This special Hooding Ceremony adds to the graduation experience by making it possible to focus on advanced degree candidates and their accomplishments. It allows graduate faculty and staff, family and friends a chance to witness the ceremonial hooding of the graduate student.
The origins of academic dress date back to the 12th and 13th centuries, when universities were taking form. The hood that forms part of today's academic dress was originally a head covering for bad weather. Later it was dropped to the shoulders in the form of a small cape. Eventually, the hood became a separate piece of apparel bearing even more symbolism than the gown. Today, hoods are the most expressive component of the academic costume. They serve to communicate the owner's school, degree and field of study through their length and the colors of the lining and binding. Today's hoods have evolved from a serviceable article of clothing to a type of elongated scarf draped over the shoulders and displayed down the back with the lining turned inside out.
UCO's master's degree graduates and candidates receive their hood because of the level of education they have pursued beyond the baccalaureate degree. The University of Central Oklahoma's colors are blue and gold, hence these colors on the hood. The velvet trim on the hood signifies the scholar's field. For example, a Master of Education recipient will have his blue and gold hood trimmed in light blue; a Master of Science recipient will have her blue and gold hood trimmed in golden yellow.
You must contact a graduate faculty member in your program or department to invite them to hood you or assist you in the hooding ceremony. If a graduate faculty member is not available to hood you a Dean will be available to hood you at the commencement ceremony.
The Graduate Commencement ceremony will be held on Friday, May 10th, at 7:00 p.m. Hamilton Field House (HFH).
If you are planning to attend the hooding ceremony a cap, gown and hood are required. You may purchase a cap, gown and hood at the UCO Bookstore in the Nigh University Center.
Hooding practice for students and/or faculty will be offered several times during the week of commencement for your convenience. The practice will not take longer than 30 minutes and will be held in the Hamilton Field House. The schedule is:
TBA: 3:00-4:30 p.m.
TBA: 3:00-4:30 p.m.
Back to topGraduate Faculty who are hooding students will line up with their students, process in and recess out with their graduate student(s). Faculty that are not hooding students will process in with faculty after the platform guest and proceed faculty seating.
Graduates that require special seating can contact Dr. Lori Beasley, lbeasley@uco.edu or 405-974-3371 to make processional and seating arrangements.
Six tickets have been distributed in graduation packets after a candidate's application for graduation is received and the student is cleared for graduation. Guests without tickets can enter after the National Anthem where there is open seating.
A faculty member in the student's program along with the Graduate Dean or Dean of the College will assist in the hooding. Students should contact graduate faculty in their program. If a faculty member is not available, the Graduate Dean or the College Dean will hood the student.
Yes, children are welcome to attend the ceremony. Children who will occupy a seat require a ticket. Children who will be sitting on a lap do not need a ticket. Please bear in mind that the ceremony is 1.5 long (depending on the number of degree recipients). For children who need a break from sitting, there is a lobby area with TVs that will broadcast the ceremony.
About 2 hours.
Example of a two-person hooding (PDF)
Do not bring personal belonging to the ceremony (bags, purses, cameras, etc). There will not be a safe place to the leave them in the Hamilton Field House during the ceremony and items cannot be carried onto the stage. When you return to your seat after receiving your diploma, you may not have the same seat.
Please arrange for family or friends to care for children or infants in the audience during the ceremony - they will not be able to accompany you during the processional and ceremony for safety and logistical reasons.
Fall Ceremonies: Graduate candidates should arrive no later than 4:00 p.m. in the Hamilton Field House. Go to the Northeast corner Wrestling Room. Faculty Marshals will assist candidates and hooders in lining up, processing in, and faculty members can instruct student on the hooding process. Please remember Faculty members and the student(s) they are hooding must remain in the same line (single file).
Spring Ceremonies: The traditional walk from Old North will take place beginning at 6:00 p.m. at Old North by Plunkett Field. In the case of inclement weather, graduates will move inside the wrestling room to line up. Hand-held department/school signs are available to assist in uniting professors and their students during line-up outside HFH or if seated in the HFH in the case of inclement weather. Faculty Marshals will assist candidates and hooders in forming a double line and processing in. Faculty members can instruct student on the hooding process. Please remember Faculty members and the student(s) they are hooding must remain in the same line (single file).
Fall and Spring Ceremonies: Hooding Master's candidates and hooders will be directed by ushers stand. Candidates and hooders will exit their seats to their right and process to the stage, with hooder in front and followed by the candidate. You must give the card to the announcer to receive recognition upon crossing the stage. Students will be hooded on stage by a graduate faculty member in their program or department. If a hooder is not available, the Master's student will be hooded by the Dean. After the hooding, students will walk across the stage and return to their seats, as faculty follow them back to graduate seating.
You must give the card to the announcer to receive recognition upon crossing the stage. Students will be hooded on stage by a graduate faculty member in their program or department. If a hooder is not available, the Master's student will be hooded by the a Dean. After the hooding, students will walk across the stage and return to their seats, as faculty follow them back to graduate seating.
If you are hooding a graduate student, you must be a full-member of the Graduate Faculty and have regalia. Non-Hooding Faculty who are attending the hooding ceremony and wish to march in the academic processional, should arrive in the Hamilton Field House Wrestling room by 6:30 P.M for the processional at 7:00 PM. Faculty are expected to wear full academic regalia. If you wish to rent or purchase academic regalia, you can arrange to do so by contacting Brenda Ramondi in the UCO Barnes and Noble Bookstore.
All guests are welcome to attend the hooding ceremony. Tickets are necessary.
Guests can arrive between 5:00-6:00 P.M. Please do not bring balloons or other gifts that would block other guests view into the Hamilton Field House.
The Edmond Chamber of Commerce http://www.edmondchamber.com web site provide information on local lodging, restaurants, scheduled events, shopping, tours, and area resources.
Professional photographers from GraduationFotoTM will be on stage at the Graduate Commencement to photograph each student as they are hooded. Free proofs will be mailed to you and online viewing will be available at www.gradfoto.com. There are no fees for reviewing the proofs and there is no obligation to purchase photographs.
The parking lot directly west of the Hamilton Field House is reserved for elderly and handicapped parking. To enter guest must have handicapped decal.