Doctoral Commencement Ceremony

Saturday, August 15, 2:30 p.m.

Ferrell Center

In celebration of the significant accomplishments of our growing number of doctoral graduates, Baylor University is pleased to establish a new commencement tradition – an exclusive ceremony honoring all research doctoral graduates (PhD, EdD, PsyD and DSc).

The ceremony will be reflective of the significant academic accomplishments of our doctoral graduates and include a ceremonial procession, remarks from campus leaders, individual hoodings by faculty mentors, the conferral of degrees by President Linda A. Livingstone, Ph.D. and photography to capture the memorable moment.

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Filing for Graduation

Students who are on track to meet all of the requirements of their degree audits and wish to declare their intent to graduate in a given semester should have already submitted a graduation card / form in their respective deans office of their school or college.

Sign in to BearWeb and go to Student Academic Services ->Student Records -> Apply to Graduate to inform the Registrar's Office of your intent to graduate.

Regalia

Baylor has its own distinctive doctoral regalia, which will be worn by all doctoral candidates at commencement.

Regalia for doctoral degrees is purchased or rented through Herff-Jones Collegiate Apparel. The rental fee is $82.90. The purchase price for the robe, hood and tam is $1,226.10 which includes 8.25% tax. Allow yourself time as purchase requires a six-week delivery.

Honor cords are not worn at the doctoral level or with doctoral regalia.

Deadlines for ordering are included in the semester Graduate School calendar.
For more information, visit the Graduate School website.

Ceremony Instructions

NO REHEARSAL WILL BE CONDUCTED FOR THE CEREMONY.
To ensure a place in the graduate procession, degree candidates must arrive one hour before the ceremony begins. Ushers will provide directions to the student gathering area.
All graduates will walk through metal detectors at the Ferrell Center. Please have your gown off and draped over your arm. The clear bag policy will be in effect.
Degree candidates will be arranged in the correct order before processing into the arena for floor seating on the arena floor.
Hooding: At the appropriate time, graduates will be directed to stand by row and proceed to the right side of the stage. You will be cued when to proceed across the stage to be hooded.
NO GUESTS ALLOWED ON STAGE – We kindly ask that you refrain from bringing guests (e.g. children, other family members) on stage with you when you are hooded. We realize this is a joyous occasion and you want to celebrate the moment with your loved ones. However, due to liability concerns, the swift pacing of the ceremony, the limited space on stage and the high number of graduates who will be hooded, we cannot accommodate additional people on stage.

How to Carry Your Hood

1.) Fold the hood in half so that the velvet is on the outside and drape it over your left arm with the velvet closest to your elbow.

2.) Once you enter the stage, look for the box with the X on the floor and hand your hood to your faculty mentor. Turn to face the audience.

3.) Your faculty mentors will place the hood over your head.

Accessibility for Graduating Students

Services for Graduates

Degree candidates who are participating in the ceremony and need assistance to move through the building or assistance onto the ceremony stage will need to email the Commencement Office so that arrangements can be made. Sign interpretation for graduates with hearing impairments will be provided upon request for the ceremonies.

Announcements

For questions about ordering online, call 1-800-854-7464.

Photography

Commencement Pictures

The university provides an official photographer to photograph each degree candidate as they are presented. Flash Photography will send proof sheets, package options and rates to the degree candidate's permanent mailing address and e-mailed to the student's Baylor e-mail.

Personal Cameras

Personal cameras will be allowed during commencement, but lenses must be less than four inches long.

Office of the Registrar

Transcripts

For specific details on requesting transcripts, please visit the Official Transcripts Information Page on the Office of the Registrar website. Remember that transcripts will not be released for students with financial holds.

Duplicate Diplomas

Duplicate diplomas can be ordered through the registrar's website. To place an order visit the information on the Duplicate Diploma page. A replacement diploma may not be identical to the original diploma and signatures may not be the same. There is a charge for replacement diplomas.

Family and Guests

Tickets are not required for access to the ceremonies.
Seating is first-come, first-served. Doors will open 90 minutes before the ceremony begins.

Regulations: Clear Bag Policy & Security

We want everyone to have a memorable experience at our hooding ceremony. The foundation of that experience is providing a safe and secure venue. Adopting a clear bag policy will help us to ensure each person’s safety so positive, lasting memories can be created. Under this policy:

All degree candidates, faculty, family members and guests will walk through metal detectors in order to enter the Ferrell Center.
All degree candidates, faculty, family members and guests may carry one clear plastic, vinyl or PVC bag no larger than 12 inches by 6 inches by 12 inches, or a one-gallon, re-sealable plastic freezer bag when they enter the Ferrell Center. All items that would be brought in a diaper bag must be contained in a clear bag according to the policy. Diaper bags are not allowed unless they are clear and within the size requirement.
Small clutches approximately the size of a hand, with or without a handle or strap, measuring no larger than 4½ inches by 6½ inches, are also permitted.
Exceptions will be made for medically necessary bags or equipment, which will be inspected upon entry into the Ferrell Center.

Services/Access for Guests with Access or Functional Needs

Ferrell Center is fully equipped for ADA needs.
Guests needing handicap parking or curb-side drop-off should ask parking attendants for directions to the appropriate area of the parking lot.
Guests in wheelchairs or with walkers, those needing additional time to move through the building and guests who have trouble with stairs should arrive in sufficient time to avoid heavy crowds along the concourse.
Ushers will be available to direct guests to accessible seating within the Ferrell Center.
American Sign Language interpretation will be provided in the lower rows of section 112.

Guest Behavior

Guests are asked to maintain the dignity of this ceremony.
We understand your enthusiasm; however, to ensure that everyone can hear the names of the degree candidates as they are presented on stage, guests must refrain from loud, disruptive cheering.
The use of any noise-making device is not allowed.

Prohibited Items & Behavior

For the safety of our guests and employees, the following are prohibited:

Signs and posters
Flags
Animals*
Artificial noisemakers
Backpacks
Balloons of any type
Banners and poles
Diaper bags
Fatheads, posters or signs
Video cameras, camera lenses larger than 4 inches, tripods and monopods
Chairbacks and cushions
Outside food and beverage
Outside flower arrangements (Floral kiosks will be available within the Ferrell Center or you may pre-order arrangements for easy pickup onsite.)
Scooters, strollers, bicycles, roller skates and skateboards
Tobacco
Umbrellas
Weapons, firearms and fireworks
Abusive, foul or disruptive behavior
Actions deemed dangerous or inappropriate
Smoking - traditional and non-traditional
Throwing objects
Trespassing, soliciting, peddling and loitering

*Exceptions will be made for those with service animals.