May 2025 Department of Political Science Convocation and Reception

Join us as we recognize the achievements of political science students from the class of 2025 receiving their BA, MA, and PhD degrees. The department will grant awards, recognize students graduating with honors, and host a social reception with light snacks. Family and friends are welcome but graduating students must register and obtain tickets in advance. Instructions on how to register and reserve tickets are below.

Our convocation and reception event will be on Thursday, May 22nd at 9:00am (candidate check in at 8:00am) in the Bauman Center Ballroom. This event is for our department to recognize the hard work of our students, celebrate their outstanding achievements, and spend time visiting with classmates and faculty. This event is not to be missed!

Please note that the Department of Political Science Convocation and Reception is a separate event from the Main Commencement Ceremony. For details on the Main Commencement Ceremony visit here.

If you have any department convocation event questions, please contact polsci_tickets@stonybrook.edu.

Important Deadlines and Dates

4/16/25: Last day to apply for graduation for the Main Commencement Ceremony and the POL Department Convocation and be listed in the program (you can still register to attend past this date, but won't be listed in the program).
4/16/25 from 12:00-2:30pm: Grad Day on the Shop Red West Outdoor Patio - Join us as we kick off our Commencement countdown and celebrate the Class of 2025! There will be a variety of activities for graduates to enjoy.
4/22/25: Deadline to order graduation regalia to ship to home.
5/9/25 @ 4:00pm: Last day to apply for graduation and to participate in the Main Commencement Ceremony and the POL Department Convocation (your name will not appear in the program).
Between 5/9 and 5/12: We will calculate how many guest tickets each student may receive for the POL Department Convocation. This number is contingent on the number of students that will be attending our event because space is limited.
5/12/25 @ 12:00pm: Ticket requests for the Department Convocation become available for students who have applied for graduation through SOLAR.
5/20/25 at 5:00pm: Final date for Department Convocation tickets to be claimed. No exceptions or additional tickets will be granted past this date.
5/21/25 at 9:00am: Tickets held for graduating students' guests that are not claimed will be converted to fill waitlist requests. Waitlist tickets (if available) will be distributed through Eventbrite.

Department Convocation Ticket Reservations - Will open on 5/12 @ 12:00 PM

Department Convocation and Reception Tickets
Tickets are free and will be available through Eventbrite. Your access code will be your nine-digit SBU ID number. If your access code does not work, please confirm that you have RSVP'd for the department convocation through SOLAR (instructions under "How do I RSVP for the department convocation?" below).

Department Convocation and Reception Ticket Waitlist
You should complete this form if you want to request additional guest tickets beyond the tickets guaranteed for each graduating student. Waitlist tickets are not guaranteed.

If you have any department convocation event questions, please contact polsci_tickets@stonybrook.edu.

Frequently Asked Questions — Department Convocation and Reception

The department convocation is a smaller, more intimate ceremony where the Department of Political Science will present awards, recognize our programs' graduates, and host a distinguished alumni speaker. Graduates' names are called and are recognized by crossing the stage. This event takes place on a separate day and location from the Main Commencement Ceremony.

The 2025 Department of Political Science Convocation will be taking place on Thursday, May 22nd at 9:00am (candidate check in at 8:00am) in the Bauman Center Ballroom.
The main commencement ceremony (aka "graduation") is where you are recognized with the entire graduating class, presided over by the campus President, Provost, Deans, and faculty. Individual names are not called at this ceremony.

The 2025 Main Commencement Ceremony will be taking place on Friday, May 23th at 11am at LaValle Stadium. For information and updates, please visit here.
On SOLAR, navigate to Student Records & Registration > Degree Progress/Graduation > Ceremony Attendance Changes.
- If you want to attend the Main Commencement Ceremony, check "Attend May Ceremony"
- If you want to attend the Department Convocation, check "Attend Departmental Convocation"
- Please (please!) enter the phonetic spelling of your name in the box provided. This is what is used to read your name during the ceremonies! Not sure how to write out your name phonetically?Here is a helpful guide.
- If you want to have your Preferred/Chosen name read at the ceremony, be sure to check the box next to “Use Preferred Name (Commence).” (Details on the campus Preferred/Chosen name can be found here.)
- If you change your mind or are unable to attend convocation and/or commencement, please update and resubmit this form.
Yes! To do this, you must complete the Ceremony Attendance Form on SOLAR (instructions in the question above). Additionally:
- If you plan on attending the Main Commencement Ceremony (and you checked the “Attend May Ceremony” box), you must also email commencement@stonybrook.edu and let them know the year and term you are graduating and let them know you would like to attend the Main Commencement Ceremony.
- If you plan on attending the Department Convocation Ceremony (and you checked the “Attend Departmental Convocation” box), you must also email polsci_tickets@stonybrook.edu and let us know the year and term you are graduating and that you would like to attend the Department Convocation Ceremony.
Candidates wishing to participate prior to completion of degree requirements will be eligible to walk early if they do the following three things:
1. Registered for Summer/Fall classes.
2. Complete the "Ceremony Attendance Change Form" on SOLAR. (See How do I RSVP for the Department Convocation Ceremony above.)
3. You must also email:
  - If you plan on attending the Main Commencement Ceremony (and you checked the “Attend May Ceremony” box), you must also email commencement@stonybrook.edu and let them know the year and term you plan on graduating and let them know you would like to attend the Main Commencement Ceremony.
  - If you plan on attending the Department Convocation Ceremony (and you checked the “Attend Departmental Convocation” box), you must also email polsci_tickets@stonybrook.edu and let us know the year and term you plan on graduating and that you would like to attend the Department Convocation Ceremony.
If you are completing your degree requirements in summer 2025 or fall 2025 you should not apply for graduation through SOLAR for Spring 2025. You must wait to apply for graduation until the term you will be completing all of your degree requirements.

For West Campus Undergraduates, please direct your questions to ug_graduation_west_campus@stonybrook.edu
This number is based on the number of graduating students who plan to attend the event and will be based off the number that have RSVPd through SOLAR. We have typically been able to accomodate at least two guests for every graduating student that attended the event.

Graduating students that are participating in the ceremony will not need a ticket, but will need to bring their student ID card for check in. Seating at the venue is limited, so thank you for your understanding. A waitlist is available above to request additional tickets for guests, and if they are available will be distributed.
The Bachelor of Arts (BA) in Political Science, Master of Arts in Political Science (MA), and Master of Arts (MA) in Public Policy should all order a white hood.

Information on where and how to order graduation regalia can be found here.
Parking is available for graduating students and guests in Lot 1 and Lot 3. We recommend parking in Lot 1 across the street from the Wang Center. The East entrance of the Bauman Center is a five minute walk north. Alternate parking is also in Lot 3 next to LaValle Stadium, but the walk is longer and you will have to enter through the West entrance of Benedict. Please see the attached map for reference.

The full campus map and parking map can be found here. Parking in these lots is free on May 16th.

Frequently Asked Questions — Undergraduate Students (BA)

Contact Academic and Transfer Advising Services as soon as possible for an appointment with an advisor: https://www.stonybrook.edu/commcms/advising/index.php

If you want to confirm your graduation eligibility, contact the Registrar Graduation Staff at (631) 632-6175 or at ug_graduation_west_campus@stonybrook.edu.
Pi Sigma Alpha regalia will be distributed at the 2025 induction ceremony, taking place in late April.

If you are unable to attend the induction ceremony, please contact the faculty advisor, Jason Rose (jason.rose@stonybrook.edu).

Frequently Asked Questions — Graduate Students (MA and PhD)

Updated 3/17/25