Information & FAQs
Class of 2020 — for Fall 2019, Spring 2020 and Summer 2020 graduates:
- Saturday, May 22 (rain or shine)
- Two ceremonies are scheduled for 9:30 a.m. and 2 p.m.
Class of 2021 — for Fall 2020, Spring 2021 and Summer 2021 graduates:
- Thursday, May 27
- Three ceremonies are scheduled for 9 a.m., 1 p.m, and 4:30 p.m.
- A rain date is scheduled for May 28 *
* If the rain date is indicated by the weather forecast, they will be announced by 9 a.m. the day before. If rain dates are used, they will be rain-or-shine events.
On May 6, students were emailed with the following information about which commencement event they should attend:
Class of 2020 — Saturday, May 22
- 9:30 a.m. — Biology, Business Administration (undergraduate and graduate), Computer Science, Chemistry, Health Science, Mathematics, Microbiology (undergraduate and graduate), Nursing (undergraduate and graduate), Physics, Physician Assistant (undergraduate and graduate)
- 2 p.m. — Anthropology, Art, Arts Administration, Behavioral Economics, Economics, English, Film/Media Studies, Government & Politics, History, International Affairs, Independent Studies, Music, Philosophy, Psychology, Sociology, Spanish, Theatre, Education (graduate only)
Class of 2021 — Thursday, May 27
- 9 a.m. — Anthropology, Behavioral Economics, Biology, Biopsychology, Business Administration (undergraduate and graduate), Computer Science, Chemistry, Economics, Environmental Studies, Health Sciences, Mathematics, Microbiology, Physics, Psychology, Sociology, Sociology & Anthropology
- 1 p.m. — Nursing (undergraduate and graduate), Physician Assistant (undergraduate and graduate)
- 4:30 p.m. — Art, Arts Administration, English, Film/Media Studies, Government & Politics, History, International Affairs, Independent Studies, Music, Philosophy, Public Policy & Administration, Spanish, Theatre, Education (graduate only)
Anyone with questions about which commencement event they should attend may email Associate Provost Nick Richardson at nrichard@wagner.edu.
A live webcast of each commencement event will be streamed (1) on the Wagner College Facebook page and (2) at wagner.edu/commencement. Video recordings will be available on the college website in June.
We have posted a list of Staten Island accommodations at this link on our commencement website.
Graduates who have been attending classes remotely will still be able to attend commencement. All graduates are required to provide the following:
- Proof that they have been fully vaccinated for Covid-19. This proof must demonstrate the final vaccination was administered at least 14 days prior to the day of the ceremony.
- A negative Covid-19 PCR or NAAT test taken no more than three days prior to the commencement exercises.
- A letter from a licensed medical professional indicating the party has tested positive for Covid-19 in the last 90 days and has fully recovered.
- Proof that they have been fully vaccinated for Covid-19. This proof must demonstrate the final vaccination was administered at least 14 days prior to the day of the ceremony.
- A negative Covid-19 PCR or NAAT test taken no more than three days prior to the commencement exercises.
- A letter from a licensed medical professional indicating the party has tested positive for Covid-19 in the last 90 days and has fully recovered.
Graduates currently studying on campus can schedule their test for May 24 through the CoVerified app.
- Proof that they have been fully vaccinated for Covid-19. This proof must demonstrate the final vaccination was administered at least 14 days prior to the day of the ceremony.
- A negative Covid-19 PCR or NAAT test taken no more than three days prior to the commencement exercises.
- A letter from a licensed medical professional indicating the party has tested positive for Covid-19 in the last 90 days and has fully recovered.
UPDATE, Thursday, May 20, 1 p.m.
If you were unable to get a PCR test at the on-campus testing site on Wednesday, May 19, you can still get a rapid molecular test, which we will accept, at one of these two sites:
Staten Island Ferry Terminal
1 Bay St, Retail Space 103 (Level 1 of the Ferry Terminal, next to the North Shore Esplanade exit)
Staten Island, NY 10301
Monday – Sunday, 9 a.m. – 7 p.m.
Greenbelt Recreation Center
501 Brielle Avenue
Staten Island, NY 10314
Monday – Sunday, 9 a.m. – 7 p.m.
Current resident students and commuters were asked to pick up their caps and gowns in the Wagner College Bookstore. Members of the Class of 2020, and members of the Class of 2021 who were studying remotely, were given instructions for ordering their caps and gowns online.
The deadlines for picking up or ordering have already passed.
Students who were unable to pick up or order their caps and gowns by the deadline should immediately email commencement@wagner.edu.
Rather than using printed tickets, we have instructed all graduating students to register their two guests online in advance. Guests will then check in at the entrance to the Sutter Oval upon arrival. Guests who have not been registered in advance by their graduating student will not be permitted to attend commencement events.
No. Guest registration is final and non-transferable.
Yes. Graduating students can notify the college on the guest registration form of guests needing accessible seating. For additional accessibility needs or concerns, please contact the Provost’s Office at 718-390-3211 by Friday, May 14.
No. But we remind everyone that all commencement ceremonies will be streamed live on the Wagner College Facebook page and on wagner.edu/commencement.
There will be different parking lots available for each ceremony. The parking lots will open 60 minutes before each ceremony begins. Early arrivals will not be admitted to the lots until their arrival time.
- For the Class of 2020 ceremonies on May 22, guest and graduate parking will be in the Stadium Lot on Howard Avenue.
- For the Class of 2021 ceremonies on May 27:
- guests and graduates for the 9 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. ceremonies will park in the Stadium lot on Howard Ave
- guests and graduates for the 1 p.m. ceremony will park in the Tiers lots.
Guest check-in opens promptly 1 hour before the start of the ceremony.
Check-in will take place near the Spiro Sports Center on the Sutter Oval.
Guests will be screened for health symptoms, and they will need to provide:
- Proof that they have been fully vaccinated for Covid-19. This proof must demonstrate the final vaccination was administered at least 14 days prior to the day of the ceremony.
- A negative Covid-19 PCR or NAAT test taken within 3 days of the commencement exercises.
- A letter from a licensed medical professional indicating the party has tested positive for Covid-19 in the last 90 days and has fully recovered.
Graduate check-in at the Spiro Sports Center gymnasium opens promptly 1 hour before the start of the ceremony. Graduates must check in no later than 30 minutes prior to the start of their ceremony.
Wagner College cannot guarantee that a late arrival will be allowed to participate.
Guest check-in will remain open throughout the ceremony on a limited basis. Seating may be adjusted for late participants. Only registered guests will be admitted.
Professional photographers hired by the college will take photos of every graduate. A link to the photos will be emailed to students and posted on the commencement website when photos are available. High-resolution digital files will be available to download at no cost.
Commencement ends with the recessional. Graduates will return to the Spiro Sports Center, and guests will be asked to exit the Oval. Guests who parked on campus must vacate the parking lot no later than one hour following the conclusion of their ceremony.
Due to health and safety regulations, campus dining facilities will not be open for guests.
For students living on campus during the May 22 commencement exercises, the Dining Hall will be open.
Restrooms are available in the Spiro Sports Center.
Members of the Class of 2020, as well as August 2020 and December 2020 graduates, have already received their diplomas.
May 2021 graduates will receive their diploma, as well as an official copy of their official transcript, by mid-July.
All parties will be expected to wear a mask at all times. Failure to do so will result in removal from the event.
Yes, limited food and beverages will be available at a food service tent located near the Spiro Sports Center.
However, the Main Dining Hall and the Hawk’s Nest will be closed during all commencement exercises.
On May 11, all graduates received an email with instructions on how to register their two guests. They were instructed to provide each guest’s name, address, contact information and Covid-19 vaccination or testing status.
As per health safety requirements from the State of New York, commencement seating will be assigned. Guests will receive their seating assignments at check-in, and assignments are non-transferable. Guests are asked to remain seated for the duration of the ceremony. Assignments will be based primarily on the order in which registration forms are received, with the earliest registrants being seated closest to the stage. Accessible seating may be requested on the registration form.
Graduates are limited to two guests, regardless of age. Children under the age of two are not required to wear a mask.
Graduates are expected to remain in their seats throughout the ceremony.
Guests who need to use the restroom or leave early will be guided by a volunteer.
Guests may arrive up to 1 hour before their scheduled commencement event, when check-in begins. Guests are asked to leave campus immediately after their event; this is to facilitate cleanup and preparation for the next event.
Because of Covid health regulations, we cannot allow groups of students and guests to gather on campus before or after their commencement event for family photos or celebrations.
An ambulance from Richmond University Medical Center will be available during all commencement events. It will be located on Howard Avenue, just off the Sutter Oval.
No. However, the names of all eligible graduates appear in the printed program, which will be available upon request. Email requests to alumni@wagner.edu.
Wagner College will provide free, live webcasts of all commencement ceremonies on the Wagner College Facebook page and wagner.edu/commencement. Video recordings of all events will be made available on the college website in June.
If you have any questions, please contact the Provost’s Office at 718-390-3211 or email commencement@wagner.edu.