University at Buffalo (UB)
Undergraduate and Graduate Commencement
This Jacobs School commencement ceremony is for undergraduate and graduate students, as well as students graduating from the Roswell Park Graduate Division.
Date & Time
Sunday, May 19, 2024
9:00 a.m.
Center for the Arts, UB North Campus
Caps/Tams, Gowns, Hoods, and Tassels
Graduating students participating in commencement wear academic apparel. Order early to make sure you get the appropriate items on time.
Degree Candidates
Arrival time for graduates will be 7:30 a.m. Anticipated ceremony length is approximately 1.5 hours.
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 due to a disability. Students needing accommodations: please refer to Accommodations For Individuals With Disabilities below.
Eligible students will appear in the program book. Your legal name as it appears in HUB will be used for the commencement program book. If you are participating in the 2024 commencement ceremony, you may request how your name should appear in the program book when you register. If you are not participating in the ceremony and would like your Preferred Diploma Name listed in the program book, please email the appropriate ceremony coordinator listed below. Program book content will reflect the data available in HUB as of April 4, 2024.
A photographer from GradImages will be at commencement to take a posed photograph of you, as well as a candid photograph of your special moment of recognition and handshake.
Guests
Tickets will be required for guests to attend. More information will be provided to students who register to participate in the ceremony. Each ceremony registrant will be able to reserve up to 5 guest tickets. Please visit the Center for the Arts link below for additional guest information.
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').
To receive the Latin honors designation in commencement program books, and to be eligible to wear the honorific gold cord (cum laude, magna and summa) at the time of ceremonies, candidates for the June 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. Standings for Latin honors may change once final grades are posted or degrees conferred.
The program book recognition is only intended for students who will have their degrees conferred in June, or have had their degrees conferred in the previous February or August.
The gold cords will be available for purchase ($14.25) through the University Bookstore on North Campus beginning March 12. 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 home shipping.
Recognition of Other Honors
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.
Eligibility
This ceremony is intended and scheduled only for bachelor’s, master’s and PhD students within the Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, as well as students graduating from the Roswell Park Graduate Division, who have applied for graduation (degree) indicating one of the following graduation terms:
- Summer 2023 (Aug. ’23 degree conferral)
- Fall 2024 (Feb. ’24 degree conferral)
- Spring 2024 (June ’24 degree conferral)
Students should check with their advisers to make sure all degree requirements have been met.
This spring’s ceremony is not intended for students whose graduation term is later than this spring. However, if there are extenuating circumstances, please contact Kelli Hickey (undergrads) or Beth White (graduate students).
Registration
Registration for the commencement ceremony is separate from applying for graduation (degree). The registration deadline is March 29, 2024.
Undergraduate Students
Only students who will walk at commencement need to register for the ceremony.
Graduate Students
Even if you do NOT wish to participate in the ceremony, you MUST complete the online registration form so your name will appear in the commencement booklet.
Once you've registered for commencement, additional instructions and reminders will be sent through UB email.
Diplomas
Printed Diploma
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.
Certified Electronic 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.
Students
If you need accommodations to enable you to participate in a commencement ceremony, please include your request when you register for the ceremony. The coordinator of this ceremony will contact you to discuss and finalize your accommodation request.
If the coordinator does not contact you at least two weeks before the ceremony, please contact the coordinator of the ceremony directly or the Office of Accessibility Resources.
Guests
The university is committed to providing equal access to individuals with disabilities, including physical access to events and reasonable accommodations for members of the university community.
Please refer to the Accessibility for Guests webpage for additional information.
Ceremony Contacts
Undergraduate
Kelli Hickey
Director
Enrollment Management & Biomedical Undergraduate Education
Graduate
Elizabeth White
Director, Graduate Enrollment
Office of Biomedical Education
955 Main St., Room 6130, University at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY 14203
Phone: Phone: (716) 829-3399;; Fax: Fax: (716) 829-2437
Email: bethw@buffalo.edu