Sandra Rosenbaum School of Social Work Graduation Celebration
Saturday, May 9, 2026
2:00 – 5:00 p.m.
Discovery Building, 330 N. Orchard St
Immediately following the UW-Madison Spring Commencement at Camp Randall
We invite all graduates from our undergraduate social welfare major, BSW, MSW, and PhD programs who are graduating in May 2026, August 2026, and December 2026 to attend this open house reception, along with your families, faculty, and staff. Graduates must register. See your email for registration information.
FAQs for MSW Graduates
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I’ve never been to or seen a hooding ceremony. How does it work?
You and your guests will enjoy the reception until your appointed hooding time, when you and your guests will line up at the entrance of the hooding room. Prior to entering the room, you will take off your hood, fold it lightly, and have your hooder carry it into the hooding ceremony. They will sit with you in the front rows (staff will tell you where to go) and your guests will sit in the guest seating area behind our graduates. During the hooding ceremony, the Director will say some celebratory words and then graduates and hooders will be invited up in groups to the front of the room, where you and your hooder will line up with about 10 other students and their hooders. When your name is called you will step forward, then after all the names in that group are called, the hooders will be instructed to hood their graduate (we will tell/show you and your hooder how to do this the day of). After all graduates in the session are hooded, we will end the hooding ceremony, and you and your guests will rejoin the reception. The hooding ceremony takes about 20 minutes.
Who can be my hooder for the hooding ceremony?
Your hooder can be anyone you want, a friend, family member, faculty member, etc. We only ask that the person you select be able to stay at the front of the room with you and have the ability to place the hood on you.
How many people can hood me during the ceremony?
Your hooder can be anyone you want, a friend, family member, faculty member, etc. We only ask that the person you select be able to stay at the front of the room with you and have the ability to place the hood on you.
I’m not attending the Camp Randall commencement address. Can I still come to this celebration?
Yes! All graduates are welcome at the reception whether you attend the Camp Randall event or not!
I’m not participating in the hooding ceremony. Can I still attend the reception?
Yes! All graduates are welcome at the reception, whether you participate in a hooding ceremony or not.
What can I expect at the reception?
We will be hosting a reception with Social Work faculty and staff at the Discovery Building. There will be cookies and beverages, a photo booth available for families to utilize, and Bucky Badger will make an appearance as well!
I’m attending as a guest. Can I bring a sign to support/celebrate my graduate?
Unfortunately, guests are unable to bring in posters, noise makers, posters on sticks, etc. due to University and building guidelines. We ask that you leave those items at home for your personal celebrations and simply bring yourselves and your enthusiasm for your recent graduate.
FAQs for BSW/Social Welfare Graduates
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I’m an undergraduate student. Will I be walking across a stage at this reception?
Undergraduate graduates and their guests are invited to attend the reception; however, we will not be holding a ceremony. We will not be reading names and graduates will not walk across a stage.
What can I expect at the reception?
We will host a reception with Social Work faculty and staff at the Discovery Building. There will be cookies and beverages, a photo booth available for families to utilize, and Bucky Badger will make an appearance as well!
I’m not attending the Camp Randall commencement address. Can I still come to this celebration?
Yes! All graduates are welcome at the reception whether you attend the Camp Randall event or not!
Is there anything I need to bring with me to attend the celebration reception?
There is nothing special you need to bring to enjoy the celebration.
I’m attending as a guest. Can I bring a sign to support my graduate?
Unfortunately, guests are unable to bring in posters, noise makers, posters on sticks, etc. due to University and building guidelines. We ask that you leave those items at home for your personal celebrations and simply bring yourselves and your enthusiasm for your recent graduate.