Commencement Instructions

Go to instructions for Faculty and Staff

Instructions for Students

FIRST, YOU MUST APPLY FOR YOUR DEGREE OR CERTIFICATE if you fit into one of the groups described on the opening page of this website. The awarding of a degree or certificate and eligibility for participation in either Commencement ceremony can only occur if you take these steps.

Application for Degree forms are available in the Office of the Registrar, Reed Library. To be eligible to participate in Commencement 2009, this Application for Degree must be completed and on file in the Registrar's office by February 9, 2009.

Don't miss the February 9 deadline; otherwise, you will not be eligible to participate in Commencement. You can go to the Registrar's office at any time between now and February 9 to complete this form. Please apply as soon as possible.

Some other important information:

Appeal to Participate in Commencement. If you expect to complete all graduation requirements in December 2009 or later, but desire to participate in one of the May 2009 Commencement ceremonies, you should first, apply for your degree in the Registrar's office, then, pick up an Appeal form at the Registrar's office and return the completed form to the Registrar as soon as possible. The deadline for Appeal to participate in Commencement 2009 is Friday, April 3, 2009.

Commencement Tickets: It is anticipated that graduates will be able to receive at least 4 tickets to the Steele Hall arena. The number of tickets available will be based on the legal and safe seating capacity for the arena, and the university reserves the right to limit the number of tickets distributed for each ceremony. There is an opportunity for graduates to pick up 2 tickets to a closed-circuit television broadcast of the ceremony in the Steele Hall ice arena. These tickets will be available on a first-come, first-served basis. A sign-up sheet to request additional tickets to the Steele Hall arena site will be available during the ticket distribution period. Students will be contacted after May 8 by Commencement Chair Michael Lemieux if extra tickets are available, with instructions for picking them up at the Williams Center by Friday, May 15. Undergraduate concurrent degree students are not eligible for additional tickets. Initial ticket distribution will be from Sunday, April 19, 12:30 to 3:00 p.m., and Mondays through Fridays, April 20 to May 8, from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., at the Campus Life Information Booth. For more information, go to the Student Guide on this website. Family members may not pick up tickets for students.

Deciding Not to Participate in Commencement. If you decide not to participate in a Commencement ceremony this year, you need not do anything further at this point. If you pick up tickets and decide at a later date not to participate, you must return your tickets to the Commencement Chairperson in the Campus Life Office in the Williams Center in order for you to be eligible to receive tickets to a future ceremony.

Students With Disabilities. Individuals with a disability who may need accommodations are requested to contact the Commencement Committee as soon as possible in order that appropriate arrangements may be made. Please call Commencement Chair Michael Lemieux at (716) 673-3143 to arrange for assistance.

Regarding Future Mailings. If you wish to have a duplicate set of family/parent mailings sent to a second home address, please contact Mr. Lemieux in the Campus Life Office as soon as possible and the second address will be added to our database.

It is also very important that you report any change in local or home address as soon as possible to the Office of the Registrar. You must complete and sign the appropriate form available from the Registrar. It cannot be submitted online.

Don't miss the POMP because of CIRCUMSTANCES within your control. Please file your Application for Degree, receive all future mailings from the Commencement Committee, and BE A PART of Commencement 2009. Thank you for your cooperation.

The Commencement Committee and Senior Class President Patrick Horn will use a listserv to disseminate information throughout the semester to undergraduates as well as graduate degree and advanced certificate students about Commencement and other activities. Unless otherwise directed, the listserv will use your Fredonia e-mail address. To use an e-mail account other than the Fredonia e-mail, contact Michael Lemieux at michael.lemieux@fredonia.edu to add your preferred e-mail address.

** August and December 2008 graduates who have already applied for their degree and did not participate in Commencement 2008 need do nothing more at this time. You will be included in all future mailings.

Should you have any questions, please e-mail Chair Michael Lemieux. Mr. Lemieux can also be reached in the Campus Life Office in G-113 Williams Center (phone extension 3143).

Instructions for Faculty and Staff

If you have not signed up to participate and wish to, please contact Commencement Committee Chair Michael Lemieux at the Williams Center, G-113 Williams Center, x3143 as soon as possible.

• Enrobe: Faculty and professional staff will enrobe in the former pool area in Dods Hall. Enter from the sidewalk, there is a paved path and door to the left of the main entrance of Dods Hall which faces Mason Hall (snorkel equipment not necessary). When you get to the enrobing area, form even lines of two behind the Faculty Marshals. If you wish to sit next to someone, they should be directly in front of or in back of you.
• Time: It is important for you to report to the enrobing area no later than 9:20 a.m. for the morning ceremony and 2:20 p.m. for the afternoon ceremony - because this is when we will establish the number of seats we reserve for faculty/professional staff in Steele Hall.
• Parking: We suggest that you arrive early to avoid any difficulties in a finding parking space; and suggest Thompson/Fenton and Houghton lots. We are busing in guests from all parking lots to Steele Hall. Parking will not be available in the Dods/Steele hall lots with the exception of limited special needs (handicapped) parking.
• Tickets: Tickets are not required for those enrobing and participating in the ceremony as part of the Processional/Recessional. Tickets are required for the VIP seating area.
• Seating: Faculty/professional staff in the Processional/Recessional will be seated directly in front of the Platform in the Steele Hall arena.
• Order of Procession: Mace Bearer, Platform Party, Student Marshals, Master’s and Advanced Certificate candidates, Bachelor's candidates, Faculty/Staff Marshals, Faculty/Staff
• Length of Ceremony: Commencement typically lasts around two hours including Processional/Recessional. As is tradition at SUNY Fredonia, we individually recognize all graduates.
• Recessional: Mace Bearer, Platform Party, Faculty/Staff Marshals, Faculty/Staff, Student Marshals, Master’s and Advanced Certificate graduates, Bachelor's graduates

• Reception: President and Mrs. Hefner will host a reception for the graduates and their families immediately following Commencement in the Dods Hall grove. In the event of inclement weather, the alternate reception location will be announced from the Platform.

If you have not picked up your academic robe at the bookstore, please do so as soon as possible.

We look forward to sharing this very special day with you.