Fall Commencement
SUNY Jefferson
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Fall Commencement

Tuesday, December 20, 2022
6:00 p.m. / Sturtz Theater


Congratulations on your upcoming graduation! Your commencement is a special time for you and your family. We are excited to celebrate with you in a safe and healthy environment.  Please review the information below to ensure you complete the steps required and know all the details of your big day!  We've also include some FAQs for you and your guests.

Per SUNY's COVID vaccine mandate, all students participating in the commencement ceremony must be fully vaccinated, hold a current exemption, or apply for a short-term accommodation to attend the fall commencement ceremony.  Short-term accommodation requests must be sent to thoistion@sunyjefferson.edu no later than 4:00 p.m. on Friday, December 16, 2022.

1) Complete the Application for Degree/Certificate
All potential December graduates are required to submit an Application for Degree/Certificate by December 6, 2022. If you have any questions about the application or graduation requirements, please email studentrecords@sunyjefferson.edu, call (315) 786-2437 or stop in Suite 6-010 in the Jules Center, Building 6.

2) Pick up your cap, gown and tickets
No need to pre-order, just be sure to pick up your cap and gown in the JCC Bookstore between Monday, November 28 and Monday, December 12, 2022.  Your regalia includes the cap, gown, hood, and tassel specific to your program of study. It will also include any special honors you received from the college, such as Phi Theta Kappa and Honors Program stoles, as well as military cords for active duty soldiers and veterans.  The cost of your cap and gown is included in your student life fee.

Tickets:   If you are participating in the Commencement Ceremony, you can receive up to four (4) guest tickets for Sturtz Theater seating when picking up your regalia from the Bookstore. 

For those unable to attend in person, we also live video stream the College's Commencement exercises via www.sunyjefferson.edu.

Note: Children attending the ceremony must have a ticket and be accompanied by an adult. Strollers are not permitted in the Sturtz Theater. Free childcare for ages 18 months to 12 years old is available (information further below). 

3) Reserve seating for special accommodations
We are happy to reserve seats for your guests who need special accommodations (i.e. use of wheelchair or walkers).  Graduates must stop in the JCC Bookstore to complete an accommodative needs seating request form.  It is important that the form is completed and submitted by Tuesday, December 13 so that the College may easily accommodate all requests.

4) Attend commencement rehearsal
A brief commencement rehearsal will take place on Friday, December 16 at 1:15 p.m. Please meet Faculty Marshals in the McVean Student Center Gymnasium at 1:15 p.m. so we can practice the march into Sturtz Theater, review the ceremony and answer any questions.

5) Attend Senior Send-off
After rehearsal, celebrate with your classmates at Senior Send-off on Friday, December 16 from 2:00-3:00 p.m. in the Jules Center Commons. There will be food and prizes!

Your Big Day – when/where to arrive for Commencement

Students:  Please report to the McVean Gymnasium no later than 5:30 p.m. robed and ready to line-up.  Staff will be on hand to assist with caps and gowns.  Faculty Marshals will be available at 5:30 p.m. to assist you with proper line-up.

Guests:  Your guests may park in Lots C and D and enter under the canopy at the Jules Center Commons (near to the Bookstore). Ushers will direct your guests to the Sturtz Theater.  The doors will open at 5:30 p.m. Handicapped /special needs guests may also disembark at this entrance. Guest tickets (for adults and children) must be presented to enter the Sturtz Theater.  

After the ceremony, you may join your family in the Jules Center Commons and take pictures in two special photo areas. Light refreshments will be available.

The JCC Bookstore (in the Jules Center) will be open on the evening of commencement from 5:30 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.

Other important details

Professional Photographs
A professional photographer will be at Commencement to photograph you on stage with Administrator in Charge, Dr. Dan Dupee, after you receive your diploma.  Immediately following the ceremony, as graduates leave the Sturtz Theater, you will be directed to cycle through the HAT Dining Room (off the Jules Center Commons) for a second professional photograph of you with your diploma. Both of these photos will be provided to you free of charge. They will be sent to you digitally to the email address in our records within two weeks of the ceremony. 

Photo Area in Jules Center Commons:  After the ceremony, there will be an area for you take photos with family and friends (and Boomer!)  just to the left of the Bookstore entrance in the Jules Center Commons. We will have we will have staff on hand to help by taking the pictures for you.

Free Childcare
Free childcare is available on campus for the evening of commencement. Call (315) 786-2357 or email tboulton@sunyjefferson.edu by Noon on Friday, December 16 to reserve childcare for your children or your guest’s children, ages 18 months-12 years old.  Walk-ins will not be permitted.

Live-stream of the ceremony
Jefferson will live-stream the College's Commencement exercises via www.sunyjefferson.edu. The link will be available about 15 minutes before the start of the ceremony.

Commencement Video/DVD
A video of the ceremony will be available in segments for free on YouTube (search for SUNY Jefferson channel).

Diplomas
Only diploma covers will be handed out at Commencement. Diplomas are mailed mid–January following a graduation audit of your records.

 

FAQs for Graduates and Guests

No, the cost was included in your student life fee.

Caps, gowns and tassels will be available in the JCC Bookstore beginning Monday, November 28, 2022 through Monday, December 12, 2022.

You do not need to pre-order your regalia. Your order includes the cap, gown, hood, and tassel specific to your program of study. It will also include any special recognition you received from the college, such as Phi Theta Kappa and Honors Program stoles, as well as military cords.

Contact the JCC Bookstore at (315) 786-2260 for more information.

Yes. A brief commencement rehearsal will take place on Friday, December 16 at 1:15 p.m. Please meet Faculty Marshals in the McVean Student Center Gymnasium at 1:15 p.m. so we can practice the march into Sturtz Theater, review the ceremony and answer any questions.

You can receive up to four (4) guest tickets when you pick up your cap and gown in the JCC Bookstore beginning Monday, November 28. Tickets will only be given to graduating students. If you are currently  taking online classes only or have questions, please call the Bookstore at (315) 786-2260. 

A ticket is required to enter the Commencement Ceremony in the Sturtz Theater, however, guests without a ticket are welcome to view the ceremony live on the College's website, www.sunyjefferson.edu

Yes. All children in attendance must have a ticket and be accompanied by an adult. Please be aware that strollers are not permitted in the Sturtz Theater.

Yes! Free childcare is available on campus for the evening of commencement. Call (315) 786-2357 or email tboulton@sunyjefferson.edu by Noon on Friday, December 16 to reserve childcare for your children or your guest’s children, ages 18 months-12 years old.  Walk-ins will not be permitted.

No. Masking is optional. 

SUNY has mandated that all students using campus facilities be fully vaccinated against COVID (or hold a current medical or religious exemption). Unvaccinated candidates for graduation can apply for a short-term accommodation to participate in the commencement ceremony.  Short-term accommodation requests must be sent to thoistion@sunyjefferson.edu no later than 4:00 p.m. on Friday, December 16, 2022.

If you cannot participate in the ceremony, but would like to get your cap/gown/tassel, please call the Bookstore at (315) 786-2260 to make arrangements

No. Visitors to campus are not required to be vaccinated.

Yes, stop in the Bookstore to complete an accommodative needs seating request form.  It is important that you complete the form by Tuesday, December 13 so that the College may easily accommodate all requests.

You will line up by your academic School in the McVean Gymnasium by 5:30 p.m.  Marshals will be available to assist with proper line-up. Robing assistance will be available. Please be sure to allow extra time to do this, if needed, as the procession to the Sturtz Theater begins at 5:55 p.m.  Representatives from each of the four Schools and from SUNY Potsdam will assist with lining up for the march.  It is important that you arrive on time to ensure everyone receives clear instructions for the ceremony.

You and your guests may park in Lots C and D and enter under the canopy at the Jules Center Commons (near to the Bookstore). Ushers will direct your guests to the Sturtz Theater.  The doors will open at 5:30 p.m.

Yes. A professional photographer will photograph you on stage with Administrator in Charge, Dr. Dan Dupee, after you receive your diploma.  Immediately following the ceremony, as graduates leave the Sturtz Theater, you will be directed to cycle through the HAT Dining Room (off the Jules Center Commons) for a second professional photograph of you with your diploma. Both of these photos will be provided to you free of charge. They will be sent to you digitally to the email address in our records within 2-3 weeks of the ceremony. 

After the ceremony, there will be an area for you take photos with family and friends (and Boomer!)  just to the left of the Bookstore entrance in the Jules Center Commons. We will have we will have staff on hand to help by taking the pictures for you.

Yes! Celebrate with your classmates at Senior Send-off  on Friday, December 16 from 2:00-3:00 p.m. in the Jules Center Commons. There will be food and prizes!

Diplomas are mailed in mid-January to the home address you indicated on your application for graduation.