Faculty Participation

Commencement at Binghamton University is a special weekend for our graduates and their guests. The presence of the faculty that guided them through their time here, is highly regarded and appreciated by our graduates.

Supporting the students that you have taught and mentored graduate is extremely rewarding for you, as well. This is an important milestone for our graduates and their guests, and your participation is a piece they will always remember.

Faculty & Hooding Advisors

Check back in February 2025 to sign up for the Spring 2025 Commencement ceremonies.

Administrators/Deans/Council

Check back in February 2025 to sign up for the Spring 2025 Commencement ceremonies.

Description of Stage Participation Roles:

Hooding Faculty

Faculty/Advisors who will be attending the Doctoral Ceremony to hood their Doctoral graduates

Stage Faculty

School-related faculty who participate on-stage during Commencement.

Platform Party

Administrative Participants who intend to be present on stage during Commencement.

Grand Marshal

Chair of the Faculty Senate; opens and closes each Commencement ceremony and bears tehe University mace.

Platform Party Marshal

Faculty Advisor to the President/Chief of Staff; leads the Platform party during the processional and recessional at each Commencement ceremony.

Faculty Marshal

Collegiate Professors; lead Faculty during the processional and recessional at each Commencement ceremony. 

School Marshal

Faculty Member selected by respective Dean's Office; leads the student processional and recessional alongside the student marshal.

Student Marshal

Graduating Student selected by respective Dean's Office; leads the student processional and recessional alongside the school marshal.

Department Marshal*

*Watson or CCPA only; faculty member or student selected by respective school; leads the student processional and recessional for each department.

Regalia

Faculty and administrators who wish to participate in Commencement but do not own their own regalia may request to borrow a regalia package by filling out the respective Participation form above.

The regalia package includes:

  • headwear (mortar board or tam)
  • robe
  • hood (if applicable)

Regalia may be picked up one hour prior to the ceremony you are participating in the Faculty Robing Area on the Mezzanine Level of the Events Center. (For Anderson Center ceremonies, the Faculty Robing area will be in the Anderson Center Reception Room). Please arrive one hour prior to ensure you are robed and lined up in time for the ceremony procession.

When the ceremony is complete, please return your complete regalia package back to the Faculty Robing Area in the Mezzanine or Reception Room. If, due to extenuating circumstances, you are unable to return your regalia package, please make arrangements with the Commencement Office to drop it off or have it picked up as soon as possible. If you have any questions, please contact the Commencement Office.

How do I know what regalia to select?

Commencement regalia is steeped in tradition; every piece you are wearing represents something about your academic pedigree. Depending on your degree, bachelor's, master's, and doctorate degree holders wear slightly different costumes.

To select your hood color and to learn more about the academic costume, please refer to the academic costume code.  You can also contact the Commencement Office for assistance.