Suffolk County Community College Commencement

Choosing the Ceremony

The Class of 2023 includes all students who successfully complete degree and certificate coursework requirements in January, May, or August 2023. Diplomas and certificates will be mailed approximately 8-12 weeks following your graduation date. All graduates, including prospective August graduates, are encouraged to participate in the commencement exercises on Thursday, May 18, 2023.

This year, there will be a morning ceremony at 10 a.m. and an afternoon ceremony at 2 p.m. You must select the ceremony that you prefer to attend. Both ceremonies are in the Field House of the Suffolk Credit Union Arena on the Michael J. Grant Campus in Brentwood. Ceremonies typically last between 2-3 hours.

Graduation ceremony tickets are available as of March 27th at 10 a.m. to students who already submitted a graduation application. Students who already submitted a graduation application should check Degree Works to confirm that they have an Applied (AP) graduation status. (Please do not resubmit a duplicate graduation application.) Students will then be able to select their ceremony and receive up to four free graduation tickets. Tickets are available on a first-come first-serve basis with limited tickets for each ceremony.

In the event one of the ceremonies reaches full capacity, graduates will be directed to RSVP for the alternate ceremony time.

Select Your Commencement Ceremony

Graduates at ceremony

Eligibility to Participate

You must file the application for graduation whether or not you wish to attend the commencement ceremony.

Regalia for the Ceremony

Regalia (cap, gown, hood, and tassel) may be pre-ordered online via herff.ly/suffolkcc through April 18, 2023. Orders will ship to your home during the first two weeks of May. Regalia can be purchased in person through the campus bookstores beginning on May 1, 2023. The cost for the Associate Degree regalia package is $38.81 + tax. If you do not need to purchase the complete regalia set, individual pieces are available. You may use cash, Follett gift card, personal check, or debit/credit card with photo ID as your payment options.

The last opportunity to purchase regalia from the bookstore is Wednesday, May 17, 2023 at 12:00 p.m. (noon). After that date, sizes cannot be guaranteed.

Tickets and Ceremony Viewing Options

Starting on March 27, 2023, all graduates will be able to select the ceremony they plan to attend and can print their ceremony tickets. Each person (including the graduate) who plans on attending the ceremony MUST have a ticket. Tickets are NOT automatically reserved for each graduate, as not all graduates attend the ceremony. Therefore, each graduate MUST print their own graduate ticket and can print up to a maximum of four (4) guest tickets beginning on Monday, March 27, 2023. Guest tickets will be available on a first come/first served basis and go quickly. Once they are gone, no more will be available. NO ONE will be admitted without a ticket. Guests without tickets will be able to view a live web stream of the commencement ceremony on sunysuffolk.edu/live-stream.jsp.

NOTE: Strollers or infant carriers are not allowed in the seating area. Strollers/carriers brought into the ceremony building will need to be brought to the stroller parking area provided under the bleachers. Please remember that infants/toddlers must have a ticket to attend the ceremony, even if they are sitting on a lap.

Rehearsal Night

A rehearsal for graduates has been planned for Thursday, May 4, 2023 at 6:00 p.m. in the Suffolk Credit Union Arena on the Michael J. Grant Campus in Brentwood. Graduates should plan to attend this important event. At rehearsal, we will discuss where to assemble preceding the commencement exercises and procedures to follow during those exercises. As an added convenience, the Michael J. Grant Campus bookstore will open until 8:00 p.m. so students who haven't yet purchased their cap and gown will have a chance to do so following rehearsal.

Commencement Day

Morning Commencement exercises will begin on Thursday, May 18, 2023 at 10:00 a.m. Graduates should report to the lobby of the Suffolk Credit Union Arena on the Michael J. Grant Campus in Brentwood no later than 9:00 a.m. and will be directed to their designated robing area.

Afternoon Commencement exercises will begin on Thursday, May 18, 2023 at 2:00 p.m. Graduates should report to the lobby of the Suffolk Credit Union Arena on the Michael J. Grant Campus in Brentwood no later than 1:00 p.m. and will then be directed to their designated robing area.

Please do not leave valuables in the robing areas; robing areas will not be locked.

Important Health and Safety Information

Out of respect for fellow graduates, please remain seated until the completion of the ceremony; this includes refraining from leaving your seat to take pictures and departing before the ceremony ends. Upon the conclusion of the ceremony, students should arrange to meet their family and friends outside of the building in order to avoid crowding within the facility. In accordance with New York State and Suffolk County fire code, no balloons will be permitted in the facility.

Disability Accommodations

Any student who will require accommodations in order to attend and fully participate in this ceremony should contact the Office of Disability Services. Our facilities are wheelchair accessible and an interpreter will be signing throughout the ceremony. Handicapped parking is limited and drivers are encouraged to arrive early. If you have a guest who will need accommodations, please have them contact Disability Services at (631) 451-4045.

Photographs

A professional photographer has been retained to take individual photos of you as you receive your diploma. The photographer will correspond with you directly, approximately one week after commencement. You are under no obligation to purchase these photos. Special areas have been designated outside for you to take your own photos after the ceremony.

Alumni Association

All graduates are members in the college Alumni Association upon graduation.

Diplomas

You will receive the cover for your diploma on the day of commencement. Approximately 8 to 12 weeks following your graduation date, your diploma will be mailed to the address indicated on your Application for Graduation.

Flowers and Tee Shirts

There will be a vendor selling flowers and Class of 2023 tee shirts at both the front and back entrances to the Field House before and after both ceremonies. Flowers and shirts can be pre-ordered HERE and picked up at the flower tent on Commencement Day.

For further information about regalia attire, diploma frames, class rings, announcements, or bookstore hours, please call or visit your campus bookstore or bookstore website:

Ammerman Campus Bookstore (631) 451-4379
Eastern Campus Bookstore (631) 548-2554
Michael J. Grant Campus Bookstore (631) 851-6768

https://www.bkstr.com/sunysuffolkstore/home

Questions?

For further information, please contact the Office of Campus Activities and Leadership Development at: commencement@sunysuffolk.edu

Directions

Graduating Students