The Doctoral Commencement and Hooding Ceremony is the official University graduation ceremony for doctoral students. This spring's hooding ceremony has been scheduled for 8:30 a.m., Saturday, August 9^th in the Koger Center. To be eligible to participate, you must have submitted an application for August graduation, and your dissertation must be on file in The Graduate School by the July 22^nd deadline. Please schedule an appointment in advance to turn in your dissertation to The Graduate School counselor (803-777-4243) that is assigned to your program. If your doctoral program does not require a traditional dissertation, please contact Dale Moore (803-777-4827) on or before the July 22^nd deadline.

Dissertation defense announcement: the dissertation defense is the culmination of doctoral studies and candidates should present a formal public seminar prior to a private meeting with the examination committee. Please use form G-DDA to submit information about your defense not later than 14 days prior to your defense. This information is used to prepare the listing of graduates in the Commencement Exercises program for the Hooding Ceremony. Upcoming dissertation defense announcements will also be highlighted on the Graduate School’s homepage. The following link provides access to a table with complete dissertation defense information including abstracts.

Obtain your cap, gown, and hood. The University Bookstore has these items for sale. Personalized announcements, if desired, may be ordered through the University Bookstore (you should allow two weeks for printing). The Bookstore does not carry pre-printed announcements for the doctoral ceremony.

Arrange for your dissertation director to escort you during the hooding ceremony. Your director will accompany you onto the stage and assist with your hooding. If that person cannot be present on August 9^th, consult your Graduate Director to arrange for another member of your committee or a faculty member of your choice to accompany you. Be certain to remind your dissertation director or faculty escort that they will need to bring their own cap, gown, and hood to the ceremony.

Please come to the Large Rehearsal Hall of the Koger Center no later than 7:30 a.m. on August 9^th. Racks are provided for hanging coats and other clothing, and, for security purposes, our staff will be present in this room during the exercise. You will need to be robed and have your cap and hood with you when we begin the organizing process.

1. Assemble by colleges. Signs indicating assembly points for each college will be posted around the periphery of the large rehearsal hall, and we will have staff members to assist you.
2. The staff member organizing your college will give you instructions for lining up. You will then receive a name card, which you will later hand to the marshal as you step onto the stage for hooding, so that the announcer can announce your name properly. Please do not misplace this card. If the pronunciation of your name or your director's name is not obvious, please print a phonetic spelling on the card or let the announcer know.
3. Faculty who will assist with the hooding of one or more candidates should join the college line behind the first student to be hooded. Any other candidate who is to be hooded by that same faculty member should line up behind the faculty member. Once onstage, the professor will remain to hood all students in that group, regardless of their degree or alphabetic order.
   If you do not have a professor present to hood you, another professor in your department or college must assume that responsibility. If the director listed on your name card is not the one who will assist in your hooding, use a marker (we will distribute them) to print the correct professor's name.
4. When all colleges have been organized, you will be seated in the order in which you will process. Please fill each row completely before starting the next row.
5. We will demonstrate the correct way to fold and carry your hood and explain the procedures that will take place during the procession and the hooding ceremony. They are not complicated, but your attention is requested to insure that the ceremony proceeds gracefully.
6. At about 8:20 a.m., we will leave the room in procession order and follow the University Mace Party onstage when the signal is given.

Photographers (professional and personal) may take pictures from an assigned area in front of the stage at stage right (audience-left). These photos must be taken without interrupting the ceremony. Please do not pause or pose while on stage. Advise your photographer(s) in advance that they must take candid shots. Your cooperation is greatly appreciated.

A reception for you, your guests, and the faculty will be held in the lobby after the exercises conclude. We look forward to celebrating with you.