Faculty, staff and official guests

Register to join

If you plan to join the Academic or Chancellor’s Procession for spring convocations, please register by:

• May 17, 2023 for May ceremonies
• June 7, 2023 for June ceremonies

Hooding of graduands

The hooding of Doctoral and Masters graduands by their supervisors and advisors is an established practice at convocation. This practice affirms the unique character of graduate education: the close association of mentor and student. Hooding by supervisors is a fairly simple exercise and one our students tell us that they appreciate.

Please review our Hooding at Convocation policy.

You must be part of the Academic or Chancellor’s Procession to hood a graduand. If your student(s) have requested you to hood them, please provide their name and degree being conferred when you register to join the Procession.

A diagram is available illustrating a graduand’s path across stage, and the location where they are hooded.

Academic dress

Academic dress must be worn by members of the Academic Procession or Chancellor’s Procession. Those who are unable to provide their own academic dress may borrow a black gown, hood and cap.

Borrowing regalia (hoods, gowns, caps)
If you plan to borrow a gown and/or cap please arrive at least 45 minutes prior to the assembly time for each ceremony. You do not need to rent regalia or arrange this in advance; gowns, hoods and caps will be available for all ceremonies.

Where to pick up borrowed regalia:

• Academic Procession: The Studio (see Academic Procession)
• Chancellor’s Procession: Meeting Room 2 (see Chancellor’s Procession)

Academic Procession

We invite all eligible members of the McMaster community to join the Academic Procession. Members must register in advance and also declare their intention to hood a graduate.

The Academic Procession will process into the Great Hall directly following the graduand procession. They are seated behind the Chancellor’s Procession. For marshalling and organization purposes, please report to Wentworth Room A* (first floor of the Convention Centre, along with the graduands) approximately 45 minutes before the start of the ceremony.

*New as of Spring 2023. This provides a great opportunity for faculty to connect with their students ahead of the ceremony.

Borrowed hoods and gowns may be picked up from the Studio upon arrival.

Faculty may leave their personal belongings with the staffed coat check in Wentworth Room A.

The following people are eligible to participate in the Academic Procession:

• McMaster University Faculty (including Chairs of Departments and Schools)
• Mohawk College Faculty (including Chairs of Departments and Schools)
• Conestoga College Faculty (including Chairs of Departments and Schools)
• McMaster University Officers
• Members of McMaster University Senate
• Members of McMaster University Board of Governors
• McMaster University Professors Emeriti
• Trustees of McMaster University Divinity College
• Academic Visitors

Chancellor’s Procession

The Chancellor’s Procession is the last group to process into the Great Hall. They are seated on stage, in front of the Academic Procession. For marshalling and organization purposes, please report to Meeting Room 2 approximately 45 minutes before the start of the ceremony.

Borrowed hoods and gowns will be available in Meeting Room 2 upon arrival.

Faculty may leave their personal belongings with the staffed coat check in Wentworth Room A.

The following people are eligible to participate in the Chancellor’s Procession:

• McMaster University Chancellor
• McMaster University Bedel
• McMaster University President & Vice-Chancellor
• McMaster University Honorary Degree Recipients
• McMaster University Honorary Doctors
• Members of McMaster University Alumni Association Executive
• Representatives from McMaster University Student Governments Executive
• McMaster University Faculty Award Winners
• McMaster University Provost, Vice-Presidents, Associate Vice-Presidents and Assistant Vice-Presidents
• McMaster University Deans, Associate Deans, Assistant Deans and Directors of Faculties and Schools
• McMaster University Chancellors and Presidents Emeriti
• McMaster University Alumni Association President
• McMaster University Board of Governors Chair
• McMaster University Secretary
• McMaster University Graduate Registrar
• McMaster University Registrar
• Mohawk College President, Vice-Presidents, Associate Vice-Presidents, Deans, Associate Deans, Directors, and Board of Governors Chair
• Conestoga College President,  Vice-Presidents, Associate Vice-Presidents, Deans, Associate Deans, Directors, and Board of Governors Chair
• Civic Officials

FirstOntario Concert Hall (1 Summers Lane, Hamilton ON, L8P 4Y2) (formerly Hamilton Place), is located in the heart of downtown Hamilton, directly across the street from Hamilton City Hall.

Directions

By Car

Please see below for general directions. Click the Map section to find directions from your location.

From Toronto

• Take the QEW to Highway 403 west
• Take the Main St. East Exit and follow directional signs to FirstOntario Concert Hall

From Guelph

• Take Highway 6 South to Highway 403 west Hamilton
• Take the Main St. East Exit and follow directional signs to FirstOntario Concert Hall

From Cambridge

• Take Highway 8 East to Hamilton, Highway 8 becomes Main Street in Dundas
• Follow Main St. East to Summers Lane

From Brantford

• From Highway 403, take the Main St. East Exit
• Follow Main St. East to Summers Lane

From Niagara / Buffalo (Approximately 86 km to Hamilton)

• Take the QEW Hamilton to Highway 403 West Hamilton
• Take the Main St. East Exit and follow directional signs to FirstOntario Concert Hall

By Transit

The MacNab Street Transit Terminal is located immediately east of FirstOntario Concert Hall (formerly Hamilton Place). The following HSR bus lines stop within one block of FirstOntario Concert Hall:

• 1 King
• 2 Barton
• 3 Cannon
• 4 Bayfront

• 5 Delaware
• 6 Aberdeen
• 7 Locke
• 10 B-Line
• 21 Upper Kenilworth

• 22 Upper Ottawa
• 23 Upper Gage
• 24 Upper Sherman
• 25 Upper Wentworth
• 26 Upper Wellington

• 27 Upper James
• 33 Sanatorium
• 34 Upper Paradise
• 35 College
• 51 University

• 52 Dundas.

The following Burlington Transit bus lines stop within one block of FirstOntario Concert Hall:

• Route 1 Plains
• Route 101 Plains Express.

Guests of GO Transit buses can request to stop directly outside of FirstOntario Concert Hall at the Summers Lane stop. Guests of GO Transit trains are let off 500m away from FirstOntario Concert Hall (formerly Hamilton Place) at the GO Station.

Parking Information

Paid underground parking is available at FirstOntario Concert Hall, accessible by Summers Lane or King Street. The City of Hamilton operates this lot and sets parking rates. Please see the Hamilton Municipal Parking System Office for rates.

The hall is well serviced by numerous public parking lots within the immediate area.