Commencement Information for Faculty and Administrators

 

The University Commencement

On Saturday, May 16, the 1st-floor lounge of Hughes Hall (behind the elevators) will be available for faculty and administrators to vest. Please plan to arrive early and enjoy a cup of coffee or tea and continental refreshments with your colleagues. At 9:30 a.m., faculty and administrators will assemble on the path on the east side of Cunniffe House. For those who would like to leave a coat, umbrella (which we hope you won’t need), or other small items, the conference room at Hughes Hall will be locked during the ceremonies.

The Grand Marshal will lead the academic procession which will start at 10 a.m. Graduates, beginning with Fordham College at Rose Hill, will then process onto Edwards Parade followed by the faculty, Faculty Senate, administrators, deans, and finally the Terrace Party, which includes honorary degree recipients, sponsors, vice presidents, trustees, the president, and the Commencement speaker.

At the conclusion of the University Commencement, we ask faculty to walk out with one of the new doctoral graduates who are seated on the opposite side of the Terrace to symbolize their entrance into the academy. Please proceed directly to your diploma ceremony location:

FCRH – Edwards Parade
FCLC – Walsh Family Library Lawn
Gabelli (bachelor's candidates) – Moglia Field
PCS – Fordham Prep Theatre
GSAS – University Church Lawn 

At the conclusion of your school diploma ceremonies, we invite you to attend a reception for honored guests, faculty, and administrators, which will be held in the Great Hall of the McShane Campus Center. All will have an opportunity to stop by as the reception will continue until 4 p.m.

Severe Weather Plan

We try very hard to hold University Commencement and diploma ceremonies outside if possible. In the event of severe weather, tickets will be required. Students will be receiving emails with instructions on how to claim two severe weather only tickets. Faculty participating in the University Commencement or school diploma ceremonies will not need a severe weather ticket.

A decision will be made as to whether the ceremonies will be held outside or moved inside due to severe weather. Graduates will be notified of the decision via email. A message will also be placed on Fordham’s homepage and on the University’s 1-800-280-SNOW line. In the event of severe weather, as graduates and guests enter campus on Saturday morning, they will be given a map detailing the severe weather locations. In addition, their severe weather-only guest tickets will include the location of their ceremony and will only be valid at that location.

In the event of severe weather, faculty should proceed to the designated location for their college or school as follows:

FCRH – Lombardi Fieldhouse
FCLC – Martyrs’ Lawn Tent
Gabelli (bachelor's candidates) – Rose Hill Gymnasium
PCS – Keating First
GSAS – Fordham Prep Theatre
Gabelli (master's and doctoral candidates), Graduate School of Education, GSS and Law – Flom Auditorium

The University Commencement Ceremony will be videocast to each severe weather location from the Lombardi Fieldhouse. At the conclusion of the University Commencement Ceremony, the Saturday diploma ceremonies will begin.

Please note: In the event of severe weather, the faculty, Faculty Senate, administration, and alumni contingents will not process in the University Commencement ceremony.

A Special Note about Parking for and Transportation to the University Commencement

Given the number of guests who drive to campus for the University Commencement, on-campus parking will be limited. Parking will also be available free of charge at the Fordham Plaza Parking Garage (189th Street and Washington Avenue), which may be closer to some diploma ceremonies than the University’s garage. We recommend leaving your car at home if possible. The Rose Hill Campus could not be more convenient to Metro North! The ride from Grand Central to Fordham is 20 minutes or less. Schedules are available at mta.info/mnr. In addition, Ram Vans will be running all day between the Lincoln Center and Rose Hill campuses. Please visit fordham.edu/ramvan for more information.

For those using ride share (UBER, Lyft, etc.), please use the following address that will drop passengers off at the Bathgate entrance:  2536 Bathgate Avenue, Bronx, NY 10456

Additional Diploma Ceremonies

Additional school diploma ceremonies will also be held at the Rose Hill campus on the following dates:

Monday, May 18
School of Law | 9:30 a.m. 
Graduate School of Education | 4 p.m.

Tuesday, May 19
Graduate School of Social Service | 10 a.m. 
Gabelli School of Business (masters and doctoral candidates) | 4 p.m.

If you have additional questions regarding a particular diploma ceremony, please contact the appropriate dean’s office.

Undergraduate Award Ceremonies

Fordham College at Rose Hill, the Gabelli School of Business, and Fordham College at Lincoln Center each host an awards ceremony on Friday, May 15. If you would like to participate, please contact the respective dean's office.

Gabelli School of Business Awards for Rose Hill Undergraduate Students | 10 a.m. | Keating First
Encaenia (Fordham College at Rose Hill) | 1 p.m. | Rose Hill Gymnasium
Gabelli School of Business Honors Ceremony for Lincoln Center Undergraduate Students | 3 p.m. | McNally Amphitheater
Fordham College at Lincoln Center Awards | 3:15 p.m. | Pope Auditorium

We look forward to seeing you at Commencement!