Hooding & Recognition Ceremony Information

Recognizing Our Graduates 

Every May, graduating master's and PhD students in Arts & Sciences departments and programs are joined by their friends, family, faculty, and peers in a heartfelt celebration of their achievements.  

The next Arts & Sciences Graduate Studies Hooding and Recognition Ceremony will be held on Friday, May 10, 2024, at 3 p.m in Graham Chapel. 

On Monday, May 13, the All-University Commencement will be held on Francis Olympic Field where graduates will be recognized collectively by school. 

Please note that the Roy and Diana Vagelos Division of Biology and Biomedical Science (DBBS) will have a separate Hooding and Recognition ceremony on Friday, May 10 at 9:30 a.m. at the 560 Music Center.  

A livestream of the Hooding and Recognition ceremony will be available on our Virtual Recognition website. 

RSVP

Participate in the 2023 Hooding and Recognition Ceremony

The Hooding & Recognition Ceremony recognizes the accomplishments of those who have completed a PhD or Master's degree in departments and programs in Arts & Sciences. Students who have an expected graduation date on or before May 2023 are invited to participate. Registration will open in the spring of 2023. The Division of Biology and Biomedical Science (DBBS) will have a separate Hooding and Recognition ceremony on Friday, May 12 at 9:30 a.m. at the 560 Music Center.

Photos of 2023 Ceremony Participants

Individual photos of ceremony participants taken during the ceremony are available to browse from Kabance Photo Services.

Kabance Photo Proofs

About the Recognition Ceremony

This information below is only for Arts and Sciences graduate students, and does not include DBBS students. 

Location 

The Hooding and Recognition Ceremony will be held in Graham Chapel.

Alternate Viewing Options

There will be an overflow viewing location if the Chapel fills. The ceremony will also be livestreamed and may be viewed off campus. The live stream link is available on our Arts & Sciences Graduation website.

Accessibility

General information, including accessibility maps and information about buildings on campus can be found on our Facilities website.

For those needing to drop off guests with accessibility needs, please enter via Forsyth Boulevard and northbound Wallace Drive and follow the posted signage to the designated drop-off location. 

Accessible parking is available to those displaying a state-issued accessible placard or license plate in the Danforth University Center Garage (DUC) (200). Accessible parking in the DUC Garage may only be accessed via Wallace Drive and Forsyth Boulevard.

Accessible seating

Entrances into Graham Chapel are accessible. Once inside the Chapel, ushers are available to assist with seating.

Accessibility maps and information about buildings on campus can be found on our Facilities website.

Sign language

An American Sign Language interpreter will be present during Commencement and during individual recognition ceremonies.

Wheelchair reservations

We expect to have a limited number of wheelchairs available for the Arts & Sciences Hooding and Recognition ceremony. Additional details and reservations will be announced during the spring semester.

Golf Carts

In order to meet the needs of guests requiring transportation assistance on the morning of the ceremony, we anticipate that golf carts will circulate around the interior of the Danforth Campus from 2:00 p.m. to 7:15 p.m. with limited service from 3:00 p.m. to 5:45 p.m. For more information on the golf cart pick-up locations and their route through campus, see this map.

Parking

Parking is recommended in the Danforth University Center Garage (200) but also available in the following university parking garages: Millbrook and Snow Way (202, 204).

Guests are strongly encouraged to take a hotel shuttle, taxi, or ride-sharing service. Shuttles, Uber, Lyft, and taxi drivers may drop off guests in the lot south of Simon Hall (168). This lot is only accessible via Forsyth Boulevard and Wallace Drive. A secondary drop-off location will be directly in the designated pickup/drop-off area on the south side of Mallinckrodt (150).

Restroom & Water Locations

The closest restroom locations to the Arts & Sciences Hooding & Recognition Ceremony are located in the Danforth University Center (DUC) (200) and in the basement of Graham Chapel (136). Students checking in should use the restroom in the Danforth University Center (DUC) until the start of the ceremony. Guests should use the Graham Chapel basement. 

Washington University is committed to being a national leader in sustainability. Three refillable water stations will be located in close proximity to the ceremony: one south of Graham Chapel, one north of Mudd Field, and one by the north entrance of Simon Hall. Please bring refillable water bottles and refill them at any of the aforementioned locations. Please note that no food or beverages are allowed inside Graham Chapel.

Additional Details

A professional photographer photographs each graduate, and the proofs are emailed to students shortly after the ceremony. The ceremony should conclude about 5:00 p.m. The event will also be streamed live on our graduation website. 

For Inquiries

Please contact (314) 935-6880 or artscigrads@wustl.edu.

Visit the archive to view previous Graduate Hooding Ceremonies

Ceremony Recording Archive