Commencement

What is the difference between graduation and Commencement? 

• Graduation is the process of applying for completion of your degree program via CUNYfirst through the Registrar’s Office.
• Commencement refers to the ceremony for graduates on May 28, 2026. There is one Commencement ceremony each academic year at the end of the Spring semester. To participate in Commencement, students must have filed for graduation by the established deadlines. 

Graduation and Commencement are NOT the same.

• To participate in Commencement, students must have filed for graduation by the established deadlines.
• For students to “graduate” and receive their diploma, they must have successfully completed all courses and have met all degree requirements.
• As a reminder, you must apply for graduation to initiate the official review of your records to determine whether you have satisfied all of the requirements and will be eligible to receive your degree.
• Spring and Summer 2026 graduates are invited to participate in the Commencement ceremony even though final grades or requirements may not yet be complete if they have filed for graduation by the deadline (March 1, 2026) for those semesters.

Apply for Graduation 

Students are eligible to apply for graduation once they have earned 45 credits towards an associate's degree, 94 credits towards a bachelor's degree, and at any point at the graduate level. Students should apply for graduation before the deadline in the semester they will complete their final requirements: see Graduation Application Deadlines below.

The deadline to file for fall 2025 graduation was October 1, 2025. 
The deadline to file for spring 2026 graduation is March 1, 2026. 
The deadline to file for summer 2026 graduation is July 1, 2026.

For instructions on how to apply and to view your application status, click here.

If you experience issues applying online via CUNYfirst, please email degreeaudit@csi.cuny.edu.

Am I eligible to participate in the Commencement ceremony? 

The college holds one Commencement each academic year—at the end of the spring semester. Students who will complete their degree requirements in fall 2025, winter 2026, spring 2026, or summer 2026 are eligible to participate in the May 28, 2026 ceremony.

Senior Portraits

Capture your special moment with graduation pictures taken by Picture This, CSI’s official senior portrait photographer.

SITTINGS ARE BY APPOINTMENT ONLY. 

When: Wednesday, 2/18 through Friday, 2/27 (appointments available 9am-7pm) 
Where: Campus Center, 1C-215 
Cost: $10 sitting fee

Payment Methods: Cash, money orders, or checks (payable to CSIA) are accepted.
How to schedule your appointment: Contact Picture This at 718.447.4607, weekdays during business hours. 

Notes: 

• Cap & gown poses, as well as your own attire included in your sitting. 
• Limited graduation regalia will be available to use. 
• Photos cannot be corrected or retouched. 
• Don’t delay! Schedule your appointment NOW to guarantee availability. 
• In-studio appointments are also available. Contact Picture This for more information! 

*Additional spring dates coming soon!*

Regalia and Spirit Gear Pop-Up Shop 

When: 

• Tuesday             5/12     12-8pm 
• Wednesday       5/13     12-5pm 
• Thursday           5/14     12-5pm 
• Tuesday            5/19     12-8pm 
• Wednesday       5/20     12-5pm 
• Wednesday       5/27     12-8pm 

Where: 

Building 3A – First Floor, Dolphin Services 

Cost: 

• Undergraduate (cap, gown, and tassel) package: $40 
• Graduate (cap, gown, hood, and tassel) package: $55
• CSI Commencement Stole: $12 
• CSI 2025 Tassel: $5 

How to Pay: 

• NEW this year – Students can now use Tap and Pay and Apple Wallet!
• Students may purchase regalia and spirit gear via Finbucks, credit card, check, or money order. 
• Cash is NOT accepted.

Important Details:  

• Don’t wait until the last minute! You are encouraged to purchase and pick up your regalia during the first week of the Pop-Up Shop. As Commencement approaches, we will likely start running out of some of the sizing ranges and cannot guarantee we will have your height range in stock. Cap and gown regalia come bundled together and cannot be sold separately. 
• Please DO NOT iron your gown as it will damage the gown, and you will have to purchase another package. To get out any wrinkles you can use a steamer or hang up the gown in your bathroom before taking a hot shower so the steam can release the wrinkles. 
• Exchanges can only be made for gowns that were purchased in their accurate height range. If you buy a gown outside your height range, we may not be able to exchange it later. 
• All sales are final. There are no refunds, and any exchanges need to take place before May 28 and with the original receipt.  

Stay tuned for details on the Online Commencement Spirit Shop! 

Graduation Survey 

Please complete a brief Graduation Survey that asks about your experiences at CSI and how your college education prepared you for your career path. 

The survey is accessible in your To Do List on CUNYfirst.

To access the survey, follow the steps below: 

1. Sign into CUNYfirst 
2. Click on the Student Center 
3. Click on Tasks and Holds 
4. Choose the Graduation Survey from the To Do List
5. Complete the survey (You’ll know it is complete because it will no longer appear on your graduation checklist).

The College-Wide Ceremony 

The seventy-seventh Commencement of the College of Staten Island will take place on Thursday, May 28, 2026, at 9:30 am. Candidates should be at the College by 8:15 am to participate in this ceremony. 

All graduates should report to Alumni Walk, located between the campus center and the library (see campus map), with the exception of the following: 

• School of Business report to the front of building 3N 
• School of Education report to the front of building 3S 
• Social Work Department report to the front of building 2A
• Mathematics Department report to the front of building 1S 
• Chemistry Department report to the front of building 6S 
• English Department report to the front of building 2S 

The Commencement Ceremony will be livestreamed. There will be several camera feeds, so your family and friends at home or abroad will enjoy a high-quality experience. Open captioning will be available. The livestream link will appear on the CSI website by 9:00 am on May 28. 

Inclement Weather 

The Commencement ceremony is held outdoors on the Great Lawn, rain or shine. In the case of severe weather, the College may opt to delay the start of the ceremony. All attendees should check the weather before arriving on campus and plan accordingly. A Commencement Day Inclement Weather Plan will be posted closer to the date of the ceremony.

Tickets for Guests 

Tickets are not required for guests to attend the College-wide ceremony on the Great Lawn. Please be mindful that seating is extremely limited and available on a first-come, first-served basis. 

Parking and Other Transportation Information 

• Please be mindful that parking is extremely limited and will be available at all marked lots on campus. Try to make every effort to carpool to the College. Please convey this to your guests as well. 
• The Great Lawn, where the College-wide Commencement Ceremony will be held, is a considerable walk from the College’s parking lots (see campus map). Therefore, comfortable footwear is recommended. 

MTA 

• MTA buses (including the S93) will stop at the main gate on Victory Boulevard. 
• The S93 will be dropping off and picking up at the front gate only from the start of their schedule until 3:00pm. 

Rideshare 

Students and guests using rideshare services (e.g., Uber, Lyft, or car services) to travel to or from campus for the Commencement ceremony should direct their drivers to Parking Lot 1, located directly behind Building 2A. This area is designated exclusively for drop-off and pick-up. 

Students with Accessibility Requests

Special arrangements will be made for degree candidates with disabilities. If you require assistance, please complete this Accommodation Request Form. Contact the Office of Accessibility at 718.982.2510 or Access@csi.cuny.edu if you have additional questions.

The College-Wide Ceremony 

The seventy-seventh Commencement of the College of Staten Island will take place on Thursday, May 28, 2025, at 9:30 am at the College of Staten Island – 2800 Victory Boulevard, Staten Island, New York. 

The ceremony will be held outdoors on the Great Lawn, rain or shine. In the case of severe weather, the College may opt to delay the start of the ceremony. All attendees should check the weather before arriving on campus and plan accordingly. A Commencement Day Inclement Weather Plan will be posted closer to the date of the ceremony.

The music prologue begins at 9:00 am, and the ceremony starts promptly at 9:30 am; however, you are encouraged to arrive as early as 8:15 am with your graduate since there will be limited parking available and a high volume of traffic entering through the front gate. 

Tickets for Guests 

Tickets are not required for guests to attend the College-wide ceremony on the Great Lawn. Please be mindful that seating is extremely limited and available on a first-come, first-served basis. 

 Parking & Transportation Information 

• Please be mindful that parking is extremely limited and will be available at all marked lots on campus. Try to make every effort to carpool to the College. Please convey this to your guests as well. 
• The Great Lawn, where the College-wide Commencement Ceremony will be held, is a considerable walk from the College’s parking lots (see campus map). Therefore, comfortable footwear is recommended. 

MTA 

• MTA buses (including the S93) will stop at the main gate on Victory Boulevard. 
• The S93 will be dropping off and picking up at the front gate only from the start of their schedule until 3:00pm. 

Rideshare 

Students and guests using rideshare services (e.g., Uber, Lyft, or car services) to travel to or from campus for the Commencement ceremony should direct their drivers to Parking Lot 1, located directly behind Building 2A. This area is designated exclusively for drop-off and pick-up. 

Commencement Program 

Commencement programs will be distributed to graduates and their guests on Commencement Day. It will feature a QR code with a link to the Commencement booklet listing all degree candidates. 

Guests with Accessibility Requests 

• Guests with mobility concerns should inquire at the entrance gates about special on-campus transportation. They will be directed to a designated drop-off point where they and one companion can access special transportation to and from the ceremony site. If a particular need should arise while on campus, please notify a uniformed Public Safety Officer. 
• For other accommodation requests, please contact the Office of Accessibility Services at 718.982.2510 or Access@csi.cuny.edu. 

Livestream 

The Commencement Ceremony will be livestreamed. There will be several camera feeds so your family and friends at home or abroad will enjoy a high-quality experience. Open captioning will be available.  
The livestream link will be on the CSI website by 9:00 am on May 28. 

For Further Information 

If you need additional information about Commencement, email commencement@csi.cuny.edu or call 718.982.2335 during regular business hours. 

Tributes to the Class of 2025

• Commencement Photo Gallery 2025
• Commencement Brochure 2025
• Degree Candidates Listing 2025
• Degree Candidates Listing 2025 (ADA Compliant copy)

Tributes to the Class of 2024

• Commencement Photo Gallery
• Degree Candidates Listing 2024
• Commencement Brochure 2024 

Tributes to the Class of 2023

• Commencement Exercises/Program and Candidates 2023
• Degree Candidates Listing 2023
• CSI Gallery - 2023 Commencement Photos

Tributes to the Class of 2022

• 2022 Candidates for Graduation
• CSI Commencement Photo Gallery

Tributes to the Class of 2021