Family/Friends

The May 2024 undergraduate ceremonies will recognize students who complete their degree requirements in December 2023, May 2024 or August 2024, or are expected to complete student teaching, internship, fieldwork, study abroad or another academic requirement that is not completed on or near the Cortland campus in December 2024.

Undergraduate ceremonies will be held Saturday, May 11, in the Park Center Alumni Arena. Depending on the student's major they will be in one of our three ceremonies.

The doors will open one hour prior to each ceremony for guests:

• Ceremony A – 9:30 a.m., doors open at 8:30 a.m. (Saturday)
• Ceremony B – 2:30 p.m., doors open at 1:30 p.m. (Saturday)
• Ceremony C – 7 p.m., doors open at 6 p.m. (Saturday)

The processions will begin promptly at 9:30 a.m., 2:30 p.m. and 7 p.m. The length of the ceremony is approximately one and a half to two hours.

Seating begins at 8:30 a.m. for the morning ceremony, 1:30 p.m. for the afternoon ceremony and 6 p.m. for the night ceremony. All guests MUST have a ticket. 

Please note, the tickets will be scanned at the entrance. If you attempt to re-use a ticket you will be placed in the overflow viewing area. All seating, with the exception of accessibility seating, is on a first-come, first-served basis. Guests with an accessibility request need to arrange their accommodations by filling out the online registration form.

Overflow viewing and webcast viewing are options available for guests without tickets.

Light refreshments, flowers for graduates and gift merchandise will be sold at the concession. Alcoholic beverages are not allowed at Commencement.

Light refreshments are available at the receptions, which will be held:

• May 11, 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., Lusk Field House
• May 11, 4 p.m. to 5:30 p.m., Lusk Field House

An ambulance will be stationed outside the Park Center Alumni Arena.

In case of an emergency, flag a marshal, Commencement usher or a university police officer and proceed to the nearest exit in an orderly manner.

Flowers and Commencement-related items will be available for purchase from 8:30 a.m.- 8:30 p.m outside of the Corey Gymnasium. Flower arrangements include bouquets of half dozen and full dozen roses, as well as open presentation. A wide variety of Commencement related gifts including diploma frames will be available as well. The Campus Store, located in Neubig Hall, will also be open for additional purchases from 8 a.m.-7 p.m.

Faculty and staff marshals, Commencement ushers and university police officers are available at all times for assistance and information. Faculty and staff marshals will be wearing Commencement regalia, the Commencement ushers will be wearing volunteer t-shirts and university police officers will be in full uniform.

Students or guests with an accessibility request need to arrange their accommodations by filling out the online registration form. If you have any questions or concerns please contact the Campus Event Management Office at 607-753-5453 or email them regarding the undergraduate ceremony or the graduate ceremony.

Note: Please submit all requests for accommodations by May 2025 so that proper arrangements can be made.

For lost and found items, contact the University Police Department, Whitaker Hall, Room 110, 607-753-2112.

Official Commencement programs will be distributed at the entrances to the Park Center Alumni Arena and in overflow viewing rooms. All eligible graduates who apply for their degree by March 1, 2025 will have their name listed in the program.

Restrooms are located throughout the Park Center Alumni Arena. 

SUNY Cortland is a tobacco-free campus. Smoking is not permitted anywhere inside campus buildings or on campus grounds.

Emergency phones are located throughout the entire campus and are identified by blue lights above the phones. University Police are equipped for emergency communication as well. Guests are reminded to turn off all cell phones and any other electronic devices during the ceremony.