Undergraduate Commencement – Humanities and Social Sciences

THIS IS A TICKETED CEREMONY. All guests will need a ticket to enter Alumni Arena. As you (graduating student) register for the ceremony, you will have an opportunity to reserve up to SIX guest tickets.

When you register for the ceremony, you will receive a confirmation email that includes detailed information on ticket distribution.

Children under two years of age do not require a guest ticket unless they will be using a baby carrier or infant car seat carrier; the ticket is for the seat space that will be taken up by the carrier.

Unfortunately, we cannot guarantee 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. Please visit Countdown to Commencement for a link to the live-stream and for technical requirements.

• Remember to bring your cap, gown, hood and tassel with you.
• Enter the Alumni Arena from Coventry Loop or Webster Road. Look for the door marked specifically for students, faculty and staff.
• Please report to the Edward Wright Practice Facility (room 76 - also known as the triple gym) on the ground level of Alumni Arena no later than 12 p.m. 

When you place your order, you will be guided in selecting the appropriate regalia based on your academic discipline and degree.

Grad Images is the contracted photography studio for commencement. There will be a posed photo opportunity as well as a photo of each student crossing the stage. Photo proofs will be emailed to each student about one week following the commencement ceremony. Please direct all post-ceremony inquiries to Grad Images. 

The Office of the Registrar will mail a printed diploma, free of charge, to your permanent address approximately four to six weeks after the conferral date. Students are responsible for making address changes; these should be made by the term conferral date to ensure that you receive your diploma.

Students who graduated June 2020 and later  have the option to purchase a certified electronic diploma (CeDiploma) for $15.95. Notification will be sent to your UB email, from info@credentialtrust.com, approximately 3-6 weeks after your degree conferral date.

All graduates with conferral dates of August 2024, February 2025 and June 2025 will be listed in the printed commencement program, regardless of their particpation in the ceremony. 

August 2025 graduates must register to attend the ceremony (separate from applying for conferral in HUB) by April 4, 2025 in order to be included in the program book.

The program will contain each student's legal name as it appears in HUB with the exception of those who request use of their Preferred Diploma Name. To do so, please contact Anne Mecca at cas-commencement@buffalo.edu. Program book content will reflect the data available in HUB as of April 4, 2025.

Students earning baccalaureate degrees (including those awarded as part of combined degrees) are eligible to receive Latin honors based on their UB cumulative grade point average (GPA) on the following scale:

Average (based on 4.000=A)

·         3.200 — cum laude

·         3.500 — magna cum laude

·         3.750 — summa cum laude

To qualify for Latin honors, students must present a minimum of 60 credit hours of UB undergraduate coursework, at least 54 of which must be graded credits (i.e., not grades of 'P',’NP’, 'S' or 'U').

August 2024 and February 2025 graduates:

These graduates whose diploma indicates Latin honors will also receive this recognition in the program book and be eligible to purchase a gold cord.

June 2025 degree candidates:

To receive the Latin honors designation in commencement program books and to be eligible to wear the honorific gold cord at the time of ceremonies, candidates for the June 2024 degree conferral date must qualify based upon their UB cumulative GPA through the winter intersession of that year and projected UB credit hours through the spring semester of that year at the time of review.

August 2025 degree candidates:

To be eligible to wear the honorific gold cord at the time of ceremonies, candidates for the August 2025 degree conferral date must qualify based upon their UB cumulative GPA through the winter intersession of this year and projected UB credit hours through the upcoming summer at the time of review. To receive the Latin honors designation in the commencement program book, August 2025 graduates additionally must have completed their ceremony registration by April 4, 2025.    

Standings for Latin honors may change once final grades are posted or degrees conferred.  

The gold cords will be available for purchase ($14.25) through the University Bookstore on North Campus beginning TBD. At that time, qualifying students may purchase their cord at the store; please bring UB ID. Students will also have the option to contact the University Bookstore (716-636-6290, selection 4) and make their purchase over the phone; in this case, add $7.99 for shipping.

Candidates for graduation are also encouraged to wear on their robes any insignia, emblems or pins signifying membership in honorary societies or academic organizations, or special honors received for academic or extracurricular activities.