Frequently Asked Questions
Please read the following questions and answers before you call the Commencement Office.
When and where is commencement?
Who is eligible to participate in the ceremony?
Do guests need tickets for the Commencement ceremony?
Are venues accessible to guests with handicaps?
How do I register to attend the Commencement ceremony?
How do I know if I am graduating with honors?
When and where do I get my cap and gown?
What is the correct Academic Attire?
Do I need to return my Academic Attire?
After I complete the requirements for my degree, when will my final transcript be available?
When and how will I get my diploma?
How will my name appear in the 2008 Commencement program?
Will there be a student speaker at Commencement?
Do I go up on stage during the ceremony?
Is there a rehearsal for students? How will I know what to do?
Where can I go for more information?
When and where is commencement?
Commencement times and locations (including directions) can be found here.
Please select this link to view a printable diagram of the 2008 Commencement entrances at the WaMu Theater at Madison Square Garden, offering directions, parking areas and entrances.
Who is eligible to participate in the ceremony? Students who completed degree requirements in September 2007or January 2008, or who anticipate completing degree requirements in May 2008, are eligible to participate in the ceremony.
Do guests need tickets for the Commencement ceremony?
Students must bring their cap and gown for entrance into the WaMu Theater at Madison Square Garden. Undergraduates must also bring their name cards. Each student receives ten blue tickets for guests. Faculty please bring the enclosed green ticket for entrance into the Theater. Alumni, administration, program participants, board members, and honorary degree recipients please bring the enclosed white ticket. If you have requested tickets for your guests, they are being sent.
Are venues accessible to guests with handicaps?
Guests requiring handicapped access, please notify Grant Grastorf at 212-960-0189.
How do I register to attend the Commencement ceremony?
To register to attend the Commencement ceremony, you need to file a form with the Registrar's office on your campus. The deadline to file your forms is Monday, March 24, 2008.
How do I know if I am graduating with honors?
Undergraduate students who are candidates for May graduation and have fulfilled the GPA and residency criteria for graduation with Latin honors as of the end of the previous fall semester will appear in the Commencement booklet with an H after their name.
When and where do I get my cap and gown?
Wilf Campus: Cap and gown distribution will take place at the 186th St. bookstore from 10:00 am to 3:00 pm on Monday, May 12 and Tuesday, May 13.
Beren Campus: Cap and gown distribution will take place in the Levy Lobby from 11:00 am to 4:00 pm on Tuesday, May 6.
What is the correct academic attire?
Procession participants will receive ordered academic attire at their place of assembly. Those bringing their own academic attire should go directly to their place of assembly.
Bachelor's degree candidates wear the bachelor’s gown without hood. Candidates who have not received an academic degree from any university should place the tassel on the right and transfer it to the left during the tassel ceremony.
Master’s degree candidates wear master's gown and cap with black tassel.
Doctoral degree candidates wear the doctoral gown and cap with gold tassel.
Master’s and doctoral degree candidates should carry their hoods over their outside arm in the procession and be prepared to put them on during the hooding ceremony.
Note: All participants should be in academic attire and at their place of assembly by 10:30 am.
Do I need to return my academic attire?
All students may keep their academic attire as a souvenir. All other participants must return their attire, including tassels and hoods. Participants will follow their marshalls to the distribution area to return their attire.
After I complete the requirements for my degree, when will my final transcript be available?
Once all the grades are in for the final semester, the conferral of your degree will occur within a few days. The conferral is reflected on the unofficial transcript that you may view and download from MY YU. At that point, you can request an official transcript. Instructions for such requests can be found at www.yu.edu. Alternatively, you may request a certificate of graduation from the registrar's office.
When and how will I get my diploma?
Your diploma is sent to the address specified on your application for graduation. You should get your diploma a few weeks after Commencement provided that you have no financial hold. Please remember that the legal proof of your degree conferral is your official transcript.
How will my name appear in the 2008 Commencement program?
As you specified on the application for graduation.
Will there be a student speaker at Commencement?
Yes. The valedictorians selected by the respective Dean will give an address at Commencement.
Do I go up on stage during the ceremony?
Yes, you will get to go up on stage to receive your symbolic diploma and hood, if applicable.
Is there a rehearsal for students? How will I know what to do?
There is no rehearsal for students. Faculty marshals will lead the students throughout the ceremony. Just pay attention to the speakers, and follow the leader (your marshal).
Where can I go for more information?
You can check in with the Commencement office by e-mail at events@yu.edu or by calling 212-960-0189 to answer any other questions you might have regarding the Commencement exercises.
