Hooding Ceremony Assistant Instructions

If you haven't already done so, please read the General Information webpage first which states general procedures for everyone involved in the hooding ceremony.

The following are additional or special instructions for commencement assistants.

Hooding Ceremony, Friday, May 9, 2008

3:45 p.m., Ceremony Assistants Assemble, University Theatre Lobby

Although this meeting time is rather early, remember that guests and hood recipients begin to arrive at 4:00 p.m.

5:00 p.m., the Hooding Ceremony begins with the signal of the President

Assistant Instructions

Attire: Sunday Best
Assignments: See chart below.

RESPONSIBILITIES	ASSISTANT	CONTACT PERSON
Stage lighting, sound and filming of ceremony.	Theatre Technicians	Michael Ewing (Stage Technician)
Platform setup. Receive start signal from President. Signal musicians and sound booth.	Jennifer Elbert	Jennifer Elbert (Stage Manager)
Platform party assembly.	Lance Janda
Organize graduate faculty assembly. Direct movement to/from graduate faculty seating area.	Graduate Studies Personnel
Collect name cards after VP for Academic Affairs announces names.	Linda Phillips
Distribute name cards.	Ruth Martin	Laquita Shaw (House Manager)
Assist physically challenged with front doors of Theatre. Greet spectators, offer directions, and answer questions.	Graduate Studies Workstudy
Organize hood recipient assembly. Direct movement to/from hood recipient seating area.	Laquita Shaw
Issue programs at auditorium doors.	Graduate Studies Workstudy
Security.	Public Safety Personnel	John DeBoard (Director of Public Safety)

The Processional

Upon the President's approval, the Processional will begin at 5:00 p.m. President Ross will conduct members of the platform party to the stage. The graduate faculty will follow. Ceremony Assistants will instruct the graduate students being honored to fold their hoods over their right forearm, and then will direct faculty and hood recipients' movement during the processional.

Presentation of Hoods

With the guidance of the Ceremony Assistants, the Graduate Advisor for each degree will lead the hood recipients across the stage. The Graduate Advisors will first present a card identifying the academic major to the reader at the microphone, and then conduct the candidates across the platform to receive their hoods. Graduate faculty that have agreed to hood specific students will assemble with those students and enter with students through the auditorium. The deans will read the name cards. Ms. Linda Phillips will assist the readers. Ceremony Assistants will then guide the Graduate Coordinators and hood recipients from the stage to the seating area.

The Recessional

At the conclusion of the ceremony, the President will dismiss participants. As the recessional music is played, the platform party and graduate faculty will depart the stage and proceed to the Theatre Lobby. The graduate advisors and hood recipients will follow. All ceremony assistants are free to leave.