The 2019 University Commencement will take place on Friday, May 17, at 11:30 a.m. in the Arthur Ashe Stadium at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in Flushing Meadows–Corona Park, Queens. Tickets are not needed for this
event.
For directions, visit the Venue page.
Cap and Gown
If you are planning to attend the university commencement ceremony on May 17 and/or the Lang recognition ceremony, you must purchase a cap and gown. The online order deadline has passed, but you can purchase your cap and gown in person at Grad Fair on Friday, May 10, from 4:00 to 7:00 p.m. in the University Center. Check in at the Event Café.
Graduate Arrival Information
Graduates may arrive as early as 9:30 a.m. but must be checked in and ready for robing and lineup by 10:00 a.m. at the latest. Use both the East Gate and the South Gate Entrances to enter the USTA plaza; then enter Arthur Ashe Stadium from the South Main
Entrance and follow the signs to the student lineup area for robing and marching instructions. The ceremony will begin promptly at 11:30 a.m. and end at approximately 1:30 p.m. Please note that personal belongings cannot be left in the robing area.
We recommend that graduates bring only their caps, gowns, and essential personal items that they can keep with them during the ceremony.
Accessible Seating
The USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center is accessible. Vertical access is provided by ramps and elevators, with escalators offering additional convenience for ambulatory guests. Both the lower and upper concourses of Arthur Ashe Stadium have
wheelchair-accessible seating. Captioning and ASL services will be provided. Learn more on the Venue page, and if students or guests have any special needs, please contact Student Disability Services at 212.229.5626 or studentdisability@newschool.edu.
Greening Commencement
The New School's commitment to environmental responsibility extends to Commencement. At Commencement, all students will wear regalia made from 100 percent post-consumer recycled plastic bottles! Part of the university's effort to remain green, the line
of graduation wear — called GreenWeaver — is made of fabric spun from molten plastic pellets. An average of 23 plastic bottles was used to manufacture the cap and gown of each New School student walking at Commencement. With some 60 million plastic
bottles going into U.S. landfills every day, The New School is helping to turn trash into keepsakes.
Graduates can also consider taking the Graduation Pledge of Social and Environmental Responsibility, a pledge to be mindful of the social and environmental
impact of their employment as they enter the workforce or continue their education. You can sign the pledge online or
sign and pick up your green ribbon in person during Grad Fair.
#NewSchoolGrad
Share your tweets, photos, and videos on social media using the official Commencement hashtag.