Doctoral Hooding Ceremony Information

May 20, 2024
7:00 p.m. ET
Homewood Campus, Shriver Hall

The Johns Hopkins School of Education Hooding Ceremony is a special event to recognize our doctoral student graduates. During the ceremony, each graduate will be announced, their dissertation or dossier title posted, and will be hooded by their advisor, co-advisor, or committee member (dependent on availability of faculty). For specific details, please review the information below. Additional questions can be directed to [email protected].

Hooding Process

• Each PhD and EdD graduate are invited to participate in the doctoral hooding ceremony.
• The SOE regalia website is available for candidate’s orders. All orders must be placed by April 5, 2024.

Photography

• GradImages will take pictures of each graduate as they are hooded on stage and as they exit the stage. The photographer will contact graduates directly after the event to offer various purchasing options.

Reception

• A light reception will follow the ceremony for graduates and their guests on Wyman Quad, directly in front of Shriver Hall.

Parking

• Complimentary parking is available for graduates and their guests in South Garage, 3101 Wyman Park Drive, Baltimore, MD 21218, which is accessed from Wyman Park Drive (between San Martin and Art Museum Drives).

Hotels

Information regarding hotels can be found on the Commencement website.

In addition, The Study at Johns Hopkins located at 3215 N. Charles Street, has reduced rates available to SOE students. Please contact Alessandra Haslbeck via email or phone 410-243-0030 to receive discounted room rates. 

FAQs

What is Doctoral Hooding?

• The Hooding Ceremony is an event whereby recognition is given to those graduating with doctoral degrees. The Hooding Ceremony is symbolic of passing the guard from one generation to the next generation. During the ceremony, a candidate presents themselves to their faculty advisor or other authorized member of the faculty with their hood placed over their left arm. The candidate hands the hood to the adviser and turns away from the adviser (often to face the crowd for photos) while the adviser places the hood over the head of the graduate, signifying his or her success in completing the graduate program. The ceremony is like a graduation in that faculty and students are dressed in academic attire. The Hooding Ceremony is in addition to and does not replace the Graduation Exercises.
• Although their original purpose, to keep monks’ heads warm in the 15th century, has since become obsolete, the hoods have nevertheless remained a nostalgic accoutrement to the Commencement ensemble. For more information, please visit JHU Regalia History.
• View our 2023 School of Education Hooding process
• Watch a video of how to wear your doctoral cap and gown

What is the difference between Commencement, Graduation, and Hooding?

• Commencement is for ALL JHU graduates, undergrad, master’s and doctoral, across the university from any division/program. Graduation is for ALL SOE master’s and doctoral graduates. Hooding is for SOE doctoral graduates only.
• Universitywide Commencement: The formal conferring of degrees by President Ronald J. Daniels will take place during the universitywide Commencement exercises on Thursday, May 23 at 9:00 a.m. at Homewood Field. More information can be found on the Johns Hopkins University Commencement website.

I RSVP’d for Graduation, is there a separate invite for Hooding?

An opportunity to register for the Doctoral Hooding ceremony is within the overall Graduation registration page; you can attend one or both ceremonies.

How many people can I bring to the Hooding ceremony?

There are no guest limits or tickets required for the Hooding or Graduation ceremonies.

The ceremony starts at 7 p.m., what time do I need to arrive?

All graduates are expected to arrive at Shriver Hall at 5:30 p.m. Guests are welcome to arrive starting at 6 p.m. and are asked to be seated by 6:45 p.m.

How long is the ceremony?

Depending on the number of registered attendees, the ceremony is expected to last at least 60 and up to 90 minutes. This year’s ceremony will not include the Society of Excellence Awards, which will be hosted as a separate ceremony.

Is there somewhere I can leave my personal items during the ceremony?

Any items left at graduate check-in are not secure. It is recommended that you leave any valuable personal items with a family member or friend.

Will there be water, or anything else to drink, during the ceremony?

Graduates will be provided with bottled water at check-in. Graduates and guests may bring bottles of water into the auditorium, but food and all other beverages are prohibited.  Light refreshments will be available at the reception following the ceremony.

If I can’t come in May 2024, can I come in May 2025?

Extended graduation availability was offered to students in 2022 ceremony, due to COVID. Currently, an extended invitation to hooding is no longer available.

What hotel(s) do you recommend for graduates and guests traveling from out of town?

Guests who need to book hotel accommodation are encouraged to do so as early as possible. Many local hotels offer special rates for the families and friends of JHU graduates. For more information, please visit the JHU Commencement Hotels webpage.

Will the ceremony be livestreamed?

The event will be livestreamed for guests unable to attend in person. A recording will be available after the ceremony.