Commencement Eligibility, Diplomas and Honors
Eligibility
You are eligible to participate in the May 2025 Commencement Ceremony if:
- You are graduating in December 2024, January 2025, May 2025, or August 2025.
- You have not previously had your name listed in a SUNY Geneseo Commencement program.
- You have not participated in an earlier SUNY Geneseo Commencement ceremony for the degree you are earning.
All critical and necessary information about applying to graduate (for both undergraduates and masters candidates) is found on the Graduation Records Office page.
Deadlines
The Graduation Application deadline is April 1, 2025 so the College can meet critical deadlines for ticketing operations, program preparation and general preparedness for Commencement. The College informs eligible students about degree completion and Commencement participation throughout the fall and early spring semester.
Students who apply to graduate after April 1st, will not be listed in the Commencement Program.
Students who do not apply by April 1 have the following options:
Eligible students who submit graduation applications after April 1st and before May 1 who want to participate in Commencement will be handled on a case by case basis with regards to ticket distribution. We will do all we can to allot four (4) tickets, but capacity in the arena is limited, and once we begin ticket disbursement on April 7, we may have limited seating.
After May 1: Eligible students who submit graduation applications and want to participate in Commencement will be permitted to walk in the ceremony, but will be granted TWO tickets only. The ceremony is live-streamed so family and friends can watch on that platform.
Please note:
- To be listed in the Commencement Program, students must submit a graduation application (for both undergraduates and masters candidates) with the Graduation Records Office by April 1.
- No student may be listed in more than one Commencement program or receive tickets for more than one ceremony.
Diplomas
After a degree is awarded, diplomas are ordered for students who have cleared all Student Accounts holds. Diplomas ship within 90 days from the date an individual degree is awarded to the address provided on the graduation application. We recommend students verify their name and mailing address in their KnightWeb account under "Student Records."
Students are urged to read the Graduation Records webpage for more detailed information.
Honors
Final honors for December 2024 graduates will be listed in the Commencement Program for those students attending May 2025 ceremony. Tentative honors are listed for May 2025, and August 2025 graduates and do not include any Spring 2025 coursework. Final honors, based on the final cumulative GPA, will be noted on the diploma and transcript.
In order to be eligible for Latin Honors, students must have completed a minimum of 45 credits (in courses in which quality points have been earned) at SUNY Geneseo.
Summa Cum Laude: 3.80-4.00
Magna Cum Laude: 3.65-3.79
Cum Laude: 3.50-3.64