Graduation Ceremony Policy

Graduating candidates have two opportunities to celebrate degree completion: University of Arizona Commencement & College of Nursing Convocation.

University of Arizona Commencement

The University of Arizona’s Commencement Ceremony occurs annually in May and celebrates candidates from all disciplines. Candidates are not recognized individually at this ceremony. The ceremony occurs in the evening and is a celebratory occasion. Interested candidates may learn more and RSVP on the Commencement website.

College of Nursing Convocation

The College of Nursing hosts a Convocation Ceremony three times per year (May, August, December). At this ceremony, graduating candidates are recognized by college faculty with the bestowing of academic hoods and College of Nursing pins.

Hooding & Pinning of Candidates

Hooding and pinning are two traditions celebrated at the College of Nursing Convocation Ceremony. As important academic traditions, only faculty from the College of Nursing may hood or pin students.

Doctoral Candidates

Doctoral candidates are individually recognized by their Committee Chair during the College of Nursing Convocation Ceremony. If the student’s chair is unable to attend convocation,it is the responsibility of the chair to designate another member of the committee to hood the graduating candidate. The chair is also responsible for notifying the Office of Student & Academic Affairs (OSAA) if they will be absent from convocation. In the notification, the chair should identify the name of the faculty member hooding the student.

Master’s Candidates

Candidates receiving master’s degrees (Clinical Systems Leadership & Master’s Entry to the Profession of Nursing) will be hooded by 2-3 program faculty selected by the graduating class. MS-MEPN candidates will also be presented with the College of Nursing pin as they enter the profession.

Baccalaureate Candidates

Candidates receiving the bachelor’s degree will be presented with a College of Nursing pin by 2-3 program faculty selected by the graduating class.

Graduation Regalia

Candidates must wear regalia to participate in either convocation or commencement. Regalia is purchased through the University of Arizona BookStore and can be ordered online or in person. Nursing candidates will select their degree program from the bookstore’s dropdown menu. Regalia should be ordered at least 3 weeks prior to the ceremony date.

Doctoral candidates have the opportunity to purchase custom-order regalia at a higher cost. Custom-order regalia has an extended timeline for ordering & alternations – interested candidates should contact the bookstore no later thanfour months prior to the ceremony date to order. Costs are available on the bookstore’s website under “faculty regalia”.

College of Nursing Pin

A tradition for candidates entering the nursing profession has been the presentation of the school pin. The pin symbolizes connection to the network of graduates from the college. The original pin was made of copper adapted from the seventy-fifth anniversary seal of the university. The “torch of truth” was sculpted over a map of Arizona, with Tucson indicated by a star and mountain ranges representing the natural landscape of the area. The dates on the pin indicate the founding of the university in 1885 and the beginning of the nursing program in 1957. The first pin was designed in 1960 and awarded to the graduating class in May 1961.

Candidates wishing to obtain the official pin must purchase it through the UArizona Health Sciences Bookstore well in advance of graduation. Students who do not wish to purchase the official pin will be presented with an alternative. Students receive their pins during Convocation.

Convocation Participation Policy: Bachelor’s Candidates

Bachelor’s candidates are welcome to participate in the College of Nursing Convocation Ceremony once all degree requirements are met.

Note: To be recognized as an honors student during the CON Convocation Ceremony and in the accompanying event program, honors students must include the final title of their Honors Thesis in the rsvp form.

Convocation Participation Policy: Master’s Candidates

Master’s candidates are welcome to participate in the College of Nursing Convocation Ceremony once all degree requirements are met and all GradPath forms are submitted.

Convocation Participation Policy: Doctoral Candidates

Doctoral candidates are welcome to participate in the College of Nursing Convocation Ceremony once all degree requirements are met and all GradPath forms are submitted.

• DNP degree requirements include coursework, clinical hours, proposal defense, final oral defense, and the DNP portfolio.
• Ph.D. degree requirements include coursework, comprehensive exams, proposal defense, final oral defense, and the Ph.D. portfolio.

Doctoral candidates should contact their academic advisor, Ellie Mendoza, with questions regarding degree requirements or GradPath forms.

Exception Policy

Candidates who wish to participate in the ceremony but have not yet completed the above requirements must follow the instructions below.

• Doctoral Candidates must first discuss their desire to participate in the upcoming ceremony with their committee chair. Once the candidate receives support from their committee chair, the candidate will request an exception to the participation policy by submitting the Exception Request: Doctoral form for approval.
• Master’s & Bachelor’s Candidates must first discuss their desire to participate in the upcoming ceremony with their program director. Once the candidate receives support from the program director, the candidate will request an exception to the participation policy by submitting the Exception Request form for approval.

Once submitted, the form will be routed for review and possible approval. Approval is not guaranteed. The student will be notified of the decision within 10 business days. All decisions are final. Students must plan the timing of their request to allow time to adhere to the RSVP policy below.

RSVP Policy

All candidates who want to participate in the Convocation Ceremony must submit the RSVP form by the posted deadline. Students who do not RSVP by the deadline, are not eligible to participate in the ceremony. No exceptions.

Candidates should contact the Office of Student & Academic Affairs (OSAA) with any questions or concerns.