Commencement

Graduating students participating in the ceremony assemble on the main level of the Stafford Ice Arena at the Field House in their academic regalia at least 45 minutes before the start of their respective ceremony.

That is, 8:15 a.m., 11:15 a.m. or 2:15 p.m., depending on the ceremony.

Regalia can be purchased directly through the campus bookstore in-store or online. Orders can be picked up in person at the bookstore or shipped.

Campus Bookstore Contact Information

Phone: 518-564-4460
Website: plattsburghtextbooksshop.com
Email: [email protected]

Announcements, frames and rings can be purchased through the Herff-Jones website. Details at herff.ly/plattsburgh.

Each graduation ceremony is livestreamed. A recording of each event is archived and kept on the university website for later viewing.

The Honors Center selects a student commencement speaker to speak on behalf of their classmates at the May events. 

The process follows these steps:

• Let the Honors Center know you’re interested. Students who wish to speak should send an email of interest to Christine Landry in the Honors Center at [email protected] by Monday, Apr. 8. To be eligible, students should be graduating with a 3.0 or higher GPA.
  
  
• Send a draft speech. Students should write a draft speech of 700 words or less, or about 3–4 double-spaced pages. The student’s name should not be on the draft speech as the speeches are assigned a number in order to be reviewed in total anonymity. Attach a separate cover sheet with the name, local and home addresses, email address, phone number and academic major. The draft must be submitted by 9 a.m. on Friday, Apr. 12.
  
  
  • Focus on the common experience. The most well received speeches are those that have the most meaning for the largest number of persons in attendance, reflect on the common educational experience, and share, in a personal way, the value of the education received at SUNY Plattsburgh.
    
    
  • Wait to hear back. The Honors Council will make the choice based on clarity of ideas, appropriateness of topic, suitability for the occasion and intended audience, quality of content, and extent to which the speech represents the best of the Plattsburgh experience.

  Members of the Honors Council will provide assistance to those selected in preparing the final version of their speech. Students will also need to be available to practice their speech.

  Questions? Please contact Dr. Tracie Church Guzzio, Professor of English and Director of the Honors Program, at [email protected] or 518-564-3075.