FAQ
Commencement and Graduation FAQs
What is the difference between graduation and Commencement?
Graduation refers to the process of applying for completion of your degree/certificate program with the Registrar. Commencement refers to the actual ceremony.
Diplomas
When will my diploma be ready?
Diplomas are ready about three months after your degree has been conferred.
How will I receive my diploma?
Diplomas are mailed out to graduates approximately 3-4 months after your degree has been conferred via an external vendor used for diplomas.
I graduated in 2014 (or earlier). How do I get my diploma?
Students would have to email the Registrar Audit team to make an appointment to pick up degrees that were from 2014 or earlier or if they come to the Jay Express counter, they can call over to the Registrar to make sure they have the diploma. Email: RegistrarAudit@jjay.cuny.edu
What name will appear on my diploma?
The name on your diploma will be what appears on your CUNYFirst record. Any name change must be officially changed at Jay Express. For updates, please visit or contact Jay Express at Jayexpress@jjay.cuny.edu or call 646-781-5081. Updates must be done before the end of the semester when you are expected to finish coursework and graduate. Requests made after the diploma is printed will incur a $30.00 fee.
Commencement Ceremony Tickets
How many tickets do I get and how do I get them?
Based on venue capacity, the Office of Student Transition Programs closely monitors the registration numbers of graduates to determine the number of guest tickets we can provide per graduate. For reference, the College provided four guest tickets per graduate for last year’s ceremony.
Once a decision is made, all eligible graduates who have registered in the Commencement Dashboard by the registration deadline will receive an email notification to their John Jay student email with important details regarding tickets.
Will my child need their own ticket?
Please note an important Barclays Center policy, “Children under 2 years old will not require a ticket but must sit on the lap of an accompanying ticketed adult. Any child that has reached their 2nd birthday will require a ticket to enter the arena and must occupy their ticketed seat only.”
Commencement
When is Commencement?
The 2025 Commencement ceremony will take place on TBA with a start time of TBA. There will be one ceremony for all 2024-2025 graduates.
Can I participate in the Commencement ceremony?
To participate in the ceremony, you must first:
- Apply for graduation before the deadline of each term. If you have issues applying for graduation, please contact the Registrar's office at RegistrarAudit@jjay.cuny.edu to confirm your eligibility.
- Pay your tuition balance in full before the deadline of each term. If you have issues paying your tuition, please contact the Bursrar's office at 212-237-8555, or email them at Bursar@jjay.cuny.edu to confirm your tuition balance and/or payments.
I don't meet the requirements to participate in the Commencement ceremony. Can I appeal it?
To be eligible to participate in Commencement and appear in the Commencement program, a student must have applied for graduation on CUNYfirst. Students whose degree requirements will be completed by the end of the summer session may be eligible to participate in Commencement if all of the following conditions are met at the time the Office of the Registrar certifies the graduation list:
- By March 31st, the student will have their spring tuition balance paid in full.
- At the end of the spring semester, the student will have no more than two courses remaining to complete their degree requirements.
- By May 1st, the student has to apply for graduation in CUNYfirst, and be registered for and paid for the required course(s) during the summer session immediately following the Commencement.
- The student has a minimum overall GPA of 2.00 and a minimum GPA in their major of 2.00.
- By May 8th, students who meet all the requirements listed above and are prospective summer graduates will be listed as such in the Commencement program.
Students who have not met all of the requirements above cannot participate in the commencement ceremony and will not appear in the Commencement program. This policy is not appealable.
I need accessibility services on the day of Commencement.
If you are a graduating student in need of accommodations, you must contact the Office of Accessibility Services. Please contact Elena Beharry at ebeharry@jjay.cuny.edu.
Am I eligible to apply for graduation (program completion)?
To determine eligibility for graduation (program completion), please contact the Registrar's office at RegistrarAudit@jjay.cuny.edu.
I have one or two more classes left in the summer term. Can I still participate in the commencement ceremony?
If you have TWO courses or LESS left to complete your program, you may be eligible to participate in the Spring commencement ceremony. The requirements are:
- By March 31st, you must have your spring tuition balance paid in full.
- By May 1st, you must apply for graduation in CUNYfirst, and be registered for and paid for the required course(s) during the summer session immediately following the Commencement.
If you have more than two courses to finish your program, you are not eligible to participate in the spring commencement ceremony and pending completion of requirements will be eligible to participate in the following spring ceremony.
Honors Information
When/how will I receive my honors cords?
Honor cords will be distributed at Graduate Salute on the second Wednesday of May. For more information on Graduate Salute and other commencement-related events, please visit https://www.jjay.cuny.edu/student-life/student-transition-programs/commencement/commencement-events.
How will I know that I am graduating with honors?
You should be receiving an email from the Registrar’s Office informing your eligibility.
You can also check your DegreeWorks. An email notification will be sent out in early May to confirm the pick up of Latin Honor cords during Graduate Salute on May 7, 2025.