LI college graduation guide: 'Class of 2022 has persevered'
LIU students at graduation ceremonies last year on the university's Brookville campus. Many Class of 2022 graduates have studied in the shadow of COVID for half of their campus careers. Credit: Howard Schnapp
Long Island's colleges and universities are planning commencement ceremonies that largely return to pre-pandemic traditions, though several of the institutions are requiring attendees to wear masks.
Gone are the drive-thru and virtual graduations seen in the past two years.
The main commencement ceremony in which all graduates are eligible to walk is Friday at 11 a.m. at LaValle Stadium.
“The last two years have been entirely unexpected for the Class of 2022,” said Stony Brook University President Maurie McInnis. “Our graduating students have been especially creative in how they learn, how they communicate, and how they think. The experience will help make them better leaders in the future.”
Stony Brook University students graduate in 2015. This year's main commencement ceremony at Stony Brook is Friday. Credit: Heather Walsh
Students will gather in the Suffolk Federal Credit Union Arena on the college's Brentwood campus.
“The Class of 2022 has persevered, pushed through, and succeeded despite the challenges and uncertainty faced during the course of their studies," said college President Edward Bonahue.
Commencement speakers include New York City Mayor Eric Adams, who will receive an honorary doctorate. In addition to in-person events, the ceremonies also will be presented in live webcasts.
Masks are required for all attendees, though graduates will be able to remove their masks when walking across the stage.
LIU students at 2021 graduation ceremonies on the university's Brookville campus.
Credit: Howard Schnapp
Last year the college held a drive-in commencement in which graduates walked across the stage of the school's Madison Theatre while family and friends watched in cars on large screens in the parking lot.
"These last two years have been challenging for all of us, but our graduates have truly exemplified the meaning of resilience and dedication as they have realized their goals despite the many obstacles they have encountered," said interim college President Maria Conzatti.
Masks are required in order to attend.
The commencement ceremony for Long Island University’s Brooklyn and Hudson campuses as well as LIU Pharmacy and LIU Global will take place Monday at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn. Long Island University’s commencement ceremony for its Post, Riverhead and Brentwood campuses occurred on the Post campus in Brookville on Tuesday.
A Stony Brook University graduation before the pandemic, in May 2019. Credit: Yellow House Images/Andrew Theodorakis
This is the first year the school is doing a combined commencement for all three of its campuses — Long Island, Brooklyn and online.
The speaker at the 56th Commencement of SUNY Old Westbury is Edwina G. Richardson-Mendelson, deputy chief administrative judge for Justice Initiatives for the New York State Unified Court System. More than 1,100 students are expected to graduate, with graduate and undergraduate degrees earned in its schools of arts and sciences, business, education, and professional studies. Commencement will take place at Nassau Coliseum on Sunday, May 22.
The individual school/college ceremonies will immediately follow. For the first time in three school years, graduates, family members and friends will join faculty, staff and administration and gather in person to celebrate its annual commencement. Commencement for the classes of 2020 and 2021 were held virtually due to COVID.
New York Tech President Hank Foley said he will urge graduates to help those who follow after them at the school.
“Your experiences here will help guide others, and I call on you to reach a hand back to those who follow you," he will tell them, according to his prepared remarks. "This is how we can continue to reinvent the future together.”
Last year, for the graduating classes of 2020 and 2021, the college held a combined in-person commencement at the Patchogue Center for the Performing Arts and followed state COVID-19 protocols at that time and will do so this time as well.
More than 1,300 students are scheduled to receive degrees or certificates at Farmingdale State College’s 101st commencement May 26 at 10 a.m. at the college’s Nold Soccer/Lacrosse Stadium.
“This year marks the conclusion of an incredible journey that required our students to persevere through unprecedented times. We are so proud of their accomplishments and wish them continued success in all their future endeavors,” said Laura Joseph, FSC’s senior vice president and provost.
Among this year’s undergraduates is Gabriella Cordi of Farmingdale, known on campus as the “Commencement Baby,” who was born during commencement 22 years ago. Her grandfather, a longtime FSC professor, was the college marshal at graduation that year, and faculty were alert for updates as the ceremony progressed. Cordi’s grandmother finally flashed a thumbs-up to her grandfather to signal her arrival.
An alumni commencement for the classes of spring and winter 2020 and 2021 is scheduled for May 25 at 7 p.m. in the Nold Athletic Complex.
Masks are recommended but at this point not required for those attending. No proof of vaccination or testing is currently required.
Craig Schneider is a Long Island native and Stony Brook University alumnus. He joined Newsday as a general assignment reporter in January 2018 after 20 years at the Atlanta Journal-Constitution.
