Commencement

Tickets will be available in mid-April.  Each Graduate will have 8 tickets available for guests to attend the ceremony.  Tickets are issued through Ticketmaster. Once the site goes live in mid-April, please follow the directions below to secure your tickets.  Graduates participating in the ceremony with regalia do not need a ticket to attend.

To order tickets:

• Click on the Ticketmaster link.
• In the upper right-hand corner of the website click “Sign In”.
• At the top of the page where it reads “New to Ticketmaster?” click “Sign Up”. You must sign up for a Ticketmaster account using your NCC student e-mail address in order to access your tickets.
• Follow the steps provided to create a new account.
• Once you have completed the sign up and log in you will be able to manage your tickets through a mobile device and send them via text message or e-mail to all attendees.

If you have difficulty signing up for or logging in to Ticketmaster, or if you have trouble managing your tickets once log in is complete, please contact boxoffice@nassaucoliseum.com for assistance.

Nassau Community College’s 2024 Commencement Ceremony will be held at Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum at 1255 Hempstead Turnpike in Uniondale, NY, on Wednesday, May 22 at 7:00pm.  Graduates should arrive by 6:00pm.  Please refer to the Coliseum’s website regarding re-entry and prohibited items

• Graduates arrive on Wednesday, May 22 at 6:00pm.
• Graduates in regalia do not need a ticket for entry.
• Enter Coliseum through the main entrance off Hempstead Turnpike.
• Park in the main parking lot, there is no parking fee.
• Graduates enter through the Grand Thornton VIP entrance and go immediately to the Exhibition Hall on the lower level.
• Ticketed guests park in the main parking lot and enter through the Geico Main Entrance.

Yes, graduates are free to line up with and sit with their friends at Commencement, there is no requirement to stay with your program of study during the ceremony. 

There is no charge to park at the Coliseum on the day of Commencement.

Approximately 2 hours total.

Graduates from August 2023, December 2023, and graduate candidates from May 2024 are all eligible to walk during the ceremony.  August 2024 graduate candidates may also walk during the ceremony as long as they have applied for graduation.

Graduates from August and December of 2023, and any graduate candidate for May 2024 who applied for graduation before the February 26th deadline, will have their name included in this year’s Commencement Program.  

August 2024 graduate candidates may walk in the May ceremony as long as they have applied for graduation.  August 2024 candidate names will not appear in this year’s Commencement Program, they will appear in the Commencement Program for 2025. 

To order your Cap and Gown:

• Go to the Herff Nassau website.
• Click on the “Order Now” button under “Cap & Gown”
• Enter your Nassau ID # (N00------) in the search field and click “Search”
• When your name appears, click on“Congratulations! Order your graduation products here!” (If your name does not appear please follow up with Registrar to confirm that you applied for graduation. Please note that there may be a delay from the time you apply for graduation to when you may order your graduation regalia.)
• From the “Select an option” drop down menu choose 1 of 2 options:

• Option 1: Pick up Cap and Gown at Bookstore

• Once selected, the Ceremony Date and Degree Type will be shown. Click on “SHOP”
• Choose the “Cap & Gown” tab 
• The first choice “Graduation Regalia” includes a Cap, Gown, Tassel, and Hood. There is no charge for these items. (Please note that other options/packages selected may incur an additional charge.)
• Click “Click to Show Contents” 
• Click “View Full Details”
• Fill out your information and click “Add to Cart” when you are finished
• Complete your order

Note: The last day to order your Cap and Gown online to be picked up at the NCC Bookstore is Friday, March 22, 2024. Orders placed after this date may incur additional fees.

• Option 2: Ship Cap and Gown Home

• Once selected, the Ceremony Date and Degree Type will be shown. Click on “SHOP”
• Choose the “Cap & Gown” tab 
• The first choice “Graduation Regalia” includes a Cap, Gown, Tassel, and Hood. There is no charge for these items. (Please note that other options/packages selected may incur an additional charge.)
• Click “Click to Show Contents” 
• Click “View Full Details”
• Fill out your information and click “Add to Cart” when you are finished
• Complete your order

Note: The last day to order your Cap and Gown online to be shipped to your home is Friday, April 26, 2024. Orders placed after this date may incur additional fees.

The cap, gown, hood and tassel are included in the all-purpose fee.  There is no additional charge for these items, and they are yours to keep.

Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum provides easy access for guests with disabilities.  These areas include accessible entry doors, restrooms, drinking fountains, and seating areas.

Yes, there will be 2 ASL interpreters on the left side of the stage. If you need assistance please see a staff member at the ceremony.

This year we have a special keynote speaker, Steven Bandrowczak, the CEO of Xerox, and a Nassau Community College alum.  Along with our keynote speaker, Dr. Maria Conzatti, our Chief Administrative Officer, a representative from Nassau County, The President of the Student Government and the Valedictorian of the class of 2024 will all speak during the ceremony.

Yes, a highlight of graduation is the introduction of each candidate during the Line of March.  Graduates will be given a name card when they arrive, this card permits a phonetic spelling of their name.  It is suggested that students use phonetics to simplify and ensure the accuracy of the pronunciation of their name.  A televised image will be projected on the four-sided Jumbotron above the arena floor.

Yes, the Commencement Ceremony will be live-streamed, a link will be posted on the Commencement website prior to the ceremony on May 22.

With the student’s approval, they will be photographed at the Coliseum before the ceremony by a professional photographer.  Photograph proofs will be sent to their home for optional purchase.  

Diplomas will be mailed 6 to 8 weeks after certification of degree.  Check your NCC e-mail address for updates.

Graduates are encouraged to wear comfortable clothing, especially comfortable footwear to the ceremony. There will be a lot of standing and walking during the 2-hour ceremony. 

Congratulations on joining a network of successful individuals who are proud to call themselves NCC graduates! Applications are available to join NCC’s Alumni Association online.