Spring 2026 Ceremony
The UA Little Rock William H. Bowen School of Law Commencement & Hooding Ceremony will be held on Saturday, May 16th, beginning at 7 p.m. in the Wally Allen Ballroom of the Statehouse Convention Center.
The Hooding Ceremony is a special recognition ceremony for masters or doctoral degree candidates. During the ceremony, a faculty member places the doctoral hood over the head of the graduate, signifying their success in completing the graduate program.
We do not limit the number of guests per graduate. Seating is first-come, first-served. Seating areas for guests will be clearly designated. Graduates will report to the Derek Fisher Court where they will be greeted by staff from the Dean’s office. Graduates will confirm an index card containing their full name, phonetic spelling and contact information. Graduates will then line up alphabetically.
Graduating with Honors
All honors designations are based on cumulative grade point average as follows:
Summa Cum Laude – 3.70 and above
Magna Cum Laude – 3.50 to 3.6999
Cum Laude – 3.30 to 3.4999
A final determination is made once all grades are received for the last semester of school and class rankings are determined. The honors designation will be printed on the diploma and noted on the student’s final transcript. Graduates will wear the appropriate colored stole based on their honor received.
Frequently Asked Questions
Additional regalia worn by some graduates represents membership in societies, associations, and organizations. If graduates fall under any of the following categories listed below:
- Summa Cum Laude
- Magna Cum Laude
- Cum Laude
- Law Review members
- Law Review Editorial Board
- Bowen Scholars
- Dean’s Certificate of Service
- Dean’s Certificate of Distinguished Service
- Advocacy (Moot Court and Trial Team)
- Military Veteran
These cords and stoles are not gifts and may not be kept. They must be returned to the designated location following the ceremony. All other student organization cords and stoles will need to come from the student organization’s president.
Please review Access and Parking information, and download the ParkMobile App.
Front spots will be reserved for the Provost, Chancellor, and Dean.
No. Final grades will not be in before the commencement exercises. Graduates will, however, receive a leather diploma cover. The law school’s registrar will let graduates know via email (your ualr.edu email address) when the diplomas have been delivered. In the email, graduates will be given the choice to pick up their diploma at the Bowen Registrar’s Office or have the diploma mailed to them. The diplomas are expected to be ready the first week of March.
A professional photographer will take photos when graduates shake the Dean’s hand. Family and friends are not allowed on the arena floor before of during the ceremony.
- Graduates will be given an index card when they arrive to be completely filled out. This card will be used to announce each graduate’s name during the ceremony.
- This card will be given to the photography company in order to contact graduates about photos.
- Photo proofs and ordering information will follow from the photography company if graduates provide their email on the card.
- There will also be a designated area to the left of the stage in the arena where a photographer will be stationed to take additional photos of graduates with family, friends, faculty, etc., after the ceremony.