Doctoral Hooding Ceremony

A Doctoral Hooding ceremony will be held separately from the Graduate and Undergraduate Commencement Ceremony. The Doctoral Hooding Ceremony will take place on Friday, January 30, 2026 on the main campus of Bellevue University in Bellevue, Nebraska.

Participation Requirements

Doctoral candidates must have all requirements for conferral completed before participating in the hooding ceremony. These requirements are:

  • Meet all admission requirements
  • Complete all curriculum requirements listed in the assigned University catalog
  • Pass all degree-required doctoral courses with a grade of “C” or better
    • A maximum of six credits with a grade below a “B-“ and no grade below a “C”
  • Attain an overall GPA of 3.0 or higher in the doctoral degree program
  • Have at least 49 credit hours in residence courses at Bellevue University (online courses are in residence)
  • Have ALL requirements completed satisfactorily, including defense of your dissertation, at least 30 days prior to the ceremony in which you will participate

Doctoral candidates will receive their diplomas at the hooding ceremony.

Ceremony Information

A Doctoral Hooding ceremony will be conducted on the main campus of Bellevue University in Bellevue, Nebraska, with a reception to follow. Friday, January 30, 2026 | 5:30 - 7:00 pm (CST), including a post-ceremony reception, John B Muller Administrative Services Building - Symposium Room 812 Bruin Boulevard, Bellevue, NE 68005 (This is the main campus of Bellevue University)

Doctoral graduates and their guests should arrive no later than 5:00 pm (CT) at the John B Muller Administrative Services Building to allow the graduates to dress in their regalia and for family to be seated. Staff will be on hand to assist with regalia.

A Zoom link will be provided to registered graduates to share with their family and friends who could not attend. The ceremony will be recorded and available for viewing 3 - 5 days after the ceremony date at Bellevue University’s official YouTube channel: www.youtube.com/c/bellevueuniversity.

There will be a short reception after the ceremony for Doctoral graduates and their families. Graduates and their families are also invited to attend the Open House/Final Friday Festivities on campus from 4 – 7 p.m. (CST)

If a Doctoral graduate would like to also participate in the undergraduate and graduate ceremony on Saturday, January 31, 2026, please email commencement@bellevue.edu with your request. Doctoral graduates who participate will have their name and degree announced as they walk across the stage No hoodings will take place during the Saturday ceremony.

Registration

To register for the Doctoral Hooding Ceremony, complete this form: applying for graduation. From the drop-down menu, choose "Friday, January 30, 2026 (Doctoral Only)."

Doctoral graduates who register for the Hooding Ceremony will receive communications via email regarding additional information and specifics pertaining to their ceremony. Graduates should monitor their Bellevue University email and the email submitted on their ceremony registration form. Contact commencement@bellevue.edu for additional assistance, if needed.

Nominate a Student Speaker

Doctoral graduates who are participating in the upcoming Doctoral Hooding ceremony are invited to nominate themselves to be selected as the Student Speaker. Nominations are now being accepted through Monday, August 18, through Friday, November 14, 2025, for the Doctoral Hooding Ceremony on Friday, January 30, 2026.

Qualifications:

  • Nominees must be in good academic standing with the University.
  • Nominee must attend the Friday, January 30, 2026, ceremony.
  • Nominees must not have been selected as a Bellevue University Student Speaker previously.
  • The speech will be judged on content (unique perspective, motivational aspects, relevant quotations, and anecdotes), presentation style, and delivery.
  • All Nominees must submit brief answers to the questions on the nomination form and submit a video of their full speech by November 14, 2025, by 5:00 PM.

The Commencement Student Speaker will receive:

  • Photograph and bio information printed in the Doctoral Hooding Ceremony Program.

Please Note: The selected Student Speaker will be required to sign a media release agreement permitting Bellevue University to capture and use photographs, video recordings and/or audio recordings of the Student Speaker in connection with commencement events.

Deadline Date: November 14, 2025

Cap and Gown Pick Up

Please pick up your cap and gown during the following dates and times. Our graduates who have served or are currently serving in the United States Armed Forces will be recognized during the commencement ceremony. Please bring proof of military service when picking up your cap and gown to receive your military service recognition cord.

Bellevue University Main Campus: Hitchcock Humanities Center

  • Tuesday, January 27, 2026
    4:30 p.m. – 6:30 p.m.
  • Wednesday, January 28, 2026
    11:00 a.m. – 1:30 p.m. and 4:30 p.m. – 6:30 p.m.
  • Thursday, January 29, 2026
    11:00 a.m. – 1:30 p.m. and 4:30 p.m. – 6:30 p.m.*
  • All times listed for Cap and Gown Pick-Up are Central Standard Time (CST)

*Doctoral regalia not picked up by 6:30 pm, Thursday, January 29, 2026, will be available at the John B Muller Administrative Services Building when you arrive for the Hooding Ceremony on Friday, January 30, 2026.

Graduation Announcements

While Bellevue University does not supply announcements for your graduation, we welcome our graduates to order announcements and/or class rings if they wish. We are proud to partner with Balfour for all of your graduation announcement and keepsake needs. Order online at https://www.cbgrad.com/school/BELLE.

Graduation Photography

Bellevue University partners with Ceremony Photos to ensure professional photographs of each graduate are taken and made available for purchase. Portraits will be taken immediately after exiting the stage. Photos will be available 2 - 3 weeks after the ceremony. Please visit www.ceremonyphotos.com/events-proofs to view the photos. There is no obligation to purchase. If you have questions, please email Todd@ceremonyPhotos.com or call 1.402.917.6518.

Shout Outs and Social Media

You will have the opportunity to record and send in a video or text “Shout Out.” We will play the video “Shout Outs” on the big screens at commencement before the ceremony beginning at 8 a.m. Shout Outs submitted by Doctoral graduates will be shown prior to the Hooding Ceremony. They will also be posted online for viewing two weeks after commencement.

“Shout Outs” are a brief video clip or text message of graduating students sending out messages to family and friends, thanking them for their love and support. An example of a Shout Out: “Hi, Mom and Dad. Thanks so much for your love and support during my time at Bellevue University. It has been a great experience and I could never have made it without you.

  • Video Formats: Apple ProRes, AVI, M4V, MOV, MP4, MPEG, MPE, MPG, WMV
  • 1920x1080 or 1280x720, if possible
  • Shoot with camera/phone horizontally
  • Place camera/phone on table or tripod
  • Solid color background/wall behind you
  • Not handheld, if possible
  • Good lighting (light yourself from the front)
  • No windows or bright light source behind you
  • Say or spell your name before giving your Shout Out
  • Rename video file with student ID number
  • Upload your video to your Bellevue University OneDrive or similar service
  • Text shout outs have a limit of 255 Characters
  • Text shout outs must not contain nudity, profanity, hate speech, or adult content
  • Text shout outs can include one photo
  • Photos must not exceed 30 MB
  • Photos should be in focus, contain only your face (no group photos) and not contain nudity, profanity, hate speech, or adult content
  • Photo Formats: JPG or JPEG, PNG, TIFF, PSD, PDF, RAW, HEIF, and GIF
  • Please submit your video shout outs by emailing av@bellevue.edu

  • Text shout outs have a limit of 255 Characters
  • Text shout outs must not contain nudity, profanity, hate speech, or adult content
  • Text shout outs can include one photo
  • Photos must not exceed 30 MB
  • Photos should be in focus, contain only your face (no group photos) and not contain nudity, profanity, hate speech, or adult content
  • Photo Formats: JPG or JPEG, PNG, TIFF, PSD, PDF, RAW, HEIF, and GIF

Video or Text Shout Outs can be submitted between Monday, December 1, 2025, and Friday, January 16, 2026, at 11:59 PM CT. Questions? Contact av@bellevue.edu.

Bellevue University reserves the right to edit or decline submissions at its sole discretion.

Join the party on social media!

Ceremony Recordings

The Commencement ceremony will be recorded and available for viewing 2 weeks after the ceremony date at Bellevue University's official YouTube channel: www.youtube.com/c/bellevueuniversity

Travel Information

The following hotels are located close to Bellevue University's main campus:

  • Candlewood Suites Bellevue
  • 10902 S. 15th St
  • Bellevue, Nebraska 68123
  • 1.402.932.8144
  • Courtyard Omaha Bellevue at Beardmore Event Center
  • 3730 Raynor Pkwy
  • Bellevue, Nebraska 68123
  • 1.402.408.5300
  • Holiday Inn Express & Suites Bellevue
  • 10804 S 15th St
  • Bellevue, Nebraska 68123
  • 1.402.293.1600
  • Hampton Inn Bellevue
  • 3404 Samson Way
  • Bellevue, Nebraska 68005
  • 1.402.292.1607

The following metro-area hotels are located close to the Mid-America Center, where the commencement ceremony is held, and within 20 minutes of the University.

  • Springhill Suites:
  • 3216 Plaza View Drive
  • Council Bluffs, Iowa 51501
  • 1.712.256.6500
  • Country Inn & Suites:
  • 17 Arena Way
  • Council Bluffs, Iowa 51501
  • 1.712.322.8282
  • Hilton Garden Inn:
  • 2702 Mid America Drive
  • Council Bluffs, Iowa 51501
  • 1.712.309.9000
  • Holiday Inn Express:
  • 2211 South 32nd St
  • Council Bluffs, Iowa 51501
  • 1.712.352.1300

Ceremony Recordings

Both the Doctoral Hooding ceremony and the Commencement ceremony will be recorded and available for viewing 2 weeks after the ceremony dates at Bellevue University’s official YouTube channel: www.youtube.com/c/bellevueuniversity

Related links

Online Degrees Military-Friendly University Before the Ceremony Graduation Day of the Ceremony After the Ceremony