Commencement Planning

Caps, gowns, and hoods are to be worn at the Commencement ceremony. Graduation regalia will be available on the College Store website from Jan. 1 through March 15. Students can pick up their regalia at the College Store during its Grad Finale event on Thursday, April 25 and Friday, April 26, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

The Hand-Me-Down Commencement Gown Program is a Student Government and Office of Sustainability initiative to distribute used caps, gowns, and hoods to current seniors through a pay-what-you-can model. This program increases the accessibility of gowns (removing the $60+ cost) and achieves zero-waste goals by decreasing the number of single-use gowns thrown away each year. 

To request regalia, apply for the program by March 8. Supplies are limited, and items are not guaranteed. After Commencement, graduates are asked to “pay it forward” by donating their regalia to next year’s seniors. To donate after Commencement, graduates can drop off their regalia in any Green Move-Out bin across campus.

Families, friends, and members of the Lafayette community are invited to celebrate the Class of 2024 at the 189th Commencement ceremony Sun., May 19, beginning at 10 a.m. EDT.

No tickets are needed unless inclement weather forces the ceremony indoors. If indoors, tickets will be needed for admission to the Kirby Sports Center. Each graduate will receive three tickets for family and friends. Instructions for ticketing will be distributed to students via email on April 1.

Caps, gowns, and hoods are to be worn by graduating students at the Commencement ceremony. They will be available on the College Store website from Jan. 1 through March 15.

Members of the Class of 2024 should assemble in Kamine Gymnasium at 8:45 a.m. on Sun., May 19, for robing prior to the Commencement ceremony.

Because the ceremony is planned to be held outdoors on Lafayette’s Quad, no tickets are required; however, outdoor seating is on a first-come, first-served basis. If inclement weather forces the ceremony indoors, tickets will be needed for admission to Kirby Sports Center. Three (3) electronic tickets for family and friends are available for each graduate beginning Mon., April 1, and must be secured by 2 p.m. on Friday, May 17. Please review the instructions for ticketing and note that students need to log in with their Lafayette credentials to access the ticketing site. Graduates do not need a ticket. 

A limited number of additional rain site tickets may become available and starting Mon., April 1, students can request additional tickets beyond the allotment of three per graduate. If approved, additional rain site tickets must be picked up at the ticket office in Kirby Sports Center (ID is required) between the hours of 10 a.m. and 3 p.m., from Monday, May 13 through Thursday, May 16. Any tickets not picked up by May 16 will be forfeited.

Please direct any questions to commencement@lafayette.edu.

The Commencement ceremony runs for approximately 90 minutes. A large video screen will be present next to the stage to assist family and friends in viewing the ceremony. 

Cords are individually coordinated and distributed by each organization or department. If you have any questions about cords you expect to receive, please reach out to the appropriate department or organization.

Diplomas will be mailed to the post-Commencement mailing address once all grades and honors processing are finalized. Students will receive the traditional Lafayette College diploma cover during Grad Finale. Once the diploma is mailed, each student will receive an email with tracking information. In addition, graduates will be able to access their Certified Electronic Diploma—an official, portable, and verifiable electronic version of the diploma. 

GradImages will be providing professional photography services during the Commencement ceremony, capturing individual photographs of each graduate. You will receive a notification from them within a week following the ceremony with access to your proofs. Additionally, you can register with GradImages in advance of the ceremony to receive 20% off your order. You can find your proofs following the ceremony by visiting www.gradimages.com or directly contacting their customer service.

Questions about GradImages photography should be directed to the GradImages customer service department (800-261-2576 or ecc.giservice@gradimages.net).

The Commencement ceremony will be broadcast live via livestream and ATVN-TV in the Lehigh Valley, Philadelphia, Boston, New York City, Chicago, and Washington, D.C. Rain or shine, the live broadcast of the Commencement ceremony will be available in Colton Chapel. No tickets are required for indoor viewing.

Guest WiFi access will be available. Please check at the hospitality tent upon arrival.

A complimentary coffee station will be available in the lobby of Farinon College Center from 8-10 a.m. on Sun., May 19.

If there is a change in the location of the Commencement celebration or the President’s Reception due to inclement weather, that information will be available in a recorded message on the Lafayette Weather Information Hotline (610-330-5809) as soon as it is known. This information also will be posted on the Lafayette College homepage and the College’s social media accounts.

According to faculty policy (2023-2024 Faculty Handbook, 7.9), only those seniors who have fully satisfied degree requirements and are approved for graduation may participate in Commencement exercises.

The policy does, however, provide an option for candidates who have not completed their degree requirements to receive special permission to participate in the ceremony by exception. In order to be considered for the exception, students must have a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.0 and a major GPA of 2.0, and have two or fewer credits remaining to meet the requirements for graduation.

Students who feel that they meet these requirements and would like to participate in Commencement may submit a Commencement Participation Petition. If granted, participation involves the student processing in the order of march, having their name read, and greeting the president. The student’s name will not be included in the Commencement program until all degree requirements are fulfilled and they are approved for graduation. The student may request a copy of the subsequent Commencement program, in which their name is listed, be sent to them by mail as a keepsake.

Under no circumstances should participation by exception be construed as a student having completed their degree requirements for graduation from the College.

• Commencement Participation Petition

Members of Lafayette’s Class of 2024 have two opportunities to indicate the correct pronunciation of their name during the Commencement ceremony:

• Visit the Class of 2024 Name Recording Spaces page to record or re-record the name.
• Submit a phonetic spelling through the Office of Advising & Co-Curricular Programs.