Arrival | Graduate Lineup | Carrying your hood or stole | Processional into the Sports Arena | Processional Across Stage | Recessional | Congratulations, Graduate
Commencement 2009 honors Buffalo State bachelor's degree, master's degree, and certificate of advanced study (C.A.S.) graduates who completed their degree requirements in December 2008 or anticipate completing their requirements in May 2009 or August 2009.
Three ceremonies (two baccalaureate and one master's/C.A.S.) will be held in the Buffalo State Sports Arena. Those unable to attend Commencement may view any of the ceremonies via live video streaming.
To participate in Commencement, master's/C.A.S. graduates must register for the evening ceremony. A festive reception, featuring live entertainment and refreshments in the Campbell Student Union, immediately follows each ceremony.
- The evening master's/C.A.S. ceremony begins at 6:00 p.m.
- Doors to the Sports Arena (PDF, 457KB) open for guests at 5:30 p.m. (guest tickets required).
- Graduates report to the Ice Arena (PDF, 35KB), located in the Sports Arena complex, for lineup between 5:00 and 5:30 p.m. Graduates must report for lineup no later than 5:30 p.m. to be included. Be sure to have your lineup entrance ticket for the 6:00 p.m. ceremony.
Please note: All guests entering the Sports Arena for the ceremony must present a guest ticket. All children also require a guest ticket for admittance. Please be aware that small children likely will be unable to sit through the 1 1/2-hour ceremony.
Graduate Lineup
As you enter the lineup area in the Ice Arena, you will receive a card to write your name on. (During the ceremony, as you walk across the stage, you will hand that name card to a faculty member who will announce your name.) Find your place in the lineup according to your school (School of Arts and Humanities, School of Education, School of Natural and Social Sciences, School of The Professions) or by multidisciplinary studies or C.A.S. Signs will be posted.
Leave your personal belongings with your family. You may not carry anything in the academic procession (e.g., purse, camera, etc.). A program will be on your chair in the Sports Arena.
Carrying Your Hood or Stole
Master's degree candidates: You will wear your cap and gown. Wear the mortarboard square on your head, parallel to the ceiling. The tassel should be on the left front side. You will march in carrying your hood over your right forearm. The velvet trim will be closest to your hand with the narrowest (triangular) section of the hood to the outside. This will ensure that when you extend your arm, the hooder will grasp the section of the hood that goes over your head. See hooding instructions (PDF, 24KB).
C.A.S. candidates: You will wear your cap, gown, and appropriate master's hood. Wear the mortarboard square on your head, parallel to the ceiling. The tassel should be on the left front side. You will march in carrying your stole over your right forearm with the velvet trim closest to your hand. See vesting instructions (PDF, 24KB).
Procession into the Sports Arena
Stay with your group so that you will hear the marching instructions when they are given. A faculty member representing your program will march and sit with your group during the ceremony. (That same faculty member will hood or vest you. Make sure to stay with him/her during the procession and when your group is directed to the stage during the ceremony.)
The procession will follow the seating marshals out of the Ice Arena and into the Sports Arena. Remain standing for the singing of the national anthem. Male candidates, please remove your cap during the singing of the national anthem.
Processional Across Stage
Following the conferring of degrees, candidates will proceed to the stage to be hooded or vested and congratulated. Just prior to stepping onto stage, a professional photographer will take a formal photo of you individually. Hand your name card to the faculty reader. Then hand your hood or stole to the faculty member assisting with the hooding and vesting.
Proceed to the area in front of the hooders and vesters to be hooded or vested and face the audience (the hooders and vesters will be on a low platform on stage). The faculty members will place the hood over your cap and head, or drape your stole around your shoulders. Once hooded or vested, proceed across stage to be congratulated by the President and dignitaries. Exit the stage and proceed back to your seat.
Note: You will not receive your diploma at Commencement. The graduation audit and ordering of your transcripts may take up to several months, after which The Graduate School Office will mail your diploma to your permanent address.
Recessional
Follow the seating marshals to exit. You will meet your family outside the arena, where you may proceed to the reception in the Campbell Student Union, 3-D campus map (PDF, 2.8MB).
Congratulations, Graduate!
Welcome to the Buffalo State Alumni Association. Upon graduation, you will be one of more than 70,000 alumni living in Western New York and around the world. As a graduate, you are a member for life. You will receive your alumni membership card and benefits information with your diploma at your permanent address. Visit the Buffalo State Alumni Association Web site regularly to stay in touch, update your contact information, and be part of alumni life at Buffalo State.
