A graduation requirement of the PhD program is for all students to present their dissertation publicly. Each January and July the Department of Higher Education hosts a luncheon for current students in which the graduates who are being hooded present a short synopsis of their research findings and respond to questions. That same evening, the department hosts a hooding ceremony where all graduating students are "hooded" by their dissertation chair and the department chair, with the receipt of the doctoral hood indicating the conferral of the PhD. Graduates have the opportunity to acknowledge those who supported them in their journey during this moving ceremony. Graduating students may also choose to participate in the university commencement ceremonies each May and December. The posting of each student's degree occurs two weeks after their dissertation presentation; the choice of hooding date does not affect the conferral of the degree.
January 2023 students presenting their dissertations:
Lola Rodriguez Vargas
Benjamin Norquist
Allan Mathew
Jonathan Beach Mathis
Monica Mi'Del Johnson
Matt Lamsma
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