Commencement 2024

Commencement 2024
Resources

Gifts received by Monday, April 15, 2024 will be acknowledged in the commencement program in honor of your student.


Make a gift in honor of your graduate

 

Honor your Senior with a Brick

Connect With Us
Commencement A-Z

A|B|C|D|E|F|G|H|I|J|K|L|M|N|O|P|Q|R|S|T|U|V|W|X|Y|Z

 

A

Academic eligibility
Students must complete an application for graduation with the Office of Records and Registration in order to be able to participate in the Commencement ceremony. Due dates are as follows:
May: Feb. 1
August: May 1
December: Sept. 1

Alternative driving directions

Alumni Relations

Announcements may be purchased through Herff Jones

Archives

Attire (Caps & Gowns; Master's Units)
Graduate | Undergraduate

 

B

Bookstore

 

C

  

Career Resource Center

Ceremonies: When are they? How do I participate?
Graduate | Undergraduate

Chamber of Commerce
For information about lodging and dining in New Paltz.

Class rings
Rings, announcements and other memorabilia may also be ordered through Herff Jones.

Conferral of degrees
This means you have met all the academic requirements for your graduation, which is finalized by the Office of Records and Registration once all your grades are submitted. The office issues the diplomas six-to-eight weeks after the end of the semester. Commencement is a formal ceremony that recognizes the August graduates and the December and May candidates for graduation.

Contact info for important offices on campus

 

D

Deadlines
see Calendar

Degree
see Conferral of degrees

Departmental honors

Diplomas
At the Commencement ceremony, candidates do not receive an actual diploma, but will receive a Certificate of Participation in a diploma cover. Your degree will be mailed to your permanent address six-to-eight weeks after the end of the semester by the Office of Records and Registration. Please contact them directly for information pertaining to this.

Directions (including alternate directions to avoid gridlock)

Disability information
Reserved seating and parking

 

E

EOP (Educational Opportunity Program)

Exit interviews

 

F

F.A.Q.
Graduate | Undergraduate

Faculty invitations
You can send faculty members an invitation to your ceremony.

Faculty who need regalia may order from the bookstore. Please contact them at 845-257-3050. Measurements will be required for correct sizing

First World Graduation

 

Flowers
A vendor will be present at each ceremony for families and guests to purchase flowers for the candidates. Our bookstore will be on hand to sell New Paltz gear.

Flowers can be ordered in advance

Future ceremonies

G

Gowns
see Attire

Graduate Survey

Graduating Student Survey

Greek honors

H

Honor cords

Students who have obtained a 3.30 GPA or higher at the end the December 2016 semester will receive notification through their New Paltz e-mail account in April 2017.  Students must complete their Graduating Student Survey (link to be sent to New paltz e-mail account beginning April 14, 2017) to obtain a confirmation number. Students should bring their honors cords notification, confirmation number and New Paltz or other picture ID to pick up their honors cords and cap & gowns at the campus bookstore beginning April 28, 2017.  For questions on shipping, please contact the bookstore directly at 845-257-3050.

Hoods
see Attire

I

Individual class recognition
SUNY New Paltz will recognize your graduating class separately. These will be listed individually by graduation month and year in the commencement program booklet. There will also come a point in the ceremony where each group of graduates will be recognized. The bookstore will also be offering graduation year charms which can be worn on the graduation cap tassel.

Info desk
see Welcome Center

Information Sessions
Graduate | Undergraduate

International Invitations:

Please contact

 

J

K

L

Line-up location
Graduate: Elting Gym

Undergraduate: 
 

Live streaming
There will be live streaming of both the graduate and undergraduate ceremonies. You may view the ceremonies from the comfort of your computer at this website. The ceremony will be archived for six months.

Loans
see Exit interview

Lodging
see Chamber of Commerce

Lost and found
see Welcome Center

 

M


2017 Marshal information sheets (updates to come)
Answers to most common guest questions and reminders for marshals

Marshal job descriptions (all)

Undergraduategate marshal assignment important points 

Mortar boards
see Attire

N

O

P

Parking (general and disability)
 

Photography

Procession
This is the line of march. It begins with the candidates according to college/school and majors, all of which are alphabetical, then the faculty and finally the stage party.

Q

R

Rain date: The undergraduate ceremony is outodoors on the Old Main Quad and will proceed rain or shine. Only in the event of extremely severe weather (i.e. electrical storms) will it be cancelled. 
See Severe weather

Receptions

  • SCHOOL OF BUSINESS: Front lawn of Van den Berg Hall (in the event of rain, reception will be held in the lobby of Van den Berg Hall)
  • SCHOOL OF EDUCATION: The College Terrace
  • SCHOOL OF FINE AND PERFORMING ARTS: McKenna Theatre Plaza
  • SCHOOL OF SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING: Science Hall
  • COLLEGE OF LIBERAL ARTS AND SCIENCES: Wooster Hall
  • EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITY PROGRAM (EOP): Student Union Building 62/63
  • GRADUATE: The College Terrace

Records & Registration

Regalia
see Attire

Registration
Candidates need to register with Records and Registration to participate in the ceremony.  

 

Residence halls
Please contact the individual residence hall or housing office for closing date/time.

 

S

Seating and procession diagram  
  | 

Severe weather
Call 845-257-INFO (4636) for cancellation information due to an emergency or inclement weather. A message will be recorded if there are any changes in the schedule. Any cancellations or changes will also appear on the New Paltz website. There are no rain/snow dates for commencement ceremonies.

Study Abroad sashes
The bookstore will be ordering sashes for the Study Abroad students who did not pre-order by the March 27, 2017 due date. If you missed the pre-order due date, you will be able to purchase a sash at the bookstore beginning April 28, 2017.The bookstore's phone number is 845-257-3050.

 

T

Tassel
see Attire

Tickets
Graduate | Undergraduate

 

U

 

V

Volunteering
see Marshals

 

W

Weather
see Severe weather

Will-call
see Tickets

 

X

 

 

Z