Campus and Commencement Services
All information below relates to routine years and is subject to change at any time.
Accessibility:
The University designates special seating for individuals who have accessibility or other physical challenges, such as hearing impairment. If a family member has such challenges, please contact Anne Chism in the office of Community and Employee Relations in advance at 315-229-5656 to discuss your needs. We will reserve one seat for the person who has physical challenges and one additional seat for a family member. To accommodate those guests with physical challenges, we cannot seat entire groups in this section.
Accommodations:
In addition to local and regional accommodations, guests may reserve rooms at the University itself on Friday and Saturday nights. Reservations can be made online after spring break.
Phone reservations cannot be accepted and payment must be made by credit card in full at the time of the reservation. We encourage you to share this link with your guests so they can make their own reservations if they like. Please share with your guests that the University provides linen, as well as a pillow, towel, and blanket for each bed, but guests should bring any additional amenities to make their stay comfortable. No meals are included in this price. Check out is on Sunday by 6:00 p.m. Reservations are just for room type, not specific rooms. Specific assignments will be given at check in. First Year residence halls are used (Priest, Reiff, Gaines, Whitman, Rebert, and Lee). Cancelled reservations will be refunded up until one week before Commencement. For questions about on-campus accommodations not addressed here, please call Residence Life at 315-229-5250.
Housing assignments are made on a first-come, first-serve basis. Special arrangements may be made for some health problems (please be sure to reference this at the time of reservation). Please also note that Theme Cottages, Steiner Senior Townhouses, Hulett, Jencks, Sykes, Dean Eaton and Douglas will not be available for commencement housing due to the large number of seniors living in these buildings. Guest check-in will be in the Sullivan Student Center on Friday and Saturday.
A list of local residents who rent housing for Commencement is updated and mailed to parents of graduating seniors in January. Other area accommodations contacts can be located on our web site. RVs may be parked in the lot on Miner Street across from Appleton Arena and RV rentals are available through Steve's RV Center in Potsdam.
Announcements:
Brewer Bookstore sells graduation announcements during the spring semester.
Brewer Bookstore:
Friday: 8:00 am-8:00 pm
Saturday: 8:00 am-8:00 pm
Sunday: 8:00 am-5:00 pm
Caps and Gowns:
Caps and gowns are purchased at Brewer Bookstore during Senior Week. No advance orders are necessary.
Dining:
Campus dining halls will be open during the weekend and meals will be served on a cash basis.
A post-Commencement lunch in Dana Dining Hall is available free to graduates and $8 per person for adults, $5 for children under six.
Flowers:
Bouquets for your graduate may be purchased at the Bookstore on Sunday morning from local florist White’s Flowers. They also will set up between Atwood and Richardson Halls (behind the Commencement bleachers).
Owen D. Young and Launders Science Library:
Friday (both libraries) 8:30 am-4:30pm
Saturday (both libraries) 10:00am-4:30pm
Commencement Sunday: Owen D. Young Library- 8:00am-3:00pm
(Launders Science Library is closed on Sunday)
Parking:
Parents and guests should use the parking facilities on the perimeter of campus and enjoy St. Lawrence's walking campus. Please call 229-5555 to arrange a ride. No vehicles will be allowed inside the campus perimeter after Saturday at 5 p.m. The University also will provide shuttle service from 8:30 to 10 a.m. from parking lot E to the Commencement site and from noon to 2 p.m. from the Commencement site to Parking Lot E for those guests who have difficulty walking distances. Parking Lot E will be reserved for families with Special Access Parking passes. Security staff, student Emergency Medical Technicians and Student Safety Patrol members will be on campus to assist as well.
Photography:
The University has engaged Genesee Photo Systems to capture the moment each student receives his or her diploma. Genesee Photo Systems will send proofs to students’ home addresses and families may elect to purchase photos directly from this firm. Their contact info: 1-405-624-1002 |1-800-345-7427
Families are invited to photograph or record the awarding of degrees from the designated area at the left side of the stage.
Reception:
Guests and graduates are invited to enjoy cookies and punch after Commencement.
Tickets:
There are no tickets needed for graduation. Our facilities accommodate all guests.
Weather:
Commencement is held outdoors on the Creasy Commencement Commons. Check the weather reports to determine appropriate attire. If Commencement is moved indoors to Newell Field House, the Commencement web site will be updated Saturday afternoon. No tickets are necessary in either an outdoor or indoor location.