We, the undersigned graduate students, respectfully request that the university implement a formal hooding ceremony for students graduating in the summer term. Graduate education requires a significant investment of time, effort, and financial resources. Earning an advanced degree is a major academic and personal achievement that deserves to be fully recognized and celebrated.
Currently, summer graduates are not afforded the same hooding experience as those graduating in other terms. This creates an inequity in how graduate student accomplishments are acknowledged. All graduate students—regardless of their graduation term—should have equal access to this meaningful and symbolic recognition of their work.
Hooding is more than a ceremonial tradition; it represents the culmination of years of dedication, perseverance, and scholarly growth. For many students, it is one of the most anticipated moments of their academic journey. Being excluded from this experience diminishes the sense of accomplishment and belonging within the university community.
Graduate students contribute significantly to the university through research, clinical work, teaching, and service. We believe it is both fair and appropriate that the institution honors all graduates equally by extending hooding ceremonies to include summer graduates.
We urge the university administration to take action to ensure that future summer graduates are recognized in the same way as their peers. This is not an unreasonable request—it is a matter of equity, respect, and acknowledgment of the hard work that all graduate students invest in earning their degrees.