Doctoral Hooding, Commencement, and Convocation Ceremonies
MAY DOCTORAL HOODING CEREMONY
Ceremony for doctoral students only:
Friday, May 10, 2019
11:00 am to 1:00 pm
Foellinger Great Hall, Krannert Center for the Performing ArtsCOMMENCEMENT
University-wide ceremony for all graduates (undergradaute and graduate):
Saturday, May 11, 2019
9:30 to 11:30 am
Memorial StadiumParticipation informatoin can be found at: http://www.commencement.illinois.edu/
CONVOCATION
Formal ceremony for School of Music graduates only:
Sunday, May 12, 2019
1:00 - 2:30 pm
Smith Memorial HallOfficial Photographer: Memory Lane Photography
For questions related to undergraduate eligibility:
Ellen Marr, FAA Undergraduate Academic Affairs
For questions about graduate eligibility:
Jenny Phillips, SoM Academic Affairs
For all other questions about School of Music Convocation:
Jennifer Gavel, SoM Convocation Coordinator
HELPFUL INFORMATION FOR INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS
For family members who need to acquire a visa in order to attend their student’s graduation ISSS suggests that students may write invitation letters themselves. You may also use the “Letter to Degree Candidates” above.
Should students need a more specific letter (for example, one that includes enrollment verification and program end date), they should ask the Registrar’s Office for such a letter.
ISSS advises that visa requirements vary by country, and graduates and their families should contact the embassy issuing the visa directly regarding those requirements.
Please visit the International Student and Scholar Services website, (http://isss.illinois.edu/index.html) for additional information. If you still have questions, you should contact the ISSS office at isss@illinois.edu, or 217-333-1303.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
ELIGIBILITY
Q. When should I walk if I am not finishing my degree in May?
A. If you are an undergrad with thirteen (13) or fewer credits remaining, or a graduate student with eight (8) or fewer credits remaining, and you expect to finish in August or December, then you may walk in the May.
If you student teach in the fall, but are otherwise finished with coursework, then you may walk in May. There is a check-box in the online registration for you to notify us. Recipients of doctoral degrees, who are registered in MUS 599, must have deposited their dissertations in the Graduate College Thesis Office by 4:45 pm on Friday, April 15. Students enrolled in MUS 576, must have deposited their doctoral projects with Jenny Phillips by 4:45 pm on Friday, April 15.
For more specific information, visit the eligibility page of the university-wide Commencement website.
Q. How can I make sure I’m on the May graduation list?
A. Undergraduates should contact Ellen Marr in FAA Academic Affairs; graduate students should contact Jenny Phillips in SoM Academic Affairs.
COLLEGE HONORS
Q. How do I know if I’m getting College Honors (Summa Cum Laude, Magna Cum Laude, or Cum Laude)?
A. Undergraduates should contact Ellen Marr in FAA Academic Affairs.
TICKETS
Q. Are tickets required?
A. For university-wide Commencement—Yes, you may request an unlimited number; for School of Music Convocation—No
ACADEMIC ATTIRE
Q. What regalia should I order for the Artist Diploma?
A. You should order and wear the master’s degree regalia.
Q. Can I have someone other than an U of I faculty member hood me?
A. Yes, provided that they themselves have an earned doctorate. Please go to this form: Non-Faculty Regalia Order Form. Note: non-faculty hooders will be responsible for paying all rental fees and picking-up/returning their regalia. They will receive complete instructions when this form is submitted.
Q. What do I wear?
A. Candidates participating in the university-wide Commencement ceremony, as well as the School of Music Convocation, are required to wear appropriate academic attire. Complete information can be found on the Commencement Academic Attire Page.
BACHELOR DEGREES
Tassel – Brown (FAA)
Caps/Gowns – UIUC Custom Regalia, Blue
MASTERS DEGREES
Caps/Gowns – UIUC Custom Regalia, Blue
Master of Music Hood — PINK with black tassel
Master of Music Education Hood — LIGHT BLUE with black tassel
ARTISTS DIPLOMA
Caps/Gowns – UIUC Custom Regalia, Blue
Master of Music Hood — PINK with black tassel
DMA
UIUC Custom Regalia, Blue cap and gown
Pink hood with black tassel
PhD (Musicology or Education)
UIUC Custom Regalia, Blue cap and gown
Light Blue hood with black tassel
Q. Tassel?
A. The tassel is worn on the right front quadrant of the mortarboard and is moved to the left after the degree has been conferred. Since this happens at the unviersity-wide Commencement ceremony, all tassels should start and end on the left side during the School of Music Convocation.
For undergraduate degrees, the color of the tassel indicates the college from which the degree is received. Bronze Tablet students also wear an orange and blue braided cord on the left shoulder. These cords will be distributed at a special Bronze Tablet reception hosted by the Chancellor in early May. If you cannot attend this reception, you must request your cord when you pick up your cap and gown.
For Master’s and Doctoral degree students, the color of the velvet on the hood indicates the field of study and the tassel is black.
Women should wear mortarboards at all times; men should remove mortarboards only during the singing of the National Anthem. Jewelry, flowers, or emblems worn on the mortarboard or gown are inappropriate.
SPECIAL ACCOMODATIONS
Q. Are there any accommodations for students or family members with special needs?
A. Guests requiring special assistance to attend the univeristy-wide Commencement ceremony should enter Portal 1 along Kirby Avenue and enter Memorial Stadium at Gate 24. Inside the stadium, an usher will direct you to the designated accessibility seating areas. Graduates with disabilities who require special assistance to fully participate in Commencement events may contact the Committee on Commencement at (217) 333-8834 or email the Commencement Office.
Visit the Commencement page for Accessibility and Special Needs for more information.
Sign language interpretation will be provided on stage as well as near Section 127 at the university-wide Commencement ceremony. Hearing-impaired students should sit as close to the stage as possible within their designated section on the field. Guests should let an usher know they need seating in Section 127 to improve visibility of the sign language interpreter. CART services will also be provided during the ceremony.
As a service to parents with small children who may become restless during the two-hour Commencement, the ceremony will be televised in the West Main Hall of the stadium.
For the School of Music ceremony we do not automatically request a sign language interpreter, but will schedule one if a request is made. Please contact the SoM Convocation Coordinator directly.
Please call the Committee on Commencement, (217) 333-8834, if additional accommodations need to be made.