Commencement
Learn everything you need to know about graduation eligibility, regalia and the commencement ceremony.
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Must Watch: What to Expect [4:27 min]
Date and Location
School of Social Work Commencement Ceremony
Saturday, May 16, 2026
Time: 9-11 a.m.
Location: UB North Campus, Center for the Arts
Graduating students should arrive no later than 8 a.m. and proceed to the CFA's lower-level Black Box Theatre (volunteers will provide guidance and signage).
Eligibility
Students who have applied for graduation in HUB with an expected conferral date of Feb. 1, June 1 or Aug. 31, 2026 and who remain in good academic standing may participate in the commencement ceremony.
Preferred/chosen name, as it appears in HUB, will be listed in program books for students who apply for graduation by April 1. If you’d like your name listed differently from that, please let us know using the name correction form when we email it to you in April.
Only graduating students may participate in the graduation ceremony, including walking in the processional and crossing the stage. The University will make limited exceptions when a graduating student requires assistance due to a disability. Students needing accommodations to participate in the ceremony should contact sw-studentservices@buffalo.edu.
Registration
Registration for the commencement ceremony is separate from applying for graduation (degree). To participate in the commencement ceremony, registration is required.
To register, complete this form by March 1, 2026.
Guest Tickets
To ensure a safe, enjoyable experience for all graduates and guests, all commencement ceremonies will be ticketed. A standardized ticketing process will allow UB adhere to venue capacity regulations to ensure the safety and comfort of all attendees.
This is a ticketed ceremony. All guests will need a ticket to enter the ceremony. Graduates participating in the ceremony and children two and under, sitting on a ticketed guest's lap, do not need a ticket.
Ticket Reservation Instructions
- Sign in to reserve your tickets using the link in your ceremony registration confirmation email.
- If you already have a Ticketmaster account - enter your credentials.
- If you do not have an account, click "Sign Up"
- Enter Promocode.
- Enter your unique promocode (Your UB ID) using the unlock button to access your tickets. The promocode is case-sensitive, so please make sure you are using only lowercase letters.
- Select the number of tickets you want to order.
- Use the + or - to increase or decrease the amount.
- This is a free, general admission event. Seating is not assigned and is first-come, first-served.
- Review your selection and click "Add to Cart."
- Click the shopping cart icon in the top right corner.
- Review your selection a final time then click "Checkout."
- Check the box to accept the terms and conditions and click "Place Order."
- The tickets will be added to your account
- No payment is required
- You will see a confirmation message as well as a button that says "Go back to My Events."
- You will receive a confirmation email.
Looking for additional instructions on guest ticketing including accepting and transferring tickets? Visit the Commencement Mobile Ticketing webpage.
Questions about tickets?
Contact:
Center for the Arts Ticket Office
Phone: (716) 645-6253
Email: ubcfatickets@buffalo.edu
Regalia
MSW Regalia
If you plan to participate in commencement, you must have regalia (mortarboard hat, black master’s robe, hood, tassel) for the ceremony.
You may purchase your regalia online from the Jostens website or through the UB Bookstore beginning in early Spring. Students who order online will receive a discounted price and you can choose to have your regalia shipped to your home (Select Student Master-Home Ship) or you can arrange to pick up your regalia from the UB Bookstore (Select Student Master-Bookstore).
PhD and DSW Regalia
PhD and DSW candidates may rent their academic dress, which can be ordered online. Purchase of custom UB regalia is also an option through the University Bookstore.
Special Needs Gowns
Custom fit gowns can be ordered for a person using a wheelchair at commencement, for people needing size 4X and up, and for service dogs. These items must be paid for and ordered by early/mid April (specific deadline to be announced), and no refund can be issued. Contact the bookstore with questions.
Contact Information: University Bookstore (Regalia Seller)
University Bookstore (North Campus)
200 Lee Entrance
Buffalo, NY 14228
Phone: 716-636-6290 ext. 19
Email: 0405gm@follett.com
Diplomas
Printed Diploma
The Office of the Registrar will mail a printed diploma, free of charge, to your permanent address about 4-6 weeks after the conferral date.
You are responsible for ensuring your address is up to date. Be sure to change your address, if needed, by the term conferral date to ensure you receive your diploma.
Certified Electronic Diploma
Students who graduated June 2020 and later have the option to purchase a certified electronic diploma (CeDiploma) for $15.95. Notification will be sent to your UB email, from info@cecredentialtrust.com, about 3-6 weeks after your degree conferral date.
Questions?
Watch the Celebration
Visit the University Events livestream page for an accessible PDF of our commencement program and a link to view the ceremony live.
The livestream will begin five minutes prior to the ceremony start time and be available on YouTube to view afterward.