Information for Family & Friends

Dates


Commencement is a meaningful occasion for all graduates and their families.  We invite family and friends to honor their student by attending Commencement.

 

Saturday, May 18 - Master’s Ceremony - 9:30 a.m. - Hosmer Hall

Friends and family are welcome to attend the Master’s Ceremony and the reception immediately following. This ceremony is a non-ticketed event.



Saturday, May 18 – 2:00 p.m. - Honor’s Convocation  - Snell Theater

  • Everyone is invited and encouraged to attend the Honors Convocation.
    Students receiving awards will be notified by their department.
    Reception immediately following in the lobby of Snell Theater.


Sunday, May 19 - Bachelor’s Ceremony - 10:15 a.m. - Academic Quad

This ceremony takes place outside in the Academic Quad. Family and friends are welcome to attend this non-ticketed event. The ceremony will be moved inside only in the case of extreme weather. Each graduate receives five tickets for the emergency indoor ceremony.


Campus Map

    
The campus map and campus parking map are available at: http://www.potsdam.edu/about/visit/maps.cfm
 

Accommodations 


On campus

  • A limited number of on-campus rooms will be available for Commencement guests. Housing reservations may be made starting on Wednesday, April 3rd after 9 a.m.
  • Reservations can be made by your student at the Residence Life Office in Draime Hall Extension – first floor, or by calling (315) 267-3270.
  • No reservations will be accepted before Wednesday, April 3rd.
  • On-campus Commencement housing is for Saturday, May 18, 2013 to Sunday, May 19, 2013.
  • Room rates are:
    • Double: $50.00 per night
    • Single:  $37.50 per night.
  • As space is very limited, rooms will be assigned on a first-come, first-served basis in a traditional residence hall (twin beds, no private baths).
  • Check-in will be between 4:00 p.m. and 9:00 p.m. on Saturday, May 18.


Off campus

 

Saturday, May 18 - Master’s Ceremony


The ceremony will take place at 9:30 a.m. in the Hosmer Concert Hall

  • 7:00 a.m. - 10:00 a.m., Lehman Dining Hall – Brunch
    $8.00 Cash and Bear Express, $6.40 Flex, 1 meal on your meal plan (can only be used by plan holder), or guest pass.

    For a la carte meals, the Student Union Dining Court will be open from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.
  • 8:30 a.m.
    Doors open to guests at Hosmer Hall (no tickets are required)
  • 8:30 a.m.
    Childcare available in the Crane Commons until noon. Childcare is free, but you must register your child by calling (315) 267-2100.  Children will be provided with snacks and beverages.  Please notify caregivers if your child has allergies or other health concerns.
  • 8:45 a.m. - Crane, Bishop Hall - C101 and C107
    Master's Students Line Up. Faculty and staff volunteers will be there to guide and assist graduates with lining up and processional instructions.
  • 9:15 a.m.
    Procession begins to move toward Hosmer Hall
  • 9:30  a.m., Hosmer Concert Hall
    Master's Ceremony Begins

Reception for students and guests will take place immediately following the ceremony outside on the Crane Plaza, weather permitting.


Special Accommodations

  • Guests who are physically challenged and require special seating should contact Kathryn Deuel at deuelkj@potsdam.edu or (315) 267-2102, no later than Thursday, May 9.  There will be a sign language interpreter on the Commencement stage.


Decorum

Commencement is an important occasion for all of us, and, as such, the ceremony should be formal and dignified. Guests and graduates are reminded that the consumption of alcoholic beverages is prohibited. Anyone found to have alcoholic beverages in their possession during the program will be asked to leave. Also, noisemakers and other distractions will not be permitted.

Guests and graduates are also asked to remain seated until the ceremony is completed, in deference to those graduates who are last to cross the stage.

Sunday, May 19 - Bachelor’s Ceremony


The ceremony will take place at 10:15 a.m. in the Academic Quad – Rain or Shine

  • Please dress appropriately for the weather conditions. The ceremony will be outside unless there are severe or extreme weather conditions. There will be an option for guests who are uncomfortable with the weather conditions to watch the ceremony inside on a large screen, in the Multi-purpose Room of the Barrington Student Union.

Outside seating will be available, but guests are welcome to bring lawn chairs.  An unlimited number of guests may attend The Outside Ceremony and no tickets are required.
 

  • 7:00 a.m. – 10:00 a.m. - Lehman Dining Hall
    $8.00 Cash and Bear Express, $6.40 Flex, 1 meal on your meal plan (can only be used by plan holder), or guest pass.

    For a la carte meals, the Student Union Dining Court will be open from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.

  • 9:00 a.m.
    Childcare available in the Merritt Hall Gymnasium until 1:00 p.m.  Childcare is free, but you must register your child by calling (315) 267-2100.  Children will be provided with snacks and beverages.  Please notify caregivers if your child has allergies or other health concerns.
  • Before 9:30 a.m.
    Students line up on East Side of the Crumb Library (between the library and Merritt Hall). Guests may find seating on the West Side of the Crumb Library in the quad.
  • 10:00 a.m.
    Procession begins to move toward the ceremony site.
  • 10:15 a.m.
    Bachelor's Ceremony begins.
  • Approximately 12:30 p.m.
    Students and guests are invited to an outside reception after the ceremony, weather permitting.


Decorum

Commencement is an important occasion for all of us, and, as such, the ceremony should be formal and dignified. Guests and graduates are reminded that the consumption of alcoholic beverages is prohibited. Anyone found to have alcoholic beverages in their possession during the program will be asked to leave. Also, noisemakers and other distractions will not be permitted.

Please do NOT bring pets. Service animals only please.

Guests and graduates are also asked to remain seated until the ceremony is completed, in deference to those graduates who are last to cross the stage.

Accessibility

 

  • Guests who are physically challenged and require special seating for a wheelchair or seating close to the stage for the hearing impaired to see the sign language interpreter should contact Kathryn Deuel at deuelkj@potsdam.edu or (315) 267-2102, no later than Thursday, May 9.

Please Note: Some care should be given to decisions about whether to invite very elderly or infirm guests to the bachelor’s ceremony.  The outdoor ceremony exposes people to the elements.  Limited seating will be available in the Multi-purpose Room of the Barrington Student Union where those who cannot tolerate the elements will be able to see the ceremony on a large screen.
 

Childcare

 
If you require childcare during the Bachelor’s or Master’s Ceremony you must register your child by calling (315) 267-2100.  Children will be provided with snacks and beverages. This is a free service. Please notify caregivers if your child has allergies or other health concerns.

Photography


The College has retained the services of a commercial photographer, and participants will be photographed as they shake hands with the President and cross the stage. Graduates will receive a color proof of their photograph, which will be sent to their home address, unless the student requests that we keep that information confidential. Graduates, friends and family may place orders but are not obligated to do so.

The College Store

 
The College Store will be open during Commencement weekend. The store provides commencement regalia, diploma frames, logo gifts, clothing and more. Inclement weather apparel will be for sale in the bookstore.  Flower bouquets and t-shirts will be available for sale outdoors at the Bachelor’s Ceremony in the quad and in the lobby of Hosmer Hall at the Master’s Ceremony.
 
http://bookstore.potsdam.edu/

  • Commencement Weekend Hours:
    Saturday, May 18:  8:30 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.
    Sunday, May 19:  8:30 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.
    (315) 267-2573

 

Bachelor’s Commencement Emergency Weather Plan


A decision to move the ceremony inside will be made by 6:00 a.m. on Sunday only if extreme weather conditions are forecast (lightning, freezing temperatures, etc).

If the emergency plan is implemented, an e-mail will be sent to all graduates, and an announcement will be made on local radio stations and at www.potsdam.edu/current/commencement


Emergency Ceremony A – 10:00 a.m. – Hosmer Hall

  • All Crane, Visual Arts, and Theatre and Dance Majors will graduate in Ceremony A at 10:00 a.m. in Hosmer Hall. Other majors will graduate in Ceremony B.
  • Students involved in Ceremony A should report no later than 9:30am to Rooms C101 and C107 in Bishop Hall in the Crane Complex for lineup and processional.
  • Doors to Hosmer will open at 9:00 a.m.
  • Each student should have 5 guest tickets for this ceremony. Students receive these emergency tickets during the Grad Finale or at the College Store when you pick up your cap and gown.
  • Non-ticketed guests may view the ceremony on a large screen from the Student Union Multi-Purpose Room.
  • A reception for all students and guests will be held in the Maxcy Fieldhouse following Ceremony B at approximately 1:00 p.m.


Ceremony B – 11:30 a.m. – Maxcy Gymnasium

  • All remaining students (all majors other than Crane, Visual Arts, and Theatre and Dance) will graduate in Ceremony B at 11:30 a.m. in Maxcy Gym.
  • The students involved in Ceremony B should report no later than 10:45 a.m. to the Maxcy Field House for lineup and processional instructions.
  • Gym Doors will open to guests at 10:00 a.m.
  •  Each student should have 5 guest tickets for this ceremony. Students receive these emergency tickets during the Grad Finale or at the College Store when you pick up your cap and gown.
  • Non-ticketed guests may view the ceremony on a large screen from the Student Union Multi-Purpose Room.
  • A reception for all students and guests will be held in the Maxcy Fieldhouse following Ceremony B at approximately 1:00 p.m.

 

Questions? Please Contact


Accommodations for Physically Challenged


Gifts, diploma frames, graduation announcements, etc.


Child Care

  • Call (315) 267-2100 to register for childcare


General Inquiries