Graduate Commencement

Date: To Be Announced
Time: To Be Announced
Location: Broadview Arena (formerly Alumni Arena), North Campus

One graduate ceremony will be held for the Class of 2027 SEAS graduate students who have applied for graduation (degree conferral) indicating one of the following graduation terms:

• Summer 2026 (Aug. '26 degree conferral)
• Fall 2026 (Feb. '27 degree conferral)
• Spring 2027 (June '27 degree conferral)

Students should check with their academic advisors to make sure all degree requirements have been met. The printed program lists conferral candidates who are members of the Class of 2027. Permission of your major professor and/or department is needed for early participation (summer 2027 graduates). 

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 the appropriate SEAS graduate ceremony.

Only graduating students may participate in the graduation ceremony, including walking in the processional and crossing the stage. The University will make limited exceptions when a graduating student requires assistance due to a disability. Students needing accommodations to participate in the ceremony should contact seascommencement@buffalo.edu.

Registration is required for participation in the SEAS Graduate Ceremony. When you register, you will also be able to verify how your name will appear in the printed program.

THIS IS A TICKETED CEREMONY. All guests will need a ticket to enter Broadview Arena. As you (graduating student) register for the ceremony, you will have an opportunity to reserve guest tickets. 

Children under two years of age do not require a guest ticket unless they will be using a baby carrier or infant car seat carrier; the ticket is for the seat space that will be taken up by the carrier.

Unfortunately, we cannot guarantee additional tickets for this ceremony. Friends and family who do not have a ticket for the ceremony are invited to view the ceremony via live simulcast online. Please visit Countdown to Commencement for a link to the live-stream and for technical requirements.

• Information on tickets will be emailed to all registered students on or before DATE TBD. Tickets must be requested by DATE TBD. If you do not request your tickets by this date, you will have to wait until DATE TBD to see if tickets are available.
• Only students who are eligible to register for the 2027 SEAS Commencement Ceremony can request five (5) tickets. Tickets requested by others or with duplicate emails will be canceled.
• If you do not need all 5 tickets, you can transfer extra tickets to your classmates after you have requested them. If you need more than 5 tickets, please request them by filling out a form that will be provided at a later date. All Formstack requests will be addressed after DATE TBD or sooner if possible.
   

Graduates participating in commencement wear a cap/tam, gown, hood and tassel. Online ordering of commencement regalia will be available through the Cap and Gown page of UB's Commencement website.

• Cap and gown: Black
• Hood: Lined in blue and gold. The velvet border is 3 inches wide and
  is orange for all SEAS master’s students.
• Tassel: Orange for all SEAS master’s students

• Gown: Black with velvet elements
• Tam
• Hood: Lined in blue and gold. The velvet border is 5" wide at the doctoral level.
• Tassel: Blue for all SEAS doctoral students

Remember to bring your cap, gown, hood and tassel. 

Please arrive to the Edward Wright Practice Facility (room 76, also known as the triple gym) in Broadview Arena (formerly known as Alumni Arena) an hour prior to your ceremony start time. Please enter the arena via the Webster Road (back) entrance. 

Limit the items (purses, bags, etc) you bring with you as you will need to hold onto them for the duration of the event.

Once you've arrived, please follow the steps below:

Program Book Name: We will use your Preferred/Chosen name, as it appears in HUB in the printed program as the default. (Learn how to use HUB Student Center to update your preferred/chosen name here.) However, you can choose to have your legal name, or the new preferred diploma name printed instead by logging onto the SEAS commencement registration system and following the prompts. You do not need to be participating in the ceremony to change how your name will appear in the printed program. As a reminder, only the Class of 2027 (Summer 2026, Fall 2026 and Spring 2027 will have their name in the program this year). Summer 2027 graduates will be listed in the Class of 2028 program next Spring).

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

NEW* Electing to use a Preferred Diploma Name: While the University recommends that the name on your diploma matches your official, legal name, you may request a preferred/chosen first and middle name to be printed in lieu of your legal name. Learn more about requesting a preferred/chosen name on your diploma here.

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

View parking and directions.

Learn about accessibility accommodations.

Learn about prohibited items and other security procedures.

Deliberate disruption or prevention of the peaceful and orderly conduct of classes, lectures, events, meetings and other University activities is strictly prohibited.

Grad Images is the contracted photography studio for commencement. There will be a posed photo opportunity as well as a photo of each student crossing the stage. Photo proofs will be emailed to each student about one week following the commencement ceremony. Please direct all post-ceremony inquiries to Grad Images.