Congratulations on your pending achievement! We hope you are planning to participate in the Commencement Ceremony.
Please download the Graduation Application, fill out the form (make sure to type your name in for the digital signature), save the document, and email it to registrar@sussex.edu from your student email address.
Wednesday, May 14, 2025, at 4 pm
Rain Date: Thursday, May 15, 2025, at 4 pm
Students should arrive at 2 pm for robing and line up in the D Building Cafeteria.
Students who opted to have their regalia shipped to the College can pick up their cap & gown in the Registrar’s Office from 9 am-4 pm. There will be a limited supply of cap & gowns available for students who did not pre-order regalia on a first-come, first-serve basis. Payment is due at the time of pickup.
At the Ceremony, your name will be announced and you will walk across the stage. The actual diploma will be mailed to you with an electronic copy to your student email, after final grades are turned in and requirements verified. Diplomas are mailed approximately 6 weeks after the degree/certificate is posted. Only one diploma cover will be issued per student.
There will be limited seating for graduation available on a first-come, first serve basis. A limited number of reserved handicapped seats will also be available on a first-come, first serve basis.
Graduates and their families may park in the lower and upper parking lots with shuttle service available. A limited number of handicapped parking spaces will be available. Graduates and guests with mobility issues will be directed by Security to a drop off location near the tent and then to available handicapped parking spaces.
The Commencement Ceremony will be conducted rain or shine. In the event of severe storms and heavy rains the procession may be canceled and moved to the next day. If the storms are severe enough to postpone the ceremony, the rain date will be Thursday, May 15, 2025. The postponement will be announced on the College website and in a Regroup Alert.
If you or any of your guests are physically challenged please contact Student Accessibility Services no later than two weeks prior to the ceremony.
Graduation is the official confirmation in the College’s records that all degree requirements have been met and the diploma has been conferred. Commencement is the ceremony that celebrates your graduation. Just because you attended the Commencement ceremony does not mean that you have graduated.
In order to graduate and receive an Associates Degree or Certificate from the College, you must apply, even if you are not planning to attend the Commencement Ceremony.
Complete the Graduation Application and submit it to registrar@sussex.edu. There is no fee to apply.
You should apply before the beginning of what you expect will be your last semester of enrollment, so as to be certain the courses you are taking are sufficient to meet requirements. Failure to apply by the deadline may result in your inability to attend a commencement, be invited to speak at graduation, be included in the graduation program, etc.
Application deadlines are:
Although you cannot officially graduate until all coursework is complete, you can participate in the May Commencement Ceremony, if you plan on completing your additional courses during our summer sessions. In order to participate in the May ceremony you must apply by February 15th. We recommend that you apply and we will notify you if you are eligible to attend the ceremony.
Diplomas are mailed within 6 weeks after the Graduation posting date. Your diploma will be mailed to the address you provided on your Graduation Application.
Students with holds on their account (i.e. Bursar, Library, Financial Aid Exit Interview, etc) will not receive their diploma until all holds have been resolved.
You do not have to attend the Commencement ceremony in order to graduate. However, it is a wonderful occasion to celebrate your achievement in the presence of your family, friends and college community.
Your diploma will only show your major not your option. For example, if your major is Liberal Arts: Psychology Option then your diploma will state Associate in Arts, Liberal Arts. Your transcript will state your option in Psychology.
There is no limit on the amount of guests you can invite to the commencement ceremony, but seating is limited under the tent. Seating for guests is on a first come, first serve basis.
You will need both hands free when you go up onto the stage to accept your diploma. Therefore, we recommend that you do not bring anything with you into the ceremony (including purses, cameras, phones, etc.). Please leave these items with family and friends during the ceremony.
You must purchase your regalia (cap, gown and tassel) from our vendor. After you apply for graduation all students who are eligible to attend the Commencement ceremony will receive an email to order regalia. All other regalia such as honors cords for Phi Theta Kappa, etc. need to be purchased by the student. Students should contact their honor society advisor for purchase information. The regalia vendor does have other items you can purchase if wanted.
Students have an option of purchasing a gown and having it shipped to their home (additional shipping and handling fees) or having the gown shipped to the College for pickup at no additional charge. Gowns shipped to the College can be picked up during our Grad Salute days. Information about dates and times for Grad Salute will be emailed to students.
For information regarding graduation and the commencement ceremony please contact the Registrar’s Office at registrar@sussex.edu or 973-300-2217.
