DEAR GRADUATES (PLEASE READ THIS PARAGRAPH FIRST),
CONGRATULATIONS ON YOUR UPCOMING COMMENCEMENT.
THIS IS A VERY BUSY TIME OF YEAR. MOST GENERAL QUESTIONS ARE ANSWERED IN THE SECTIONS BELOW THIS PARAGRAPH. PLEASE TAKE A FEW MINUTES TO REVIEW FOR AN IMMEDIATE ANSWER.
Do I need to do anything further? This is the most common question but it is answered here:
May and August 2024 Candidates:
Please be sure you have submitted your degree application with the Office of Records & Registration. Once you have done this, you DO NOT have to do anything further. Just keep checking your New Paltz email or your primary email account you have registered with the University such as your gmail, Yahoo etc.) where information (i.e. obtaining guest tickets, line up, etc.) will be sent as it becomes available.
August and December 2023 graduates:
You DO NOT have to do anything further since you already graduated. Just keep checking your New Paltz email or your primary email account you have registered with the University such as your gmail, Yahoo etc.) where information (i.e. obtaining guest tickets, line up etc.) will be sent as it becomes available.
Getting your name in the commencement program:
To have your name included in the commencement ceremony program, you must submit your degree application with the Office of Records & Registration by Monday, April 1, 2024.
Senior Portraits: Please contact the Center for Student Engagement: cse@newpaltz.edu or visit them in Student Union 402.
Please carefully read the FAQ information below:
Any question(s) NOT answered can be sent to commencement@newpaltz.edu. Anything related to the status of your credits or grades, should be directed to the Office of Records and Registration. Please allow 24 to 48 hours for a response.
Congratulations again on your achievement.
Friday, May 17, 2024
Graduate Ceremony
6 pm - 7:30 pm
Old Main Quad
Saturday, May 18, 2024
College of Liberal Arts & Sciences
10 am - Noon
Old Main Quad
Sunday, May 19, 2024
Schools of Business, Education, Fine & Performing Arts, Science & Engineering
10 am - Noon
Old Main Quad
All ceremonies are rain or shine. IF THE WEEKEND WEATHER IS HOT! Please plan accordingly as the ceremony is NOT TENTED. For everyone's safety, bag checks are conducted at the gate entrances of the reserved seating area. Guests are encouraged NOT TO BRING LARGE BAGS into the reserved seating area.
- Complete 2024 Application for graduation due dates/academic eligibility with the Records & Registration Office located in Wooster Hall. Once you have filled out your application, you will begin to receive commencement information in your New Paltz email account or whatever personal e-mail you have on file with SUNY New Paltz (G-mail, Yahoo, etc.). Nothing further needs to be done. Just watch your emails for commencement information.
Students submit the degree application by the deadline as listed during the last term of attendance. For questions, please contact Records and Registration
January 1: Degree Applications for May conferral
March 15: Degree Applications for August conferral
July 1: Degree Applications for December conferral
Dear Students,
Please read this carefully before downloading your tickets.
We have created a Glitnir Ticketing account for you to access your Commencement guest tickets. Your login is the e-mail address you use for campus business such as your @newpaltz or your Gmail, Yahoo, etc. You MUST use the email that notified you about your tickets. Students who are having difficulty accessing their tickets should complete the Ticket Help form below. The Ticket Office will respond within 5 business days. Please do not contact the Commencement Office, Office of Records & Registration or the Parker Theatre Box Office.
Tickets are only available online to students who have completed the 2024 Application for Graduation with the university’s Office of Records and Registration. Due to space capacity inside the reserved seating area, and to be fair to all students, only four tickets will be reserved and duplicate tickets will not scan. Extra guests may bring lawn chairs and blankets and sit outside the reserved seating area. Children two and over will need a ticket.
To access guest tickets for your Commencement ceremony, you must first reset your password, login and reserve your guest tickets:
RESET PASSWORD
LOGIN
RESERVE TICKETS
Guests with mobility challenges (i.e. wheel chair, walker or trouble walking) will be accommodated in the main reserved seating area or given the option to sit in a less crowded specially reserved section. Your four reserved guest tickets can be used here. Please fill out the online form below by Friday, May 10, 2024. During the week of Monday, May 13, 2024, students who registered their guests will receive detailed instructions and a map with disability parking locations, suggested drop off and entry locations. All gates will serve as a point of entry. Disability tags or license plates are required to park in the designated disability parking lots.
Yes, there will be closed captioning for live streaming and on site, we will also have an interpreter. If you require assistance, please contact the SUNY New Paltz Disability Resource Center at drc@newpaltz.edu or call 845-257-3020. If you have a guest who is hearing impaired, please fill out this online form.
Tickets can also be picked up on day of ceremony
WILL CALL TABLE LOCATION: MAPS TO POST SHORTLY
FRIDAY, MAY 17, 2024
SATURDAY, MAY 18, 2024
SUNDAY, MAY 19, 2024
Line up:
Graduate Ceremony:
Friday, May 17, 2024
Please line up in Lecture Center North no later than 5:30 p.m.
Undergraduate Ceremonies:
Please line up at the Athletic & Wellness Center Gym no later than 9:15 a.m.
Saturday, May 18, 2024: College of Liberal Arts & Sciences
Sunday, May 19, 2024: Schools of Business, Fine & Performing Arts, Education; Science & Engineering
Line-up locations:
Graduate Campus Map
Undergraduate Campus Map
What about stoles?
International stoles can be purchased on the Herff Jones website.
Departmental stole inquires should be directed to the individual school or office/department such as EOP, Athletics, etc.
If you meet the following criteria, you will be notified in the spring from the Commencement Office on how to obtain your honor cords.
Update Note: Information will be sent the week April 15, 2024 to eligible students.
Your grade point average of courses taken at SUNY New Paltz as of Fall 2023 pre-qualifies you for Latin honors. The honor cord symbolizes a GPA of 3.30 or higher and is offered to students with a pre-qualifying GPA.
Latin Honors designation for May and August 2023 graduates will be determined following the submission of final spring and summer grades, respectively. Latin honors will be noted on the transcript and diploma. For additional details concerning Honors, please view the Policies:Graduation with Honors page. If you still have questions about Latin Honors calculations, please contact the Office of Records and Registration directly.
If you are eligible for honors based on the above criteria, you will receive an email outlining the details sometime in March. Please show this email to the bookstore to pick up your honor cord with your New Paltz student or other picture ID. The bookstore can also ship your honor cord by checking your eligibility. Please contact them at 845-257-3050.
Parking Maps
Undergraduate
Graduate
A shuttle bus will be provided transporting guests who wish this service to and from the parking lots.
A few gem cars will also be transporting guests to and from the parking areas to Old Main Quad (including disability seating area).
Please check with your individual school/department on how to obtain these, if available.
All three Commencement ceremonies will be livestreamed for those who are not able to attend in person. The link will be posted from the SUNY New Paltz home page prior to the ceremonies. The link will also be sent in advance to students so they can forward to their family and friends.
Commencement Information Sessions:
These have already taken place.
The information session covered how your graduation day will unfold, but most of the information can now be found in this FAQ section and through e-mails that will be sent through the SUNY New Paltz Commencement Office.
Please also see FAQ section: Student Participation Card for Name Announcement and Photo Proof
PLEASE BRING YOUR STUDENT PARTICIPATION CARD WITH YOU TO YOUR LINE UP AREA THE DAY OF COMMENCEMENT.
Having these cards filled out in advance with how you prefer to have your name called will save time at the line-up area. There is a space where you can spell your name phonetically if it's hard to pronounce. Please be sure to print your name neatly so your name is pronounced correctly as you cross the stage. You'll also need this card to obtain a sample proof of your graduation picture as you approach/cross the stage.
HOW DO I GET MY STUDENT PARTICIPATION CARD?
If you were unable to attend the Commencement Information Session, Student Participation Cards will be distributed at the Headquarters Desk inside the Student Union lobby, Friday, May 3, 2024 - Friday, May 17, 2024. You may also obtain your Student Participation Card at the Student Welcome Desk in the lower lobby of Wooster Hall. Please bring your New Paltz student (preferred) or picture ID.
Student Participation Cards will also be distributed at line-up areas if you are off campus.
Hours: Student Union Welcome Desk
Monday: 12-5 pm
Tuesday: 11- 4 pm
Wednesday: 12 pm - 4 pm
Thursday: 10 am - 3 pm
Friday: 1-3 pm
Sat and Sun: 11 am - 3
Hours Lower Level Wooster Hall:
Monday through Friday, 8:30am to 4:30pm.
Line Up Areas:
Graduate Ceremony: May 19, 2023 - Lecture Center North - Beginning at 5 pm
Undergraduate Ceremonies, May 20 - 21, 2023 - Athletic & Wellness Center - Beginning at 9 am.
Due to capacity concerns, we are limiting this year's ceremony participation to only eligible candidates/graduates from the following classes:
August/December 2023;January/May/August 2024.
You will receive an email invitation in your New Paltz email account that comes from the Office of Institutional Research and has the subject Graduating Student Survey.
If you have any other issues, problems, or questions about the survey, please contact the Office of Institutional Research and Planning by phone at 845-257-2951 or via email at oir@newpaltz.edu.
Following the campus pivot to a mask-optional policy for most indoor spaces, we will go with a similar model for the outdoor Commencement ceremonies. The College will support all students, faculty, staff and visitors who choose to wear masks during the events, but we will not require anyone to do so.
For current information:
Note: Locations below are subject to change. Please check back. Reception map to be posted shortly. This same map will be inside the commencement program distributed at the ceremony.
Graduate School
The Graduate School does not have a reception.
Undergraduate: (See map below)
Saturday, May 18, 2024:
College of Liberal Arts & Sciences: Science Hall (A)
Sunday, May 19, 2024:
School of Business: Lecture Center North (B)
School of Education: College Terrace (C)
School of Fine & Performing Arts: McKenna Theatre Patio (D)
School of Science & Engineering: Science Hall (E)
The Disability Resource Center provides services to students with permanent or temporary disabilities to ensure access to programs and activities in the pursuit of attaining their educational objectives. Students who need assistance to participate in the May 2022 ceremony, should contact the Disability Resource Center at drc@newpaltz.edu or call 845-257-3020.
• From NYS Thruway (I-87):
Exit 18: Turn left at the traffic light after toll booth.
Turn left at first traffic light onto South Putt Corners
Rd. Follow that road to the end and turn right onto
Route 32.
Exit 17: After the toll booth, follow the signs to Route
300 North. At the light, turn left on to Route 300
North. After about 3 miles, continue straight onto
Route 32 North. After about 14 miles you will see
several campus entrances on the left side of the road.
• Additional Routes:
www.newpaltz.edu/campusdirections
Directions to Ceremony
Alternative Routes to Avoid Main Street Gridlock:
If you are requesting an invitation letter in support of a family member to apply for visitor visas, please follow this link to the request for status letters.
Additional questions or complicated issues should be directed to the Office of International Programs.
The college contracts with Genosee Photo to take photographs of every candidate walking across the main stage. This service is provided without cost or obligation. Within 10 days of the ceremony you will receive a proof by mail. If you wish to order, you may. For more information call 800-345-7427.
Commencement is a formal ceremony; please dress accordingly. The general rule is light weight, non-restrictive clothing. Men do not have to wear jackets, but should wear a shirt and tie. Please do not wear shorts, jeans, or sweat pants. Comfortable shoes.
It is recommended that candidates try on their caps & gowns to make sure they fit correctly and are presentable. Candidates are not permitted to accessorize their gowns other than cords or sashes from recognized organizations and departments on campus.
No. To get the wrinkles out, just take the gown out of the bag and hang it up for a few days before the ceremony. This allows time for the fabric to relax. DO NOT iron the gown. The direct heat will destroy the fabric.
Yes as long as there are no profanities.
SUNY New Paltz will separately recognize your graduating class. These classes will be listed individually by school, graduation month and year in the commencement program. Your graduation year "charm" that can be worn on the graduate cap tassel, will be sent with your commencement regalia.
Please check with the campus bookstore or Herff Jones.
Please check hours on SUNY New Paltz Campus Bookstore website.
If you are unsure of the titling of your specific degree, check with Records and Registration at 845-257-3100, or contact your adviser.
No, the official diploma is not presented at Commencement. Diplomas will be mailed to the candidate's permanent address approximately six-to-eight weeks after Commencement from the office of Records and Registration. A diploma cannot be issued until all obligations, such as library fees, parking tickets, etc., are cleared.
You can choose which ceremony you want to participate in, but please be sure to choose the correct date when you download your tickets. The commencement office does not need to be notified.
Any questions about your degree can be answered by Records & Registration.
