Graduate Ceremony

The 2025 Graduate Commencement Ceremony will be held on Friday, May 23, at 6 p.m. in the McCann Arena. Graduates will line up at 5:15 p.m. The academic procession is scheduled to begin at 5:45 p.m., and the ceremony is expected to last approximately 1.5 hours.

• Ceremony Start Time: Friday, May 23, 6 p.m.
• Doors Open for Guest Arrival: 5 p.m. 
• Graduate Line Up: 5:15 p.m.
• Academic Procession: 5:45 p.m.

Rehearsal

There is no rehearsal for Friday’s commencement ceremony. 

 

Tickets

Each graduating student is eligible to reserve up to six (6) tickets to their ceremony. 

• Tickets must be reserved by the graduate through the Hometown Ticketing system using the graduates CWID as the “passcode.”

Guests cannot reserve their own tickets and should contact their graduate who can distribute tickets by:  

• Forwarding the confirmation email to guests.
• Screenshotting and texting ticket image from confirmation email. 
• Printing individual tickets from the confirmation email and distribute to guests.
• Downloading the Hometown Fan app, linking your email to the app, and transferring tickets via text from the app.

The University will also provide indoor locations around campus that will stream the event for guests who do not have a ticket or for guests who would like to sit inside to view and join their graduate after the ceremony. Indoor viewing locations include McCann Center, Donnelly Hall, Murray Student Center, and Dyson Center. No tickets are required for the indoor viewing areas.

 

 

Commencement Day

Graduates and faculty will assemble for the academic procession at 5:15 p.m. 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 p.m. The procession is scheduled to begin at 5:45 p.m.

Candidates for Doctorate degrees will march together, led by their marshal, and will be called 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.

Line-up cards will be collected from students as they approach the platform. Line-up cards can be picked up at Donnelly Hall on Thursday May 22, starting at 1 p.m. Your line-up card will identify your school, degree, and number for line-up placement. On the back of the card will be a QR code to register with the Commencement photography company to receive your photography proofs. 

The ceremony is expected to last about 1.5 hours.  

Parking Information

Parking is available in the McCann Center and Donnelly parking lots. The McCann Center will open at 5 p.m. for seating.

For a complete list of parking sites and instructions, please see the campus map.

 

Livestream and Remote Viewing

Marist offers climate-controlled, indoor viewing of the Commencement Livestream in the following locations: Donnelly Hall and the Murray Student Center. These locations do not require a ticket. 

 

Alcohol Policy

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. During lineup card distribution, graduates will be required to sign a statement to acknowledge that they understand the University's alcohol policy.

 

Area Accommodations

For information about Hudson Valley hotels, motels, bed and breakfasts, and restaurants, please click on the links.