UAlbany encourages all faculty to participate in the wide array of commencement weekend events. Your presence exhibits UAlbany pride and is important to your students and their families on this momentous occasion. Please note that Emeritus Faculty are considered Faculty and should use the same guidelines and information as detailed herein.
Saturday, May 17
University-wide Graduate Commencement Ceremony
Time: 9:00 a.m.
Location: SEFCU Arena
Faculty should report to the gymnasium in the Physical Education building by 8:00 a.m. Volunteer staff will assist you with regalia and lead you through the processional.
Ceremony to confer master’s and doctoral degrees. This ceremony will last approximately 1.5 hours.
Torch Night
Time: 8:30 p.m.
Location: Academic Podium
All graduates, their families and faculty and staff are encouraged to attend. This moving ceremony invites guests to witness the transition from student to alumni and a passing of the torch of knowledge as the seniors are symbolically welcomed into the Alumni Association. The ceremony includes a short video tribute to members of the senior class, presentation to the faculty and will end with a gala fireworks display.
University-wide Undergraduate Commencement
Time: 10:00 a.m.
Location: The lawn directly behind the Science Library
Faculty should report to the Barnes & Noble room in the Science Library by 9:00 a.m. Volunteer staff will assist you with regalia and lead you through the processional.The ceremony for formal conferral of undergraduate degrees will begin promptly at 10:00 a.m. and will last for approximately one hour.
Faculty may participate in one of four ways listed below. Please see each description for instructions on how to sign up for that specific role. Once you have contacted us to volunteer, correspondence will be sent periodically to your UAlbany email account. The roles listed below are for the University-Wide Graduate and Undergraduate ceremonies. If you plan to march in your school or department recognition ceremony, please see the contact person / phone number listed in the Schedule of Events link on the left of the page.
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As Marching Faculty
Marching faculty will take part in the processional and be seated on stage (at both the undergraduate and graduate university-wide ceremonies). Your report time and location will be based upon the ceremony you plan to attend. See "Schedule of Events" for further details. There is no rehearsal for the Marching faculty.To Participate in this capacity:
If you plan only to march in the ceremony (this means that you are not hooding a doctoral student or volunteering your services elsewhere) please either: email commencement@uamail.albany.edu and place "Marching Faculty" in the subject line. In the email include your name, title, department, office address, and events you plan on participating in –or- complete the COMMENCEMENT RSVP FORM and return it to:Judith LasherHonors College OfficeLecture Center 31
It is imperative that you reach out to us so that we can plan for the appropriate number of seats on the stage.
Contact the Bookstore to order your regalia. The University covers rental charges for teaching faculty members only. Please see regalia information below for further detail.
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As Hooding Faculty
Are you planning to hood a doctoral student during the ceremony?
To Participate in this capacity:
Contact Jonathan Bartow, Assistant Dean for Graduate Studies at: jbartow@uamail.albany.edu
Jon will be coordinating the doctoral hooding portion of the ceremony and will provide you with further detail as we draw closer to the ceremony.
Contact the Bookstore to order your regalia. The University covers rental charges for teaching faculty members only. Please see regalia information below for further detail.
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As Faculty Marshals
Faculty Marshals lead and direct the graduates during the processional and assist in their expeditious, orderly seating at both the Undergraduate and Graduate ceremonies. They also help lead candidates and faculty to the platform for individual degree presentation and hooding during the graduate ceremony. Specific details will be provided directly to faculty selected to participate.
To Participate in this capacity:Please email commencement@uamail.albany.edu and place "Faculty Marshal" in the subject line. In the email include your name, title, department, office address, and event(s) you plan on participating in. Marshals do not need to order regalia through the University Bookstore. Distinctive gold and blue academic regalia is provided for all Faculty Marshals. A representative of the Commencement committee will contact you regarding sizing and a fitting date if necessary.
All Marshals are requested to attend a one-hour commencement rehearsal in the week preceding the ceremony. Specific details will be provided directly to faculty selected to participate.
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As a Student Greeter / Host
Several faculty members are needed to dress in academic regalia and shake hands with students as their pictures are taken during the undergraduate processional, just prior to the ceremony. Greeters/Hosts will then join the faculty procession and sit with the Marching faculty.
To participate in this capacity:
Please email James Hyde at jhyde@uamail.albany.edu for further detail. In the subject line please put “Student Greeter/Host”. Also include your full name, title, and campus address in the message body.
Faculty are also encouraged to participate in their department's individual recognition ceremonies. Needs will vary by school, so please contact the school or department directly. A list of contact names and numbers is provided under the Schedule of Events link.
Regalia for Hooding & Marching Faculty
For those of you with your own regalia read no further. Please note: Faculty Marshals do not order regalia through the bookstore as we have purchased specific robes for this group.
Regalia Sale
Custom tailored to your exact specifications and measurements. Owning your own regalia frees you from ordering and returning countless rentals. If you are interested in purchasing your own regalia contact the University Bookstore for more information.
Regalia Rental
Members of the teaching faculty who wish to rent academic regalia should visit the University Bookstore or complete the Faculty Regalia Order form by April 25 if you want to order a specific hood. All orders placed after April 25 will come with a UAlbany hood. All rental orders must be placed by May 2. This is the last day to order Ph.D. regalia from the University bookstore.
Questions regarding rental of regalia should be directed to the University Bookstore at: (518) 442-5692
