doctoral candidates as they are being hooded on stage.
Master/Specialist Degrees
Master's and Specialist degree candidates will wear their hoods during the entire ceremony with the tassel to the left. The conferral of these degrees will follow the conferral of doctoral degrees. During the ceremony, the provost will individually introduce the Dean of each school to present the candidates for graduation to President Hanbury.
When called to the stage for the presentation of candidates for degrees, you will either be directed to the left (toward the University President) or right (toward the Dean). Please follow the directions of the stage attendants to ensure an orderly procession. Photos will be taken for all master’s and specialist degree candidates on stage with hood already on.
Baccalaureate Degrees
For the undergraduate degree ceremony, all baccalaureate candidates wear a cap and gown with the tassel on the right. During the presentation of the baccalaureate degrees, the provost will individually introduce the dean of each school to present the candidates to President Hanbury.
When called to the stage for the presentation of candidates for degrees, you will either be directed to the left (toward the University President) or right (toward the Dean). Please follow the directions of the stage attendants to ensure an orderly procession. Photos will be taken on stage for all Undergraduate candidates.
Ceremony Closing
To signify the closing of each ceremony, President Hanbury will ask candidates to rise at their seats for the conferral of degrees. Upon conferral, only undergraduate candidates will be asked to move their tassels from the right side to the left side of their caps. Degree conferral is an important part of commencement. To insure you do not miss the actual conferring of your degree, please make sure that you schedule a sufficient amount of time. Ceremonies are usually less than two-and-a-half hours in length.