Hooding

The hooding ceremony is a long-standing custom in academia, based on traditions that originated with medieval scholars; our caps and gowns are descended from theirs and are still worn worldwide. Usually separate from the larger commencement, it is an opportunity to celebrate with those who directly have been with you through the long days, months, and years of the program.

Master’s degree candidates receive a ceremonial hood to wear with their cap and gown to distinguish them from those who have earned a bachelor’s degree. Wearing this regalia signifies our common membership in a community of lifelong learning.

Of course, everything has meaning in academia. For example, you will notice a range of gowns being worn at hooding and commencement ceremonies. The master’s gown differs from a bachelor’s gown in the length and shape of the sleeve. Master’s candidates sport an oblong, almost wing-like sleeve to signify their advanced standing.

The hoods you are wearing have colors in the lining and chevron that represent the University of New Hampshire (the conferring institution).

The velvet trip signifies the learning discipline. For example, the gold color represents science, and thus every M.S. hood in the United States will have that same color. It symbolizes that you are joining a family, of sorts. This hood represents your achievement in completing your particular master’s degree.

The proper placement of the hood is a perennial challenge! The video below features Dr. Cari Moorhead, Dean of the Graduate School at UNH, with some history of regalia in higher ed and tips for wearing your hood. Some basic tips include:

• Put your gown on first and adjust it so it fits comfortably.
• Place the hood over your head with the small, tapered end of the hood in front around your neck and with the velvet strip facing up.
• If your hood has a cord/button in the front, then unzip your gown slightly and attach that cord to your shirt button (or pin it to your top) before closing the gown again. This helps to prevents the hood from riding up and pressing against your throat.
• Watch the video below and get some help to secure the other cord across your back (this helps to keep the back of hood together).
• Also get some help to turn out the lining and chevron colors—in the back, the velvet faces down and the silky colors are facing up (see timestamp 4:38 in the video below).
• After the hood is arranged properly, your cap is placed on with the tassel already on the left (signifying that you already have your bachelor’s degree; we do not move tassels in graduate hooding/commencement).