The countdown to your graduation is here. Congratulations on making it to this point—a culmination of years of hard work and dedication. Just as your studies required careful attention to directions and deadlines, participating in Commencement activities requires advanced planning. This is true even more in 2021. The following information is intended to help you enjoy your Commencement to the fullest.

Marist Commencement Exercises will occur May 29-30 on the Campus Green, subject to prevailing regulations and public health concerns. View the speakers and videos for the Commencement Exercises.

Commencement Rehearsal will take place on Friday, May 28 at 2 p.m. Gather on the Dyson Quad behind your school banner in order of the number printed on your line-up card. After this practice lineup, graduates will process to the Campus Green to hear important information related to Commencement. For students who are unable to attend Commencement Rehearsal in person, it will be available live on Zoom. Please use the link below:

Join Virtual Commencement Rehearsal

Communications to Graduates and Guests

Commencement Announcement to the Class of 2021 and Guests, May 10, 2021

Commencement Announcement to the Class of 2021, May 1, 2021

Schedule of Events

There will be two Commencement ceremonies:

Saturday, May 29 at 12 noon on the Campus Green for students (graduate and undergraduate) in the School of Communication and the Arts, School of Computer Science and Mathematics, and School of Science. Two guests will be allowed per graduate.

Sunday, May 30 at 12 noon on the Campus Green for students (graduate and undergraduate) in the School of Liberal Arts, School of Management, School of Professional Programs, and School of Social and Behavioral Sciences. Two guests will be allowed per graduate.

Your school is listed in DegreeWorks in myMarist if you are not sure.

Events on Friday, May 28:

9:00 a.m. – Honors Program Medal Ceremony in the McCann Arena. Senior Honors students plan to arrive at 8:30 a.m.

11:30 a.m. – Baccalaureate Awards Ceremony in the McCann Arena. Award winners and registered guests plan to arrive between 10:45 and 11:00.

2:00 p.m. – In-person Commencement Rehearsal. Gather on the Dyson Quad behind your school banner in order of the number printed on your line-up card. After this practice line up, graduates will process to the Campus Green to hear important information related to Commencement.

Guidelines for COVID-19

Participating in Commencement

By now all candidates should have submitted a completed Application for Graduation form to the Registrar’s office. Forms are available at the commencement website: www.marist.edu/commencement. The information provided on the form will be used to order your diploma and for the commencement program. 

Required Documentation

Proof of Negative Status for COVID-19 is Required to Attend Commencement. According to New York State guidelines, only attendees with proof of a negative diagnostic test or proof of immunization, as required, may be allowed entry to the event.

Students: One of the following is required to participate in Commencement Exercises:

• Proof of having completed the COVID-19 vaccination series at least 14 days prior to the date of the event.
  • Please upload your vaccination information to marist.medicatconnect.com by Friday, May 14 at 5 pm! This is the fastest way to be cleared to participate in Commencement.
• Proof of a lab-confirmed case of COVID-19 in the last 90 days and full recovery.
  • Students must upload documentation dated on or after February 26, 2021 of a lab-positive test or completed order of isolation to marist.medicatconnect.com by Friday, May 14 at 5 pm.
• A negative diagnostic test result for COVID-19 using a Food and Drug Administration (FDA) or DOH authorized polymerase chain reaction (PCR) or other nucleic acid amplification test (NAATs) of comparable analytical sensitivity performance that was performed on a specimen (e.g., swab) collected within 72 hours of the event.
  • Instructions for seeking PCR testing will be sent to graduates who have not uploaded proof of immunization to marist.medicatconnect.com by May 14 at 5 pm.
• A valid New York Excelsior Pass

Additional Clearance

In addition to receiving COVID clearance, students will be required to complete the daily health screening questionnaire using their Marist credentials.

The Day of the Ceremony

Beginning at 10:00 a.m. on the morning of their Commencement day, graduates will report to registration tables along John Winslow Drive, between the Dyson Center and Foy Townhouses. Lines will form on either side of the road from Dyson to Fontaine. Students will need their line-up card and must be “cleared to come to campus” in order to participate in the ceremony. Clearance will require proof of negative COVID-19 status and completion of the daily health screening questionnaire. A Marist ID will be required to replace a lost line-up card.

Marist is planning a full academic procession into the ceremony site. After registering, graduates will proceed to the Dyson quad for line up. Students will line up alphabetically (in order of their line-up number) behind their school flag, six feet apart from other graduates. The procession will begin at 11:30 a.m..

Guest Attendance

Students must pre-register their two guests by noon on May 21. Participating graduates will receive a prompt on myMarist after log in. All guests will receive a confirmation email with additional instructions to complete a mandatory attestation following the end of registration on May 21. Guest registrations are not transferable.

New York State requires that all attendees meet one of the following requirements:

• Proof of having completed the COVID-19 vaccination series at least 14 days prior to the date of the event.
• Proof of a lab-confirmed case of COVID-19 in the last 90 days and full recovery. 
• A negative diagnostic test result for COVID-19 using a Food and Drug Administration (FDA) or DOH authorized polymerase chain reaction (PCR) or other nucleic acid amplification test (NAATs) of comparable analytical sensitivity performance that was performed on a specimen (e.g., swab) collected within 72 hours of the event.
• A negative test result for COVID-19 from an FDA authorized antigen test performed on a specimen collected within 6 hours of the event. To fulfill this requirement, guests may purchase a BinaxNow Antigen Self Test Kit from a pharmacy such as Walgreens or CVS.

If any attendees do not meet one of the above criteria, New York State guidelines on commencement exercises dictate that they “must be denied entry to the event.” Please note, guests must attest to compliance and have copies of documentation available. Guests do not need to upload documentation prior to the event.

Caps and Gowns

Caps and Gowns were distributed during the period of April 27-May 8. Students who missed this distribution can pick up their regalia on the day of their ceremony. Regalia will be distributed beginning at 8 a.m. at the Dyson Café – using the door that opens to the outdoors. Please maintain social distancing (6 ft) while in line.

Any regalia not picked up by the end of Commencement Weekend will be shipped to the student at the address provided on the order.

View more information about Caps and Gowns.

View information about how to properly wear your gown and hood.

The Ceremony

The academic procession will begin at 11:30 a.m. The ceremony will begin at noon and is expected to last two hours.

Name Recording

Marist wants to make sure every name called during Commencement ceremonies is pronounced correctly. Graduates have the opportunity to provide the correct pronunciation of their own

names to be used as a reference. Students will be receiving an email introducing them to MarchingOrder, an organization working with Marist to record graduate names and print line-up cards. You will first be asked to register on the site including setting 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.

Line-up Cards

All graduates must have a line-up card to participate in their ceremony. 

Line-up Card Distribution

Students who are cleared to come to campus may pick up their line-up card in person according to the following schedule.  Please bring a photo ID as it will be required to obtain your card.  A screenshot of your my.Marist Welcome Page will also satisfy this requirement.

Line-up will be outside – please maintain social distancing (6 ft) while in line.

Line-up card distribution schedule for next week is as follows:

Each day’s distribution will be from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. with additional later hours from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. to accommodate adult and graduate students.

Please make every effort to pick up on your scheduled day and do not wait until the make-up day, which is on the day before the first commencement ceremony.

Please note:

• Only those students who are scheduled for that day will be served.  Please do not attempt to pick up on a day on which you are not scheduled.  
• Only the student may pick up their line-up card without exceptions.  

If you are cleared to come to campus and cannot make it on your day, please plan to pick up your line-up card on the make-up day, Friday, May 28 from 11:00 am – 4:00 pm.

Make-up line-up cards will be picked up at the Dyson Café – using the exterior door (opening to the outdoors) to the room.

You are unable to make it on any of the scheduled days last-minute pick-up will be available at the Dyson Café before each ceremony on Saturday and Sunday starting at 9:00 am.

Rehearsal

Commencement Rehearsal will take place on Friday, May 28 at 2 p.m. Gather on the Dyson Quad behind your school banner in order of the number printed on your line-up card. After this practice lineup, graduates will process to the Campus Green to hear important information related to Commencement. For students who are unable to attend Commencement Rehearsal in person, it will be available live on Zoom. Please use the link below:

Join Virtual Commencement Rehearsal

Parking

Graduates:

During their Commencement ceremony, graduates will be permitted to park in the following lots on the north end of campus: Dyson, Fontaine, Hoop, and St. Ann’s. View our Campus Parking Map. Graduates with government-issued handicapped parking permits may park in the Foy lot. Marist College does not issue handicapped parking permits. Graduates who arrive with guests should follow the instructions for guest parking.

Guests:

Guests will be permitted to park in any of the lots east of Rt. 9. These are marked 8-9, 11, 13-18 on the Campus Parking Map. Signage and Security Officers will be present to assist. Guests with government-issued handicapped parking permits may park in the Donnelly lot. Marist College does not issue handicapped parking permits.

Seating

Seating in the ceremony site will be arranged in socially distant pairs. Ample seating for the disabled will be available. Tickets are not required for disabled seating. Please follow the directives of the security staff and ushers. Guests must remain in their seats during the ceremony. There is no saving seats for others or moving of chairs. This policy will be strictly enforced.

Photography

Professional photographers from Island Photography (www.islandphoto.com) will photograph all graduates as they both cross and exit the stage. Students are permitted to remove their masks before their name is called, but must reposition their masks over their nose and mouth before returning to their seats.

To receive proofs online, please provide an email address on the back of your line-up card, and you will be notified when they are available for viewing. Graduates will receive two complimentary proofs and an order form by mail.

Remote Viewing

Amid this global pandemic, we encourage family and friends to watch ceremonies remotely. Remote viewers will be no less part of the ceremonies. To view the ceremonies online, please visit the Marist homepage at www.marist.edu and click the Commencement link. 

Weather Policy

The ceremonies will take place on the Campus Green. There is no indoor alternative site. Conditions have varied from picture-perfect to extreme heat or rain. Graduates and guests are advised to prepare for the weather.

In the event of inclement weather, the ceremonies may be delayed up to three hours if clearing is anticipated within a reasonable period. Announcements will be made and updated on the Marist website and the Marist weather hotline (845) 575-5500. Please check these sources before the ceremonies.

Cords, Tassels, and Other Attire

Helpful tips:

• Your tassel should be worn on the right until all graduates have crossed the stage and President Murray confers all degrees.
• Only one honor cord or sash should be worn with regalia. One medal and one pin is also permitted.
• 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.
• Students should be cautious of the clothes they wear underneath their gowns. Neither the College nor the manufacturer guarantees that they are colorfast.

Bookstore Hours

The Bookstore will be open from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. on Saturday, May 29 and Sunday, May 30.

Diplomas

Diplomas will be mailed July 6, 2021, to all who have met graduation requirements. Graduates must be clear of all financial obligations, including loan exit interviews and library fees before a diploma will be mailed. Questions about financial obligations should be directed to studentfinancialservices@marist.edu or (845) 575-3230.

Frequently Asked Questions

For additional information please read our Frequently Asked Questions or email commencement@marist.edu.