Saturday, December 21, 2019
Indoor Recreation Center, 11 a.m.

December Recognition Ceremony will take place on Saturday, December 21, 2019. Exercises will be held at the Andrew M. Schuler Indoor Recreation Center (IRC). All guests attending this Commencement are required to RSVP. More information on the ticketing process is listed below. 

Please note: If you take part in the December Recognition Ceremony, you will not be invited to attend the May Commencement. 

Schedule at a Glance

Students at the December Recognition Ceremony

10:00–10:30 a.m. 
Student Check-in 

11:00 a.m. 
Recognition Ceremony
The ceremony will take approximately one hour, followed directly by a light hors d'oeuvres reception.

Information for Participating Students

Participation Eligibility

Students eligible for graduation in December 2019 will receive notice from Student Administrative Services and will be required to fill out a form on PeopleSoft to indicate that they plan to graduate in the December 2019 ceremony. If at any time you change your mind regarding participation in the December Recognition Ceremony program for December 2019, you must inform Student Administrative Services at (315)268-6451 or through e-mail at commencement@clarkson.edu promptly. Detailed seating of the graduates is an important factor in this ceremony.

Attire/Regalia

All regalia (cap and gowns) must be ordered online through Jostens by the following deadline: Monday, October 27, 2019

Order Regalia from Jostens

There will be a $31.95 late-order fee assessed on all orders placed after Monday, October 27, to cover expedited order processing and express shipping fees.

Your pre-ordered cap and gown will be available for pickup at the University Bookstore.

Regalia must be paid for in full at the time of pickup. Payments can be made with cash, check, debit card, Knight Card or credit card. Only bachelor's-degree candidates may charge their regalia to their student accounts.

Reserving Tickets for Guests

All students who plan to attend December Recognition Ceremony must order and reserve their tickets through their Student Center in PeopleSoft. Each student is guaranteed eight (8) guests to attend due to a high number of graduates and limited seating capacity. Seating is not assigned; it is first come, first serve. There will be no tickets issued.

Requesting Accommodative Services

The ceremony will include a stage for graduates to cross that requires graduates to climb four stairs. As a graduate, if you are not able to climb stairs, please let us know by November 20 so that we can accommodate your needs.The IRC is accessible to guests with disabilities. If you have any questions or concerns regarding accommodative seating, please email events@clarkson.edu.

 

Diplomas, Seating Order & Name Pronunciation

You will not receive your actual diploma during Commencement. Your diploma will be mailed to you after Commencement. You will have an assigned seat that you will find prior to the ceremony. Please make sure to give the phonetic spelling of your full name in PeopleSoft so that the reader can properly pronounce your name.

Information for Guests

Entering the Indoor Recreation Center

Guests will enter the Indoor Recreation Center (IRC) through the main building entrance. Signage and greeters will assist with wayfinding. There is an elevator for guests who require it. 

Upon check-in, the requested number of guest seats will be listed on the registration sheet and checked.

We ask that large bags, signs, weapons of any kind be kept out of the IRC for the comfort and safety of our guests. Guests are asked to remain seated during the ceremony unless asked to rise to allow all guests a comfortable, safe and positive experience.

Traveling to Clarkson University

For information on traveling to Clarkson, please see Visit Us, where you will find links to maps and directions.

Traffic & Parking Information

Traffic on the hill campus will be two-way. All campus entrances will be open. Please watch for signs to direct you.

If you enter Clarkson’s main entrance on Route 11, the IRC will be the first building on the right-hand side. Please park in the Cheel Campus Center parking lot located between the IRC and the Cheel Campus Center (#12 on the campus map). IRC parking is reserved for individuals with mobility issues.

Guests with or dropping off disabled person(s) will be directed to the front of the IRC, where they will be assisted by staff in discharging their disabled guests then directed onward for parking.

If you need special parking, please contact events@clarkson.edu

Taking Photos

Guests are asked to avoid standing in the aisles and walking up to the front for photos. The University has arranged for a professional photographer, Genesee Photo Systems, to take an individual photo of each graduate. The photographer is skilled and equipped to perform this service.

Genesee Photo Systems will post proofs online on their Web site (http://www.geneseephoto.com/) soon after the ceremony. You may order photographs directly from their Web site.  Please contact Genesee Photo Systems at 800-345-7427 for additional photograph-related questions.  Within safety limits, we will permit video cameras to operate from behind the last row of seats so long as the aisles are not congested.

Photo op areas will also be available for use before and after the ceremony for personal photos.

Bringing Children

Children requiring their own seat should be counted for reserving seats. There is no nursery or childcare provided. Parents are asked to be sensitive to those around them so that all may enjoy the ceremony.