Know Before You Go

Take the Northway (I-87) south to Exit 1E and stay to the left onto I-90 east (Albany/Boston). Take Exit 2 (Washington Ave/UAlbany) which leads directly through the traffic light into UAlbany.

Take the Thruway north to Exit 24. After the tollbooths, go onto I-90 east towards Boston to Exit 2 (Washington Ave/UAlbany) which leads directly through the traffic light into UAlbany.

Take I-90 west (towards Buffalo) to Exit 2 (Fuller Rd/UAlbany). At the traffic circle, take the 3rd exit onto Fuller Road. At the next traffic circle, take the 3rd exit onto the Washington Avenue ramp, then merge onto Washington Avenue at the traffic light. At the next traffic light, UAlbany will be on your right.

Take the Thruway east to Exit 24. After the tollbooths, go onto I-90 east towards Boston to Exit 2 (Washington Ave/UAlbany) which leads directly through the traffic light into UAlbany.

No Drop-offs are allowed at Collins Circle so direct your Uber or Lyft ride share drivers to follow the ride-share signage to the dedicated drop-off/pick-up location in the State Faculty Lot: 

View Ride Share drop-off/pick-up for Entry Plaza Lawn on Google Maps

No drop-offs are allowed at the Broadview Center, so direct your Uber or Lyft ride share drivers to follow the ride-share signage to the dedicated drop-off/pick-up location next to Dutch Quad (just across from the shuttle stop): 

View Ride Share drop-off/pick-up for Broadview Center on Google Maps

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• There is no drop-off location at the Broadview Center; instead be sure to park and stay with your guests to check in together as a group within your 15-minute arrival window.
• Graduates and guests may park in the Dutch Quad lot. Accessible shuttles will be available from this lot to the Broadview Center, as well as a paved sidewalk. It is about a 3-5 minute walk to the Broadview Center.
• Accessible parking is available at the Dutch Quad Commuter Lot with wheelchair-accessible shuttle buses to the Broadview Center.
• Please follow relevant event signage once on campus.
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• All parking lots on the Uptown Campus will be available, with the Colonial Faculty Lot reserved for accessible only parking for vehicles with a valid municipal-issued tag.
• Colonial Student parking lot and State Student parking lot are about a 3-5 minute walk to the Entry Plaza. 
• Wheelchair-accessible shuttle buses will be available from both the Podium West lot and the Dutch Student parking lot to the Entry Plaza before and after both ceremonies.

• There is no drop-off location at the Broadview Center; instead, be sure to park and stay with your guests to check in together as a group within your 15-minute arrival window.
• All graduates and guests must arrive together at the Broadview Center lobby for check-in within your 15-minute arrival window.
• From there, your full party will be directed to start the walk along the upper level of the venue, down a set of interior stairs and to your assigned stage on the arena level.
• The total time for your Stage Crossing will likely be determined by how busy it is and how much time you spend taking advantage of the various photo backdrops, but in general, we advise you to block out between 45 - 70 minutes for the experience.
• You will exit the venue via a set of exterior stairs and be directed back toward the main entry area (where you entered) to access the parking lots and shuttles.
• See ‘special accommodations’ for information regarding the elevator, seating, etc.
• We strongly recommend wearing comfortable shoes due to the walking nature of these events.
• Uber or Lyft ride share drivers to follow the ride-share signage to use the dedicated drop-off/pick-up location next to Dutch Quad (just across from the shuttle stop): 

View Ride Share drop-off/pick-up for Broadview Center on Google Maps

• No Drop-offs are allowed at Collins Circle
• The ceremonies will be held outdoors rain or shine and typically last 60-75 minutes.
• Graduates: please see check-in information below.
• Guests should go directly to the Entry Plaza Lawn where seating is  on a first-come, first-served basis. The seating area will open 1.5 hours before the ceremony. 
• Are you a UAlbany legacy (student or alumnus/a who has a parent or grandparent who is a UAlbany grad)? To request legacy family seating for the degree conferral ceremonies from the Alumni Association, email [email protected] or call 518-442-3080.
• Grads and guests should plan to meet up on the lawn after the ceremony as there is no formal recession.  
• We strongly recommend wearing comfortable shoes due to the walking nature of these events.
• Uber or Lyft ride share drivers to follow the ride-share signage to use the dedicated drop-off/pick-up location in the State Faculty Lot: 

View Ride Share drop-off/pick-up for Entry Plaza Lawn on Google Maps

Saturday Graduate Check-In:

All graduates must report to the Academic Podium and check in by their school/college or department in front of the Main Library or the Performing Arts Center (PAC) per the charts below. 

Of note:

• No Drop-offs are allowed at Collins Circle
• The north end (Entry Plaza side) of the Podium will be blocked for entry; graduates must enter the Podium from the south (closer to the Campus Center, Indigenous and Dutch side of the Podium).
• The Campus Center will be open for restrooms and drinking fountains.
• We strongly recommend wearing comfortable shoes.

Undergraduates must report by 9 a.m. 

Graduates (Master’s/Certificate and Doctoral) must report by 1:30 p.m.
 

Only Registered Service Animals are permitted on campus. The Americans with Disabilities Act stipulates that "service animals are defined as dogs that are individually trained to do work or perform tasks for people with disabilities."  Pets are not allowed at any commencement venues.

Throughout Commencement weekend, a limited number of handicapped parking spaces for vehicles with a valid municipal-issued tag are available. 

Stage Crossings - Accessible parking will be available in Dutch Commuter lot. Wheelchair-accessible shuttle buses will be available from the Dutch Commuter lot to the Broadview Center.

Outdoor Ceremonies on Saturday - all parking lots on the Uptown Campus will be available. Limited accessible only parking will be available in the Podium West Lot reserved for accessible parking with a valid municipal-issued tag. Wheelchair-accessible shuttle buses will be available from both the Podium West lot and Dutch Student parking lot to the Entry Plaza ceremonies.

At all times, please follow any special event signage and/or directions from University Police Officers. Vehicles parked illegally in unmarked parking spots may be ticketed and/or towed.

All Commencement venues, and shuttle buses, are wheelchair accessible. The Broadview Center has an elevator and the Entry Plaza is on flat ground. Please note that guests in need of a wheelchair are required to bring and use their own.

The Stage Crossings will consist of graduates and their guests walking along a pre-defined path. This is not a sit-down ceremony so there is no formal seating area. There will be a limited number of chairs available near each stage for guests who need them.

Both ceremonies will have an accessible seating section, located at the top right corner (near the Massry Center for Business) when you are facing the stage. This section is designated for disabled/frail/elderly guests, along with up to one escort, available on a first-come, first-served basis.

Live captioning will accompany the livestream of all Commencement events, and both ceremonies will feature an American Sign Language (ASL) interpreter.

Accessible restrooms will be available at the Stage Crossings, and accessible portable restrooms will be available at the Entry Plaza for both outdoor ceremonies.

The following items are prohibited at Events at all times unless specifically allowed under conditions presented elsewhere in this policy.

1. Weapons
2. Fireworks
3. Open Fire
4. Tobacco and smoking materials
5. Alcoholic beverages
6. Poles: including flag poles, bats and other similar athletic items, clubs, sticks (including sticks used to hold signs), unless the individual is participating in an instructional, performance, or athletic activity, the Pole is required as part of that activity, and the individual is using the item for its intended purpose.
7. Chains

The University reserves the right to prohibit any or all of the following items in addition to items listed in section A of these procedures, at all Events with a potential attendance of more than 200 individuals that are not part of regular, scheduled instructional events on the University at Albany Campuses.

1. Animals, not including service animals
2. Drones or other unmanned aircraft systems, other than for official University use and operated by or under the supervision of Faculty or Staff
3. Glass or other heavy metal containers
4. Signs made of anything other than cloth, paper, foam core, or cardboard
5. Backpacks and bags, other than purses, fanny-packs, and diaper bags which may be subject to search
6. Noisemakers of any kind: including air horns, thunderstix, whistles, cowbells, etc.
7. Chains, padlocks, bicycle locks
8. Umbrellas
9. Laser pointers
10. Megaphones or other amplified sound devices
11. Video camera, tripods and selfie sticks
12. Any other items determined by Authorized Persons to pose a risk to safety or to potentially disrupt University business.