NYU School of Law

Hooding Ceremony

During the Convocation ceremony, each graduate will come up on the stage, have his/her name read, and receive a doctoral hood from a faculty member.  As a special part of the ceremony, the Law School invites up to two family members who are alumni of the Law School to participate in the on-stage hooding ceremony during Convocation.  During this part of the ceremony, the graduate will come up on the stage with the alumna/us and receive his/her doctoral hood from the alumna/us.

Directions for Registering Relatives for Hooding Ceremony (NYU Law alumni only)
When you RSVP for Convocation, you will be asked to indicate whether you would like to have relatives who graduated from NYU School of Law (up to two) participate in the hooding ceremony.  You will be asked to provide contact information for each individual, so be certain to have the following information on hand when you RSVP:  full name, e-mail address, mailing address, daytime phone number, year of graduation from NYU School of Law, and degree.

Hooding Ceremony

What is the Hooding Ceremony? It is an opportunity for each student to be recognized individually. Once your name is read, you will walk towards a Faculty Hooder and face the audience.  The Faculty Hooder will place the hood over your head, and then you will walk towards Dean Revesz. You will then walk to the other side of the stage where your photo will be taken by a professional photographer. You will exit behind the photographer.

How will this work with over 450 people? There will be one line and two faculty hooders. Please pay careful attention and be certain to keep the line moving at all stages of this process. With the number of people we want to honor, every second counts. Also, while you are on line, please be quiet to ensure that you are not interfering with what is happening on stage.

What do I do with the name card and hood? Hold your name card in your right hand and your academic hood in your left. While you are on line, check (if you have not already) to make sure that all clasps or fasteners on the hood are undone. When you reach the stage, hand your name card to the Reader Helper and pause. If both Hooders are occupied with students you will be directed to wait at the podium. PLEASE DO NOT STAND AND WAIT IN FRONT OF THE STUDENT BEING HOODED. Once a student walks away from a Hooder, you will then walk in front of the podium to the available Faculty Hooder. Hand your hood to the Hooder and face the audience. He/she will place the Hood over your head.

Can my family take photographs during the ceremony? Unfortunately, we do not permit guests to approach the stage to take photographs. It is important for guests to remain seated throughout the entire Convocation. We are relying on you to convey this message to your guests. We invite you to take photos after Convocation at the step-and-repeat photo station located on 75^th Street.

How can I order photos? Only the designated photographer will take your photo as you come across the stage. You will be captured being hooded, standing with Dean Revesz and posing near the NYU banner. Please do not stop the flow of the ceremony to take these photos; the photographers will capture you as you naturally progress from station to station. Because seconds matter in this effort to honor everyone in a timely manner, it is important for you to keep the line moving. To receive complimentary proofs of these photos, please contact Island Photography at 1-(800) 869-0908.

After I am hooded and have my photo taken, where do I go? You will return to the seating area where Aisle Directors will guide you to available seats. It is possible that you may not return to the same seat you had before the processional. Please move purposefully and quickly. Any congestion on this end will impact other parts of the ceremony. Once seated, you will wait until the last person crosses the stage.

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