Commencement

Parking lots are available throughout campus. Shuttle buses will be available to and from parking lots and McLane Center starting at 8:30 AM on Commencement morning. Individuals with special parking permits will be able to drop off people at the back door of McLane. The shuttle will also be available during and after Commencement.

View Campus Map & Parking Information

You are cordially invited to attend one of the following receptions immediately following the Commencement ceremony:

COLLEGE OF LIBERAL ARTS AND SCIENCES
Scholes Library

SCHOOL OF ART & DESIGN + PERFORMING ARTS DIVISION
Miller Theater

INAMORI SCHOOL OF ENGINEERING
CREATE Center, First floor, McMahon Engineering Building

COLLEGE OF BUSINESS
Olin Building Room 301

GRADUATE COUNSELING AND SCHOOL PSYCHOLOGY
Powell Institute, 6 Sayles Street

Undergraduate students who have achieved academic excellence at the University wear a gold cord at graduation, indicating graduation cum laude, with praise, magna cum laude, with great praise, or summa cum laude, with highest praise. Degrees conferred with distinction reflect an outstanding overall grade point average with a minimum of sixty semester credit hours earned at Alfred University; a minimum of fifty computed in the grade point average.

Doctoral degrees will be conferred in a private hooding ceremony on Saturday May 11th at 2:30 p.m. Doctoral students do not need to attend the earlier ceremony in the McLane Center. Details will be included with your invitation which will be mailed to your address on record mid-April. Guest are welcome to attend and tickets are not needed.

Tickets

Tickets will be required for admittance. All eligible graduating students will be issued five (5) tickets for attendance to the Commencement Ceremony. This policy is to help establish a safe and secure venue in compliance with NYS fire and safety codes. We will be streaming commencement live via our webpage for those who are unable to attend in person. As well, we will be showing it via live stream for un-ticketed guests who are on campus. Please direct ticket questions to the University Bookstore.

Ticket Pick-up

• Graduates will be given five (5) tickets each. Safeguard tickets; lost tickets cannot be replaced.
• Tickets will be given only to graduates on the official graduation list. You must have applied to graduate and stated you would be attending the May 11th ceremony.
• If you are not on campus, please email aubooks@alfred.edu to reserve tickets for pick-up graduation morning.

Seating & Accessibility Accommodations

The University also offers seating for parents/family members who need special physical accommodations. Please reserve a seat in our special seating by completing the “Accessible Needs” section of the reservation form. Keep in mind that due to space limitations, only one person will be able to assist and sit with the family member in the special seating area (please note: these are included in the five tickets per student allotment). Unfortunately, there is no guarantee that accessible seating will be available to accommodate “walk-ins” without prior reservations.

The University offers housing for family members of all degree candidates over Commencement Weekend. Housing will be provided on a first-come, first-served basis.

All lodging is offered in student housing and is very utilitarian in nature, offering none of the luxuries of hotel living. Towels and bed linens are provided and included in the cost. Should you or a family member need special housing accommodations, please make sure you indicate your needs when you make your reservations.

Check back as Commencement approaches for information on reservations and cost.

To make sure your student is set to participate in the Commencement Ceremony, please check with them to make sure they’ve completed the required Apply to Graduate form through their BannerWeb account.

Go to Graduation Checklist page

The complete unit (cap, gown, hood and tassel) can be purchased from the AU Bookstore. All measurements are taken at the Bookstore. Purchase of the complete unit is required. Updated pricing coming Spring 2024.

Orders will be available for pick-up the week of graduation. Diploma frames are also now available at the Bookstore. Questions regarding regalia or other commencement-related purchases should be directed to the University Bookstore.