Commencement: June 7, 2013
Please join us for the Investiture of Doctoral Hoods on Thursday, June 6, 2013. All are invited; no tickets are required.
The Hooding Ceremony will take place from 11:30 am to 1:30 pm. Guest admission begins at 10 am - when timing your arrival, please be sure to allow enough time for your party to go through the security process at the door.
The guest entrance to Rockwell Cage is between the Zesiger Sports and Fitness Center and the Stratton Student Center. This entry point is not adjacent to a public street: those who will require assistance accessing the venue may be dropped off on the section of Amherst Street adjacent to the MIT Chapel, close to Massachusetts Avenue. Our staff will be present and able to help you to Rockwell Cage.
Rockwell Cage in the Johnson Athletics Center
Please note that Rockwell Cage is our largest indoor space, but it is not air-conditioned: guests should dress for the outdoor temperature. The Hooding Ceremony will be broadcast to a screen in the Sala de Puerto Rico on the second floor of the Stratton Student Center, building W20. This space is air-conditioned.
Metal detectors will be in place at the entrances to Rockwell Cage. Please allow enough time for your party to get through security and be seated before the academic procession begins at 11:30 am.
It will be helpful to discuss security measures with the members of your party ahead of time so everyone knows what to expect. Please consider the appearance of some objects, and leave anything that could be perceived as dangerous at home or in your hotel room. Backpacks, large bags, large objects, wrapped gifts, pocketknives or similar sharp objects, and all bottles or beverage containers are prohibited. Diaper bags and purses are permitted, but please note that all items taken into Rockwell Cage are subject to search, and that MIT will not accept responsibility for storing items that are not permitted inside the venue.
Guests are advised to carry government-issued photo ID with them to campus. Acceptable forms of ID are driver's licenses, state ID cards, or passports.
Tickets are not required for the Hooding Ceremony.
All seating in Rockwell Cage is on the same level, flat on the floor (i.e., not stadium seating).
For guests attending the Hooding Ceremony on Thursday, June 6, limited campus parking will be available in the West Lot and the Westgate Lot. Paid parking is available in the University Park Garage at 55 Franklin Street.
Complimentary bottled water is available during the ceremony, but there is no food in the building. Rockwell Cage is adjacent to the Student Center, which offers several dining options. It's wise to bring snacks for small children.
Please contact Student Disabilities Services in advance so that we know that you are attending the Hooding Ceremony.
Staff with wheelchairs will be on hand to assist you and your party. Assistance will be offered after the ceremony, as well. Please call us at 617-253-1674, TTY 617-253-3194, or email uaap-sds@mit.edu.
The restrooms in the Johnson Athletics Center are wheelchair-accessible.
Assistive listening devices are available in the Rockwell Cage lobby.
There is no designated area from which guests may take photographs or videotape during the Hooding Ceremony. Guests are requested to keep in mind the experience of all the families present, and to remain seated until the conclusion of the ceremony so as not to block the view of others. There is no standing on seats or blocking of aisles permitted at any time.
Professional photographers (Commencement Photos, Inc.) will take pictures of each recipient of a Doctoral degree hood at the time of presentation at the Hooding Ceremony. Details are available online, and information will be mailed directly to advanced degree candidates from Commencement Photos, Inc. in early May. If you have questions about the photography, please contact the company by phone (978-851-5924).
We are not indifferent to the need to have photos available right away...this is a big day in the lives of degree candidates and families. Certainly, you will want to have something to email to friends and relatives. Guests should please note that you will be able to pose with your family in front of the stage after the ceremony and with faculty at the reception.
DVDs of the Hooding Ceremony may be purchased from Academic Media Production Services (AMPS). Please contact Joanne Flood at 617-253-7603 or email mitvideo@mit.edu.
We are always delighted to see children at the Hooding Ceremony. To make sure that everyone enjoys the day, please keep these things in mind:
Thank you.
Graduates, family, and friends are invited to a reception on Kresge Oval immediately after the Hooding Ceremony. Dessert and light refreshments will be served.
Some individual departments hold their own receptions, so families and friends should check with graduates to determine which of these receptions you will attend. Reception information will be available in late May 2013.
