Doctoral Hooding Instructions

Tradition at Colorado State calls for doctoral students to be hooded by their advisors at the commencement recognition ceremonies. In the event that any of your advisees are planning to go through the commencement exercise, the Graduate School encourages you to attend the ceremony and participate in their hooding. If you are not able to attend, you are encouraged to ask another faculty member to come to the ceremonies in your place. In some cases, this may be a member of the student’s committee or someone else who has been significant to the student during their graduate career. 

Graduate students are encouraged to personally invite their advisors and confirm their attendance at the ceremonies. If you’re uncertain whether your advisee requests your attendance, you may wish to reach out to them directly. While the Graduate School sends a general invitation stating that all CSU advisors are welcome to join, we are unable to send personal invitations directly to advisors of graduating students. 

Procedures for the ceremony

1. At 12:30 p.m., please proceed through security on the south concourse ramp at Moby Arena.
   Then assemble with your doctoral advisees in Bob Davis Hall.
   Each candidate is responsible for bringing the hood provided in their regalia package (or specific to their discipline) to the ceremony. Please take the hood from each of your advisee(s) because you will need to carry it for the formal hooding ceremony. 
2. As the processional enters Moby Arena, proceed with your advisee(s) to the reserved seating on the floor. A marshal will direct you to the appropriate places. Each advisor should be seated with their advisee(s). 
3. During the hooding, advisors will accompany the candidates as they approach the platform. Announcements will be read, and the doctoral candidate will move forward to be hooded by their advisor.
4. Candidates will individually ascend the platform. The college dean will present the diploma, and the vice provost for graduate affairs and dean will congratulate the graduate. 
5. Following congratulations, both the graduate and their advisor will return to their original seats. 

We hope that you will be able to attend this important function. Thanks for helping make it a success.