Faculty and Staff Instructions for Commencement
All Commencement activities are subject to change based on the New York State health and safety guidelines at the time of the event. We will update all affected students by email in the case of any changes as soon as they are made known to us.
Welcome!
The Commencement Committee encourages all faculty and staff to participate in the ceremonies on Saturday, May 18, 2024.
If you have not signed up to participate and wish to, please contact Commencement Chair Rachel Martin. An online form will also be available to sign up to participate, with a deadline of Friday, May 3.
Following each ceremony, the Blue Lounge and Patio area at the Williams Center will be available for you to meet with students/families, and take photographs if you wish.
We look forward to sharing this very special day with you.
Faculty and professional staff will enrobe in the Women's Locker Room on the first floor of Dods Hall. There will be signage as you enter the front doors of Dods (which faces Mason Hall) the morning of Commencement. When you get to the enrobing area, form even lines of two behind the Faculty Marshals. If you wish to sit next to someone, they should be directly in front of or in back of you.
When to arrive to Dods Hall: It is important for you to report to the enrobing area no later than 9:20 a.m. for the morning ceremony and 2:20 p.m. for the afternoon ceremony - because this is when we will establish the final count on the number of seats we reserve for faculty/professional staff in Steele Hall.
We suggest that you arrive early to avoid any difficulties in a finding a parking space; and suggest Thompson/Fenton lots. We are busing in family/guests from Lot #9 adjacent to University Stadium. Parking will not be available in the Steele Hall lots with the exception of limited Special Needs parking.
- For faculty/professional staff who have immediate family members among the graduates, there may be VIP seating available. The graduate should request tickets on the Commencement Intent to Participate Form on Your Connection in March. An email should be sent to President.Office@fredonia.edu including both the graduate and faculty/staff member and number of VIP tickets requested. The graduate should not pick up general seating tickets from the Ticket Office if they receive VIP tickets.
- Tickets are not required for those enrobing and participating in the ceremony as part of the Processional/Recessional. Faculty and staff who are not part of the procession are welcome to sit in the reserved VIP area of the arena, depending on available space. VIP Tickets are required. Due to limited seating, there are no tickets available for family members and friends accompanying faculty/professional staff. Please contact President.Office@fredonia.edu to reserve a VIP ticket.
Student Marshals, Master’s and Advanced Certificate candidates, Bachelor's candidates, Faculty Marshals, Faculty/Staff, Mace Bearer, Processional Party. Faculty/professional staff in the Processional/Recessional will be seated directly in front of the Processional Party in the Steele Hall arena.
Commencement typically lasts around two hours including Processional/Recessional. As is tradition at Fredonia, we individually recognize all graduates. Following each ceremony, the Blue Lounge and Patio area at the Williams Center will be available for you to meet with students/families, and take photographs if you wish.
Mace Bearer, Processional Party, Faculty Marshals, Faculty/Staff, Student Marshals, Master’s and Advanced Certificate graduates, Bachelor's graduates.
Once again, the Bookstore is pleased to offer caps and gowns for Commencement. Both rentals and purchases are available.
The Bookstore will continue to offer the “Doctoral Keeper,” a purchase option for 2024 with the price of $114.75. The price includes the gown, cap, tassel, and hood in a style similar to the custom tailored apparel. The price for the package including the tam instead of a cap, is $128.99. A "Master Keeper" is available for $88.50.
The purchase price on custom tailored garments varies because of the options available. The Bookstore can show faculty and staff fabric swatches and quote a price prior to placing an order. Contact the Bookstore directly for more information on purchases/custom tailored garments.
Rental orders should be placed by March 31, 2024, to ensure delivery for Commencement.
Master Cap and Gown $54.50
Master Hood $44.75
Doctor Cap and Gown $51.25, with tam, $70.75
Doctor Hood $46.50
The President's Office has a limited number of gowns and caps to borrow.
Although the store is open at 9 a.m. the morning of Commencement, Saturday, May 18, it is recommended that any regalia be picked up at the Bookstore by Thursday, May 16.