About the Ceremonies & Eligibility

What Can You Expect from a Virtual Ceremony?

Viewing the Virtual Commencement

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About the Ceremonies & Eligibility

We are so proud of you and all you have accomplished as a student at Medaille College! Due to the coronavirus pandemic, we will be holding a virtual Commencement ceremony to celebrate, acknowledge and honor your hard work, tenacity and achievement.

We will continue to update this webpage as more information becomes available.

Students who applied for graduation will receive an email invitation from Medaille College providing more information regarding the Virtual Commencement Ceremonies.

This invitation will be sent to Medaille email accounts only. Please add commencement@medaille.edu to your email contacts to ensure successful delivery to your inbox.

Participation Eligibility

Students who graduated within the past year are eligible to participate. Also, students who are within six credits of degree completion and who have applied for August conferral are eligible to participate. Students must have an active graduation application to participate. All students who intend to participate in their graduation ceremony must wear the appropriate academic regalia. 

 

What Can You Expect from a Virtual Commencement Ceremony?

Medaille College will unveil Commencement videos (for both Undergraduate and Graduate ceremonies) honoring you, our esteemed graduates, on May 21, 2021. These will be available for anyone to view and celebrate in your accomplishments!

Graduates are encouraged to submit a photo or short video for inclusion in our ceremony videos!

• Deadline for photo or video submission is April 8, 2021
• Check for emails from commencement@medaille.edu to access your submission link!
• Suggested video length is 3 - 5 seconds

 

Viewing the Virtual Commencement

Beginning on Friday, May 21 at 9 a.m., links to view both Official Ceremonies and informal celebrations will be posted near the top of this webpage. All who have applied for graduation will receive an official email invitation with access to view 2021 events via commencement@medaille.edu.

Congratulations again and thank you for your great work!

Apply to Graduate

Graduation Application Deadline: March 1, 2021

The Office of the Registrar is responsible for reviewing and conferring degrees and for printing diplomas. All students must apply for graduation through Medaille360. Failure to do so by the published deadline could result in a delay of diploma and/or graduation conferral date.

Graduation application instructions

If you do not apply, we will not know you are ready to graduate and will not review your program or confer your degree.

 

Certificate Students
Students applying for a certificate will follow the same process of applying for graduation as degree-seeking students. The fee for applying for a certificate is $10.

Certificate application instructions

 

Diplomas

Diplomas are mailed, approximately four to six weeks after each conferral date, to the address indicated on each student's graduation application. If your address changes between the time you apply for graduation and when your degree is conferred, please contact the Office of the Registrar immediately, so your diploma is mailed to the right address.

Diplomas are mailed once all financial, academic and student affairs holds are resolved.

Should your diploma arrive damaged, please contact the Office of the Registrar immediately.

If you have lost your diploma, you may order a replacement. Medaille College does not issue "extra" diplomas; we only issue a replacement if your diploma is lost, damaged or stolen. Please use the diploma reorder form to request a replacement.

Documents and FAQ

Commencement Checklist

Graduation Regalia: Ordering and Pickup Information

Frequently Asked Questions

 

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Commencement Checklist

Tips to get all of your ducks in a row, prior to the ceremony! While you are welcome to purchase academic regalia, (cap, gown, hood), it is not required to submit a photo or video for inclusion the virtual ceremony.

BY MARCH 1
Apply for graduation through Medaille360

BY MARCH 5
If you wish to purchase regalia, which is not required for the virtual ceremony, you may order academic regalia to be shipped to the College Store by April 5, with time to submit your photo or video. See more on ordering regalia below.

BY MARCH 22
If you wish to purchase regalia, which is not required for the virtual ceremony, you may order academic regalia for last-chance express shipping to your home, delivered by April 5, with time to submit your photo or video. See more on ordering regalia below.

 

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Graduation Regalia

Regalia (Caps, Gowns, Hoods) Ordering and Pick-up Information

 

Ordering

All undergraduate students and master's students may now purchase their regalia online at collegegrad.herffjones.com. Regalia purchases are not required to take part in the virtual ceremony, but if you wish to order regalia, deadlines for timely receipt are below.

Ordering deadlines are as follows:

• Campus Pickup: February 26 
• Home Shipping Regular: March 15
• Home Shipping Rush: March 25

PsyD students must contact the Campus Store regarding their regalia attire, at (716) 880-2252

 

Pick-Up

Buffalo Campus
Regalia will be available for pick-up at the Campus Store, Buffalo beginning Monday, March 29.  

• Monday - Thursday, 9 a.m. - 5 p.m.
• Friday, 9 a.m. - 4 p.m.

Rochester Campus
If you wish to pick up regalia at the Rochester campus, you must pre-order by March 5. Regalia will be available for pick-up Monday, April 5.

If you have any questions please contact Jon at (716) 880-2252 or 1078mgr@follett.com.

 

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Commencement  FAQ

Who can participate in the Commencement ceremony?

All students who have applied for graduation and completed their degree requirements during the summer 2020, fall 2020 or spring 2021 semesters are eligible to participate in Commencement; deadline for graduation application is March 1. The only exception to this is for students who have six credits outstanding and who register for this course work during the summer 2021 semester. Please note, requirements are different for the PsyD students. The Registrar’s Office must have proof of summer registration prior to April 29. Any coursework to be completed through Academic Alternatives must be processed in accordance with the published deadlines.

Please contact Michelle Bogdan at (716) 880-2135 for further information. Any student with outstanding obligations will receive a diploma dated to coincide with the closest conferral date after the completion of all academic degree requirements. 

Special Note: Students who miss the graduation application deadline and attempt to apply for graduation after April 9 may participate in Commencement, but there is no guarantee their names will be in the program.

 

When do I receive my diploma?

Students participating in the ceremony will receive their diploma covers, along with their official commencement programs, via USPS prior to the release of the digital ceremonies. Actual diplomas will be mailed once the degree is conferred (completion of all coursework) and all financial obligations have been met. This takes approximately four weeks from the conferral date. Diplomas will not be mailed if there is a hold on your account. Diplomas are dated dependent upon completion of degree requirements. Conferral dates are as follows: August 31, 2020, December 31, 2020 and May 31, 2021. If you have any questions regarding your diploma, please contact the Registrar’s Office at 716) 880-2365.

 

How do I order my academic regalia?

Academic regalia (cap, gown, and hood) are required of all students who are graduating and participating in the ceremony. Learn more about ordering regalia above.  

 

If I choose to order regalia, must I do so through Herff-Jones?

Since we are holding a virtual ceremony, it is not necessary for all graduates to match academic regalia. In fact, graduates are  not required to purchase regalia, but may do so if they wish, from whichever company they choose.

 

What is the graduation fee and what is it used for?

All graduates are assessed a $50 graduation fee when they apply for graduation. This fee covers a portion of the program, diplomas, and other expenses associated with Commencement. The cost of academic regalia is not included in the $50 graduation fee.
            

What constitutes graduation honors?

Undergraduate students are awarded Latin honors based upon the cumulative average at the conclusion of one’s degree. The minimum cumulative average for honors is 3.50. A student must also meet the College’s residency requirements. 

Please note however, announced Latin honors for spring 2021 graduates are based upon the cumulative average at the conclusion of the fall 2020 semester. 

Gold honor cords will be provided to all students graduating with Latin honors.

Graduate students (master's and doctoral degrees) are not awarded Latin honors.

 

What is the academic program award? How do I know if I am receiving this award?

Every academic program (bachelor's and master's) has the opportunity to select one student to receive the academic program award. Criteria for the award includes a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.50, as well as other outstanding academic achievements as determined by the department.

Prior to Commencement, if you have been selected to receive the academic program award, you will receive a letter from the Vice President for Academic Affairs. 

 

How do I ensure my name is pronounced correctly in the virtual ceremony?

Individual graduate names will be listed in the official Commencement program, rather than spoken aloud, for the virtual ceremony.

 

How will I know if I have completed all Pre-Commencement requirements?

Please see the Commencement Checklist above, which will be continuously updated as we have more instructions and information.