Frequently Asked Questions

The ceremony is expected to run approximately 2 hours and 30 minutes.

Diplomas are not presented during the Commencement Exercise. Each candidate for graduation should confirm that the Office of the Registrar (151 East 25th Street, Room 850) has his/her correct address on file. Upon receipt of notice of graduation (which accompanies the official transcript), candidates may then pick up their diploma at the Office of the Registrar.

You will have an opportunity to be photographed professionally in your academic regalia prior to entering the arena on your Commencement Day. Please arrive early.

In advance of your Commencement Day, please register your personal email address with the photo studio at baruch.ThorntonStudio.com. Please note that you cannot use your Baruch College email address due to file size restrictions and spam filters.

A few weeks after the ceremony, you and your family will receive an email and text from the photo studio containing a link to view photo proofs and order info. There is no obligation to order photos.

Questions? Email info@ThorntonStudio.com.

Candidates should make sure that their guests are aware of the following:

Entrance: Guests will enter Barclays Center through the main atrium entrance on the corner of Flatbush Avenue and Atlantic Avenue. Guest entrance opens at 7:30 a.m. As is Barclays Center policy, everyone entering Barclays Center will be going through metal detectors.

Guests with Disabilities: Guests with disabilities will enter Barclays Center through the GEICO Atrium. There is elevator access to every level, seating in every section for guests who use wheelchairs, and American Sign Language interpreters visible on screen throughout the arena.

Prohibited Items: Barclays Center management has asked us to remind all guests that smoking/vaping or the carrying of food and/or beverages of any kind into the arena is strictly prohibited. Please read the list of prohibited items. Note: Flowers are allowed at the Commencement Ceremony. Additionally, once guests have entered Barclays Center, should they choose to leave, they will not be permitted reentry.

Seating: All guests must have a ticket to attend the ceremony. All tickets must be on a mobile device through Ticketmaster or the Barclays Center app. Barclays Center will not accept screenshots or printed tickets for this event. Tickets are general admission and there is no reserved seating. Please make sure that all guests enter together as it is not possible to hold seats for latecomers. Ushers will seat guests in any unoccupied seats as needed.

Children: Children under 5 years of age frequently become bored during the ceremony, therefore, we recommend that children under 5 years of age do not attend the Commencement Ceremony. Barclays Center’s general policy is that all children over 2 years old must have a ticket. Children under 2 years old do not need a ticket but must sit on the lap of an accompanying ticketed adult. No child under 2 years old will be permitted their own seat.

Courtesy: Guests are requested not to block the line of march or to obstruct the view of others.

Photographs: During the ceremony guests are encouraged to remain in their seats and enjoy the festivities. Please refrain from standing in the aisles to take photographs while the ceremony is in progress. It will obstruct the view of other guests. To provide graduates and their guests with memorable photo opportunities, a number of backdrop banners will be set up. Additionally, since all participating graduates will own their caps and gowns, you are free to pose for family and friends whenever and wherever you choose.

If you, the candidate, require accommodations due to a disability, please make sure to fill out the disabilities section of the Student Cap & Gown Order/Guest Ticket Request Form. If any of your guests has a disability, please note that Barclays Center is fully accessible. There is elevator access to every level, seating in every section for guests who use wheelchairs, and American Sign Language (ASL) interpreters visible on screen throughout the arena during the ceremony.

Barclays Center

Student Entrance: All candidates will enter via the Dean Street entrance and will proceed through security. Doors open at 7:00 a.m. Students should try to arrive by 7:15 a.m. to ensure they are able to be seated on time. Candidates must wear their cap and gown to gain admittance into Barclays Center. As is Barclays Center policy, everyone entering Barclays Center will be going through metal detectors.

Students will enter the arena upon arrival; there will be no student processional. Students will be seated according to their school. You must be seated by 8:45 a.m. Students who arrive after 8:45 a.m. will be held until after the faculty and platform party processional and the singing of the National Anthem.

Please note that because of the long lines to get through Barclays Center security check, students are encouraged to arrive by 7:15 a.m. to ensure being seated on time.

Degree Candidates with mobility impairments: Students who have difficulty with stairs, after proceeding through the security area on Dean Street, can take the elevators to the arena entrance.

Prohibited Items: Barclays Center management has asked us to remind all graduates that smoking/vaping or the carrying of food and/or beverages of any kind into the arena is strictly prohibited. Please read the list of prohibited items. Note: Flowers are allowed at the Commencement Ceremony.

After entering, please fill out the Grad Images photo card so that your official graduation photo can be taken before entering the arena.

Then, please follow the directional signage for your school (School of Public Affairs, Weissman School of Arts and Sciences, or Zicklin School of Business) so that you are seated in the appropriate area for the ceremony.

Entering the Arena

Graduation Photos: Arrive early and see one of the Thornton Studio photographers’ assistants. Have the barcode handy that you received in your email when you preregistered with Thornton Studio (see Where can I take a graduation portrait? above). If you do not have the barcode handy, our assistant will have a limited number of barcodes available, so we encourage you to register in advance.

Seating: Students will enter the arena upon arrival; there will be no student processional. Students will be seated according to their school. You must be seated by 8:45 a.m. Students who arrive after 8:45 a.m. will be held until after the faculty and platform party processional and the singing of the National Anthem.

The Graduation Ceremony

Sitting with a Friend: While this is not a guarantee, if you wish to sit beside a friend, be sure to arrive with that person.

Sitting & Standing: As you reach your designated seat, please be seated. Later, at the Chief Marshal’s request, you will stand for the singing of the National Anthem and at the end of the ceremony for the Baruch Alma Mater. Candidates will stand when being presented by the respective Dean of their school. At the conclusion of the presentation by each of the Deans, all candidates will be asked by the Chief Marshal to stand together for the conferral of degrees by the President.

Caps and Hoods: Caps should be worn throughout the ceremonies, except that men should remove their caps during the singing of the National Anthem and Alma Mater. Candidates must wear their hoods.

Cap Tassels: Cap tassels are worn on the right until the degrees are conferred, then switched to the left upon conferral by the President.

The Recessional

Order of Departure: Upon conclusion of the ceremony, the Presidential Party and faculty will leave the stage. As soon as they have left the area, the Chief Marshal will declare that the Commencement Exercises are officially over. There will be no formal recessional for graduates. You are asked to leave the auditorium in an orderly manner.

Plan Ahead: Because the area is large and there will be a large number of guests and graduates, you are urged to make plans with parents and friends about where to meet at the end of the ceremony.