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Commencement Ceremony

Honoring our 2024 Graduates

Saint Rose Graduation Commencement 2019

Congratulations, The College of Saint Rose 2024 Graduates!

This is your one-stop-shop for all things commencement. Be sure you’re ready to go for your big day!

Saturday, May 11, 2024, at 10 a.m. at the MVP Arena

Whether you finished your degree in December 2023 or will be finishing up in May or June 2024, you are part of the Class of 2024, and we can’t wait to celebrate you at our May commencement ceremony.

KEY POINTS ON THE CEREMONY

When: Saturday, May 11, at 10 a.m. Doors open two hours before the ceremony starts.

Where: MVP Arena, 51 S. Pearl Street, Albany.

Guest tickets: There are no capacity limits, and tickets are not required.

Livestream: The ceremony will be livestreamed. You’ll find it on commencement day by going to the homepage of the Saint Rose website.

But … I have so many questions: Find parking info, graduate arrival details, and more below.

Graduate checklist

  1. Apply to graduate: It doesn’t happen automatically. Here are the instructions on how to apply. Not sure if you’re eligible. See the Check Your Graduation Status section for how to know.
  2. After you’re confirmed as graduating, be sure to let us know you plan to attend the ceremony. Use this link to let us know you’ll be attending the ceremony and to provide us with the correct pronunciation of your name.
  3. Fill out this form to be featured in our online graduate gallery. Please note that your submission won’t automatically appear and may take a few days to be posted.
  4. Are you an undergrad in the Class of 2024? Be sure to check out the Senior Week Activities section and plan to celebrate with your class.
  5. Want to capture this special time? Find that info under Graduate Portraits.
  6. Order your cap and gown. See details under Graduation Attire.
  7. Don’t forget to request a copy of your immunization records from Health Services. Please complete the Authorization to Release Immunization Records Form and submit it with a copy of your photo ID to healthservices@strose.edu or in person at the Counseling Center or Health Services office. Immunization records can be sent via email, fax, mail, or picked up in person at the Counseling Center located at 1006 Madison Avenue.
  8. Arrive at the ceremony and be ready to celebrate YOU. See Graduate Arrival section for more information.

CHECK YOUR GRADUATION STATUS

You can check your graduation status in DegreeWorks.

Under Graduation Status, you will see one of four statuses. Here’s what they mean:

APP: Means you applied/we have received the degree application. It is being reviewed.
PEN: This means you’re approved for graduation assuming successful completion of your current courses.
NOK: This means you are not approved for graduation, and you have outstanding degree requirements to meet.
WLK: This means you are scheduled to complete your degree in June but are eligible to participate in the May commencement ceremony.

Honors: Please note that honors, such as Summa cum laude, are only granted at the bachelor’s degree level. There are no honors at the graduate level.

At the time of the ceremony, grades are not yet in for the spring semester, so honors at commencement are based upon work completed prior. A student’s final honors, which includes their last semester, will appear on their diploma along with their degree. Diplomas are mailed in July. Final honors, academic major, and degree will appear on the final transcript. GPAs for honors are as follows: Summa cum laude 3.9-4.0, Magna cum laude 3.7-3.89, and Cum laude 3.5-3.69.

Need help? Email registrar@strose.edu or call 518.458.5464

2024 commencement speaker

The 2024 commencement speaker will be announced soon.

GRADUATION ATTIRE

The College of Saint Rose Bookstore has everything you need for commencement! Order your regalia here and have it shipped to the bookstore for in-person pick-up or have your regalia shipped to your home for an additional charge.

To be environmentally conscious, all graduates will be wearing Greenweaver regalia. This line of graduation wear is made of fabric spun from molten plastic pellets produced from 100% post-consumer recycled plastic water bottles.

Please note the bookstore does not stock regalia and it must be ordered by March 15 to ensure timely delivery.

ORDER REGALIA

REGALIA ORDER DEADLINE HAS BEEN EXTENDED TO APRIL 11

All orders placed between now and April 11 will ship to home only.

Please note group orders will not be accepted. Only one complete package may be purchased per order.

You may return souvenir regalia unopened within 30 days (about 4 ½ weeks) to receive a refund of the purchase price minus shipping. All returned items must be unopened and in their original packaging.

Cords and stoles:

Below is information about some of the cords and stoles available to those graduates who qualify.

Please note that individual honors societies and organizations may have their own cords and stoles, and the distribution of those is at the discretion of those organizations.

Cords for undergraduate academic honors: 

Eligibility: Undergraduate students who achieve cum laude, magna cum laude, or summa cum laude are eligible to receive a cord in the colors that signify their achievement.

Honors are as follows: 

  • Summa cum laude cumulative GPA 3.9-4.0 (black and gold double cords)
  • Magna cum laude cumulative GPA 3.7-3.89 (white and gold double cords)
  • Cum laude cumulative GPA 3.5-3.69 (single white cord)

At the time of the ceremony, grades are not yet in for the spring semester, so honors at the commencement are based upon work completed prior. A student’s final honors will appear on their diploma along with their degree. Final honors, your academic major, and degree will appear on your final transcript.

Please note that this status is based on cumulative GPA (not like the Dean’s List, which is based on GPA by semester). The campus bookstore will confirm your status when you pick up your cords.

Where/when to pick up: Cords for academic honors will be available in the Saint Rose bookstore beginning May 6. There will also be a bookstore table at the commencement ceremony with extra caps and gowns, where students can pick up cords the morning of the ceremony.

Cost: Free

Kente, Multicultural, and Lavender stoles: 

  • Kente and Multicultural stoles are available for ALANA (African/African American, Latino, Asian, and Native American) graduates.
  • Lavender stoles are available for students who identify as LGBTQIA+ and allies.

To reserve a graduation stole graduates can register here:

Register for Lavender Graduation Stole Ceremony

Register for ALANA Kente Multicultural Graduation Stole Ceremony

Students need to register by  April 17.  Registration will include the opportunity to participate in the Lavender Stole donning ceremony on Saturday, May 4 at 12:00pm or the Kente and Multicultural Stole donning ceremony on Saturday, May 4 at 3:00pm.

Where to pick up: Graduates who have registered and did not participate in either aforementioned ceremony can pick up stoles from from Katiuzca Loaiza-Espinoza Room 218 in the Student Development Suite in the Events and Athletics Center by May 10.

Cost: Free

DIRECTIONS AND PARKING FOR MVP ARENA

The address for MVP Arena is: 51 South Pearl Street, Albany, NY 12207

Recommended Parking:

  1. MVP Lot – The garage located directly behind MVP Arena, which provides direct, covered access to this building on the Concourse level (for this event it is the main guest entrance and also where wheelchair and special needs seating is located). Ushers will be available to assist with seating at this parking garage entrance to the arena. The fee for parking is $5. Entry to this garage is directly off of Market Street just before you reach Eagle Street.
  2. Grand Street Lot – 45 Grand Street, Albany, 12207, is available at no cost and close to MVP.
  3. Green Hudson Garage – 45 Hudson Ave, Albany, 12207, It is run through Albany Parking. $5.00 for the day (card payment only).

MVP Arena Parking Locations and Directions

GRADUATE ARRIVAL

  • Graduates must enter through Beaver Street entrance of the MVP Arena.
  • Doors will open two hours prior to the start of the ceremony.
  • If you’re having trouble figuring out how to wear your attire, you’re not alone. That’s why we have this video with instructions on how to wear your hood.

LINING UP AFTER ARRIVAL

  • When you arrive, you will be given a card that includes your name and a number that corresponds to your place in the procession and degree-receiving line. You will be asked to locate your number on a ribbon taped to the floor in the line-up area and to stand in your spot in the appropriate line by 9:15 a.m. Please do not bring extra items such as hangers, coats, purses, etc. You may not have the same seat after you process across stage, so don’t leave anything at your seat. The College does not assume responsibility for valuables.
  • All students need to line up according to the number of their cards. Your line placement is by school, degree, and alphabetical order. If you are out of place, guests and those watching the livestream may miss you crossing the stage. Staying in order will also assist the photographers with matching the correct person to the correct photos.

YOUR TURN ON STAGE

When it is time to confer degrees, faculty marshals will direct you by rows to the ramp at the right side of the stage. As you move across the stage, you will hand your name card to the person standing at the first lectern. Your name will be announced as you walk across the stage. Continue across the stage to receive your diploma cover and are congratulated by College officials. You will exit the stage using the ramp on the left side.

COMMENCEMENT PHOTOS

  • Individual graduation photos will be taken when you receive your diploma cover and after you exit the stage. The photos will be emailed by Grad Images to your Saint Rose email account. You can make your selection and purchase directly through Grad Images.
  • Both a photographer and videographer will be taking photos/video during the ceremony for the College’s social media. Share your photos on social using the hashtag #strosegraduate. Saint Rose graduation-themed profile pic frames and GIFs will be available for Facebook and Instagram on this page as the ceremony nears.

ADDITIONAL CEREMONY DETAILS

MVP Arena security: MVP Arena has security procedures for all events held at their facility, which include metal detectors, bag searches, limitation of allowed bag size, and if needed, pat downs.

ADA accessibility: Graduating students who require seating/walking or other accommodations for themselves (i.e., ADA accessible seating, sign language interpreter, assistance crossing stage, etc.), should contact Tina McMahon in the Events Scheduling and Administration office as soon as possible at 518.454.5171 or mcmahont@strose.edu.

We suggest that guests with mobility limitations unable to walk long distances or climb stairs use a wheelchair. Wheelchairs are NOT available at the MVP Arena. Please consider borrowing or renting one if your guest does not own one. Limited accessible seating will be available upon entering the arena on a first-come, first-served basis. Please check in with one of our ADA tables upon arrival for assistance.

Cameras: Please note, MVP Arena has made an exception to its usual policy, and cameras will be allowed at commencement.

Rehearsal: There is no rehearsal for commencement.

Diplomas: Class of 2024 graduates who completed their degrees in December 2023 will receive them by late February. For May and June graduates, final degree verification will not be completed before commencement. So, those who complete their degree requirements in May and June will receive only a diploma case at the ceremony. Diplomas are mailed. 

Wi-Fi at MVP Arena: Free WIFI is brought to you by Family Danz. Once you arrive, find and connect to the available network labeled MVP free WIFI by Family Danz

Restroom availability: There are large restrooms at three of the arena’s four corners.

On-site florist: There will be a florist on site to provide flowers for your graduates.

Graduate PHOTOS

Graduate Portraits

As a special tribute to the remarkable legacy of The College of Saint Rose, we are thrilled to offer you the opportunity to have professional portraits taken on our beautiful campus. These portraits will serve as cherished mementos of the incredible community we have been a part of, the knowledge we have gained, and the connections we have formed.

Sessions will be held on campus and are offered during select dates in April and May. You can follow this link to sign up for a time either as an individual student or as a group:

SIGN UP FOR PORTRAITS

Caps and gowns as well as various College of Saint Rose props will be provided. Portraits will be done both indoors in professional studio lighting as well as natural light photos around campus, weather permitting. Portrait packages start at $99.

There is no fee to sign up as an individual student. If you would like to bring a group of friends to do group pictures, the session fee is $100 (per group) and can be paid at the time of booking.

Please feel free to reach out to iSmile Studios directly at schoolpics@ismilestudios.com if you have any questions.

CLASS RINGS

A representative from Jostens will be on campus on April 27 and 28 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. They will be at the tables outside of the Camelot Room to help students place orders for class rings.

SENIOR WEEK ACTIVITIES

The Student Association will host Senior Week May 6 through 11. More information will be shared as the big day gets closer!

GRADUATE GALLERY

Find the Class of 2024 Graduate Gallery here, where those earning undergraduate or graduate degrees in December 2023 or May or June 2024 can complete the form and upload your photo to be included. Please note that your submission won’t automatically appear and may take a few days to be posted.

Class of 2024 Graduate Gallery

COMMENCEMENT CEREMONY VIDEO

The link to access a recording of the commencement ceremony will be available on this page when it’s ready.