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Information and Procedures

Congratulations, Graduates!

We look forward to honoring our graduates at the 163rd Commencement Ceremonies, held on Saturday, May 11, at the Deborah F. Stanley Arena and Convocation Hall in the Marano Campus Center.

Commencement Ceremonies

  • College of Liberal Arts and Sciences: 9 a.m.
  • School of Business: 12:30 p.m.
  • School of Communication, Media and the Arts & School of Education: 4 p.m.

The traditional academic procession will form 45 minutes before each ceremony is scheduled to begin. Undergraduate candidates should report to the west entrance (Penfield Library side) of the Marano Campus Center and line up behind the appropriate sign for their school or college. Master’s candidates will assemble in the Chu Atrium in the Marano Campus Center.

Below is important information each graduate should take note of.

Undergraduate Degree Application

To graduate, a student must have applied online. Students who are eligible to graduate and have not yet filed online should contact the Registrar’s graduation area, 301 Culkin Hall. Detailed information regarding this process with all pertinent deadline dates is also available at Applying to Graduate.

Deadlines for the submission of the online degree application and for your name to be printed in the commencement program are or were as follows:

  • May graduation: October 1, 2023
  • August graduation: February 1, 2024

Senior Check Form

Senior Check forms are generated when the student applies to graduate. The forms are then available online via each students’ Degree Works audit, and are required for all major(s) and minor(s). It is the student’s responsibility to make an appointment to  review academic records with their advisor(s) to be sure graduation requirements have been met. Completed forms are required and must be submitted to the Registrar’s Office before seniors will be eligible to graduate. The deadlines for return of the Senior Check forms are or were as follows:

  • May graduation: December 1, 2023
  • August graduation: April 1, 2024

Masters Degree Form

It is the final responsibility of the graduate student to file an application for the advanced degree and/or certificate. Masters graduates must be sure they have applied for candidacy if your program requires it — you can check your Degree Works to see if it is required. To graduate, a student must have applied online. Students who are eligible to graduate and missed the online application should contact the Registrar’s Office in 301 Culkin Hall, or call 315-312-2235. Deadlines for your name to be printed in the commencement program are or were as follows:

  • May graduation: February 15, 2024
  • August graduation: February 15, 2024

Final confirmation is initiated by the filing of the degree and/or certificate application.

Graduation Fair

The Graduation Fair will be Tuesday, April 2, from 10am to 7pm in the Marano Campus Center/Deborah F. Stanley Arena and Convocation Hall concourse. Pick up and walk in purchase will be at the College Store in the Marano Campus Center beginning on April 29 through Commencement. The College Store sponsors the Graduation Fair for all bachelor and master degree candidates to attend this one-stop graduation event. Attendees will have the opportunity to:

  • Purchase cap and gown (academic regalia)
  • Pick up cap and gown previously ordered online
  • Order announcements and class rings
  • Meet representatives from Alumni FANs, Career Services, and the Registrar’s office 
  • Sign the Class of 2024 banner 
  • Purchase diploma frames (the only time all year a discount is offered!)
  • And win prizes

Academic regalia, including caps and gowns, will be available for all students who are eligible for graduation in May and August 2024. Six (6) tickets for family and friends are included with the purchase of cap and gown. After the Graduation Fair, students can order online for shipment or pick up beginning on April 15. Pick up and walk in purchases will be at the College Store in the Marano Campus Center from April 29 through Commencement.

Academic regalia is an integral part of the graduation ceremony. The different colors and styles denote the achievements of the wearers. Since graduation is the most important of SUNY Oswego’s academic ceremonies, it is vital that all candidates for graduation are appropriately attired. Bachelor units are $93.99 for students in Liberal Arts and Sciences, School of Business and School of Education. Bachelor units are $108.99 for School of Communication, Media and the Arts students. Master units are $114.99. Please call 315-312-5900 for additional prices. Post-Baccalaurate (graduate) certificate candidates should purchase a Bachelor’s gown (only exceptions are if you are ALSO receiving a Master’s Degree) at the price listed, and will not wear a hood.

The College Store offers custom graduation announcements that can be ordered online at collegegrad.herffjones.com. Diploma frames are also available for purchase online or at The College Store.

On commencement day, fresh flowers will be available before and after the ceremony in the Marano Campus Center. The Marano Campus Center College Store will be open on commencement day offering a full line of clothing and emblematic items.

Commencement Tickets

In accordance with established maximum occupancy regulations, there will be a limit of 6 guest tickets for graduating candidates. Tickets are included with the purchase of your cap and gown at The College Store.

Name Cards 

Name cards for having your name read at commencement and detailed procedures for commencement day must be picked up at The College Store with your cap and gown.

Photographs

A professional photographer will be present at the ceremony. Graduates will be emailed a link from the photography company to view their photos and order at geneseephoto.com.

Commencement Reception

All graduating students, parents, guests, faculty and staff are invited and encouraged to attend a reception following each ceremony, to be held under the tent in Lot 31 on the northeast side of the Marano Campus Center.

Accommodations for Guests with Disabilities

If you or a member of your family attending commencement require special seating an area is reserved on both the concourse and upper levels. To reserve this seating please contact Accessibility Resources at 315-312-3358 prior to Friday, May 3. Modified restrooms are located on both levels. A sign language interpreter and reserved seating for individuals with hearing disabilities are also available. There is an accessible drop-off on the west side of Marano Campus Center and handicapped parking is located at lot 31 (west side of Penfield Library) as well as the lower level of lot 17 and lot 10. Once you have entered the building please contact an usher about accessible seating. Anyone requesting accessible seating or parking should arrive at least 45 minutes prior to the start of the ceremony.

Participation in Commencement

Undergraduate and graduate candidates completing requirements for degrees in December 2023, May 2024 and August 2024 are eligible to participate in the May 2024 commencement ceremony.

Graduates waiting in line to cross the stage

Dress and Decorum

Wearing of the traditional academic gown and mortar board is part of participation in commencement. Suitable attire to wear with a cap and gown are dark shoes and clothing. Pocketbooks are not to be carried. Corsages and jewelry are not to be worn with academic gowns; other attachments deemed not appropriate may be removed by the staff before the processional if necessary.

Reminder: There will be no alcoholic beverages or air horns permitted at the ceremony. Violators may be asked to leave. To provide a safer environment for the public and to expedite entry into the Marano Campus Center, University Police reserves the right to inspect bags and purses as necessary.

New York State Teaching Certificate

All graduating students who are eligible for teacher certification should visit our Certification page for information on how to apply for New York State teacher certification. The application can be completed before graduation. All eligible education candidates will receive an authorization form after degree verification. This form must be returned in order to be recommended by the university for teacher certification.

Commencement Honors

Honors listed in the commencement program are determined by grades earned at Oswego prior to the semester preceding graduation. An undergraduate student qualifies to be listed for honors in the commencement program if they have already earned at least 45 semester hours at Oswego prior to the spring semester and has a cumulative index of at least 3.30 based upon hours earned at Oswego. Honors designations are as follows:

  • Summa Cum Laude 3.80-4.00
  • Magna Cum Laude 3.60-3.79
  • Cum Laude 3.30-3.59

Honors indicated on diplomas and final transcripts include grades earned during the student’s final semester. Graduate students are not eligible to graduate with honors.

Diplomas

The cost of the diploma is paid by SUNY Oswego. Diplomas will be mailed to the address indicated upon degree application. Any change of address after degree application should be reported to the Registrar’s Office. All obligations need to be cleared. Mailings will usually be made following the final confirmation of candidates’ records as follows:

  • May graduates: By the end of July
  • August graduates: By mid-September
Three graduates posing outside, in their regalia and wearing sunglasses

Alumni Message

Upon graduation, the main connection with SUNY Oswego will be through the Oswego Alumni Association. The Alumni Association offers a wide variety of programs and services for recent graduates, including:

  • Networking
  • Social and career programs through the Graduates Of the Last Decade (GOLD) program,
  • Reunions
  • Financial benefits
  • Virtual and regional events
  • Discounted auto and homeowner’s insurance

The Alumni Association also offers a variety of volunteer opportunities for recent graduates to remain connected to SUNY Oswego. Join our online community to tap into a powerful network of more than 93,000 alumni to build your professional contacts, to find classmates, register for events, promote your business and more.

Graduates have the option to keep oswego.edu email addresses forever, so as not to miss the latest SUNY Oswego news, invitations to events, OSWEGO Alumni Magazine and monthly Lake E-ffect alumni e-newsletter. Keep an eye out for a subscription email near the end of each year to let us know that you are still utilizing your email account.

Visit our Alumni site for more information on all alumni programs and links to Oswego’s social media channels. Activities for Commencement Eve will be announced separately. Contact the Office of Development and Alumni Engagement at 315-312-3003 or [email protected] for more information.

Career Services

Discovering the life you are meant to live and implementing strategies to successfully compete for that life — that is what Career Services is all about. A comprehensive resource portfolio and a team of professionals with a caring heart, unbeatable skills, and an “always aim higher” attitude work together to make student and alumni dreams come true.

Our cutting edge industry model is one of the first in the SUNY system. They have categorized the world of work into several areas that include:

  • Business and Communications
  • Healthcare and STEM
  • Communication, Media and the Arts
  • Education, Public and Human Services
  • Exploratory
  • Undeclared

Within each of these areas, we have a highly capable staff member creating a sphere of support for our students that spans the entire career development cycle and brings together faculty, alumni, employers, graduate school representatives, and much more. This results in more meaningful assistance and expertise for our students, better employer and graduate school connections, and tailored on and offline resources.

Every resource we have, on and offline, is available to alumni for free, for life. The office offers the best career exploration and job search resources available on the market today, a digital analysis team to maximize your online presence, a LinkedIn photo studio to enable your professionalism to shine, and so much more.

Reminders

Before leaving the campus, graduates should make certain of the following:

  1. A Senior Check Form has been completed with each advisor (undergraduates only) and must be on file in the Registrar’s Graduation Office prior to the final graduation confirmation.
  2. Correct address is on file for mailing of diploma.
  3. All obligations, financial and otherwise, have been satisfied. Failure to satisfy all obligations will withhold the mailing of your diploma.