What to Expect at Commencement
Date: Sunday, May 21, 2023
Location: Alumni Arena
Morning Ceremony (Arts, Natural Sciences and Math): 9:30 a.m.
Afternoon Ceremony (Social Sciences and Humanities): 3 p.m.
Coordinator: Anne Mecca
Contact: (716) 645-1391 or cas-commencement@buffalo.edu
Other important information
Each ceremony is expected to be approximately 2 hours long.
Please arrive to the Edward Wright Practice Facility (room 76, also known as the triple gym) in Alumni Arena an hour and a half prior to your ceremony start time (8 a.m. for the 9:30 a.m. ceremony, 1:30 p.m. for the 3 p.m. ceremony). Please enter the arena via the Webster Road (back) entrance. Don't forget your cap, gown, hood and tassel!
Once you've arrived, please follow the steps below:
When you arrive, you will see registration booths marked with sections of the alphabet. Please go to the booth that corresponds with your last name. You will check in and receive two identical reader cards with your name on them. One is for your posed headshot photo and the other is to give to the name readers as you cross the stage. PLEASE DO NOT LOSE THEM!
After you check in and receive your reader cards, you will go to the professional photo area (separate from the photo booth) at the back of the room. There, a GradImages photographer will take your picture. They will take ONE of your TWO reader cards (remember: hold on to the other one!)
You can pre-register at https://www.gradimages.com/registration/ prior to the ceremony to share your photos with loved ones and receive a coupon code for 20% off. You will receive an email from GradImages when your photos are ready to view and order or you can check gradimages.com.
PLEASE NOTE: If you do not arrive an hour and a half prior to your ceremony start time, we cannot guarantee you will have the opportunity for a posed head shot photo.
Once you've had your picture taken, it's time to find your department's seating section. Departments are arranged alphabetically but students can sit wherever they want within their department (no assigned seating!).
Each department has a faculty or staff member assigned as an academic marshal. Your academic marshal can answer any questions you may have and will guide you in lining up for the procession.
Once you finish all the other steps, take some time to hang out with your friends and get excited to graduate! There will be music, snacks and several photo booth areas stocked with props provided for FREE by the College of Arts and Sciences.
If you do take photos, don't forget to tag them with #UBClassof2023 or submit them via text to 716.451.2828 so we can share them on our social media as well as the jumbotron in the arena!
Important notes
If you do not arrive an hour and a half prior to your ceremony start time, we cannot guarantee you will have the opportunity for a posed head shot photo.
We recommend limiting the items (purses, bags, etc) you bring with you as you will need to hold onto them for the duration of the event.
THIS IS A TICKETED CEREMONY. All guests over the age of two will need a ticket to enter the arena. Children two and under do not need a ticket.
All guest tickets are mobile-only. Please make sure your phone is charged and the brightness is turned up so we can easily scan your ticket when you arrive.
Graduating students will need to transfer the tickets they reserved to their guests. Each guest will need a mobile ticket to enter Alumni Arena. If the person accepting the ticket does not have a Ticketmaster account, they will need to make one during this process.
- Sign in using your email and password associated with your account.
- If you don’t know your password, click "Forgot password" and a temporary password will be sent to your email.
- Once signed in, click on “Manage tickets”
- Tap on your ceremony
- Select one of the tickets
- Hit the “Transfer” button
- Choose the ticket(s) you would like to transfer by checking the box next to each ticket.
- Add the recipient by inputting their name and email. You may also include a short message.
- Congratulations - Your ticket has been transferred!
- An email will be sent to the person accepting the ticket. Click “Accept tickets.”
- Log in to Ticketmaster if you have an account. If you do not, you will need to create one
- Review the ticket information to make sure it is the correct ticket, then select “Accept”
- SUCCESS! You now have a ticket to commencement!
We recommend that guests park in the following lots
- Stadium Lot
- Slee A Lot
- Baird A Lot
During commencement ceremonies, guests are welcome to park in any faculty/staff and student parking lots; a UB parking pass is not required.
Guests may enter Alumni Arena via the Coventry Circle (front) entrance. Doors will open approximately an hour and a half prior to the ceremony. All seating is general admission.
Unfortunately, we do not have additional tickets for this ceremony. Friends and family who do not have a ticket for the ceremony are invited to view the ceremony via live simulcast online. A link to the live-stream and for technical requirement will be posted here prior to the ceremony.
Seating for graduates is arranged alphabetically by department. Graduates may sit wherever they would like within their department. During the stage-crossing portion of the ceremony, each department name will be announced once, followed by the names of each graduate present with that department. As the graduate's name is announced, they will walk across the stage and be congratulated by the dean and degree conferrer.
Only graduating students may participate in the graduation ceremony, including walking in the processional and crossing the stage. The University will make limited exceptions when a graduating student requires assistance for accessibility reasons. Students who need accommodations to fully participate in the ceremony should contact Anne Mecca at cas-commencement@buffalo.edu.
Safety is our first priority. Upon entry to Alumni Arena, security personnel will greet students and guests and conduct a speedy inspection of all bags, purses, and containers. They may also ask you to unfasten any outerwear. Due to these security measures, please plan to arrive a few minutes early.
Please note and alert your guests that the following items are strictly prohibited on the premises:
- Strollers
- Bags or backpacks larger than 12"x12"x6"
- Food and beverages
- Weapons
- Alcohol
- Illicit drugs and/or related paraphernalia
- Signs/sticks
- Flags/banners
- Balloons or beach balls
- Fireworks or explosives
- Laser objects
- Voice amplifiers or noise makers
- Animals (except service animals)
- Any item that, in the judgment of venue management, may pose a safety hazard or diminish the enjoyment of the event by other guests.