2023 MCE Doctoral Hooding Ceremonies

Ceremony Dates and Times

Summer 2023

The Hooding Ceremonies for Summer 2023 graduates will be held August 18, 2023 on Village Green. 

Schedule

• 9:30 am – 11:30 pm (MT): Ceremony at Village Green
• 11:30am – 1:00pm (MT): Reception at Katherine A. Ruffatto Hall, Room 106 Ruffatto Commons

Resources

• Program

  Order of Events

  9:30 am - 11:30 am (MT), August 18, 2023

  • Processional of Faculty
  • Processional of Doctoral Candidates
  • Land Acknowledgement
  • Welcome and Opening Remarks
    Dr. Michelle Knight-Manuel, Dean
  • Hooding of Candidates
  • Closing Remarks
  • Recessional of Faculty and Doctoral Candidates

   

• Video & Photos

  View the video live at 9:30 (MT), August 18, 2023, and rewatch on our YouTube Page.

Graduate FAQs (What to Expect)

Please visit the DU Commencement portal for additional FAQs, including details on registering for graduation and ordering regalia. 

• Where is the ceremony?

  Village Green, adjacent to Katherine Ruffato Hall. For more information, check out the University of Denver's campus map.

• When should I arrive (how long before the ceremony)?

  30 minutes before the ceremony is recommended to allow time for pre-ceremony preparations.
   

• Do I need to stay after the ceremony?

  Please do! Immediately after the ceremony, there will be a reception at Ruffatto Hall.

• Should I wear my cap and gown?

  Yes!

• Do I carry my hood or wear it before the ceremony?

  Bring your hood with you, but do not wear it.

• What actually happens during the ceremony – what can I expect?

  Graduates and faculty will process (march) into the ceremony space. Program-by-program and faculty-by-faculty, individual grads will be invited up to the stage to be “hooded” by their faculty advisor (or faculty designee). Grads will have the opportunity to say a few words to the audience (both in-person and virtual!). Speaking time will be limited to 2 minutes. Grads will then exit the stage and return to their seats. There will be welcoming remarks by the Dean and closing remarks by an Associate Dean.
   

• Where should I park?

  Daily parking should be available for all ceremonies. Please be aware the neighborhood streets around MCE are limited to 1hr parking. Please plan accordingly.

Graduation Regalia

Online ordering through the DU Bookstore is available for all students. Please visit DU Commencement for information on ordering your regalia. 

• Gowns & Robes

  The academic gown is usually black and is worn at all levels of education. It is to be worn closed and zipped. The robe is often ankle- or mid-calf length. The Bachelor’s gown is the most simple; the Master’s gown typically has longer, oblong sleeves; and the Doctoral gown is more elaborate, made of velvet, and has three stripes on the bell-shaped sleeves that indicate the school/area of study.

• Hoods

  Hoods are conferred upon students when they graduate with a Master’s or Doctoral degree. They are made of the same material as the gown. The hood is3.5′ long (Master’s) or 4′ (Doctoral) and features a velvet trim that indicates the discipline of graduation. The lining of the hood indicates the colors of the college from where the student graduated.

• Caps, Mortarboards & Tams

  Caps and mortarboards also become more elaborate with more degrees. Bachelor’s and Master’s graduates have a flat cap with a tassel. The tassel starts on the right and graduates move it to the left once they receive their diploma (a good way to remember this is that they “left” their institution). A doctoral cap is known as a “tam” which is velvet; has four, six, or eight corners; and is floppier than the traditional cap.

• Colors

  The colors of hoods symbolize the department/discipline of graduation. Here are some common ones you might see:

  • Light blue – education, counseling
  • Citron (yellow) – social work
  • Dark blue – all Ph.D.
  • Purple – law
  • White – history, sociology
  • Gold – psychology
  • Crimson (dark red) – communication
  • Lemon – library science
• Accessories

  Graduates might wear other items with their graduation regalia, such as stoles, cords, medals, and medallions.

  • Academic stoles, which look like thinner, satin hoods, are decorative in nature and typically indicate membership in clubs and organizations.
  • Cords, or braided rope, are often worn to show academic achievement (e.g. summa cum laude).
  • Medals and medallions are bestowed upon faculty or students for important titles or positions (e.g. Chancellor, President, Valedictorian).
• History

  The history of the academic regalia we see today dates back to the 12th and 13th centuries when colleges and universities in western Europe were first being founded. It was the traditional dress of the clergy and monks at the time who often conducted business in cold, unheated churches. Gowns were worn to keep warm and hoods, or skull caps, were used to cover shaved heads. Caps and gowns were seen as markers of privilege and distinguishment. The colors that we see today were implemented and standardized in the late 19th century in order to bring more uniformity to the ceremony following an increase in the number of college students.