Graduation vs. commencement
What’s the difference?
Graduation is the official process of earning your degree or certificate. Your diploma is issued and your achievement is recorded on your academic record.
Commencement is the ceremony that celebrates your accomplishment.
You can participate in the ceremony even if your degree requirements are not fully completed yet.
Apply to graduate (required for your diploma)
To receive your diploma, you must apply to graduate.
Deadline: June 15, 2026
Commencement ceremony
Commencement is the ceremony that celebrates graduating students. Participating in the ceremony does not mean your degree has officially been awarded yet.
To participate in the ceremony, you must complete the Commencement Sign-Up Form by noon on Friday, April 10, 2026.
Signing up for the Commencement ceremony by the deadline ensures the graduate’s name appears in the commencement program and the graduate is eligible to receive guest tickets.
Who can walk in the ceremony?
You may participate if you:
-
graduated in Fall or Winter, or
-
will graduate in Spring, or
-
will graduate in the following Summer
Receiving Honors
Students who have earned the required GPA for Latin Honors and have earned at least 48 credits at Brockport by the start of the Spring semester will receive an Honors Tassel to wear at Commencement. Please see the policies below related to graduation honors for undergraduate students.
Note: Caps, Gowns, and Tassels are ordered and picked up at the bookstore.
Academics Honors for Undergraduates Policy
Receiving & Verifying your Degree
Your Degree/Certificate will appear on your Official Transcript 15-20 workdays after final grades have been received and posted. A review of your Degree Audit will occur confirming completion with the Degree/Certificate noted thereafter on your academic record and Transcript.
The Official Transcript is the most commonly recognized proof of Degree/Certificate completion. If you need proof that a Degree/Certificate has been completed, quickly after the Commencement Ceremony, you can pre-order your Official Transcript and select the “hold for Degree” option.
Once the Degree/Certificate has been posted to your record, the Transcript will be immediately generated and sent with the award/conferral date on the Transcript confirming completion.
Diplomas will be mailed within two to four weeks to the address provided on the Graduation Application form.
Please notify the Office of Registration and Records immediately of any changes to the graduate’s name to be printed on the Diploma or if the mailing address needs to be updated.