Convocation Information 2026

Friday, June 5, 2026

Rockefeller Chapel

9 a.m. - 10:30 a.m.

The Hooding Ceremony will take place on Friday, June 5, 2026, in Rockefeller Chapel at 9 a.m. sharp. The ceremony will include remarks from Dean Gorman-Smith and Dean of Students Kristen Reid Salomon. Then each student will be called by name and hooded by a faculty member. Students will be required to arrive by 8 a.m. for check-in and line-up on the day of the ceremony.

All graduating students from the 2025-26 academic year (December 2025, Spring 2026, or Summer 2026) are eligible to participate in the ceremony and be hooded. It’s a truly joyous event, and we hope you will attend!

Seating is limited in Rockefeller Chapel, and so each graduating student is encouraged to respect the limit of FIVE (5) guests.  The ceremony will be live-streamed (and posted) to share with family and friends who are not able to attend in person—we will share that link closer to the ceremony date!

Following the Hooding Ceremony on Friday morning, we hope you and your guests will join us for a celebratory Reception back at Edith Abbott Hall between 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. We look forward to toasting all our Crown Family School graduates!

Tuesday, June 2, 2026

Rockefeller Chapel

5:00 p.m. - 6:30 p.m.

To participate in the Hooding Ceremony, you are REQUIRED to attend the rehearsal on Tuesday, June 2nd, from 5 p.m. to 6:30 pm in Rockefeller Chapel. If you plan to participate in Hooding, please save the date!

Regalia Order Deadline

PhD Students

• Monday, April 6th (purchase) 
• Monday, April 27^th (rental)

Master's Students

• Monday, April 27th

Gowns and caps can be ordered online from the University Bookstore or in person at 970 East 58th Street.

Doctoral robes can be rented, but Master’s gowns must be purchased. 

• For PhD students, the deadline to order PhD regalia and have it shipped directly to candidates is Monday, April 6^th. The deadline to have PhD regalia shipped directly to the bookstore is Monday, April 27^th.
• The deadline to order regalia for Master's students and have it shipped directly to candidates is Monday, April 27th. 

For candidates who miss the deadline, regalia will still be available for purchase at the University Bookstore (2nd floor) beginning Monday, June 1, 2026.

** Master’s and doctoral students will receive their academic hood as a gift during the Hooding Ceremony, so do not purchase one. 

Additionally, Crown Family School’s SGA has led a graduation gown rental program in past years, allowing students to rent a previously owned Master’s gown at a much lower cost. More details regarding this resource will be sent by SGA.

On the day of the Hooding Ceremony (Friday), you will wear your gown as well as any other appropriate stoles, cords, or honors regalia. You cannot wear the cap because it gets in the way of being hooded. On the day of Convocation (Saturday), you wear everything--cap, gown, hood, and any other cords, stoles, or sashes you have received as honors.

Saturday, June 6, 2026

Main Quad

9:15 a.m. - 11:00 a.m.

Students who want to participate in Convocation on Saturday, June 6th  must line up by 8:15 a.m. This event honors all graduating students at the University of Chicago. Crown Family School graduates will stand as a class, and President Alivisatos and Dean Gorman-Smith will recognize your achievements and bestow upon you either the Master’s or Doctoral degree you’ve earned as a class. 

For more details about the event, parking, road closures, accommodations, etc., please visit: https://convocation.uchicago.edu/ceremonies-and-activities/

Saturday, June 6, 2026

Edith Abbott Hall

11:00 a.m. -1:00 p.m.

Following Convocation on Saturday, you can pick up your diploma at the Crown Family School. We cannot give you your diploma prior to this time since you do not officially graduate until Saturday. This is a very informal pick-up process. If you do not pick up your diploma on Saturday, the Registrar's Office will mail it to you. Please make sure to update your address in your MyUChicago.