Commencement | Current Students

The president of Upstate, Dr. Dewan, speaks at the 2023 Commencement while students and audience watch.

2025 Commencement

Sunday, May 4th

Congratulations to the Class of 2025!

SUNY Upstate Medical University will confer degrees on graduates from all four Upstate colleges: Graduate Studies, Health Professions, Medicine, and Nursing. This year, Upstate will celebrate graduates on May 4th. The ceremony features remarks from Upstate leadership, faculty, students, and this year’s honorary degree recipient.

"Fulfill your higher calling... pursue your dreams of changing the world. You are everyday heroes that we so desperately need."
- Dr. Mantosh Dewan

Commencement Weekend 2025

Saturday, May 3: Dean's Receptions (College Specific)

SKY Armory
351 South Clinton Street
1:00pm – 3:00pm

Held the afternoon prior to Commencement, the college-specific Dean’s receptions are an opportunity for graduates, families and friends to gather and celebrate. The receptions will feature dean, student and alumni speakers, light refreshments and a cash bar. Additional information and an RSVP link will be forwarded to graduates in late spring.

Sunday, May 4: University Commencement

SRC Arena & Events Center
4585 W Seneca Turnpike, Syracuse, NY 13215

Doors open at 8:30am Ceremoney begins at 10:00am

The University Commencement Ceremony will recognize graduates from all four colleges at Upstate Medical University: Graduate studies, Healthcare Professions, Medicine and Nursing. The ceremony is anticipated to last 2.5 to 3 hours and will be livestreamed for guests unable to attend in person. Parking will be free to all attendees.

Any questions? Contact:

Ryan Green
Director of Campus Activities
[email protected]

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Translation Services

Sign Language Interpreters

The commencement ceremony will be live streamed, recorded and captioned. Graduates and guests may request a sign language interpreter by emailing [email protected]. Please note: We ask that you submit your request by April 4, 2025 so that we have time to coordinate services.

Language Translations

While we are unable to provide live translation services, we would like to suggest that family members in need of translation services consider using Google Translate, this is a free service that translates between English and over 100 languages.

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Commencement Regalia

Students will receive “keeper attire” consisting of a gown, hood (for masters and doctoral grads), cap – or tam for doctoral grads – and tassel which will be ordered online and shipped directly to you. Regalia is free of charge to students and orders will be available early in the spring semester. All students participating in the commencement ceremony must be in appropriate regalia. Link to order regalia was emailed to all students. Regalia orders are due March 21, 2025.

Hooding

Students graduating with a doctoral degree may choose to be hooded by an immediate family member with the same degree or a faculty member with a teaching appointment. Requests must be made and approved in advance. Hooders must be in regalia, and there is an option for family hooders to purchase regalia through the regalia webpage. Students not being hooded by family members will be hooded by Upstate faculty marshals.

Faculty Participation

Upstate faculty members are invited to celebrate the class of 2025 by attending Dean’s receptions and the commencement ceremony; tickets are not required for either of these events. Faculty are also welcome to formally participate in the Commencement ceremony, if you would like to participate in the faculty processional, we ask that you please email us ([email protected]) to let us know so we have an accurate count of faculty participants. Those wishing to participate in the faculty processional must be in appropriate regalia attire based on their degree. Faculty can reach out to the Office of Campus Activities if regalia is needed. Regalia orders are due March 21, 2025.

Remembering Past Commencements

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2024 Commencement

Upstate will award 430 degrees, certificates during Commencement May 5

Honorary degree recipients are Jose Jalife, MD, PhD; Katelyn K. Jetelina, MPH, PhD; and Nader Rifai, PhD.

2023 Commencement

Upstate will award 520 degrees, certificates during Commencement May 7

Stanford Professor Emeritus Dr Paul Brown, founder of Impossible Foods and head of the Impossible Foundation, will receive an honorary degree and address graduates.

2022 Commencement

Upstate will award 474 degrees, certificates during Commencement May 1

Students from Upstate's colleges of Graduate Studies, Health Professions, Medicine and Nursing will be awarded degrees, ranging from bachelor's degrees to doctorates.

2021 Commencement

Upstate to hold Commencement May 8 and 9

Upstate Commencement ceremonies are May 8 and 9

Upstate's 2021 Commencement ceremonies will be held in-person and virtually.

2020 Commencement

A screen capture of New York Health Commissioner Harold Zucker, MD, JD, from Upstate's 2020 virtual Commencement.

Upstate’s 419 graduates enter a ‘temporarily troubled world as graduates and heroes,’ after first-ever virtual Commencement

Deans and speakers emphasized unique circumstances, praised student resilience.

2019 Commencement

Health Commissioner Zucker will deliver the Upstate Medical University Commencement Address May 5

New York State Health Commissioner Zucker to address graduates at Upstate Medical University Commencement May 5

Upstate will confer degrees on 478 students.

2018 Commencement

Three will receive honorary degrees at Commencement May 20

Carolyn Jones, Jean William Pape, MD, and Tracy Shenandoah will speak to graduates and receive honorary degrees.

This Commencement celebrates high schoolers 'graduating' from Upstate

Henninger High School and Fowler Public Service Leadership Academy students were honored for completing Upstate's Medical Education for Diverse Students (MEDS) Program. MEDS students learned about anatomy, CPR, suturing, and other public health issues.

2017 Commencement

468 to receive degrees, certificates at Upstate Medical University Commencement May 21

Michael R. Barratt, MD, a NASA physician and astronaut and one of the nation's few specialists dually trained in medicine and aerospace medicine, will receive an honorary degree and address graduates.

Physician and astronaut Michael Barratt to receive honorary degree at Upstate Commencement May 21

Michael R. Barratt, MD, MS, is one of the nation's few specialists dually trained in medicine and aerospace medicine.

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