Skip to main content

more options



College and School Diploma Ceremonies

Commencement Ceremony

  • 8:00 a.m. Guests may begin arriving at stadium seats
  • 9:15 a.m. Procession assembles on Arts Quad
  • 10:00-11:00 a.m. Procession arrives at stadium
  • 11:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m. Commencement ceremony for all students
  • 12:00-3:00 p.m. College diploma ceremonies & receptions around campus

Following the commencement ceremony, diploma ceremonies, diploma distribution and/or receptions will be held at many of the colleges and schools and should conclude by 3:00 p.m. A complete list is included in the student packets. Specific information can also be found below.

On commencement day, a campus map noting ceremony locations will be included in the Commencement Program handed out in the stadium. Please let all guests know the student's department in case your party gets separated before, during, or after the University Commencement ceremony. Be sure to check for the Program for any changes to the information posted below.

Due to the large crowds leaving the stadium all at once, please:

  • plan to meet your student at the college/school/department ceremony/reception
  • plan on walking to the reception or ride the bus to the locations near the college event
  • do not expect to drive your vehicle on campus

College and School Diploma Ceremonies and Receptions



Agriculture and Life Sciences

College-Wide Reception

Time: Immediately following Commencement ceremony
Place: Ag Quad in front of Roberts Hall and large tent east of Kennedy Hall. Alumni Affairs invites you to visit their tent and greet Dean Susan A. Henry.
Contact: Lisa Ryan, 254-5386

Diploma Distribution

Time: 12:30 p.m. or immediately following Commencement Ceremony.
Place: Diplomas will be distributed to undergraduate students by major at various locations on and near the Ag quad. Visit the CALS website for a complete listing: CALS diploma locations

Severe Weather Plan:
If the University chooses the Severe Weather Plan for Commencement, the CALS graduates will participate in the 10:30 a.m. ceremony in Barton Hall. Diplomas will be distributed immediately following the ceremony at the locations noted above.



Architecture, Art and Planning

Presentation of awards and diplomas for all undergraduates and graduate students
Time: Immediately following Commencement ceremony
Place: Arts Quad, large white tent near McGraw Hall

Reception with light refreshments for graduates and their families, faculty, and staff
Time: Following the presentation ceremony
Place: Inside the same tent as for the ceremony
Contact: Beth Kunz, 255-7324

Severe Weather Plan:
If the University chooses the Severe Weather Plan for Commencement, the AAP graduates will participate in the 1:00 p.m. ceremony in Barton Hall. The presentation of awards and diplomas will follow at approximately 2:15 p.m. on the Arts Quad in the large tent near McGraw Hall. A reception will follow inside the tent.



Arts and Sciences

Time: Immediately following Commencement ceremony
Place: Each department will have a reception for its graduates as noted below.

  • Africana Studies-Africana Studies and Research Center, 310 Triphammer Road
  • American Studies-Big Red Barn
  • Anthropology-Willard Straight Hall, Memorial Room
  • Archaeology-Willard Straight Hall, Memorial Room
  • Asian Studies-Rockefeller Hall, Room 374
  • Astronomy-Space Sciences Building, Room 622
  • Biological Sciences Recognition Ceremony- Saturday, 4-5:00 p.m., Lynah Rink Reception following- Saturday, 5-6:00 p.m., Bartels Hall, Ramin Room Diploma Distribution- Sunday, 12 noon, tent between Day Hall and Sage Chapel
  • Biology and Society-Rockefeller Hall, Schwartz Auditorium
  • Chemistry-Baker Laboratory - reception in lobby, diploma ceremony in room 200
  • China & Asia Pacific Program-Reception in Barnes Hall Auditorium, 12:30 p.m.
  • Classics-Goldwin Smith Hall, Kaufmann Auditorium
  • College Scholars-Goldwin Smith Hall, Hollis E. Cornell Auditorium
  • Comparative Literature-Goldwin Smith Hall, room 258
  • Computer Science Saturday, 1:00 p.m., MEng & PhD candidates, Ceremony & Reception, Engineering Quad Sunday, 12:30 p.m., Undergrads, Diploma Ceremony & Reception, Engineering Quad
  • Earth and Atmospheric Sciences-Snee Hall Atrium
  • Economics-Uris Hall, Tower Road Entrance
  • English-Bailey Hall and Bailey Hall Plaza
  • FGSS-No event planned
  • German Studies-Goldwin Smith Hall, room 177
  • Government-Arts Quad, tent near Olin Library
  • History-A.D. White House, garden
  • History of Art-Goldwin Smith Hall, History of Art Gallery
  • Independent Majors-Goldwin Smith Hall, Hollis E. Cornell Auditorium
  • Information Science Saturday, 4:30 p.m., Undergrad Ceremony & Reception, Engineering Quad Sunday, 12:30 p.m., Diploma distribution, 303 Upson Hall (bring ID)
  • Linguistics-Morrill Hall, 1st floor
  • Mathematics-Malott Hall, Bache Auditorium, Room 228
  • Music-Lincoln Hall, Neylan Rehearsal Hall (B20)
  • Near Eastern Studies-Arts Quad, tent in front of White Hall
  • Philosophy-McGraw Hall, room 165
  • Physics-Clark Hall, room 700
  • Psychology-Uris Hall, Auditorium, room G1
  • Religious Studies-White Hall, room 110
  • Romance Studies-Goldwin Smith Hall, Lecture Hall D
  • Russian-Morrill Hall, room 208
  • Science and Technology Studies-Rockefeller Hall, Schwartz Auditorium
  • Sociology-Uris Hall, east side Mezzanine
  • Theatre, Film & Dance-Schwartz Center for the Performing Arts, lobby

Severe Weather Plan:
If the University chooses the Severe Weather Plan for Commencement, the graduates will participate in the 10:30 a.m. ceremony in Barton Hall. Diplomas will be distributed immediately following the ceremony, at the locations noted above.



Engineering

Time: Immediately following Commencement ceremony
Place: Each department as noted below

  • Applied and Engineering Physics- Duffield Hall, Baum Atrium. Kelli Hulslander, 255-0638
  • Biological and Environmental Engineering- Friedman Wrestling Facility. Brenda Marchewka, 255-2173
  • Biomedical Engineering- Duffield Hall, Swanson Atrium. Belinda Floyd, 255-2573
  • Chemical Engineering- Olin Hall - diplomas, Rm 155, 255; reception Olin Hall. Carol Casler, 255-8656
  • Civil and Environmental Engineering- Bartels Hall, Ramin Room. Undergraduate Coordinator, 255-3412
  • Computer Sciences-
    Sat., 5/23, 1:00 p.m. - MEng & PhD candidates, Ceremony & Reception, Engineering Quad Sun., 5/24, 12:30 p.m. - Undergrads, Diploma Ceremony & Reception, Engineering Quad. Jennifer Wofford, 255-4605 12:30 p.m. MEng & PhD candidates, Diploma Distribution, 303 Upson Hall (bring ID)
  • Earth and Atmospheric Science- Snee Hall Atrium. Elena Welch 255-5466
  • Electrical and Computer Engineering-
    Sat., 5/23, 1:30 p.m. - Ceremony for all ECE MS, MEng, & PhD candidates, Statler Auditorium
    3:30 p.m. - Ceremony for all ECE Undergraduate candidates, Statler Auditorium
    Sun., 5/24, 12:30-2 p.m. - Diploma Distribution, Phillips Hall, rooms 203 & 219. Scott Coldren, 255-4304
  • Information Science-
    Sat., 5/23, 4:30 p.m. - Undergrad Ceremony & Reception, Engineering Quad
    Sun., 5/24, 12:30 p.m. - Diploma Distribution, 303 Upson Hall (bring ID). Christine Stenglein, 255-9837
  • Materials Science and Engineering- Bard Hall, front doors (north side). Joseph Sweet, 255-9159
  • Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering- Diploma Ceremony, Statler Hall Auditorium. Reception following in Statler lobby and Park Center Atrium. Nanette Peterson, 255-3573
  • Operations Research Engineering-
    Sat., 5/23, 2:00 p.m. - MEng, MS, PhD Recognition Ceremony, Rockefeller Hall, Schwartz Auditorium
    Sun., 5/24, 12:30-1:30 p.m. - Undergrad Diploma Ceremony, Sage Chapel. Cindy Jay, 255-5088 1:30-2:30 p.m. - Reception, tent outside Sage Chapel 1:30-2:30 p.m. - MEng, MS, PhD Diploma Distribution, Sage Chapel
  • Systems Engineering-
    Sat., 5/23, 3:00-5:00 p.m., MEng Ceremony & Reception, Hollister Hall, McManus Lounge. Michelle Dean, 254-5498 Sun., 5/24, 1:30-2:30 p.m., MEng Diploma Distribution, Sage Chapel.

Severe Weather Plan:
If the University chooses the Severe Weather Plan for Commencement, the graduates will participate in the 1:00 p.m. ceremony in Barton Hall. Diplomas will be distributed immediately following the ceremony in the locations noted above.



Graduate School

Please contact your Graduate Field Office for diploma distribution information.

Severe Weather Plan:
If the University chooses the Severe Weather Plan for Commencement, graduates will participate in the 1:00 p.m. ceremony in Barton Hall.



Hotel Administration

Awarding of diplomas for undergraduate and graduate students immediately following the Commencement.
Time: 12:30 p.m.
Place: Barton Hall

Reception for graduates and their families, faculty, and staff.
Time: Immediately following the Diploma Ceremony until 3:00 p.m.
Place: Barton Hall
Contact: Lisa Margosian

Severe Weather Plan:
If the University chooses the Severe Weather Plan for Commencement, the graduates will participate in the 1:00-2:00 p.m. abbreviated ceremony in Barton Hall. The awarding of diplomas will follow, concluding with a champagne reception also in Barton Hall.



Human Ecology

Presentation of diplomas will be made to undergraduates and graduate students in a seated ceremony in Newman Arena at Bartels Hall. Each graduate will be recognized individually. Lunch will be provided.

Time: Immediately following Commencement ceremony
Place: Bartels Hall, Newman Arena
Contact: Diana Brinckman, 255-8053, or Tracey Thompson, 255-2235

Severe Weather Plan:
If the University chooses the Severe Weather Plan for Commencement, the graduates will participate in the 1:00 p.m. ceremony in Barton Hall. There will not be a formal ceremony, so students will pick up their diplomas between 2:30-3:30 p.m. at the Human Ecology Registrar's Office, 146 MVR Hall



Industrial and Labor Relations

Reception for all ILR undergraduates and graduates, and their guests.
Time: Immediately following the Commencement ceremony
Place: ILR Conference Center Courtyard

Presentation of awards and diplomas.
Time: Immediately following ILR Reception
Place: Lynah Rink
Contact: Kevin Harris, 255-2223

Severe Weather Plan:
If the University chooses the Severe Weather Plan for Commencement, the ILR graduates will participate in the 1:00 p.m. ceremony in Barton Hall. Presentation of awards and diplomas will be held at Lynah Rink from 11:00 a.m. to 12:15 p.m.



Johnson Graduate School of Management

Ceremony for graduates and their guests, faculty & staff (no tickets required)
Time: Sat., 5/23, 2:30-4:00 p.m.
Place: Bartels Hall, Newman Arena

Reception for graduates and their guests, faculty & staff (no tickets required)
Time: Sat., 5/23, 4:00-7:00 p.m. (immediately following Bartels Hall program)
Place: Sage Hall

Distribution of diplomas and regalia return
Time: Sun., 5/24, 12:00-1:30 p.m. (immediately following university ceremony)
Place: Sage Hall, Dyson Atrium

Contact via email: StudentActivities@johnson.cornell.edu or call, 607-254-5446.

Severe Weather Plan:
If the University chooses the Severe Weather Plan for Commencement on Sunday, graduates will participate in the 10:30 a.m. ceremony in Barton Hall. Diploma distribution and regalia return to follow at Sage Hall.



Law School

Reception for graduates and their families, faculty, and staff.
Time: 12:15 p.m. immediately following the Commencement ceremony
Place: Law School, The Berger Atrium
Contact: Linda Majeroni

Severe Weather Plan If the University chooses the Severe Weather Plan for Commencement, the graduates will attend the 10:30 a.m. ceremony in Barton Hall followed by a reception at noon in The Berger Atrium.



College of Veterinary Medicine

Hooding Ceremony
Time: Sat., 5/23, 2:00-3:30 p.m.
Place: Bailey Hall

Awarding of diplomas and reception for graduates and their families, faculty and staff.
Time: Sun., 5/24, immediately following the Commencement ceremony
Place: College Plaza (at entrance, in front of Schurman Hall and Veterinary Research Tower)
Contact: Dr. Jai Sweet, 253-3700

Severe Weather Plan:
If the University chooses the Severe Weather Plan for Commencement,the graduates will participate in the 10:30 a.m. ceremony in Barton Hall. The reception will immediately follow the ceremony as noted above.


Still can't find what you're looking for?

Contact Information

Office of Commencement Events
B13 Day Hall
Cornell University
Ithaca, New York 14853
(607) 255-9541
Email: commencement@cornell.edu