Commencement Planning Letter to Students and Families
Winter 2024
Seniors and Families of the Class of 2024,
On behalf of St. Lawrence University, I would like to extend congratulations to you as you anticipate ending the last semester of your senior’s undergraduate education at St. Lawrence. We work to prepare seniors for final responsibilities throughout the spring semester and with families as you await our ceremonies in Newell Field House at 10 a.m., Sunday, May 19, 2024, the procession starts at 9:40 a.m.
Note that this letter is sent to families whose students are coded “2024” in our database and does not reflect any student’s individual circumstances.
Visit the St. Lawrence University Commencement Webpage for updates, including commencement on-campus housing and event registration which will open March 25, 2024 at noon (EST). To receive these updates through email, reply to this email and add subject line: senior parents.
Academic regalia: Academic regalia may be purchased at the Brewer Bookstore during Senior Week. We do not custom order regalia, so advance ordering is not necessary.
Accessibility: The University designates special seating for individuals who have accessibility or other physical challenges, such as hearing impairment. To accommodate all guests with physical challenges, we assign a seat for the person in need of the accommodation and one additional seat for a companion. If a family member has such challenges, please indicate this in the commencement on-campus housing and events registration that will open March 25, 2024 at noon (EST).
Accommodations: Seeking housing for family members and friends for Commencement weekend? St. Lawrence University offers the opportunity for guests to stay in a university residence hall room or reserve a parking spot for those families bringing their RV on Friday and/or Saturday night, May 17 and 18. Registration for on- campus housing will open March 25, 2024 at noon (EST).
Announcements: Custom graduation announcements may be purchased by seniors through Balfour (CB Graduation Announcements). The Brewer Bookstore also provides a link on their website.
Commencement: The Commencement procession starts at 9:40 a.m. on Sunday morning with the ceremony beginning at 10 a.m. at Newell Field House, directly followed by a lemonade and cookies reception. Starting at 1 p.m. Dana Dining Hall will host a luncheon at which Class of 2024 members are our guests. Those six and older will pay $10.00 per person. Anyone younger than six is free of charge.
Dining: The St. Lawrence website provides information and links to the Best Western County Seat Restaurant and other area restaurants through the St. Lawrence Chamber of Commerce website. Reservations for dinner and for lunch on Sunday are encouraged.
Events: The weekend’s events begin on Friday, May 17 at 4:30 p.m. with a concert in Gunnison Chapel performed by the Laurentian Singers. Friday evening graduates and families will gather for a reception and Champagne Toast in the Sullivan Student Center with fireworks following at dusk.
On Saturday at 4:30 p.m. all are welcomed to Gunnison Chapel for a Baccalaureate Service of Celebration. Saturday evening the Senior Class Council will host a dinner. Tickets are required for all attending, including seniors.
Tickets for the Champagne Toast and Senior Class Council Dinner will be available through the commencement on-campus housing and events registration opening March 25, 2024 at noon (EST).
Photography: Genesee Photo Systems captures the moment each student receives his or her diploma. Genesee will provide digital proofs of each graduate on their website. Families may purchase photos directly from this firm. Instructions and a link for preregistration will follow.
Families are invited to photograph or videotape the awarding of degrees from a designated area at the left side of the stage and should not impede the academic procession.
Residence halls will close at 6 p.m., Sunday, May 19.
Tickets and Guests: Commencement itself requires no tickets. Graduates and families may invite as many guests as they wish to attend the weekend.
Yearbooks: Capture your graduate’s senior year with a St. Lawrence Yearbook. You will find details along with ordering information at Josten's.
Paul Redfern
Vice President of University Communications and Institutional Strategy