Doctoral Candidates

August doctoral candidates have two options for participating in commencement. They can participate in either the spring commencement prior to their graduation date (per advisor approval only), or the fall commencement following their graduation date. Please contact the Graduate School for questions.

To participate in commencement: 

You must apply to graduate in MyView in order to be eligible for participation in commencement. Please contact the Graduate School in you have any questions.

Diplomas are mailed to the address on file in MyView after the ceremonies. You must contact the Graduate School to RSVP to participate in commencement. As you cross the stage, you will be hooded by your advisor and handed an empty diploma holder. The process and deadlines are emailed to all candidates, and they are also located on the commencement website. 

All August graduate names are printed in the fall commencement program following their graduation. Each program will be available online the week after the ceremony. All other commencement information remains the same for August candidates.

Order Academic Attire

To order commencement regalia, visit the Triton Store.

• All students, faculty, and administration taking part in the ceremony are required to wear traditional academic attire.
  
  • Be sure to use UMSL's vendors at the Triton Store to ensure you have the correct commencement attire. 
    • Oak Hall Industries is the official vendor for caps and gowns.
      
• Attire not picked up from the Triton Store will be available the day of commencement in the Graduate Robing Room.
• The last day to order fine quality regalia is March 14th.

• Business casual dress should be worn under gowns. This includes professional dresses, skirts, collared shirts, ties, etc. 
• Tall heels are not recommended. 
• Commencement gowns should not be altered in any way. 
• The university reserves the right to require you to wear a different gown or to remove any embellishment deemed inappropriate by authorized university officials before you are permitted to participate in the ceremony.

• Caps should be worn with the widow's peak in the back. 
• Use bobby pins to secure caps to longer hairstyles.
• Cap decorations must be appropriate and not block the view of those seated around you.
• All decorations must lie flat on the mortarboard. Nothing should hang over the edge, no lights should be attached and nothing should be on the skull-cap portion of the cap. 
• The university reserves the right to require you to wear a different cap or to remove any embellishment deemed inappropriate by authorized university officials before you are permitted to participate in the ceremony.

• Doctoral students should wear their tassel on the left side of their cap, since they have already graduated with a bachelor's degree.
• Tassels represent the color of your degree and should NOT be decorated.
• The university reserves the right to require you to wear a different tassel or to remove any embellishment deemed inappropriate by authorized university officials before you are permitted to participate in the ceremony.

• Students who belong to academic honor societies recognized by UMSL may wear that organization's honor cords or pins (at the student's expense). 
• Stoles purchased (at the student's expense) or received through student organizations should be worn in moderation. 

Rehearsal
Rehearsal is not necessary for these ceremonies as you will be guided the entire time by UMSL Staff and Faculty.

Arrival

• Doors will open 90 minutes before your ceremony's scheduled start time. Please arrive promptly so that you have time to check in and get lined up appropriately. Upon arrival, head to room 219 in the graduate hallway in the Mark Twain Building to receive your walking card & get lined up for the procession. You cannot take any coats or bags with you into the gym. Be sure to leave these items with your family or at the coat check. 

During the ceremony

• Conferral of degree
  • The Chancellor announces “we will now proceed to the awarding of academic degrees” – all doctoral candidates will be asked to stand at their place for conferral.
    • You will stand, then be seated so master's and bachelors can do the same.
• Receiving diploma
  • The Chancellor announces “candidates will now come to the stage…” and the aisle marshal will lead your row to the stage. You will be followed by your advisor, still holding your hood on your left arm and holding your walking card (program and phone should stay at your seat.)
    • First picture at the bottom of the ramp
    • Head up the ramp, hand white walking card to ambassador.
    • Name will be read, head to the diploma table (advisor behind you).
    • Candidate will pass hood to advisor. Duck down with back to your advisor. They will hood you, straighten it on your shoulders.
      • Advisor will take the hood from the candidate, hood the student with the red and gold chevrons facing out towards the advisor. If they have more than 1 student in that ceremony, they will stay on stage to do again.
    • You will be handed a diploma holder* then you will move to greet the chancellor, where a photo will be taken. 
      • *All doctoral candidates will receive a diploma holder. Diplomas will be mailed after the commencement ceremony if all requirements have been met.
    • Candidate and advisor head off the stage and the third photo is taken at the bottom of the ramp.
    • Return to seat.

Recession 
Exit with other students and faculty.  

Graduate Rules of Conduct

• Possession of alcoholic beverages is prohibited.
• No chewing of gum or candy.
• The use of electrical appliances such as irons and curling irons will NOT be allowed.
• Leave all purses, bags, jackets, and additional articles with your guests or at coat check.
• No guests are allowed in the Graduate Hallway, Robing Rooms, or lower track.
• No flowers are to be carried during the ceremony.
• No excessive decorations on caps or gowns that would be deemed inappropriate or distracting. No 3D designs, lights or décoir; elements used in the design must lay flat to the mortarboard board and not hang over the edge. Nothing should be on the skull-cap portion of the cap. Note: The university reserves the right to require you to remove any embellishment deemed inappropriate by authorized university officials before you are permitted to participate in the ceremony.

Students 
Please inform the Coordinator of Disability Access Services immediately of any special arrangements that will enable you to participate fully in the commencement exercises by calling (314) 516-6554.

Guests 
Accessible guest seating is available on a first-come basis.

Shuttles
Shuttles will be running from the parking area to the front entrance of the Mark Twain Building.

*Interpreting services will be available for each ceremony. Interpreters will be located in front of the ramp on stage right. See map for location.