College to Hold Four Commencement Ceremonies

05/03/2016 

SUNY Cortland’s continued success in educating historically high numbers of students means Commencement 2016 will again be held in four separate, indoor ceremonies on Friday, May 13, and Saturday, May 14.

All Commencement ceremonies will be held in the Bessie L. Park 1901 Physical Education and Recreation Center Alumni Arena.

The three undergraduate Commencement ceremonies will be held Saturday at 9:30 a.m., 2:30 p.m. and 7 p.m. The graduate ceremony will take place at 7 p.m. Friday, May 13.

	SUNY Cortland students proudly wear their Kente stoles to the 2015 undergraduate ceremony. In the above left image, one student gleefully exits the stage bearing her diploma.

An estimated total of 1,368 seniors — one of the largest graduating classes ever — will receive bachelor’s degrees during the undergraduate ceremonies. In all, nearly 1,700 seniors applied to graduate since August, 2015.

Last year, 1,333 seniors walked at the three separate undergraduate ceremonies.  

The largest number of majors set to graduate in each of the three schools are: 140 exercise science majors in the School of Professional Studies, 104 business economics majors in the School of Arts and Sciences and 46 early childhood and childhood education majors in the School of Education.

 A total of 119 students are scheduled to graduate summa cum laude — the highest academic honor — with grade point averages of at least 3.75 on a scale of 4.0.

The College also will award 276 master’s degrees and 27 Certificates of Advanced Study.

“Our graduates reached the goal they set for themselves as new students on campus,” said SUNY Cortland President Erik J. Bitterbaum, who will preside over Commencement exercises. “We’ll pause to mark this major milestone and wish them success as they build what we hope will be remarkable futures based on the firm foundation of their SUNY Cortland years.”

Richard J. Pollack ’77, president and chief executive officer of the American Hospital Association, one of the nation’s most influential health advocacy groups, will address the graduates during the morning ceremony. Karen Collier Flewelling ’64, a retired educator whose hands-on activism has brought clean water to impoverished communities throughout the developing world, will address the graduates at the afternoon Commencement. Karla Alwes, SUNY Cortland distinguished teaching professor of English, will address the graduates during the evening event.

	"Hooding" is a time honored tradition of the Graduate Commencement ceremony.

Bitterbaum will present the Presidential Champion of Excellence Award to Louise M. Conley, the Cortland College Foundation board chair and a major supporter of the College. Conley is the granddaughter of Francis J. Cheney, the second principal of the Cortland Normal School.

A graduate student traditionally delivers the commencement address during the graduate ceremonies. Maria Rocker, who will earn a Certificate of Advanced Study in School Building Leader/School District Leader, will speak to classmates Friday evening.

The graduates were allowed to invite up to four guests to help them mark this important milestone in their lives. An estimated 7,200 guests of students — roughly the same as last year — are expected to attend.

Gary DeBolt ’73, president of the SUNY Cortland Alumni Association Board of Directors, will welcome these newest graduates into the ranks of the College’s alumni, who live in all 50 U.S. states and 45 countries. In its 148-year history, SUNY Cortland has graduated more than 73,000 alumni.

For additional information, visit the Overflow Locations and Webcast pages.

An Undergraduate Commencement reception will be held from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Saturday, May 14, in Lusk Field House. The Graduate Commencement reception will take place immediately after the ceremony on Friday, May 13, in Park Center Corey Gymnasium. All students, guests, faculty and staff are invited to attend the receptions. Refreshments will be served.

Additional details about Commencement 2016 are available on the event’s website.

Specific questions can be directed to the College’s Special Events Office.