Commencement FAQs

Applying for graduation candidacy is a step that must be completed with the One-Stop Student Services Center, which will confirm your completion of all degree requirements.

To attend one of Adelphi’s 2026 Commencement ceremonies, registration through Tassel (formerly MarchingOrder) will be required to let us know you will be present and ensure your name is read during the ceremony. More information on Tassel will be shared when the portal is available.

All students must participate in the appropriate ceremony for the degree they are receiving. If you have questions, email commencement@adelphi.edu.

Students completing their degrees in December 2025, January or May 2026, or who are within 12 credits of finishing and will complete them by August 2026 are eligible to walk in our May 2026 ceremonies.

Your degree may be conferred, but you may not attend Commencement or receive your diploma if you have an unpaid balance.

If you think you have an outstanding balance, pay your bill online in eCampus/CLASS as soon as possible. If you are unable to pay your bill, contact the One-Stop Student Services Center no later than April 19.

Each graduate may invite up to ten (10) guests to their Commencement ceremony. The Commencement office will not issue any additional tickets beyond this number. If you need extra tickets, you may ask a fellow graduate if they have extra to share.

Students do not need a ticket for themselves. All graduates who register to attend commencement will be emailed a Stage Pass, which will admit them to the venue.

If you have successfully applied to graduate, in the spring semester you will receive an email with details for logging into the platform Tassel, where you will complete the Commencement registration form and indicate your attendance at one of our ceremonies on May 21.

Upon your registration, you will also receive details on ordering your cap and gown, which is required at Commencement.

You will not be able to access Tassel until the platform opens in the spring.

The undergraduate ceremony will begin at 10:30am (9:30am arrival) and the graduate ceremony at 3:30pm (2:30pm arrival).

Including the student procession, the undergraduate Commencement ceremony will last approximately 2.5 hours. The graduate Commencement ceremony will be approximately 2 hours.

Adelphi’s Commencement ceremonies, to be held on May 21, 2026, are for graduates who have earned bachelor’s and master’s degrees. Doctoral Hooding, which will be held on May 20, 2026, is only for candidates who have earned their doctoral degrees.

Yes, Adelphi will livestream the Commencement ceremonies so that loved ones not in attendance can be part of this important occasion. Links to the livestream for each ceremony will be provided during the week before Commencement and posted on the Commencement website.

Graduates will be seated with their college or school. Guest seats are not assigned, and are first come, first served. Any seat numbers on the tickets issued are for system purposes only and are not seat assignments.

In the interest of sustainability, Adelphi does not issue printed copies of the Commencement listing. The listing will be available digitally and is free. We will share a link on the Commencement website when it is available and QR codes will be prominently displayed throughout Nassau Coliseum.

Please reach out to commencement@adelphi.edu regarding a diploma cover.

Please review our Inviting International Visitors Guide, which provides essential tips and guidelines for writing a letter of invitation. Since visa application procedures vary by location, please check the specific instructions on the U.S. Embassy or Consulate website where your visitor will apply. Feel free to contact International Services for assistance.

According to the U.S. Department of State, visitor visa applicants must qualify for the B-2 Visa based on their ties to their home country, rather than assurances from U.S. family or friends. A letter of invitation or Affidavit of Support is not required for a visitor visa application. If you choose to submit one, please note that it is not a determining factor in the visa decision process.

Recommended Documents

In addition to required documentation, visa applicants should provide the following evidence to demonstrate their eligibility for the B-2 visa:

• Purpose of the trip (e.g., attending Commencement, visiting family)
• Intent to depart the U.S. after the visit
• Ability to cover all costs of the trip
• Evidence such as employment records and/or family ties may support the purpose of the trip and intent to return home. If the visitor is not covering all expenses, they may provide evidence that another person will cover some or all costs.

Adelphi University does not issue invitation letters for international visitors, including for Commencement. If you wish to provide a letter of invitation for your family member’s visa application, you—the international student—should write and give the letter directly to your visitor. When drafting a personalized letter, consider including the following details:

Your Information:

• Full name
• Date of birth
• Immigration status in the U.S. (including SEVIS number)
• U.S. address and telephone number
• Your relationship to the invited person

Visitor’s Information:

• Full name
• Date of birth
• Address and telephone number in their home country
• Occupation in their home country

Travel Details:

• Purpose of the visit and planned accommodations
• Intended length of stay in the U.S.
• Expected departure date from the U.S.

You can request the following documents from Adelphi to provide additional verification:

• Enrollment or Degree Verification Letter: Details about how to request this letter can be found here: Enrollment/Degree Verification.
• Letter of Status: You can request this letter via the International Services Portal

If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to reach out to International Services.

Adelphi’s yearbook, The Oracle, is available to graduating, undergraduate seniors and can be ordered online. Check back for further details. For questions about the yearbook, please email engage@adelphi.edu.

When graduation portraits are announced, we will share the upcoming portrait dates on the Commencement website. Email engage@adelphi.edu to ask questions about graduation portraits.

Senior events are routinely posted to our website. For questions about senior events, please email engage@adelphi.edu.

Information on cap and gown orders will be available soon. Stay tuned!

Unfortunately, there is no option to rent or borrow Commencement attire.

Please watch the following videos to learn the proper way to wear your academic regalia:

• Bachelor’s Attire Instructions
• Master’s Attire Instructions
• Doctoral Attire Instructions

Various organizations and departmental honor societies have stoles and/or cords available for their cohort. Graduates should reach out to any organizations they belong to on campus to see if they participate. Adelphi does not provide cords or stoles for Latin Honors.

Degrees for the spring and summer semesters are conferred on May 31 and August 31. Diplomas will be mailed to the address in your student record, which is on file with the Registrar’s Office. Students typically receive their diplomas in the mail 8 to 10 weeks after their degrees are posted. If you need to change your mailing address on file, please contact onestop@adelphi.edu.

• December 2025 graduates are considered Class of 2026.
• August 2026 graduates are considered Class of 2026.

Students must apply to graduate and be approved before March 31 to ensure that their names appear in the digital Commencement program.

Undergraduate students must have at least fifty-six credits of graded courses (excluding P grades) taken at Adelphi to be considered for Latin Honors. Students who meet that requirement will graduate cum laude (with distinction) with a GPA between 3.3 and 3.599, magna cum laude (with high distinction) with a GPA between 3.6 and 3.849, and summa cum laude (with highest distinction) with a GPA of 3.85 or higher.

Graduate students do not receive Latin Honors.

At the time the listing is created, Latin Honors are tentative, pending the receipt of final grades. Latin Honors are finalized when spring/summer courses are graded.

Degrees for the spring and summer semesters are conferred on May 31 and August 31. Diplomas will be mailed to the address in your student record. Students typically receive their diplomas in the mail eight to 10 weeks after their degrees are posted.

After completing the application for graduation candidacy. Please email your request to onestop@adelphi.edu. Requests must be received before your conferral date and must be sent from your Adelphi Gmail account.

Your diploma will note your name, school/college, degree, graduation date, and Latin Honors (if eligible). Your major, minor, concentration, track, cluster, and/or specialization will be noted on your transcript.

If you requested the diploma name change after March 31, the change will be reflected on your diploma.

Your preferred name is appearing in the listing because you checked the box indicating that you wanted to use your preferred name when you completed your graduation application. If you would like this changed to be your diploma name, please email onestop@adelphi.edu from your Adelphi Gmail account.