2022 Commencement

Congratulations to our engineering and applied sciences graduates. We are extremely proud of each and every one of you and what you have been able to accomplish. Thank you for your hard work, dedication to academic excellence, and for everything you have contributed to the university and our SEAS community.

Graduate Ceremony
Friday, May 20, 2022 | 1:00 p.m.
Alumni Arena, North Campus

View the Live Stream

View the Program

Undergraduate Ceremony
Saturday, May 21, 2022 | 1:00 p.m.
Alumni Arena, North Campus

View the Live Stream

View the Program

IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENTS

Security at commencement

Dear members of the UB community,

As we approach the end of the academic year and celebrate our graduates’ many accomplishments at UB’s recognition ceremonies and commencements, I want to ensure that our graduates, their families and friends, and our faculty and staff feel safe enjoying these momentous occasions.

As with any large-scale event, UB has put in place security checkpoints for all those attending our recognition ceremonies and commencements. We ask that our graduates and everyone participating in commencement anticipate that gaining entrance into the event venue may take an extra few minutes.

I look forward to celebrating the events leading up to and including commencement weekend with our graduates and their guests.

Satish K. Tripathi
President

A note about commencement ceremonies and COVID-19

Western New York continues to experience a swift rise in COVID-19 rates, due to the spread of the omicron subvariant BA.2 and a general loosening of restrictions.

Though the increase is expected to ease in the coming weeks, UB health and safety officials recommend that visitors to UB and members of the campus community use their best personal judgment in protecting themselves as the semester draws to a close.

Individuals who should be extra cautious when attending commencement ceremonies or graduation parties – this includes the unvaccinated, undervaccinated (not boosted), elderly and immunocompromised, and those who interact with these groups – are strongly encouraged to wear a high-quality, well-fitting mask (e.g., N95, KN95, KF94).

Anyone who feels unwell or experiences symptoms such as sore throat, headache, runny nose, fever, shortness of breath and coughing should stay home and get tested. Anyone testing positive should isolate, according to CDC guidelines.

Please note that while masks are not required at commencement ceremonies for participants or attendees, they are mandatory for passengers aboard UB buses and shuttles, per guidance from the governor and CDC. Complimentary face masks are available to riders upon request.

For those unable to attend in person, degree conferral ceremonies will be available for live stream and post-ceremony viewing.

For more information, visit UB’s Countdown to Commencement website.

SEAS Ceremony Information

Get Involved

SEAS Ceremony Information

Registration

Registration is required for Class of 2022 graduates who would like to participate in the SEAS Undergraduate Ceremony (Saturday, May 21, 2022) or the SEAS Graduate Ceremony (Friday, May 20, 2022). Registration is now open.

Eligibility

Undergraduate Ceremony Eligibility

This ceremony is intended and scheduled for the Class of 2022, SEAS undergraduates who have applied for graduation (degree conferral) indicating one of the following graduation terms:

Summer 2021 (Sept. '21 degree conferral)
Fall 2021 (Feb. '22 degree conferral)
Spring 2022 (June '22 degree conferral)

Students should check with their academic advisors to make sure all degree requirements have been met. The printed program lists degree conferral candidates for this current academic year.

Summer 2022 Grad Term (Sept. '22 Degree Candidate)
Students graduating Summer 2022 are officially a degree candidate for next academic year (Class of 2023). However, if you would prefer to participate in this year's ceremony instead, you can. If you apply for Sept. '22 degree conferral and register for this year's ceremony, your name will be announced when you cross the stage; however, your name will not be included in the printed program.

Candidates for Degrees Conferred Later Than Summer 2022
Please join us for a future ceremony, based on the date of your degree conferral. There are no exceptions.

Combined BS/MBA Degree Candidates
Students are invited to the undergraduate SEAS ceremony, but are permitted to wear their MBA regalia.

Combined BS/MS Degree CandidatesStudents conferring the BS degree first are eligible to attend this undergraduate commencement ceremony. Students conferring both BS and MS degrees at the same time should participate in the graduate ceremony on Friday, May 20.

Graduate Ceremony Eligibility

This ceremony is intended and scheduled for the Class of 2022, SEAS graduate students who have applied for graduation (degree conferral) indicating one of the following graduation terms:

Summer 2021 (Sept. '21 degree conferral)
Fall 2021 (Feb. '22 degree conferral)
Spring 2022 (June '22 degree conferral)

Students should check with their academic advisors to make sure all degree requirements have been met. The printed program lists degree conferral candidates for this current academic year only.

Graduate students who have extenuating circumstances are handled on an individual basis. Permission of your major professor and/or department is needed for early participation (summer 2022 graduates). Students unable to attend the Commencement for their year are granted a one-year extension to participate the following year, if they ask to do so. However, we cannot guarantee that students who ask to defer their participation will be able to do so, it will depend on our capacity next year.

Combined BS/MBA Degree Candidates
Students earning a combined BS/MBA are invited to participate in the SEAS undergraduate ceremony.

Combined BS/MS Degree Candidates
Students conferring their MS degree or both BS and MS degrees should participate in this ceremony.

Caps and Gowns

Graduating students participating in commencement wear a cap/tam, gown, hood and tassel. Online ordering is now open until March 11, 2022.
Visit the Cap and Gown page of UB's Commencement website to order your commencement regalia.

Undergraduate students ordering online must select the second option: Student 2022 Bachelor – Other Schools so that they can select either Engineering or Computer Science, as appropriate, to receive the correct color hood and tassel.

Learn more about SEAS commencement regalia.

Please note that there have been some modifications made to the ordering info for Doctoral Students who rent thru Jostens; see below. Please contact Megan Miller at the University Bookstore if you have questions.

Dates	Price (subject to tax)	Purchase
TBA - 4/01	$75.50	Rent online. Orders placed thru 3/11 may be picked up at the University Bookstore (N. Campus) beginning 4/20; orders placed 3/12 - 4/01 may be picked up beginning 5/13.
Beginning 4/02	Add express fee of $25	Visit the University Bookstore (N. Campus) for availability. Hood color and size not guaranteed.

Guests and Ticketing

Guests of graduates are permitted at both ceremonies and must follow all university health and safety requirements.

There are no ticket requirements for the graduate ceremony. Students who register for undergraduate commencement can access 1-4 tickets for the undergraduate ceremony. Students who register for the undergraduate commencement ceremony will receive directions to access tickets and transferring tickets in their registration confirmation email. Tickets can be transferred to family members, friends or fellow students looking for extra tickets.

International students who would like to invite their parents to celebration their accomplishments should use the template on the ISS website.

Health and Safety Requirements

Proof of vaccination against COVID-19 will no longer be required to attend events at UB.

Effective immediately, spectators do not need to show a vaccination card upon entering sporting events at UB Stadium or Alumni Arena, or to attend cultural events at the Center for the Arts and Slee Hall.

This also applies to students and guests attending commencement ceremonies in May.

Masks are no longer required at UB events, either, part of an earlier decision to lift that mandate for most campus settings on March 5, based on updated guidance from the state and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. These updated COVID guidelines are subject to change; check UB’s website for the latest health and safety information.

Directions, Parking and Accessibility

Alumni Arena - Directions, Parking and Accessibility

Diplomas

Printed Diploma: The Office of the Registrar will mail a printed diploma, free of charge, to your permanent address approximately six to eight 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.

Update your permanent address

Certified Electronic Diploma: Students who graduated June 2020 and later also have the option to purchase a certified electronic diploma (CeDiploma) for $15.95. An offer will be sent to your UB email, from info@credentialtrust.com, approximately 3-6 weeks after your degree conferral date.

Learn more about the CeDiploma

Latin Honors

Students earning baccalaureate degrees (including those awarded as part of combined degrees, such as a combined BS/MS degree) 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.

This 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 ($12) through the University Bookstore on North Campus beginning March 8. 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 (716-636-6291 ext. 12) and make their purchase over the phone; in this case, add $7.50 for home-shipping.

Photography

Grad Images is the exclusive photographer for individual student photos at degree conferral ceremonies.

Graduate Student Receptions

The following departments are holding graduate receptions immediately following the graduate commencement ceremony.

Department/Area of Study	Location
Biomedical Engineering, Industrial and Systems Engineering, Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering together with Engineering Science (Robotics)	145 Student Union
Chemical and Biological Engineering	210 Student Union (Landmark Room)
Civil, Structural and Environmental Engineering; Engineering Science (Sustainability); Institute of Sustainable Transportation and Logistics	133A and 140 Ketter Hall
Computer Science and Engineering	215 Student Union (Flag Room)
Electrical Engineering and Engineering Science (Clean Energy, IoT, Nanoelectronics)	Davis Hall, Bansal Atrium (first floor)
Materials Design and Innovation	120 Bonner Hall

A reception for Engineering Science (AI, Data Science), Computational and Data-enabled Science and Engineering PhD and MPS Data Science and Applications will also be held before the ceremony from 10-11:30 a.m. in 145 Student Union.

FAQs

Questions about SEAS Commencement?

Please see our Frequently Asked Questions. You may also contact the Commencement Coordinators Christine Human and Donna Grant at SEASCommencement@buffalo.edu.

Get Involved

Be the Student Speaker at your 2022 Commencement Ceremony

The School of Engineering and Applied Sciences continues the tradition of holding a competition to select the SEAS students speakers. With two commencement ceremonies, we will have two competitions: one for graduate students and one for undergraduate students. The competition is open to all students eligible to participate in the 2022 School of Engineering and Applied Sciences commencement ceremonies.

Speech submission is now closed. Thank you to all who submitted a speech!

The competition winners will deliver their speech during the SEAS commencement ceremony and will also receive a UB class ring (White Lustrium).

Thank you to our competition co-sponsor Jostens!

Barnard Uche Onyenucheya was the Graduate Student Speaker at the 2021 SEAS Commencement Ceremony.

Submit Photos for the Commencement Slideshow

Share your photos for the Class of 2022 SEAS slideshow, which will features images of our graduating students during their time here at UB! The slideshow will be played prior to the commencement ceremony and will also be featured online.

Photo submission is now closed. Thank you for your submissions.

2021 Commencement Slideshow

Congratulate the Class of 2022

Send some words of encouragement, pride and other congratulatory messages to our students! You can share a video or text and a photo!

Submit your message

Class of 2022 Shirt Design Competition

Once again, the School of Engineering and Applied Sciences will hold a competition to feature a student's design on University at Buffalo apparel! The top three designs will be selected by SEAS staff and finalists will be voted for 1st 2nd, and 3rd place. The contest is open to all SEAS students from all degree levels qualifying to graduate during the 2022 school year.