Graduate College Doctoral Commencement Ceremony

We suggest business attire and you may want to consider a top/shirt with buttons to help secure the hood. Flowers are not worn on gowns, nor are they carried in hand. Caps or gowns decorated with inappropriate messages will not be permitted. We also caution graduates regarding their choice of footwear, as the stairs and floor may be difficult to navigate. Wearing high-heeled footwear is not advised. Bags or purses may not be carried; plan to leave them with friends or relatives.

Caps are to be worn with the tams or mortar boards horizontal and the tassel on the left. Tams/mortar boards should be worn during the Processional, Recessional, and while degrees are being conferred. However, they may be removed at other times.

Individuals with disabilities are encouraged to attend all University of Iowa-sponsored events. If the graduate or a guest has a disability that requires a reasonable accommodation in order to participate in this program, please contact Kathy Gerling in advance at kathy-klein@uiowa.edu or 319-335-3492.

Graduates should plan to arrive no later than 8:15 a.m. at Hancher Auditorium.  You should have your tam, gown and hood with you.  Graduates will enter entrance #3 at Hancher Auditorium (please look for the signs directing you to that entrance) and will need to present a photo ID.  

Graduates enter separate entrances than guests as tickets are required for all guests.

Guests attending the Doctoral Commencement ceremony are required to have a ticket for entry, including babes in arms per fire marshal regulations.  Guests will not be allowed to enter until 8:00 a.m.  

Tickets will be available for pick-up at the Hancher Box Office beginning Wednesday, May 1, 2019. Box office hours are 10 a.m. – 5:30 p.m.   The Box Office is not open on weekends.

 
    Wednesday, May 1, 2019     Monday, May 6, 2019
    Thursday, May 2, 2019        Tuesday, May 7, 2019
    Friday, May 3, 2019             Wednesday, May 8, 2019
                                                Thursday, May 9, 2019

Pickup is not recommended on the day of commencement.

The Iowa Theatre, Iowa Memorial Union, has been reserved for guests unable to enter Hancher due to ticket limitations.  The Iowa Memorial Union is in fairly close proximity to Hancher, guests will be able to view the ceremony and return to Hancher at the conclusion of the ceremony.    

If you are a guest needing special accommodations, arrangements must be made in advance for accommodations.  These ticketed guests will enter through the handicapped entrance.  Contact Kathy Klein Gerling (kathy-klein@uiowa.edu or 319-335-3492) no later than Monday, May 6, 2019 to arrange accommodations.

Personal items should be left with a family member.  Graduates should not have anything in your hand other than your photo name card when the processional begins and throughout the ceremony.  Cell phones should be silenced or turned off.t the ceremony.  

When arriving at Hancher Auditorium, report to the Strauss Recital Hall (Entrance #3 – signs will be posted).  Graduate College staff will be on hand to check you in (bring ID) and direct you to the card distribution table in the Strauss Recital Hall.  This card will be handed to the faculty member who announces your name as you cross the stage.

At 8:55 a.m., graduated will be led by faculty marshal to the entrance to Hancher Auditorium.  
At 9:00 a.m., the video “Celebrating Iowa” will be viewed.
Following the viewing of the video, Pomp and Circumstance will commence and graduates will process to their seats.  Pleas sit down once you get to your seat.
There will be a brief welcome by President Bruce Harreld and conferral of doctoral degrees by President Harreld and John Keller, Interim Vice President for Research, Associate Provost for Graduate and Professional Education, Dean, Graduate College.  

Doctoral degree candidates will be invited row by row to come forward and be recognized and hooded by their faculty.  Take your name card w you, hand it to the person for scanning name bar and then to the faculty member reading names at the microphone.  Move forward to the footprints/designated hooding area, photos will be taken while you are being hooded.  Following the hooding, please walk across the stage to be congratulated by Dean Keller and President Harreld.  
Flash Photography will take your photo in the wings of the stage.  Prior to getting your photo taken, a Graduate College staff member will adjust your hood as needed for the photo.  Individual and faculty w/ graduate can be taken.
 
Following the photo, graduates/faculty will return to your seat from the opposite end of the row.  Please be seated once you have returned to your seat.

Following the recognition/hooding of all doctoral candidates, Interim Vice President Keller will provide closing remarks. 

At the conclusion of closing remarks, the platform officials will leave the stage.  Once they have exited the stage, graduates/faculty will recess following marshal/graduate college staff directions.
 

At 8:55 a.m., graduates will be lead by a faculty marshall to the entrance to Hancher Auditorium.  At 9:00 a.m., the video “name here” will be viewed by guests.  
Following the viewing of the video, Pomp and Circumstance will play and graduates will process to their seats (on Hancher stage and in the Orchestra seating on main floor).  
There will be a brief welcome by President Bruce Harreld and conferral of doctoral degrees by President Harreld and John Keller, Interim Vice President for Research, Associate Provost for Graduate and Professional Education, and Dean of the Graduate College.
 

Graduating students will be invited row by row to come forward and to be recognized and hooded by their faculty.  Take your name card with you, hand it to the person reading names at the microphone and to the designated hooding area, you photo will be taken at that time as you are being hooded.  Following the hooding, please walk across the stage to shake hands with the Dean and the President.  

Flash Photography will take your photo in the wings of the stage.  Prior to getting your photo taken, a staff member from the Graduate College will adjust your hood as needed for the photo.  You will have an individual photo taken and may have one taken with your faculty member if you wish. 
Following the photo, you will return to your seat entering from the opposite end of your original row of seats.  Please be seated once you have returned to your seat.
Following the recognition/hooding of all doctoral candidates, Interim Vice President Keller will provide closing remarks. 

At the conclusion of closing remarks, the platform officials will leave the stage.  Once they have exited the stage, the graduates will recess following marshals and graduate college staff directions.

Herff Jones will be in the Strauss Recital Hall to collect apparel from graduates.  Graduates should cross their names off the sheet (alphabetical) and then give the apparel to Herff Jones staff.  (If you do not turn it in, your apparel was sent to you in and can be put back into the box using the prepaid mailing label.  It is your responsibility to be sure it is returned in a timely fashion.)

Please note, park in the lot adjacent to Hancher normally reserved for faculty, staff and student parking is available for attendees at the graduation ceremony.  Guests will not be ticketed, however, do not park in a metered location just outside of the Levitt Center for University Advancement.  
There are handicapped parking spots outside of Hancher, however, you must have the appropriate handicapped hangtag or handicapped license plate to use these.

Commencement is the culminating event of University study for students who choose to attend.   An appropriate and dignified academic atmosphere is absolutely expected so that you, your family, and other guests may enjoy this important gathering. 
The following rules of behavior will be enforced at all ceremonies:

• No alcoholic beverages of any kind
• Inappropriate dress and costumes worn under gowns will not be allowed
• Cell phones must be turned off or silenced in the graduate seating area
• No flowers, purses, gifts, balloons, or bags will be allowed in the student seating area
• Marshals and security staff will be looking for intoxicated persons.  Inebriated students are not permitted to participate.

With everyone’s cooperation, this occasion will become a proud and happy memory of your academic achievement at the University of Iowa.

Hancher staff has asked that our graduates and guests leave Hancher by 11:30 p.m.  there is another commencement in the early afternoon that staff needs to prepare for once ours is done.
 

Faculty who rented apparel from Herff Jones and did not have it home shipped may pick it up at 8:00 a.m. Friday, May 10, 2019.  Check in with the Herff Jones staff to secure your apparel.  Apparel should be returned at the conclusion of the ceremony.

Herff Jones will be in the Strauss Recital Hall to collect rented apparel from graduates.  Graduates need to cross off their names (alphabetical) and give the apparel to Herff Jones staff.  (If you opt not to turn it in following commencement, you have the option of returning it in the box it was received in.  The box included a prepaid mailing label.  It is your responsibility to be sure it is returned in a timely fashion.

Please note, park in the lot adjacent to Hancher normally reserved for faculty, staff and student parking is available for attendees at the graduation ceremony.  Guests will not be ticketed, however, do not park in a metered location just outside the Levitt Center for University Advancement.  
Limited handicapped parking spots are available outside of Hancher.  Guest must display the appropriate state issued handicapped hangtag/handicapped license plate to use these spots.

Hancher staff has asked your cooperation in exiting Hancher by 11:30 a.m.  There is another commencement ceremony in the early afternoon that Hancher staff needs to prepare for once our celebration has concluded.