The University PhD Recognition Ceremony will be held on Friday, May 24 at 5:30 p.m. at Barton Hall. At this event, we will celebrate and recognize the significant achievements of doctoral PhD, JSD, and DMA graduates from August ’23, December ’23, and expected May ’24 and August ’24. This special ceremony is for all Doctoral candidates to be individually recognized on stage and welcomed into the academy of scholars. PhD candidates and their families, friends, and faculty members are invited to attend. A reception with light refreshments will immediately follow the ceremony.
Doctoral regalia must be worn by PhD degree candidates. An outfit will include a PhD robe, PhD hood, soft tam, and gold tassel. You should wear your PhD regalia at the PhD Ceremony on Friday, Commencement on Saturday, and your college or field ceremony during the weekend. It is not necessary to wait until your degree is finalized.
Refer to cap & gown for more information, if you plan to walk in May. Pricing, link to order, and all instructions are on the cap & gown page.
To Participate in the PhD Ceremony
PhD candidates are asked to RSVP by Wednesday, May 22, 2024.
“Walking early” is permitted, so candidates may participate in the PhD Ceremony prior to their degree being finalized.
Phonetic Pronunciation of Names at the Ceremony
To help the faculty reading your name during the ceremony, please enter details via this short Qualtrics form.
Hooding Photos Prior to Recognition Ceremony
May 24, 2024
3:00 – 5:00 p.m.
ILR Conference Center, Room 229
The Graduate School invites all PhD candidates and their advisors to ILR Conference Center for the opportunity to have a professional photographer capture images of the ceremonial hooding prior to the formal Ph.D. Recognition ceremony. Photos will be shared with the graduates free of charge in the days following Commencement weekend.
The doctoral hooding takes place as a faculty member places the hood over the shoulders of the graduate which signifies the graduate’s success in completing their graduate program and entering the ranks of doctoral degree-holders as a peer.
Photographers and photo backdrops will be available between 3:00 and 5:00 p.m. in Room 229 at the ILR Conference Center, next to of Barton Hall. Hundreds of PhD candidates will be recognized at the event, so please plan to arrive early to avoid a last-minute rush to take your photos. The photographers will not be available following the formal PhD Recognition Ceremony, but you may take photos after the ceremony.
Graduates are free to invite their advisors or another committee member to perform the hooding.
In addition, Dean of the Graduate School and Vice Provost for Graduate Education, Kathryn Boor, will be available from 4:00-5:00 p.m. to hood graduates whose advisors are unable to attend. Graduates should wear their appropriate cap, gown, and hood. Faculty members may wear their regalia, but it is not required.
Candidates and their advisors do not need to RSVP to take advantage of this special photo opportunity. However, candidates must RSVP to attend the ceremony in Barton Hall.
Please contact the Graduate School, gradschool@cornell.edu with any questions about this special photograph event.
Families | 4:30 p.m. Doors open for guests, no tickets are needed |
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Candidates | 4:30-5:15 p.m. Arrive, receive name card, assemble by 5:15 p.m. for procession |
Faculty | 4:45-5:15 p.m. Arrive, assemble by 5:15 p.m. for procession |
All participants of the academic procession should be inside Barton Hall and lined in place by 5:15 p.m. The program begins promptly at 5:30 p.m. as music begins and the University Marshal leads the formal procession of candidates, faculty, trustees, deans, provost, and president.
All PhD candidates will walk across the stage as each name is read, during the ceremony. When the ceremony concludes, an informal reception will follow inside Barton. All are welcome to enjoy refreshments at the reception until 7:30 pm.
Accessible Entrance and Passenger Unloading: To avoid stairs, enter Barton Hall from the main entrance located on the Garden Avenue side, not from the Statler Hotel side. Courtesy wheelchair shuttles from the Garden Avenue entrance will be available to transport guests from the entrance to seating areas, if needed.
Wheelchairs/Walkers and Floor Seating: Floor seating is available in Barton Hall and does not need to be requested in advance. Guests with wheelchairs and walkers will be able to sit with other family members in general seating without requiring a separate or reserved location. However, earlier arrival offers best chance for the entire party to find seats together in floor seating (doors open at 4:30).