May Commencement 2008

Main University Commencement –
May 23, 2008 @11:00 a.m. - Kenneth P. LaValle Stadium

On May 23, 2008, Stony Brook will celebrate their 48th Commencement Ceremony. The main ceremony will begin at 11:00 a.m. in the Kenneth P. LaValle Stadium, and the Commencement Festival will follow just outside the Stadium.

The University Commencement will confer degrees on those candidates who have completed degree requirements by specific dates: December 2007, January 2008, May/June 2008, and Summer 2008. The President of the University, the Honorary Degree Recipient(s) and the graduate chosen from the Student Speech Competition deliver speeches. The program usually takes approximately one hour and 30 minutes. Graduates are not called to the stage during the ceremony. The more personalized Department/School/College convocations take place on the same day.

Commencement Festival, May 23, 2008 - Immediately following the Main Ceremony until 1:30 p.m. - just outside the Kenneth P. LaValle Stadium

Following the Main Ceremony, the University will host a Commencement Festival on the academic mall as a celebration to honor all its graduates. It includes live music, a variety of photo opportunities, and entertainment. Bag lunches in a commemorative Commencement 2008 canvas bags will be distributed to graduates and guests between the hours of 11:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. to the extent of availability. To obtain the bag lunch, graduates in cap and gown, guests with a ticket stub from the main ceremony, or a "special ticket" issued by the Office of Conferences & Special Events must be presented.

Special lunch tickets will be available at the information booth between 11:30 a.m. and Noon only for graduates and guest not attending the Main Ceremony. A Graduate in academic attire can obtain these tickets (limit of two tickets per graduate).

Baccalaureate Honors Convocation –
May 22, 2008 @7:00 p.m., Main Stage, Staller Center for the Arts

The Baccalaureate ceremony will recognize all candidates graduating with distinctions of cum laude, magna cum laude, summa cum laude, and those who have been elected to either Phi Beta Kappa or Tau Beta Pi honor societies. This is a "by invitation" ceremony, and invitations will be mailed to those that meet the criteria listed below and in the Undergraduate Bulletin. The program will include a faculty and student speaker and the presentation of University-wide competitive academic and service awards. Students need to assemble at 6:15 p.m. in the Staller Center.

CANDIDATE LINE UP & SEATING SECTIONS

 

ACADEMIC ROBES (CAPS, GOWNS AND HOODS)

All candidates planning to march in the Commencement procession must be robed. Retainable blue caps, gowns and hoods can be purchased at the University Bookstores starting in mid-March for bachelors and masters candidates. Doctoral candidates will be wearing the Special Stony Brook academic attire, and these robes and hoods will be available for renting at the University Bookstore as well. You need to ask for the gown that corresponds to your degree, e.g., bachelors, masters or doctoral. Robes and hoods are designed differently for each level of degree. The satin lining is designed in the colors of the institution awarding the degree; in your case, the colors are blue and gold representing the State University of New York. The velvet border is the appropriate color for the degree, e.g., Bachelor of Arts is white, Bachelor of Science is yellow, Master of Music is pink, etc. The velvet trim on a Ph.D. hood is always philosophy blue. A Doctorate of Music is pink, while a Doctorate of Arts is white. Tassels are blue for bachelor and gold for the master degrees, while the tassel worn by the doctoral candidate is short gold.


For additional information, contact the University Bookstore on West Campus (Melville Library Plaza) at 631-632-6550 or 631-632-4500 or Matthews HSC Bookstore on East Campus (L2, Rm. 310) at 631-444-3685.

If a candidate does not wish to wear a cap and gown, we will seat non-robed students in specific reserved seating. A special ticket is required and may be picked up in the Office of Conferences and Special Events in early May.

Parking & Arrangements for Persons With Special Needs

Parking will be available in most lots. Special bus transportation will be available to transport guests from the South P parking lot directly to the Kenneth P. LaValle Stadium. Guests are encouraged to park in this location and use the bus transportation. Signs will be posted for other bus stops. Bus transportation will be available between the hours of 8:30 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. All parking is free of charge.

Arrangements for persons with special needs:
Reserved space for wheelchairs will be available. Inform guests with a disability that they should seek out an usher. Parking spaces will be set aside in the Stadium Parking Lot for cars with appropriate disabled identification. The ADA van, equipped with a lift, will be available for those who require assistance between the parking lot and the Stadium.

Candidates with a special need should notify the Office of Conferences and Special Events where arrangements for either marching or seating will be discussed.