Commencement
Congratulations Class of 2024!
Congratulations to all of our graduates! The moment you have been working toward is finally here!
Commencement is a very special and important event in a student's life. It is also an occasion for families to come together in Alfred and share in their graduates' accomplishments. This year's ceremony is scheduled for Saturday, May 11, 2024, at 10 AM, in the Galanis Family Arena, McLane Center. A live stream will be available for those attending Commencement virtually.
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.
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
Harder Hall Lobby
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.
- Students will be able to pick-up tickets beginning Monday April 29th through Friday May 10th at the AU Bookstore.
- 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 this 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.
Special seating requests will be taken until May 9,2024.
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.
The cost is $55 per person/one night or $75 per person/two nights and includes a continental breakfast on Saturday morning. 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.
Saturday morning breakfast is sponsored by University Advancement. Those attending breakfast will receive a special commemorative pin in honor of their student's graduation.
Reservations must be made by May 7, 2024.
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.
Cap, gown, hood and tassel are all required to attend Commencement and can be purchased from the AU Bookstore. All measurements are taken at the Bookstore.
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.
Live Stream
We will be live streaming the ceremony in several spaces on campus, and overflow seating will be available for unticketed guests.
