2026 Commencement Ceremony
Know Before You Go
Graduate Arrival Time
Students should arrive by 1:30 p.m. to begin the check-in process. Please arrive on time to ensure a smooth check-in and lineup process for all students.
Graduate Check-in
Enter the building via the east ramp and check in at a student table, following posted signs.
Storing Personal Belongings
Bring only what you can carry on your person or leave items with guests as there will be no space in the student lineup or seating areas to store bags or other personal belongings.
Graduate Lineup and Processional
After checking in, students will line up in the hallway adjacent to the auditorium in alphabetical order by program, as directed by staff. Students will enter the seating area together in a processional at the start of the ceremony.
Crossing the Stage
Follow the leader when the diploma march begins. Students will stand up and proceed to the stage one row at a time. When your name is called, cross the stage to receive your diploma cover and shake hands with leadership. Graduate and professional students will also be hooded. After crossing the stage, you will have your graduation photo taken. From there, you will return to your seat for the remainder of the ceremony.
Graduate Recessional
Students will exit the seating area together in a recessional at the end of the ceremony. Do not leave before the recessional. Students will exit after faculty. Follow staff instructions for when to begin the recessional.
Doctoral Hooding Information
For graduate and professional students, hooding is a special moment during the commencement ceremony that marks your transition from student to colleague, celebrating the culmination of years of hard work. Review the following instructions to ensure your hooding in front of a large audience goes smoothly.
Instructions
- You will have your hood with you. The hood has significance, so carry it folded in half lengthwise over your right forearm for uniformity.
- While seated during the ceremony before being hooded, keep the hood folded over your lap.
- You will approach the stage when given the direction to do so. At this point, you will again carry your hood draped over your right forearm with the velvet toward your elbow.
- Once the name reader pronounces your name, proceed up the stairs to the stage to the hooding area. Your personal hooder or the program’s designated hooder will meet you there. Offer your right arm with the hood still draped to your hooder who will take the hood from you.
- Turn and stand in front of the hooder, facing the audience. If you are taller than your hooder, bend your knees in a small squat.
- The hooder will open the hood behind you. Then, they will lift the hood over your head and place it at your collar, draping the length of the hood down your back with the satin lining showing. Once it is over your head, you can stand straight. Pause to give them time to position your hood. Smile and enjoy the moment as a photographer takes your picture.
- After being hooded, turn to face the hooder to shake hands as they extend their congratulations. Personal hooders will return to their seats. Designated faculty hooders will remain on stage.
- Then, you will proceed across the stage to the dean, who will hand you your diploma cover.
- When receiving your diploma cover, make sure to pause to shake hands with the dean and smile at a waiting photographer.
- When you leave the stage you will be directed to get your professional graduation photo.
- Return to your original seat.
Some Don’ts of Hooding
- Don’t spin around. You will make fairly subtle movements during the process, turning from the hooder to face the audience for the hood placement, and then turning to shake hands. Allow the hooder to guide your movements.
- Don’t remove your tam (cap).
- Do not bend forward at the waist, as this makes it more difficult for the hooder to reach over your head.
- If you want to remove your hair from under the hood, be careful not to knock your tam (cap) off.
Tips for Wearing Regalia
- Wear tassels on the right side.
- Remove academic caps during the national anthem.
- Wear your stoles, sashes, and cords underneath the crimson/grey university yoke. Pull the yoke up snug to your throat with no sagging or gaping. To do this, reach around to the back and pull the end of the yoke down.
- Doctoral candidates, remove your tam during hooding.
Footwear
Please wear appropriate footwear. While there are no restrictions on footwear, be mindful that you will be walking on many different surfaces and navigating stairs and ramps.
Diplomas
Students receive their diploma cover during the ceremony and their printed diploma via mail approximately four to six weeks after the conferral period. Learn more on the Degrees & Diplomas page.
Late Registration
Students who have not registered to participate in the commencement ceremony by the April 10 registration deadline should contact Tiffany Lancaster at medicine.wsuevents@wsu.edu as soon as possible.
Late Personal Hooder Registration
We are unable to accommodate additional personal hooder selections or changes after the April 10 registration deadline. Those who did not choose a personal hooder will be hooded by a departmental faculty member or their regional campus dean.
Regalia Orders
Traditional caps and gowns are recommended at all in-person WSU Commencement ceremonies.
Essential Information and Important Deadlines
- Express orders will be accepted through April 17, 2026, at 8:59 p.m. PDT. Orders placed after this date may incur additional fees.
- Rented regalia must be returned by May 15, 2026.
How to Order Student Regalia
- Go to Herff Jones website
- Find your school: Enter “Washington State University”
- Choose your school: Select “Spokane Campus – Homeship Only”
- Select “College of Medicine”
- Select your Degree Type (the degree you are receiving at Commencement)
- Navigate to the Cap and Gown tab
- Select Graduation Regalia
- Select your Area of Study and fill out the required information to complete your order.
Rehearsal
There is no rehearsal for students.
Ticketing
Commencement is a non-ticketed event. Graduates may invite an unlimited number of guests to attend.
Ceremony Schedule
Doors will open to the public at 2:00 p.m. The ceremony will begin promptly at 3:00 p.m. and will last approximately 2.5 hours.
Security and Bag Policy
The main entrance will be open for guests. Guests will not be allowed in student and faculty lineup areas.
There are no restrictions on bringing bags into the building.
Food and Drink
Guests may bring food and drink into the building. Concession stands will offer light snacks and beverages.
Photography
Cameras are permitted during the event. Please remain in your seat during the ceremony and allow our professional photographers to capture your graduate as they cross the stage and receive their diploma cover.
We have partnered with After Image Visual Services to take professional portraits of all graduates during the ceremony. Photos will be available for purchase after the ceremony. There is no cost to have your photo taken and no obligation to purchase. Further purchase information will be provided at the ceremony.
Programs
A limited number of printed programs will be available at the event, and a digital program will be available on the 2026 Commencement Ceremony homepage. The program includes all students who applied for graduation, not only those participating in the ceremony.
Livestream
The ceremony will be livestreamed on the 2026 Commencement Ceremony homepage.
Personal Hooder Arrival Time
Doors open at 2:00 p.m. Please arrive no later than 2:30 p.m. to check in and receive instructions. The ceremony will begin promptly at 3:00 p.m.
Personal Hooder Check-in
Enter at the main guest entrance and check in at the personal hooder table, following posted signs. Staff will give you a lineup number with your graduate’s name and give you instructions about where to line up during the ceremony when called.
Seating During the Ceremony
Personal hooders may sit wherever they choose and will be called to the lineup area at the appropriate moment in the ceremony. We recommend sitting close to the stage for easy access.
When called, follow staff directions to line up in order. A staff member will direct you onto the stage when your graduate’s name is announced. After hooding your graduate, you will be released to return to your seat for the remainder of the ceremony.
Hooding Instructions
- To hood your graduate, meet them onstage and take the hood they are carrying on their right arm.
- Stand behind your graduate. You should both be facing the audience. If your student is taller than you, they should bend their knees in a small squat.
- Open the hood and lift it over your graduate’s head and cap to place it at their collar. Drape the length of the hood down their back with the satin lining showing.
- After positioning the hood, pause and smile for a photographer.
- Your graduate will turn around to face you. Shake hands and congratulate them before exiting the stage the way you came.
Rehearsal
There is no rehearsal for personal hooders. We recommend practicing hooding with your graduate prior to the ceremony. View hooding instructions above.
Rehearsal
An optional rehearsal and walk-through of the space will be held for faculty on Thursday, May 7, at 2:15–3:15 p.m. at the venue.
Faculty Arrival Time
If participating in the faculty processional, please arrive between 1:45 and 2:00 p.m. to check in and receive instructions. The ceremony will begin promptly at 3:00 p.m.
Faculty Check-in
If participating in the processional, enter at the main entrance and follow staff directions to check in at the Reese Room.
Dressing Room
The Reese Room will be available for faculty to change and store personal belongings during the ceremony. The room will be locked or have an attendant.
Faculty Processional Order and Procedure
Procession Order
- Mace bearer
- Platform party
- College faculty
- Degree candidates
Processional Procedure
Macebearer
The macebearer will lead the procession and will be released from the backstage corridor.
Platform Party
The platform party will be released in a single line, following the macebearer, from the backstage corridor. They will enter stage left and proceed to the arranged seating on the center of the stage.
Individual names will be placed on the corresponding stage seats. Scripts and programs will be placed on all the chairs for the platform party to reference.
Macebearer
The macebearer will proceed to the stage first and place the mace by the podium, then proceed to their assigned seat.
Faculty Processional
After the platform party proceeds to their seating on the stage, the faculty processional will begin.
Recessional Procedure
The platform party exits first, then the faculty processional, followed by the graduates.
Late Faculty Processional Registration
Faculty who have not registered to participate in the faculty processional by the April 10 registration deadline but would like to participate should contact Tiffany Lancaster at medicine.wsuevents@wsu.edu as soon as possible. Faculty who are not participating in the processional are welcome to attend the ceremony as guests and sit in general seating.
Faculty Regalia
Essential Information and Important Deadlines
- Any regalia purchased after March 13, 2026, will be at the expense of the faculty member.
- Rented regalia must be returned by May 15, 2026.
How to Order WSU Faculty Regalia
- Go to Herff Jones website
- Find your school: Enter “Washington State University”
- Choose your school: Select “Spokane Faculty”
- Select your Degree Type
- Navigate to the Cap and Gown tab: Select Graduation Regalia
- Fill out the required information to complete your order.
Returning Rented Regalia
All rentals must be returned by May 15, 2026. If regalia was shipped to your home, please return it to Herff Jones in the postage-paid return packaging provided with your rental. If you picked up your regalia from The Bookie, please return all pieces to the store.
