- UA Little Rock Hooding and Commencement Ceremonies – Fall 2024
The Fall 2024 Hooding Ceremony will take place in the Friday Courtroom on Friday, Dec. 13 at 6 p.m. for graduates, friends, and family. 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. A reception will follow.
Not able to be at the hooding in person? Join us by Zoom: (Link will be provided).
The UA Little Rock William H. Bowen School of Law Fall 2024 Commencement ceremony will take place at 9:30 a.m., Saturday, Dec. 14 at the Jack Stephens Center. This is in conjunction with Main Campus. 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. More information regarding the ceremony including the Stephens Center clear bag policy can be found here.
Before graduating, you must complete the graduation application.
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
Ordering regalia
Orders for regalia can be places online or through the UA Little Rock bookstore beginning Oct. 19. All orders places online will be shipped to home. The last day to order and have shipped to home is Nov. 13.
Online ordering can be done starting Oct. 19
The prices for the regalia are below:
Tam, tassel, hood and gown- total with tax is $152.05
Parking and Accessibility
The Jack Stephens Center is accessible off 28th Street via Fair Park Boulevard or University Avenue. Because of expected traffic congestion, early arrival is suggested, as it will take time to park and find a seat.
Guests are encouraged to park in the lots nearest the Jack Stephens Center — Lot 13, Lot 14 and Lot 15. However, all interior campus parking lots will be open during commencement, including the parking deck and Lot 8. For more information on the location of these lots, please refer to the Campus Map.
There is a special seating area in the Jack Stephens Center for guests with disabilities. To help these guests and since the number of seats are limited, early arrival is suggested. For more information, please contact the UA Little Rock Disability Resource Center.
Where do I pick up my tam and gown?
Unless shipping to your home, law school regalia can be picked up from the Career Services Office on the first floor of the law school, during the regular business hours.
What about additional attire?
Additional regalia worn by some graduates represents membership in societies, associations, and organizations. If graduates fall under any of the following categories listed below, they can pick up their graduation cords and/or stoles in Bowen Room 204 beginning December 14.
- 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 back to the Dean’s office (204). All other student organization cords and stoles will need to come from the student organization’s president.
Ceremony Details
8:30 a.m. Graduates arrive prior to the ceremony to be robed. You will be given a card with your name and phonetic spelling to be given to the announcer when you walk to the stage. He or she will announce your name. Spring Ceremony Only: Graduates will then learn how to drape a hood over their arm, so there will be no fumbling on stage.
9 a.m. Group photo
9:30 a.m. The music will begin and graduates will begin the march into the Jack Stephens Center arena down the center aisle following the Faculty Marshal. Graduates will proceed to the front of the arena to take their seats. Graduates will march and sit in alphabetical order.
Graduates will then stand, one alphabetized row at a time and proceed quickly to the podium to hand their card to the announcer (right in front of you, to the right of the stage).
Graduates will then be handed their “diploma” (actually the diploma cover) and will shake hands with the dean. Graduates will then depart the stage on the left (opposite from where they entered) and proceed back to their seat.
A photographer will take photos for graduates during the ceremony as they are hooded and accepting their diplomas.
After each graduate has received their diploma, graduates will then stand and proceed out of the arena, following the faculty and marshals.
11 a.m. Recessional occurs and the ceremony has ended.
*You must return the provided stoles/cords to the Dean’s office at Bowen Law School.
Will I receive my diploma at the ceremony?
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.
Photography
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.
