December Graduate Degree Hooding Ceremony

Students who have completed or who are registered to complete all degree requirements by the end of the Fall 2024 semester are permitted to participate in the hooding ceremony.

Graduates who have submitted an application for graduation with the Office of the University Registrar by July 31 will be recognized in the December hooding program.

Applying for graduaton initates an official degree audit by the Office of the University Registrar. The Registrar’s Office determines your eligibility for degree conferral and issues your diploma once you’ve successfully met your degree requirements. Submitting the application also ensures that your name will appear in the printed Graduate Hooding program.

1. Apply for graduation on PointWeb by July 31. You must declare your intent to graduate with the Registrar's Office so they can confirm you have met the requirements. Failure to submit a graduation application to the University Registrar risks both not having your degree conferred and not receiving your diploma in a timely manner. Read the registrar's office webpage for details. Questions? Contact Brian Eisiminger at beisiminger@pointpark.edu or 412-392-3866.
2. Review your degree audit with your advisor.
3. Verify your name and address on your institutional records. If incorrect, complete a Change of Name/Address Form in person at the Office of the Registrar or online via PointWeb. Also, be sure to update your diploma address (you provided this in your graduation application), as this is where your diploma will be mailed.
4. RSVP to attend the Hooding Ceremony. Please note, this is a separate step. You must inform the University that you plan to attend the ceremony. You will also request tickets for your guests at this step. RSVP here.
5. Clear any financial obligations with the Office of Student Accounts. Students with financial holds will not be issued a diploma until those holds are cleared.
6. Order your regalia. You must purchase or rent your cap, gown and hood and bring it to Hooding. The University will not have additional regalia available. You can order it online. 

    

   The deadlines to order regalia are as follows: 

   Masters: Nov. 8 for in-store pick-up orders. They will be ready beginning Dec. 2. 

   Masters: Nov. 22 for ship-to-home orders. 

   Doctoral: Nov. 8 for in-store pick-up orders and rental orders. They will be ready beginning Dec. 2.

   Doctoral: Oct. 15 for custom doctoral regalia. If you are receiving a doctoral degree and would like to purchase custom regalia, please contact the bookstore directly at 412-392-3448 before the Oct. 15 deadline for prepayment and measurements.

Order your Point Park rings, announcements, and frames for the December Hooding Ceremony from Herf Jones.

Allow 3-4 weeks for delivery

The store will remain open until Dec. 15.

• Doors to the Playhouse open by 9 a.m.
• Students report to line-up by 9:30 a.m. in the circulation desk/lobby area of the library in University Center. You may access the check-in area either through the Pittsburgh Playhouse (350 Forbes Ave.) or through the main doors of University Center (414 Wood St.). After receiving your calling card, report immediately to the line-up area, where you will be placed in line according to the number printed on your card.

  Don’t lose your card! You will need it until you walk across the stage to receive your diploma cover.

• Ceremony begins at 10 a.m. The ceremony is expected to last roughly 90 minutes.
• You can expect to receive your diploma 4-6 weeks after the date of degree conferral. Visit the registrar's office page for more details. 

Arrangements have been made with a professional photographer to take pictures of each graduate as he or she receives the diploma cover. You will be contacted by GradTrak Graduate Images via mail and email directly to see if you are interested in purchasing. There is no obligation to purchase.

Questions regarding your academic eligibility to graduate and the state of your application:

• Office of the Registrar
  Brian Eisiminger
  412-392-3866
  beisiminger@pointpark.edu

Questions regarding your financial eligibility to graduate and the state of your student account:

• Student Accounts
  Meredith Meddings
  412-392-3424
  mmeddings@pointpark.edu

• Conference & Event Services
  412-392-4200
  events@pointpark.edu

General Questions about the venue or program:

• Office of the Provost
  412-392-3976
  academicaffairs@pointpark.edu

Parking Information: 
Parking is on your own in downtown Pittsburgh.

Pittsburgh Playhouse
350 Forbes Ave.
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15222