Frequently Asked Questions - Commencement 2024
Congratulations on your graduation! Commencement at SUNY New Paltz will have a new location and schedule in 2024. Please read the following information carefully so you and your family know what to expect. We are updating this FAQ resource with new details regularly, so check back often to stay up-to-date.
We realize that the announcement for commencement venue change comes as a surprise to many.
Under normal planning, an outdoor Commencement necessitates greater law enforcement presence as we need to manage critical mass of traffic and visitors. Governor Hochul directed college and university presidents in a letter on April 29 that campuses begin evaluating event sites with expectations that Commencements be celebrated safely and in person. New York State law enforcement agencies, in consultation with the State Department of Homeland Security, have prescriptive plans which we would be required to adopt in order to adequately staff an outdoor commencement.
Change of venue to indoor ceremonies gives the campus maximum discretion and latitude to maintain a more normal representation of Commencement. Students and families deserve the opportunity to celebrate this important milestone and indoor ceremonies help us fulfill this promise.
General Information
All ceremonies will be held in the Athletic & Wellness Center (AWC) on campus. Please use this link for a campus map for directions to the AWC.
There will be five Commencement ceremonies honoring this year’s graduates:
- Friday, May 17, 6 p.m.: Graduate Commencement Ceremony
- Saturday, May 18, 9 a.m.: Undergraduate Commencement Ceremony 1 – College of Liberal Arts & Sciences (Doors to open at 8 a.m.)
- Saturday, May 18, 1 p.m.: Undergraduate Commencement Ceremony 2 – College of Liberal Arts & Sciences (Doors to open at Noon.)
- Sunday, May 19, 9 a.m.: Undergraduate Commencement Ceremony 3 – Schools of Fine & Performing Arts and Education (Doors to open at 8 a.m.)
- Sunday, May 19, 1 p.m.: Undergraduate Commencement Ceremony 4 – Schools of Business and Science & Engineering (Doors to open at Noon.)
Yes! While we are making adjustments to the venue and other aspects of the program, all students who are graduating at this year’s ceremonies will have the same opportunity to walk across the stage and receive their degree in front of their ticketed guests.
Yes! All four of your original, ticketed guests will be able to join you inside the Athletic & Wellness Center and watch you cross the stage. Additional guests beyond those four with tickets may watch the livestream in Lecture Center 100 and 102.
No, the ticketing process for SUNY New Paltz Commencement remains the same as it was prior to the venue change. All SUNY New Paltz students who sign up to walk at Commencement can reserve up to four guest tickets for their ceremonies.
Students who have not yet reserved and downloaded their four tickets have until noon Friday, May 17, to do so. There will be a Will Call table at the ceremonies for students who reserved their tickets in advance but did not download them.
Please use this link for more information and guidance for how graduates can get their four tickets.
No. The Athletic & Wellness Center, our largest capacity venue on campus, can only accommodate the graduates, their four ticketed guests and those working the event.
Additional invited guests may watch the livestream in Lecture Center 100 and 102.
The Commencement Committee made the decision, with input from students, faculty and staff, to move our undergraduate ceremonies from the Old Main Quad to the Athletic & Wellness Center this year.
The AWC has a lower maximum capacity. For that reason, we are dividing each of the Saturday and Sunday ceremonies in two, to ensure that all our graduates have the opportunity to celebrate with their ticketed guests. Additional invited guests may watch the livestream in Lecture Center 100 and 102.
Similar to other official University events, Commencement ceremonies are expected to run without interruption to celebrate our students as a whole and so that each and every graduate can be recognized individually for their achievements. This approach is consistent with SUNY’s Rules for the Maintenance of Public Order.
Should any attendee wish to exercise free expression activities, the University will provide an established zone for doing so outside the Athletic & Wellness Center, within proximity of the ceremonies, as is appropriate under policies that allow the University to regulate the time, place and manner of such activities to preserve core institutional functions.
Anyone inside the Athletics & Wellness Center who attempts to exercise free expression activities during the ceremonies will be directed toward the established area.
At SUNY New Paltz, as on other public university campuses, the “Heckler’s Veto” is considered a violation of free speech and therefore disruptive conduct.
The University’s policy on the Heckler’s Veto is as follows (note bold text):
No person shall engage in disorderly conduct which interferes with the rights of others, including: criminal mischief (vandalism); recklessly creating a public inconvenience or disturbance by fighting; making unreasonable noise; using abusive or obscene language; disturbing a class, meeting, event, rally or speaker; or acting in a manner that substantially or repeatedly infringes upon or violates the rights of others, including their free speech rights (e.g.- sustained or repeated disruption so a person cannot be heard); obstructing pedestrian or vehicle traffic, or creating a hazardous or physically offensive situation by an act which serves no legitimate purpose.
Individuals who violate this policy will be asked to leave the Commencement ceremony.
SUNY New Paltz graduates frequently express their diverse identities and passions at Commencement, including by decorating their regalia, and their right to do so on our public university campus is protected by the First Amendment.
The University does not tolerate expressions of bigotry, racism, antisemitism, Islamophobia or hatred of any kind.
Commencement marshals will be at the ceremonies and available to assist in maintaining a respectful environment that supports all graduates' Commencement experiences. Individuals seeking support may also use our Bias Response Reporting & Support process, including a Bias Reporting Form that is available to all students and employees.
Information for Graduates
The Commencement Committee will send emails and text message reminders to graduating students to confirm their ceremony assignments and provide additional information.
For planning purposes, ceremonies will be divided by major as follows:
- Graduate Commencement Ceremony, Friday, May 17, 6 p.m.: Includes all graduate degree/advanced certificate programs
- Undergraduate Commencement Ceremony 1, Saturday, May 18, 9 a.m.: Includes Anthropology, Asian Studies, Black Studies, Communication Disorders, Communication Studies, Digital Media Management, Digital Media Production, Economics, English, Environmental Studies, General Studies, Geography, History, Journalism majors.
- Undergraduate Commencement Ceremony 2, Saturday, May 18, 1 p.m.: Includes French, International Relations, Latin American & Caribbean Studies, Philosophy, Political Science, Psychology, Sociology, Spanish, Women’s, Gender & Sexuality Studies majors.
- Undergraduate Commencement Ceremony 3, Sunday, May 19, 9 a.m.: Includes all majors in the School of Fine & Performing Arts and School of Education.
- Undergraduate Commencement Ceremony 3, Sunday, May 19, 9 a.m.: Includes all majors in the School of Business and School of Science & Engineering.
Graduating students should plan to be on campus for the line up at least one hour before each ceremony. Student lineup for all ceremonies will take place in the Elting Gymnasium. Graduates should use the side entrance of Elting Gymnasium for the lineup.
- Those participating in the Graduate Commencement Ceremony on Friday, May 17, at 6 p.m. should line up at 5 p.m.
- Those participating in Undergraduate Commencement Ceremony 1 on Saturday, May 18, at 9 a.m. should line up at 8 a.m.
- Those participating in Undergraduate Commencement Ceremony 2 on Saturday, May 18, at 1 p.m. should line up at 12 p.m.
- Those participating in Undergraduate Commencement Ceremony 3 on Sunday, May 19, at 9 a.m. should line up at 8 a.m.
- Those participating in Undergraduate Commencement Ceremony 4 on Sunday, May 19, at 1 p.m. should line up at 12 p.m.
Yes. The First World Graduation Ceremony will take place at a new time of 3:30 p.m. on Saturday, May 18, at Studley Theatre.
The Honors Program Graduation Ceremony will take place at a new time of 11 a.m. on Sunday, May 19, at Studley Theatre.
There will also be program- and school-related receptions where graduates and their families can celebrate with faculty and fellow graduates. Those receptions will be at the following days, times and locations:
- College of Liberal Arts & Sciences (two receptions): 10:30 a.m. and 2:30 p.m. on Saturday, May 18, in Lecture Center North and South Lobbies
- Educational Opportunity Program: 11 a.m. on Saturday, May 18, in College Terrace
- School of Education: 10:30 a.m. on Sunday, May 19, in College Terrace
- School of Fine & Performing Arts: 10:30 a.m. on Sunday, May 19 at the McKenna Theatre Patio
- School of Business: 2:30 p.m. on Sunday, May 19, in van den Berg Hall
- School of Science & Engineering: 2:30 p.m. on Sunday, May 19, in Science Hall Lobby
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.
The due date for pre-ordering your cap & gown has past. Beginning Monday, April 15, 2024, pre-ordered caps & gowns will be available in the bookstore for pick up. If you haven't pre-ordered, please visit the campus bookstore; call 845-257-3050 or visit their website at that time.
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.
Yes, but we ask that all students please avoid profanity or other language that may be challenging for your fellow graduates and their guests. The University does not tolerate expressions of bigotry, racism, antisemitism, Islamophobia or hatred of any kind.
Information for Guests
Parking is available in multiple campus lots, including the West Parking, Wallkill Parking and Elting Parking lots near the Athletic & Wellness Center. The Elting Main Parking lot is designated as disability parking.
Parking maps and seating charts for Commencement 2024 can be found at this link.
Yes. A shuttle bus will be provided to transport guests to and from the parking lots. A few gem cars will also be available to transport guests (including to the disability seating area).
Guests with mobility challenges (i.e. wheel chair, walker or trouble walking) will be accommodated in the main reserved seating area. Your four reserved guest tickets can be used here. Please fill out this online form to register your guests. Students who register their guests will receive detailed instructions and a map with disability parking locations, suggested drop off and entry locations. 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.
