GRE Commencement

Fordham University's 178th Commencement

Date and Time: May 20, 2023, 10:00 a.m.

Location: Rose Hill Campus | Edwards Parade

All GRE graduates are welcome and encouraged to attend Fordham University's annual commencement. Commencement is divided into two events: the University commencement ceremony on Edwards Parade at 10:00 a.m., immediately followed by GRE’s diploma ceremony in Keating First Auditorium.

The Commencement Ceremony livestream was on fordham.edu/commencement and GRE's Diploma Ceremony was streamed on this page. An accessible version will be posted in a few days.

Commencement Day Schedule

University Ceremony

On commencement day, graduates are encouraged to arrive on campus no later than 8 a.m. in order to give themselves time to prepare to line up and march onto Edwards Parade at 10 a.m. The full University ceremony takes place out-of-doors on the lawn directly west of Keating Hall (on Edwards Parade).

There is plenty of seating available for guests, but shade can be limited. The day can become quite warm, so all are cautioned to dress for the day's weather. For those more comfortable indoors, a broadcast of the festivities is available in Keating First Auditorium.

In the event of rain, the University has a contingency plan, which will be available at that time. Generally, GRE graduates are instructed to gather directly at Keating First Auditorium.

GRE Diploma Ceremony

Immediately after the commencement ceremony, the GRE hosts a diploma ceremony in Keating Hall's 1st-floor auditorium. This is a brief presentation, offering our graduates a chance to gather and both celebrate their achievements and receive their diplomas.

For complete information about commencement, please carefully review the information below. For information about graduation clearance, please visit GRE's academic bulletin.

COVID-19 Policy

Please note that Fordham requires all visitors to campus (ages 5 and older) to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19. Booster shots will be required for all guests who are eligible. Please review the COVID-19 vaccination policy for more information.

Cap and Gown Rental

Caps and gowns are now available for ordering through Herff Jones. The deadline for graduate students to order their gowns is April 8.

After your order is placed you can pick up your cap and gown at the pick-up location you selected during the ordering process. 

Pick-up dates and time for GRE are listed below:

Rose Hill Campus
New Campus Center, Room 112
Thursday, May 19 from 4 – 7 p.m.
Friday, May 20 from 12 – 3 p.m.
Saturday, May 21 from 8 – 10 a.m.

Lincoln Center Campus
Pope Auditorium, Lowenstein Center
Saturday, May 14 from 2 – 6 p.m.
Friday, May 20 from 3 – 6 p.m.
 

Please Note:

  • You may only pick up your cap and gown at the campus you selected during the ordering process.
  • Be sure to bring your email confirmation along with your student ID card.
  • Please keep in mind that your student account must be paid in full or appropriate arrangements made before picking up your cap and gown. 
  • If you do not pre-order your cap and gown online, you may still attend a pick-up event and receive a cap and gown on a first-come, first-served basis. (Extras will not be available at the Westchester distribution location.) 
  • For more information on caps and gowns visit the Fordham University caps and gowns page.

Travel

We are fortunate to have the Metro-North Harlem and New Haven line trains just steps away from the entrance to the Rose Hill campus, and recommend you consider using the train if you are traveling from Manhattan, Westchester County, or Connecticut. For detailed Metro-North schedule information visit the MTA website.  

Parking at Rose Hill

Limited complimentary parking will be available on the Rose Hill campus for Commencement-related events. The GPS address for parking and campus map can be found on our Directions to Rose Hill page. Parking will also be available free of charge at G&R Parking Garage (Fordham Plaza) on May 21 only. Enter on 189th Street between Washington and Third avenues (one block south of Fordham Road) and walk one block north to the Rose Hill campus through the Third Avenue or Bathgate Avenue entrances. Fordham College at Lincoln Center graduates and guests will find the garage at Fordham Plaza is closer to their diploma ceremony than the campus parking garage.

Hotel/ Accommodations

Fordham families and friends often like to stay close by campus when they visit. Here's a list of popular hotels near our Rose Hill Campus. You might also check web resources like hotels.com or yelp.com to help you choose the accommodations that best suit your needs. 

Hotels Near the Rose Hill Campus

(mileage from the Rose Hill Campus listed in parentheses)

Please note that the hotels listed above are not University-hosted housing accommodations. Providing hotel options is not intended to be a referral to any particular hotel(s), nor does Fordham endorse or recommend the selection of any particular property or location.
 

Additional Questions

If you have any remaining questions, please email [email protected] or call 718-817-4800. Congratulations; we look forward to celebrating your academic achievement with you soon.