Congratulations
to the Class of 2023!

We are delighted to announce that Commencement will take place this year at the iconic Radio City Music Hall in midtown Manhattan. It is a beautiful venue and a perfect setting to celebrate this important milestone in our students’ lives. 

Friday, June 16 
Radio City Music Hall 
1260 6th Avenue (Avenue of the Americas) 
Between W. 50th and W. 51st Streets
New York City 

Directions to Radio City Music Hall are available here. 

It can be very difficult to find parking in midtown Manhattan, which is where Radio City Music Hall is located. It can also be very expensive. Please be prepared if you are taking a personal vehicle.

We strongly encourage all graduates and their guests to take mass transit to and from the venue.

See here for information on the best subway, bus, and train routes and the closest stops.

There are three groups of students who participate at Commencement:

• Graduates who finished in December 2022 (Fall semester)
• Graduates who finished in April 2023 (Winter semester)
• Students who will finish in August 2023 (Spring semester) 

Students who earned their degrees completely online are warmly welcomed to be part of the Commencement ceremony, of course.

Our "August Grads" -- those completing their degree requirements during the Spring semester -- will walk at Commencement and hear their name called just like the other grads.

Understandably, however, they will not receive their diploma nor have program completion reflected on their transcript until all degree requirements are met. (See below for more information about diplomas.)

Those finishing their studies in the Fall 2023 semester will participate in next year's Commencement (June 2024).

Our St. Lucia campus graduates will be celebrated at a separate Commencement there in October. 

There will be two separate ceremonies held on June 16 to accommodate our sizable graduating class and graduates’ guests.

One will be held at 10:00 am and the other at 3:00 pm. Graduates are assigned to attend a specific ceremony based on the academic school that coincides with their major.

If you have earned a Master's, you will walk at 3:00 pm. All KGS students walk together at that ceremony, regardless of major or school.

10:00 am Ceremony (graduates must be at the venue at 9:00 am)

School of Allied Health Professions  (Allied Health Science, Diagnostic Medical Sonography, Health Services Administration, Medical Assisting, Medical Administration, Public Health)

School of Education  (Childhood Education, Early Childhood Education)

School of Hospitality Management / CINY  (Baking and Pastry, Culinary Arts, Hospitality Management)

School of Information Technology (Computer Information Systems, Computer Networks and Cybersecurity)

School of Nursing (Practical Nursing, Nursing)

3:00 pm Ceremony (graduates must be at the venue at 2:00 pm)

King Graduate School  (all graduate majors)

School of Business and Accounting  (Accounting, Business Administration, Business Management, General Business, Professional Studies, Sports Management)

School of Criminal and Social Justice  (Criminal Justice, Human Services)

Graduates participating in Commencement are required to wear a gown with cap/tassel and hood purchased through our vendor, Oak Hall. Exception: NSLS and Delta Mu Delta students are permitted to wear stoles or medals available through those organizations.

The deadline to place an order with our vendor was Friday, May 12.

The vendor will begin to send out the purchased caps and gowns at the end of May, regardless of how early the purchase was made. They work with many, many other colleges and send out the packages in order of school graduation dates. Students at colleges with May graduation dates receive theirs before students with June graduation dates, which makes sense to ensure everyone gets theirs on time.

Please contact Jackie Ruegger at jruegger@monroecollege.edu if you did not order your regalia and wish to participate.

Gowns, hoods, or stoles may not be altered with decorations or other customization. You may, however, decorate the top of your cap.

All graduates and guests wishing to attend Commencement are required by Radio City Music Hall to have a ticket. 

Graduates will receive FIVE free tickets for guests, as well as one that they must have to enter the venue themselves (for a total of six tickets).

The tickets will only be available as e-tickets. The venue no longer issues paper ones.

The College has paid for the tickets. You will not be able to purchase them from the venue or Ticketmaster.

An email will sent to graduates in early June with instructions how to access the tickets and transfer them to guests.

Your children may attend Commencement, of course!

Babies and toddlers younger than two years old do not need their own ticket. However, they must sit on an adult's lap. 

Children two years old and above are required by the venue to have their own ticket -- even if they plan to sit on an adult's lap. Sorry -- that is Radio City's rule and we cannot change it.

Very important:  Please make the appropriate arrangements to have a family member or friend chaperone your children if needed. Children are not permitted to sit with you in the section reserved for graduates, nor will they be permitted to cross the stage with you.

Graduates who purchased their gown from Oak Hall, our vendor, this year will have ticket accounts created for them using the email shared when they placed their order.

Ticket accounts have also been created for graduates who completed the special "I'm Coming to Commencement!" form that closed on May 31.

If you did not order your regalia from the vendor this year and did not complete the form mentioned above, you will need to reach out to Jackie Ruegger at jruegger@monroecollege.edu for assistance.

KGS will hold its graduate awards and hooding ceremonies for the Class of 2023 on Thursday, June 15th, in the Mintz Auditorium at 5:30 pm.

Light refreshments will be served afterward in celebration with our graduates.

Please watch your College email for more information to come.

Academics will be hosting virtual Undergraduate Awards Ceremonies on June 12th and 13th at 5:30 pm.

Congratulations to all those graduating with academic distinction!

Please watch your College email for more information.

There will not be a rehearsal prior to Commencement.

Don't worry — we will let you know where to go and what to do on your big day! You'll be absolutely fine without a practice run.

All attendees will be strongly encouraged to wear a mask, regardless of vaccination status. 

Proof of vaccination will not be required unless there's a change in City regulations or it becomes necessary in the face of increasing infection rates.

Your diploma will be ready approximately two months after the completion of your last semester. It takes us a little time to confirm your credentials and print the beautiful documents.

Those who finished their programs at the end of the Winter 2023 semester will be contacted by the Registrar’s Office in late June or July with information on how to have your diploma sent to you.
 

A class ring is a wonderful way to remember your time at Monroe.

Balfour is our official class ring jeweler and they have some lovely designs to fit nearly any taste and budget. 

Class rings are available for purchase online here. When asked for our college representative's number, please specify 1528.

Additionally, they will have representatives on campus in June to assist interested students place an order. Watch your College email for the dates and locations.

Please feel free to reach out to Bonnie Shapiro, our Balfour representative, directly at bonnie.shapiro@balfour.com with any questions about the class rings or to order one.

ORDER YOUR CLASS RING

We have a variety of special "Class of 2023" merchandise available for pre-order, including t-shirts, hoodies, and even a special graduation teddy bear. 

Be sure to shop the online "swag store" here. 

Please order by May 31st to receive your order in time for graduation.  Any orders made after that date will arrive during the second half of June. 

ORDER YOUR CLASS OF 2023 SWAG

Good news:  We will have a photographer at Radio City Music Hall!

A photo will be taken as you cross the stage. You will also have an opportunity to take one while you wait backstage.

Thursday, June 15th
Most classes will remain canceled. Allied Health and Nursing practicums and off-site clinicals will still meet.

College offices will be open.

Friday, June 16th
Again, Allied Health and Nursing practicums and off-site clinicals will meet. Understandably, students walking in Commencement will be excused from both that day.

All other classes are canceled.

College offices will be closed so that staff members are able to attend the graduation ceremonies.

We look forward to seeing everyone there that day!

Please see our Commencement FAQs for answers to some of the other questions graduates frequently ask.