Preparing for Graduation: A Doctoral Hooding How-To

First Things First: Time + Place

The 2019 December Commencement is at 11:00am on Friday, December 20, 2019. Check-in begins at 10:00am in the Pritchard Gymnasium. The arena doors open at the same time so, while you and your advisor line up, your guests can scope out seats in the arena.

Tickets

Guest tickets are required for the December Commencement, on Friday, December 20, 2019. Candidates who have completed the Ceremony Registration Form (CRF) will receive an email to their Stony Brook account with instructions on how to obtain their 3 guest tickets.

Tassel on the Left

The tassel goes to the left of the mortarboard and stays there for the entire ceremony. Easy!

Hood on the Left, Too

For ease and elegance, ALSO drape the hood over your left arm until it’s time to hand it over to your adviser. In sum, hood on left arm, tassel on left side of head. Right hand: free for bulletin carrying, celebratory high-fives, and autograph signing.

The Doctoral Hooding Stance

So there's technique involved in getting hooded. If you are taller than your advisor – or even about the same height – you must assume the proper doctoral hooding stance to ensure a quick, foible-free hooding: stand with your feet about shoulder-width apart and bend your knees, keeping your back straight. The top of your head should be level with your advisor’s chin, or shoulders. For a video of the 2018 Doctoral Hooding and Graduation Ceremony, please click here.

Ad Finem

After you receive your hood and make it through the recessional, that’s it! You will be officially graduated -- and a doctor! (Disclaimer: Your diploma will be mailed to you 4-6 weeks after the Graduate School clears your record.)

REMINDERS

A live webcast of the December Commencement Ceremony will be available at http://stonybrook.edu/live

Closed captioning will be available during the ceremony and accessible from any smart device by accessing: http://stonybrook.edu/closedcaptioning

Questions? Concerns? Please visit the Conferences and Special Events Website.