General Information

Commencement is the ceremony celebrating a student’s expected conferral of degree. Also know as a graduation ceremony. Participation in the ceremony does not equate to degree conferral. Additional information regarding degree conferral can be found in the college catalog at https://catalog.ithaca.edu/undergrad/academic-information/graduation-regulations/ for undergraduate students.

  • Your friends, you will line-up the morning of with your friends regardless of their last name or school.
  • Tassel has no impact on where you will sit. 

There will not be a graduation practice ceremony. 

  • Ithaca College allows all December 2025 through December 2026 students to participate in the May 2026 Commencement ceremony.  

  • December graduates, if you do not want to attend the May 2026 ceremony you can say no, I am not attending, on the Tassel RSVP website. All December graduates are invited to both the December they graduate, and the May ceremonies.

Diplomas

The name that will be printed on your diploma is the name you provide on your application for graduation in HomerConnect. A guide on how to Navigate the application for graduation can be found here.

The name that will be printed in the commencement program is the name you provide on your application for graduation. If your application for graduation is not available to you in HomerConnect, as you have not earned enough credits, or you did not complete the application on time, your preferred name will be used in the commencement program. (Your preferred name is the name that appears on your profile page on HomerConnect. If you need to change your preferred name you can do so in IC Workflow using the Update Homerconnect Profile Information form). If you would like a different name printed in the Commencement program, please email commencement@ithaca.edu.

The name that will be shared on screen and pronounced/read as you cross the stage at commencement is the name, spelling and pronunciation you provide in your commencement attendance registration via Tassel. You will receive an email to your IC email address mid-February to register to attend the May ceremony and Mid-October to attend the December ceremony.

All students will have their diplomas mailed to the address provided in their graduation application in HomerConnect 6-8 weeks after Commencement and after it has been confirmed that all requirements for graduation have been met and the First Destination Survey has been completed.

  • December 2024 diplomas will be mailed mid to late January 2025
  • May 2025 diplomas will be mailed mid to late June 2025

All graduates who participate in-person at the Commencement ceremony will be given a diploma cover.  Students who do not participate in-person can purchase diploma covers from the campus store. 

Academic Regalia (Caps and Gowns)

Yes, all undergraduate students are required to wear a cap and gown. Graduate students are required to wear a cap and gown and bring their hood. 

No, academic regalia can be purchased at the Campus Store up until the Friday prior to the ceremony.. 

Regalia can be purchased effective immediately in person at the Campus Store or online at https://ithaca.edu/commencement-regalia. 

Additional Questions?

Commencement is a campus-wide event involving multiple departments and people. In order to ensure your question gets to the right person, please contact our Commencement email address.