Graduation Resources

Graduation Forms - Required

• Admissions Release of Information
• Graduation Media Release Form

Special Hooders

Hooding at the graduation ceremony is performed by the appropriate associate deans. If you would like to request a specific member of the WVSOM faculty or another individual of your choice who meets the policy qualifications to hood you, please complete the hooding request form. 

Graduates will need to fill out the hooding request form.

If you do not request a special hooder, one of the Associate Deans will hood you. The hooder must have a terminal degree, ex. D.O., M.D., Ph.D., D.D.S., J.D., etc.

Graduates will need to complete the Hooding request by 4:30 P.M. on April 20, 2023.

Dress Code

Most hooders wear business casual or suits and ties. Some hooders wear academic regalia and some have worn their white coat. It is up to the special hooder on what works best from the choices above.

Financial Aid Exit Checklist

Items below only need to be completed if the graduate borrowed loans at any time while attending WVSOM.

• Review Indebtedness and complete Exit Counseling at studentaid.gov as soon as possible but no later than April 28. 2023.
• Financial Wellness for Medical School and Beyond
• Studentaid.gov has great information on Managing Repayment.
• Check your email for information from our Business Office and ECSI concerning your PCL and/or WVMSLP if you borrowed under these programs.
• Private Loans and Residency/Relocation loans are not reported through NSLDS or ECSI. Don't forget them.
• There will be one financial aid exit session on Thursday, May 4, 2023, at 8:00 a.m. Attendance is Mandatory for any graduate who has borrowed money to pay for their medical education. Please contact Lisa Spencer, Director of Financial Aid with any questions. Call (304) 647-6231 or email

Cap and Gowns - required - Deadline to order January 13, 2023.  

Students are required to wear a cap and gown. Please contact the WVSOM Bookstore with any questions.

Sizing your regalia

Please measure your head in inches then check the conversion chart for the correct size. Make sure that the tape is secure and tight, but not too tight. Rather your tam be a little form-fitting, than too loose. Once the tam is ordered, it cannot be changed or exchanged.

Tam Conversion Chart

Inches	Size
19 1/2	6 3/8
20	6 1/2
20 1/2	6 5/8
21	6 3/4
21 1/2	6 7/8
22	7
22 1/2	7 1/8
23	7 1/4
23 1/2	7 3/8
24	7 1/2
24 1/2	7 5/8
25	7 3/4
25 1/2	7 7/8
26	8

Cap and Gown Care

1. Do NOT iron your gown. Once received place it on a hanger in your hotel bathroom and let the steam from the shower release the wrinkles. If you would like more wrinkles removed, please use steam ONLY! You can ruin the velvet and the gown by ironing. Never iron the gown.
2. A safety pin can be used to pin your hood to your gown once you are hooded. This will keep it in place. Also, a button on a dress shirt can be used to attach the hood.
3. When you receive your hat be sure to put your name inside your hat. You will do a hat toss after the conclusion of the ceremony and since they are custom-made, you will definitely want your own hat back. You should be able to peel the name off your regalia bag and put it in your hat. If not, we will have some masking tape and a sharpie to write your name. Do not lose your tassel.

Your Diploma

A week after graduation you will receive an email from the registrar's office with an 8 x 10 PDF copy of your diploma to use for licensing boards, etc. Transcripts are issued by request from the Registrar's office.