Convocation

The 540th Convocation will take place on Saturday, June 6, 2026. Convocation celebrates the accomplishments of graduates from Summer, Autumn, Winter, and Spring quarters of the 2025-26 academic year, as well as providing an opportunity for the University community – and that of the Division of the Social Sciences – to come together.

More information about the 540th Convocation available on the University's website.

Graduates of the Division of the Social Sciences and their guests may attend the University-wide Convocation Ceremony, the Social Sciences Luncheon, and the Social Sciences Diploma and Hooding Ceremony. 

Please note: Undergraduates attend The College’s events and ceremonies. 

University-wide Convocation Ceremony
Main Quad – 9:15 AM – 11:00 AM (Rain or shine)

The University-wide Convocation Ceremony includes a welcome address by the President of the University, the Convocation Address by a University faculty member, conferral of honorary degrees, recognition of prizes and awards, and conferral of academic degrees. Individual graduate names are not called at this ceremony.

Degree candidates (graduates) only should line-up in Harper Quadrangle beginning at 8:00 a.m., and must line up no later than 8:45 a.m. Degree candidates should arrive with their cap and gown, but not their hood. There is no place to store belongings at the candidate lineup. Degree candidates must carry whatever they bring with them. Degree candidates who require accommodations for the ceremony should complete the Candidate Accommodations Request form no later than May 15.

Guests may enter the Main Quad beginning at 7:00 a.m. and must be seated no later than 8:45. Entrances are at the west side of the Quad, next to Levi Hall, along Ellis Avenue at 58th Street. Seating is first-come, first-seated. No tickets are required, no limit on the number of guests. Guests who require accommodations for the ceremony should complete the Guest Accommodations Request form no later than May 15. Additional accommodation information such as parking, drop-off, seating, and restrooms is available here.

Upon the conclusion of the University-wide Ceremony candidates and guests should move to Ida Noyes Hall for the Social Sciences Luncheon. It’s advised that candidates and guests plan to meet at Ida Noyes, as the area surrounding the Main Quad is quite congested after the University-wide Ceremony.

Social Sciences Luncheon 
Ida Noyes Hall – 11:30 AM – 1:00 PM

Degree candidates and their guests are invited to enjoy an informal lunch after the University-wide ceremony. No tickets are required. Bagged lunches will include a vegetarian option. Seating is available throughout Ida Noyes Hall, in the courtyard, and in surrounding areas. Degree candidates or guests who require accommodation, including dietary accommodation, should have their degree candidate indicate the accommodation on the convocation attendance form, or e-mail ssd-convocation@uchicago.edu

Social Sciences Diploma and Hooding Ceremony
Rockefeller Chapel – 2:30 PM – 4:00 PM

The Diploma and Hooding Ceremony includes presentation of the Faculty Award for Excellence in Ph.D. Teaching and Mentoring, Faculty Remarks, presentation of diplomas, hooding of Doctoral candidates, and remarks by the Dean of the Division, Amanda Woodward. This is the ceremony where degree candidate names are called. 

Free guest tickets are required for this event. Degree candidates do not need a ticket. All guests, including infants, need a ticket. Degree candidates must complete the convocation attendance form to indicate that they plan to attend and to request guest tickets. We anticipate that degree candidates will be given no more than three (3) guest tickets, and can request additional tickets when they complete the convocation attendance form. We will not know how many additional tickets are available until we know how many degree candidates and guests plan to attend, which will likely be mid-April. We will inform degree candidates how many guests tickets have been reserved for them as soon as we know. Degree candidates will be instructed how to claim their tickets. Max Palevsky Cinema in Ida Noyes Hall will be available for viewing of the livestream of the Diploma and Hooding ceremony. 

Beginning at 1:00 p.m., degree candidates should make their way to the tent on the east lawn of Rockefeller Chapel to obtain their marching card and get in line for the ceremony. Degree candidates not in line by 2:00 p.m. will not be permitted to march in the ceremony and will not have their name called. PhD candidates should wear their cap and gown, and carry their doctoral hood. M.A. candidates should wear their cap, gown, and hood. Ph.D candidates will be hooded by an adviser or another representative from their department during the ceremony. M.A. candidates are not hooded during the ceremony, and should wear their hood during candidate line up before the ceremony. Degree candidates who require accommodation for the Diploma and Hooding ceremony should complete the accommodation portion of the convocation attendance form, or e-mail ssd-convocation@uchicago.edu.

Guests may make their way to Rockefeller Chapel to line up for the ceremony. Guests must have their tickets with them. Guests must enter through the south doors of Rockefeller. Guests with accommodations should enter through the doors on the east side of the building. Doors will open for guests between 1:30 and 1:45 p.m.  Guests who require accommodation should have their degree candidate indicate the accommodation on the convocation attendance form, or e-mail ssd-convocation@uchicago.edu.

Degree candidates will process (march) into Rockefeller Chapel beginning at 2:15 p.m. 

Academic Regalia 

All degree candidates must wear the appropriate academic regalia for the degree that is being conferred upon them. All degree candidates must have a cap and gown. Ph.D. degree candidates and M.A. program degree candidates must wear hoods. M.A. graduates of Ph.D. programs do not require a hood. Degree candidates may also wear appropriate stoles, sashes, or cords, if they choose.

Information about ordering regalia is available here. The deadline for online ordering is Monday, April 27. 

Countdown to Convocation

A two-day resource fair for everything convocation related, Countdown to Convocation will take place in the University Bookstore, Wednesday, April 8, and Thursday, April 9, 2026. 

Additional Resources

BA/MA students

It is not possible for BA/MA candidates to attend a College diploma ceremony for their BA and the Social Sciences Diploma and Hooding ceremony for their MA. Candidates who wish to attend the Social Sciences Diploma and Hooding ceremony for their MA should complete the convocation attendance form. Candidates who wish to attend a College diploma ceremony for their BA will have their MA degree presented to them at their College diploma ceremony, or mailed to the diploma address listed in my.uchicago. BA/MA students may wear either BA regalia or MA regalia to the Social Sciences Diploma and Hooding Ceremony.

cAlert

cAlert is the University’s emergency notification system. In a life-threatening situation that requires immediate action, cAlert sends every member of our community a short message.

You may enroll in cAlert by texting "UChicagoConvo2026" to 226787 to receive SMS text message emergency alerts from the University of Chicago Department of Safety and Security. Following Convocation, all who signed up to receive cAlerts can text "stop" 226787 to be removed from the system.

Program

Convocation programs will be available at the University-wide Convocation Ceremony and the Social Sciences Diploma and Hooding ceremony. The informational convocation brochure is available here.

Streaming

Both the University-wide Convocation Ceremony and the Social Sciences Diploma and Hooding ceremony will be livestreamed. Links to the livestream will be e-mailed to degree candidates the week of June 1, and will also be posted here.