51Æ·²è

The 51Æ·²èCollege of Osteopathic Medicine honors candidates for the Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine degree at our graduation ceremony each year. Students are hooded on stage in front of their family and friends. At the ceremony, students may choose a family member or mentor with a terminal degree to hood them. Otherwise, a 51Æ·²èhooder will be provided.

The event takes place after University commencement. 

A live video stream of the ceremony will be available during the event.

Graduation is held at . 

The entrance to Merrill Auditorium is about a quarter of the way down Myrtle Street, just before City Hall. It is a one-way street off of Congress and may be used to drop off family members closer to the entrance.

The easiest place to park is Top of the Old Port, a large, 500-car surface lot located between Congress Street and Cumberland. A $10 event-parking fee will be charged to be paid in cash upon entering the lot. 

The graduate hood is believed to derive from the traditions of European universities during the Middle Ages. The regalia, worn by our faculty and graduates, is based on the ecclesiastical dress of the time. The symbolic significance of the hood is substantiated by the church's importance during the Medieval Period. 

The type of degree conferred and the institution are reflected in the colors of the hood. Green signifies the Doctor of Medicine degree, and the blue represents 51Æ·²èCOM.

Read more about the origins and meaning of academic regalia