The 2018 University Commencement is happening Friday, May 18, 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 18 and/or the Lang recognition ceremony, you must purchase your cap and gown at the Grad Fair, held on Tuesday, May 15, from 2:00 to 4:30 p.m. in the Theresa Lang Community Center, Arnhold Hall. Online ordering has already closed.
If you have any questions regarding caps and gowns, please email
commencement@newschool.edu.
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 the South Gate Entrance at Arthur Ashe Stadium and follow signs to the student lineup area for robing and marching instructions. Graduates are advised not to use the East Gate Entrance, as there will be construction taking place. 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 via 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. For more information, or 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. Fewer plastic bottles will be choking our landfills because 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.