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: Commencement for traditional undergraduates in the Class of 2023 will take place on the Campus Green on Saturday, May 20, at 11:00 a.m. The graduates will begin lining up at 9:15 a.m. between the Lowell Thomas Quad and the Hancock Center and the procession will begin promptly at 10:30 a.m.

 

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. Students 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: Best-selling author of the popular Diary of a Wimpy Kid series and cartoonist Jeff Kinney will address traditional undergraduates of the Class of 2023 at Marist College’s Commencement ceremony on Saturday, May 20 on the Campus Green. Click here to read more about Kinney.

 

Q: How long does the ceremony last?
A: The ceremony is expected to last approximately two hours. Following the ceremony, you are invited to join fellow graduates and their guests at a reception under the tent on Saint Peter's Meadow.

 

Q: How do I obtain graduation announcements?
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 2022 and are available at /regalia. A Marist computer account access code and password are required. If you did not place an order by January 31, 2023, please contact the Registrar’s office.

 

Q: When do I pick up my cap and gown?
A: Cap and gowns will be available from Tuesday, May 16 through Friday, May 19, from 10:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. and Saturday, May 20, 8:00 a.m. – 9:15 a.m., in Donnelly Hall. Please remember that a photo ID is required.

 

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. You must have signed the statement prior to obtaining a lineup card on Thursday, May 18. Also, please remember that the Campus Green is a smoke free zone.

 

Q: What is a lineup card and why do I need it?
A: 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 a lineup card is lost. 

 

Q: Where do I pick up my lineup card?
A: Lineup cards will be available on Thursday, May 18, from 1:00-4:30 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? Am I required to attend?
A: All Saturday graduates are required to attend a mandatory rehearsal on Friday, May 19 at 11:00 a.m. Students will convene between the Lowell Thomas Quad and the Hancock Center in the area designated for their school. School banners will be prominently displayed. Lineup cards are needed for rehearsal, which is expected to last approximately one hour.

 

Q: What time do I line up on Commencement day?  What time does the procession begin?
A: Graduates and faculty will assemble for the procession at 9:15 a.m. between the Lowell Thomas Quad and the Hancock Center. Lineup cards are required to participate in the ceremony. The procession is scheduled to begin promptly at 10:30 a.m. Candidates and faculty will march together, led by their marshal, and be seated by school. Graduates will be called to receive their diplomas in alphabetical order by school. Lineup cards will be collected from graduates as they approach the platform.

 

Q: How should I dress?
A: 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. Weather conditions have varied from picture perfect to extreme rain or heat. Graduates are advised to dress comfortably and be prepared for the weather. If it is raining, you may want to bring umbrellas. Bring sunblock and sunglasses for sunny conditions. Wear shoes appropriate for grassy areas. 

 

Q: When should my guests plan on arriving?
A: Family and guests are encouraged to arrive early to better ensure a parking space and seating. However, no guests will be permitted to enter the actual ceremony site before 8:30 a.m. Guests should be in their seats no later than 10:30 a.m. 

 

Q: Are tickets required and is there a limit to how many guests I can invite?
A: Tickets are NOT required for the outdoor ceremony. Seating is on a first-come, first-served basis. Students are asked to limit their party to six guests out of consideration for their fellow graduates. No saving of seats will be allowed.  

 

Q: I have a guest who is disabled. Is there special seating?
A: There will be a designated seating section to accommodate disabled guests and one other person from their party. Access requires a disabled seating ticket. Graduating students may request disabled seating tickets (a limit of two tickets per graduate) in the Registrar’s office beginning Wednesday, May 3. The ceremony will be interpreted in sign language for the hearing impaired.

 

Q: Where do I park?
A: Family and guests are encouraged to arrive before 9:45 a.m. to better ensure a parking space. Parking will be available on the east and west campuses. Lots reserved for handicapped parking are for vehicles with handicapped license plates or placards issued by a municipality. Guests with handicapped permits should enter the north entrance only and be prepared to show their permits to the security guard, who will direct them to the appropriate parking area. There is no access to handicapped parking from the south entrance. For a complete list of parking sites and instructions, please see the campus map.

 

Q: What if it rains?
A: Unless weather conditions are severe, Commencement will take place rain or shine on the Campus Green. In the event of inclement weather, the ceremony may be delayed from its scheduled start if clearing is anticipated within a reasonable period. Announcement of a delayed ceremony will be made on campus prior to 10:30 a.m. Commencement morning. Only in the rare event of extreme weather, such as dangerous lightning or tornado- or hurricane-like conditions, will the College implement a Severe Weather Contingency Plan and move to smaller ceremonies held indoors. Please check www.marist.edu for updates or call the Weather Hotline (845) 575-5500. 

 

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: Where do I meet my guests after Commencement?
A: We suggest that you prearrange a meeting place with your parents at the conclusion of the full recessional.

 

Q: When do graduates have to be out of their rooms?
A: All residence halls will close at 5:00 p.m. on Commencement day, Saturday, May 20.

 

Q: Are there additional campus weekend activities?
A: Various campus organizations conduct special celebrations with students, families, and friends. Students will receive separate invitations, with reservations required, for these events.

 

Q: What about Senior Week activities?
A: At the end of March, you will receive an email regarding 2023 Senior Week Schedule outlining all the activities planned by the Senior Week Committee under the direction of Student Activities. 

 

Q: When do I receive my diploma?
A: Diplomas will be mailed by 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 from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. on Saturday, May 20. Diploma frames are available at the bookstore for purchase.

 

Q: Is there a yearbook I can purchase? 
A: No. The yearbook is decided by the class each year and this year one is not being produced.

 

Q: How do I purchase a class ring?
A: Questions or information regarding class rings should be directed to Balfour at www.Balfour.com. Please contact our Regional Account Manager, Caitlyn Lennie, at (407) 690-1621 or (850) 906-3557, email clennie@iconicgroup.com.

 

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.