Graduation

Arrival Procedures for Graduates:

On Friday, May 19, please arrive at Westminster Hall between 10:00 am and 10:30 am.  You will put on your academic regalia and line up alphabetically for the procession to the Hippodrome.  We will be walking to the Hippodrome Theatre. 

You will be lined up alphabetically by degree program. During the lining up process, you will also dress in your academic regalia. Staff will be on hand to help you if you need help. Don’t put your hood on but drape it over your left arm for the procession. Later, you will carry your hood on stage to be hooded by a faculty member.

What is the attire for graduation events?
Graduates typically wear dressy or business/professional attire under their academic regalia and at other graduation events such as recognition ceremonies and receptions.

When wearing regalia, students may leave suit jackets with relatives if suit jacket under regalia will be uncomfortably warm. Men should wear dress shirts and ties under their regalia. Wear comfortable shoes but no flip-flops or sneakers.

Bring all regalia with you to the arena and hooding ceremony.

What will happen during the Hooding Ceremony?
The Hooding Ceremony will include:

• Welcome and Remarks delivered by Dean Renée McDonald Hutchins
• Greetings delivered by the Class of 2023 SBA Leaders
• Remarks delivered by a distinguished speaker
• Hooding of Juris Doctor, Master of Laws, and Master of Science in Law 2023 candidates

Attendees will receive a copy of the Hooding Ceremony Program which will list the names of May 2023, December 2022, and July 2022 graduating students. In addition, the program will identify the recipients of academic prizes and awards.

How does the hooding process work?
A staff member will direct graduates, row by row, to the left side of the stage (as you face the stage). Graduates will carry their own hood draped over their left arm.

Walk forward to faculty members standing nearby.   You will give a faculty member your hood and stand in front of them facing the audience. A faculty member will place the hood over your head. 

Walk toward the other end of the stage. You will see another photographer on the other side of the stage who will take your photograph before you exit the stage. After that photograph, exit the stage at the opposite end of where you entered and return to your seat.

Before the conclusion of the ceremony, a photographer will take a group photo of the class. At the end of the Hooding Ceremony, faculty will leave the stage. Graduates will follow them out of the theater, followed by guests.

How long will the Hooding Ceremony last?
We expect that the Hooding Ceremony will last an hour and a half.

Will there be a photographer at the Hooding Ceremony?
Side-A Photography will be capturing candid photography as graduates and families arrive and prepare for the hooding ceremony. The photographer will capture photos of graduates as they are hooded. Graduates will be able to view the gallery online for 60 days and purchase photos.

Information for Guests:

The Hippodrome Theatre doors will be open for guests at 10:50 am.  Guests may enter the Theatre from Baltimore Street or Fayette Street.  All guests must be seated before the 11:30 am start time.

All guests, including children and babies, MUST have tickets to enter the Hippodrome. (Graduates do not need tickets for themselves).  Security at the Theatre entrances will check all bags and everyone will go through metal detectors upon entering.

There is open seating in the Theatre.  Ushers and volunteers will be on hand to pass out Hooding Ceremony programs and to help direct guests to the entrances into the arena seating areas and to accommodated seating.

The Hooding Ceremony will be livestreamed and available to view on this page, starting at 11:30 am.  

Students will be asked to RSVP for graduation events and to request Hooding Ceremony tickets for family and friends by completing the 2023 Graduate Survey. The survey will be available on Monday, March 27, 2023 and are due by Friday, April 14, 2023. Please see the 2023 Graduate Survey section for the surveys.

Tickets for the May 19 Hooding Ceremony must be picked up in person from Suite 280 between Tuesday, May 2 and Monday, May 15.  We will remind you about picking up tickets later in April and will provide more detailed instructions at that time.  Do be aware that we cannot release tickets to you until all library books have been returned, all fees and monetary obligations are paid to Student Accounts, and (where appropriate) a financial aid exit interview has been completed.

*Graduate Surveys now available, please see below!*

All graduating students are required to complete a Graduate Survey.  The survey will be available on Monday, March 27, 2023 and due by April 14, 2023.  The survey requests information about your post-graduation employment status and your plans regarding bar exams.  We request employment information in order to meet our reporting obligations to our accrediting agency (the ABA Section of Legal Education) and to prospective students.  Please be assured that all individual data is kept confidential; only aggregate data is published.

Near the end of the Graduate Survey, there are several questions related to graduation events and Hooding Ceremony tickets. Please respond to those questions to let us know whether you and your guests will attend the listed events and to request the tickets you will need for the Hooding Ceremony. 

JD Class of 2023 Graduate Survey

LLM Class of 2023 Graduate Survey

MSL Class of 2023 Graduate Survey

Students who received federal Direct Loan funds while attending UMB must complete Direct Loan Exit Counseling on the Direct Loan website, Exit Counseling | Federal Student Aid. It is required by law. It provides important information that you will need as you prepare to repay your federal student loans. This includes information on loan deferments, forbearances, and the loan repayment options that are available. During the Exit Counseling Session, you will review the terms and conditions that apply to your federal student loans.

During the Hooding Ceremony, the graduation announcer will indicate that you are receiving an additional degree along with your law degree. Please send the following information to Ann Kim (a.kim@law.umaryland.edu) in the Office of Student Affairs:

• What additional degree will you be earning? (e.g., MBA, MPA, MPH)
• What school is granting the degree? (e.g., University of Maryland College Park, Smith School of Business; Johns Hopkins University, Bloomberg School of Public Health)
• Will you bring both the hood representing your law degree and the hood representing your additional degree to the law school’s Hooding Ceremony? During the Hooding Ceremony, you have the option of presenting both hoods to the faculty members who will hood you. Please let us know if you plan to bring both or just the hood representing your law degree.

Are you in need of an invitation letter for a family member/friend coming from overseas to attend your graduation? If so, please request a letter or letters from Ms. Shanti Narinesingh (snarinesingh@law.umaryland.edu) and provide the following information about your guests:

• The names of each guest and their relationship to you (parent, aunt, uncle, other family member, friend)
• The date guests are expected to arrive in the US and date of their expected departure
• The address where each guest will be residing while in the US
• Name and address of the embassy to which the letter(s) should be addressed

All graduates participating in the Hooding Ceremony and University Commencement must wear approved academic regalia. (Note: LLM’s order Master’s Regalia and JD’s order Doctoral Regalia).

Academic regalia is available to be purchased through Oak Hall. A complete academic regalia consists of a gown, tassel, tam, and hood. To guarantee the appropriate size and timely arrival, all regalia orders must be placed by April 21, 2023. Regalia will be directly shipped to your shipping address.

Regalia cannot be rented but may be borrowed from previous graduates. You must also borrow a hood and bring it with you to the Hooding Ceremony.

How to Wear Master Regalia:  How to wear your Master cap and gown - YouTube  

How to Wear Doctoral Regalia: Putting on Your Doctoral Hood | CAPGOWN - YouTube 

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