2025 Wharton PhD Hooding Ceremony

A group of people in graduation robes and caps standing on a stage with a banner reading "#WhartonGrad."

Friday, May 16, 2025 from 9:30 AM to 12 PM (EDT)
Zellerbach Theatre, Annenberg Center

Timeline:

8:45AM PhD students arrive at Annenberg Center no later than 8:45AM.  Your guests will not be permitted into Annenberg until 9AM
8:45AM-9:20AM
Mandatory Graduation Rehearsal in Annenberg Center. We will be instructing you on procession as well as hooding.
9:20AM Line up and procession to Zellerbach Theatre
9:25AM Dean, Deputy Dean, and Vice Dean will lead the student procession into the Auditorium. A tent card with your name will be on a seat within the reserved seating section at the front of the theater.
9:30AM-10:30AM
Ph.D Hooding Ceremony
10:30AM-12:00PM Brunch Reception

*Only Ph.D. students who have officially deposited the dissertation or have submitted the August Graduates Approval Form for May Commencement Participation (submitted by April 15th) are eligible to participate in the Wharton Graduation Ph.D. Hooding Ceremony.  August grads must still order regalia by the regalia order deadlines

Regalia and Graduation Fair

All graduating students attending the hooding ceremony must be in academic regalia.  You can purchase your regalia from the bookstore.

You have two options for regalia: Traditional and Custom. Traditional regalia is in black and custom regalia is in Penn colors. Both options can be seen in the photo at the top of this webpage. Details for each are on the Penn Bookstore website.

The Graduation Fair at the Penn Bookstore will be held March 19-21, 2025 where you will be able to order your regalia in person. Otherwise, you are able to order your regalia online. Traditional (black) regalia must be ordered by March 25th. Custom regalia must be ordered by March 4th.

Hooding Process

During the ceremony, your names will be called one by one.  The Vice Dean will say your name, title of your dissertation, and name of your Dissertation Supervisor, and name of who will be hooding you if your Dissertation Supervisor is unable to attend.

  • You will enter the stage using the stairs to the left of the stage, carrying our hood on your LEFT ARM
  • You will meet your Supervisor(s) at the center of the stage and shake hands
  • You will stand on the X in the center of the stage, hand your hood to your Supervisor, then face towards the audience
  • Your Supervisor will place the hood over your head
  • You will shake hands with the Dean and Deputy Dean and receive your certificate from the Deputy Dean
  • You, your Supervisor, Dean and Deputy Dean will stand on the marked X’s on the stage, and face forward for a picture
  • You will exit the stage on the right with your Supervisor

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need tickets? There are no tickets required for this event but all students will be limited to 10 guests each (including children).

What should I wear? We ask that graduates wear an academic cap and gown and those graduates who received or are receiving the PhD degree carry the hood for the ceremony. Please see the “Graduation Fair and Regalia Order” section of this page for more information.

What should my guests wear? As this is a semi-formal event, we recommend business attire. (suits or sport jackets for men and tailored dresses or tailored suits or pantsuits for women).

How many guests can I invite?  You may invite a total of 10 guests, but please keep keep these to immediately family members. This does not include your dissertation advisor or PhD coordinator.

Should I invite my advisor? You can definitely extend a personal invitation to your advisor. Faculty advisors will also receive an invitation from the Wharton Doctoral Programs office. You will not need to include your advisor in your guest count.

What if my supervisor is unable to attend? Can someone else hood me? Yes, you can have another committee member or faculty person hood you if your supervisor is not able to attend the ceremony.  Please email Gidget Murray (gmurray@wharton.upenn.edu) with the name of the faculty person who you plan to have hood you so that an invitation is sent to them.

Where can my guests and I park? The closest parking lot is 38th & Walnut lot. Guests can enter either on Walnut Street or off of 38th Street (in between Walnut and Sansom). Since there are several events occurring on campus the same day, it is suggested to arrive early as the parking lot may fill up.

Penn University Commencement

The Penn University Commencement will be held on Monday, May 19, 2025 at Franklin Field. More info here. 

Have questions about Wharton Doctoral Programs Graduation 2025? Contact Gidget Murray: gmurray@wharton.upenn.edu or Britton Helmuth: helmuth@wharton.upenn.edu