FAQs

The Class of 2020 in-person ceremonies will be held in July 2021. Graduates who registered to participate have received an e-mail with the assigned date and time of their ceremony. Graduates must be registered to attend the ceremony.

Information will be communicated to graduates via their St. John's e-mail accounts and the Commencement website. Please be sure to check your email and the website regularly for updates and important information.

 

Registration to attend the in-person ceremony has closed. If you have any questions, please contact the Office of University Events at 718.990.6365 or [email protected] before Monday, June 21.

The in-person ceremony in July will include remarks from academic leaders and graduates will have the opportunity to hear their name, walk across the stage platform, and pose for a photo. 

We anticipate the ceremony will run approximately 60 to 90 minutes in length, and in accordance with NY state DOH commencement guidelines, there will be no procession and recession of graduates, no exchanging of items, no hoodings, and no handshaking.

The ceremonies will be live streamed on the www.stjohns.edu homepage for guests who are unable to attend the ceremony. 

For more information regarding honor cords and stoles and how to receive them, graduates should contact the honor society's administrator or dean's office.

Yes, all guests will require a ticket to enter the ceremony.

Each graduate will receive two (2) guest tickets and will need to claim the tickets and complete the contact tracing form via MarchingOrder before the start of the in-person ceremony. Please follow the instructions on how to claim your guest tickets. Please be sure your guests come prepared with a printout of their ticket for check-in purposes.

Children under the age of two do not require a ticket; however they must be seated on an adult's lap.

Once a ticket is scanned at check-in, it is void and will not allow for additional scans or entry into the ceremony.

There are no extra tickets available for distribution. Lost and stolen tickets cannot be replaced.

The ceremony will be live streamed for friends and family who are unable to attend in person.

 

The in-person ceremonies will be held outdoors, on the Great Lawn, of the Queens campus, in an uncovered space, rain or shine. 

  • If it is raining or rain is in the forecast for the in-person ceremonies, graduates and guests should come prepared with the appropriate rain attire (no umbrellas are permitted). Graduates and guests will receive a poncho if it is raining; guest are advised to bring something to cover their seats.
  • If the ceremony is underway and severe weather conditions exist, the ceremony may be abbreviated and the calling of student names may be omitted from the program. If the ceremony is abbreviated, graduates and guests should follow instructions as announced.
  • If the ceremony cannot be held on the Great Lawn due to extreme or dangerous weather, the ceremony will be cancelled.
  • Every reasonable effort will be made to hold the ceremony as planned.

The University will be adhering to the guidelines and protocols outlined in the New York state's health guidance for large scale events.

Please review the Public Safety Advisory informing all attendees of the in-person ceremonies of the security and safety measures that will be in place.

If you have questions regarding the July in-person ceremonies, please contact the Office of University Events via e-mail at [email protected] or at 718.990.6365.