Date: Sunday, May 18, 2025
Location: Alumni Arena
Morning Ceremony (Arts, Natural Sciences and Math): 9 a.m.
Afternoon Ceremony (Social Sciences and Humanities): 1 p.m.
Coordinator: Anne Mecca
Contact: (716) 645-1391 or cas-commencement@buffalo.edu
Please arrive to the Edward Wright Practice Facility (room 76, also known as the triple gym) in Alumni Arena an hour prior to your ceremony start time (8 a.m. for the 9 a.m. ceremony, 12 p.m. for the 1 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 a reader card with your name on it. You will hand this to the name readers as you cross the stage. PLEASE DO NOT LOSE IT!
Now 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 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 #UBClassof2025 or submit them via text to PHONE NUMBER TBD so we can share them on our social media as well as the jumbotron in the arena!
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.
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 prior to the ceremony. All seating is general admission.
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 priority. Deliberate disruption or prevention of the peaceful and orderly conduct of classes, lectures, events, meetings and other University activities is strictly prohibited.
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: