Congratulations to our USF Doctoral candidates and their major professors!
Participating in commencement will be the easiest step in your doctoral process.
- First, doctoral candidates should complete a format check with the Graduate School by the end of the fourth week of the term they will be completing their doctoral degree. Candidates who complete the format check and are confirmed will have their name appear in the commencement program, regardless of whether they attend the ceremony.
- Second, candidates should register for commencement. After you register, additional instructions for doctoral candidates and their major professors will be mailed two weeks prior to the ceremony. There is no fee to attend commencement, but regalia is required.
- Third, candidates should place their order for doctoral regalia through the USF Bookstore. You have choices on whether to rent, partially purchase, or fully purchase the regalia. See below for additional information.
Regalia
Doctoral regalia is available for rent or purchase through the USF Bookstore for doctoral students and USF doctoral graduates who may have already completed their doctoral program and wish to invest in ceremonial regalia.
The doctoral robe is green with black velvet detailing with gold piping and features two embroidered university seals. This robe has been designed exclusively for the University of South Florida and adds a prestigious element for doctoral students during the ceremony.
The full doctoral set for purchase includes the robe, hood and tam. The set for rental includes the robe and hood. Tams must be purchased and cannot be rented due to health considerations. Motar boards are permitted, but are not advised. The USF doctoral regalia is required for all doctoral students who participate in commencement.
Hooding
Students earning the highest academic degree at a commencement ceremony are hooded by their major professor during that ceremony.
For the Tampa campus ceremonies, Doctoral students are hooded. For other USF campus ceremonies, Masters students are hooded.
Students that will be hooded carry their hood with them into the ceremony. For the hooding, the student faces the audience as the professor places the academic hood over their head to their shoulders.
The process is not complicated, but your attention is requested to insure that the hooding proceeds gracefully and professionally. Please view Sample Hooding.
