Q: How do I participate in Commencement?
A: By now all candidates should have submitted a completed Application for Graduation form to the Registrar’s office. This form is available on the Student Resources section of myMarist. The information collected on the form will be used to order your diploma and for the commencement program. If you did not submit an Application for Graduation, please contact the Registrar’s Office.

 

Q: When and where is Commencement?
A: The Marist College 77th Commencement ceremony will be held on Friday, May 19. Weather permitting, the ceremony will be held outdoors on the Campus Green. Students, faculty, and staff will assemble for the procession at 5:15 p.m. between the Lowell Thomas Quad and the Hancock Center. Students will need their lineup cards to participate in the ceremony. The procession is scheduled to begin promptly at 5:45 p.m. Candidates for bachelor's degrees will march together, led by their marshal, and will be called to the platform to receive their diploma covers in alphabetical order. Candidates for master's degrees will march together, led by their marshal, and will be called to receive their diploma covers by graduate program. Lineup cards will be collected from students as they approach the platform.

 

Q: Who will correctly pronounce my name?
A: Marist wants to make sure each name called on Commencement day is pronounced correctly. On or about March 27, students will receive an email introducing them to MarchingOrder, an organization working with Marist to record graduate names and print lineup cards. You will first be asked to register on the site and set up a unique password. Once registered, you will be able to access the site and provide the correct pronunciation of your name. If you have questions, please call the Media Center at (845) 575-3635. The deadline for recording names is April 17. 

 

Q: Can I use my chosen name or do I have to use my legal name at Commencement?
A: Marist’s Chosen Name Policy concerning Commencement is found here.

 

Q: Do you know who the speaker will be?
A: Jerome Pickett ’98/’22MBA will serve as commencement speaker at the ceremony for adult undergraduate, master’s and doctoral students. Click here to read Pickett's bio.

 

Q: Are there announcements available that I may send to relatives and friends?
A: Orders for personalized announcements can be placed online at https://collegegrad.herffjones.com.

 

Q: How do I order my cap and gown?
A: Cap and gown orders were due on January 31, 2023. Directions for ordering were emailed to graduates in November 22 and are available here. A Marist computer account access code and password are required. 

 

Q: When do I pick up my cap and gown?
A: Cap and gowns will be available on Tuesday, May 16 – Thursday, May 18, from 10:00 a.m. – 7:00 p.m. and Friday, May 19, from 10:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m., in Donnelly Hall.  Please remember that a photo ID is required.

 

Q: What is a lineup card and why do I need it?
A: It is imperative that all graduates have a lineup card for the Commencement ceremony.  A lineup card indicates that you are eligible to graduate. Information contained on the card will help you find your place in line in the academic procession and will trigger your name to be read as you cross the stage. You will not be allowed to line up or cross the stage without a lineup card.

The Registrar's Office should be contacted immediately if the lineup card is lost.

 

Q: Where do I pick up my lineup card?
A: Lineup cards will be available on Thursday, May 18, from 1:00 – 7:00 p.m. in Donnelly Hall. Please note that a photo ID and a signed college Alcohol Policy Statement are required to obtain the lineup card.

 

Q: Is there a rehearsal?
A: There is no rehearsal for Friday's Commencement ceremony. There will be plenty of staff on hand to help the graduates line up.  Graduates should assemble for the Commencement procession at 5:15 p.m. between the Lowell Thomas Quad and the Hancock Center. 

 

Q: What is the suggested attire?
A: Weather conditions have varied from picture perfect to extreme rain or heat. Graduates are advised to dress comfortably and be prepared for the weather. Bring sunblock and sunglasses for sunny conditions. Wear shoes appropriate for grassy areas. Also, students should be cautious of the clothes they wear underneath their gowns. Neither the College nor the manufacturer of the caps and gowns guarantees that they are colorfast.

 

Q: Are tickets required and is there a limit to how many guests can be invited?
A: No, tickets are NOT required for the outdoor ceremony. Seating is on a first-come, first-served basis. No saving of seats will be allowed.  

 

Q: What if it rains?
A: In the case of rain or severe weather, the ceremony will be moved indoors to the McCann Center. Details will be available on the Marist website (dxp.is.marist.edu).

 

Q: When should my guests arrive?
A: Family and guests are encouraged to arrive before 5:30 p.m. However, no guests will be permitted to enter the actual ceremony site before 5:00 p.m. The ceremony is expected to last approximately 1.5 hours. You are invited to join fellow graduates and their families at a reception immediately following graduation at Saint Peter's Meadow.

 

Q: What about parking?
A: Family and guests are encouraged to arrive before 5:30 p.m. to better ensure a parking space. Vehicular access to the campus will become increasingly difficult as the parking lots fill. Parking will be available on the east and west campuses.

 

Q: Are there special arrangements for parking and seating for disabled guests?
A: The College has made arrangements to have the ceremony interpreted in sign language for the hearing impaired. There will be a designated seating section to accommodate disabled guests. Students may request disabled seating tickets and parking permits in the Registrar's Office starting Wednesday, May 3. A limit of one disabled parking permit and two disabled seating tickets per graduate will be issued. Guests with disabled parking permits should enter through the north entrance and be prepared to show their disabled parking permit to the security guard, who will then direct you to the appropriate parking area. Lots are reserved for vehicles with handicapped license plates, handicapped parking placards issued by a municipality, or special parking permits issued by the College Registrar. Please note that there is no access to the handicapped parking areas from the south entrance.

 

Q: Is there an alcohol policy?
A: Alcohol is not permitted before or during the Commencement exercises and will be confiscated if brought to the ceremony. Please advise all guests of this policy. Graduates participating in the Commencement ceremony will be required to sign a statement to acknowledge that they understand the College's alcohol policy in order to obtain their lineup card on Thursday, May 18.

 

Q: Will my guests be able to take pictures during the ceremony?
A: Professional photographers will be on hand to photograph all graduates as they shake hands with President Kevin Weinman. Three to four weeks after graduation, the graduate will receive two proofs from which prints may be ordered. If you have any questions, please contact Island Photography directly at (800) 869-0908. Due to the large number of people attending Commencement, it is necessary to restrict access to the platform and the graduates' seating area. Guests will not be able to walk or stand in the aisles to take photographs or to videotape. However, there will be a designated area for families to take pictures following the ceremony.  The Commencement program, which you will receive on Commencement day, will show the location of this area.

 

Q: When do I receive my diploma?
A: Diplomas will be mailed by Wednesday, June 14 to all who have met graduation requirements. Graduates must be clear of all financial obligations, including loan exit interviews and library fees, before their diploma will be mailed. Questions about financial obligations should be directed to the Office of Student Financial Services (845) 575-3230.

 

Q: What are the bookstore hours on Commencement day?
A: For your convenience, the bookstore will be open on Friday, May 19, from 10:00 a.m. – 8:00 p.m.  Diploma frames are available at the bookstore for purchase.

 

Q: What if my guests need overnight accommodations?
A: For those students whose guests will need overnight accommodations, there are a variety of options to local Hudson Valley  hotels, motels, bed and breakfasts.

 

Q: How many cords or other accessories (such as medals, sashes or stoles) can I wear over my gown?
A: Graduates are permitted to wear accessories over their gowns provided they are earned for academic distinction and are provided by Marist College. 

 

Helpful Hints
Cords, Tassels, and Other Attire:

- Your tassel should be worn on the right until all graduates have crossed the stage and President Weinman confers all degrees.

- Remember the ground and stage can get wet, even if it’s not raining. Please wear sensible shoes.

- The weather can be unpredictable, so remember both your umbrella and your sunblock.

- Graduates should be cautious of the clothes they wear underneath their gowns. Neither the College nor the manufacturer guarantees that they are colorfast.