The hooding of doctoral candidates at commencement is considered a very special occasion by the Graduate College. It signifies the culmination of doctoral studies and the transition from candidate to colleague; it is and should be an important moment for those involved. We want to help make the moment meaningful and have it transpire smoothly.

Because the hooding ceremony occurs at commencement in front of a large audience and requires a series of movements, it can be a bit confusing and maybe a little daunting for some. Thus, we offer these instructions for those who will participate. Although the instructions are intended for the graduating doctoral candidate, the hooding professor may find them helpful as well.

Hooding Instructions

  • Please watch an instructional video on the hooding process for doctoral students.

  • All doctoral candidates from your college will be asked to stand and line up to approach the stage.

  • Carry your hood draped over your forearm.

  • When you near the stage, place your hands in a prayer position, pointing outward, with the hood resting over your hands.

  • Make sure the button on the loop of the neck faces upward and outward, away from you.

  • The colored silk portion of the hood should face inward, toward you.

Once on the Stage

  • Give your red name card to the name reader.

  • Proceed toward the middle of the stage with your hooding professor.

  • The Graduate College dean will take the hood from you.

  • Stand between your hooding professor and the Graduate College dean, facing the audience.

  • The Graduate College dean will open the hood, giving one side to the hooding professor behind you.

  • They will lift the hood over your head and place it at your collar, draping the length of the hood down your back.

After the Hooding

  • Turn to face your hooding professor and shake hands.

  • Then turn and face the Graduate College dean to shake hands.

  • While shaking the Graduate College dean’s hand, your hooding professor will place a good luck coin in your hood.

  • The hooding professor will shake hands with the dean, and then you and your hooding professor will proceed to shake the president/provost’s hand and take a picture with you and the president before going down the center stage stairs.

  • Return to your seat for the rest of the commencement ceremony.

Some Don'ts of Hooding

  • Don’t position your hood draped over your forearm or clutch the hood as you approach the Graduate College dean on stage.
  • Don’t spin around.
  • Don’t bring your master’s hood to commencement.

History of Academic Doctoral Regalia and the UNLV Lucky Coin Tradition

At commencement ceremonies, you will notice graduates wearing regalia that come in a multitude of colors. Doctoral regalia has a long and rich history. The European sumptuary recognized gowns and hoods as the official dress of academics in 1321. The UNLV doctoral robes are unique and are in the official university colors, scarlet and gray.

Academic attire dates back to the Middle Ages when most educational institutions, often considered to be the earliest universities, were situated in churches and cathedrals. These large buildings were often open, lofty spaces. In order to keep warm, clergies routinely wore robes. As many scholars and educators were part of the clergy, the clerical robes became the foundation for scholarly attire.

The gowns provided warmth with large sleeves that were useful in holding writing instruments. The hood also offered warmth and later evolved to include particular colors that distinguished the type of degree being conferred and the field of expertise of the graduate. The hood also harkens back to ancient Greece when students would give donations to their educators by placing coins in their hood, as it was not appropriate to pay them directly.

We carry on this tradition today - with a slight twist. During the UNLV graduate commencement ceremony, it is the advisor who drops a lucky coin into the graduate's hood. This practice pays homage to the long standing tradition and allows UNLV to symbolically say farewell to our graduates and wish them luck as they embark on their next journey. This practice is uniquely UNLV and distinctly Las Vegas!