Brooklyn College Commencement 2021
Update
On Friday, February 5, CUNY Chancellor Felix Matos Rodriguez announced that in the interest of public health and well-being, commencement ceremonies for those graduating this Spring 2021 are going to be conducted virtually. As a result, the Brooklyn College Virtual Celebration has been scheduled for Thursday, May 27, 2021. We plan on providing the same amenities such as academic regalia, class rings, graduation photos, etc. as we would during an in-person ceremony. We will also strive our best to provide you a memorable event culminating your time at Brooklyn College. We will keep you updated via the e-newsletter.
The College holds one Commencement ceremony each academic year at the end of the Spring Semester. In order to participate in any activities related to Commencement, students must file for graduation by the established deadlines. For Commencement 2021, you must have graduated in Fall 2020 or have filed for graduation by the deadline for the Spring 2021 or Summer 2021 semesters.
IMPORTANT: Commencement and Graduation are not the same. In order to participate in Commencement you need to have filed for graduation by the deadline for the included semesters. In order to “Graduate” and receive your diploma you have to pass all your classes and meet your degree requirements. Spring and Summer graduates are invited to participate in Commencement even though their final grades or requirements are not complete. This means that we do not wait to see if students passed their classes or actually met all their requirements to allow them to participate in Commencement. They simply have to file for graduation by the deadline for the included semesters.
Date: Thursday, May 27, 2021
Time: 10:00 a.m.
Location: Virtual Celebration
Site: #BCGRAD2021
Commencement Checklist
Review the following checklist carefully and make note of the stated deadlines. Make sure to contact the Commencement team if you are not able to complete any of the following steps prior to the deadline.
Step 1: Subscribe to the Commencement E-Newsletter
Subscribe to the monthly commencement e-newsletter to receive important updates about the 2021 Commencement Ceremony. You may also follow us on Instagram to receive more frequent updates.
Step 2 : File for Graduation (Required)
To participate in the commencement celebration, you must have filed for graduation by the specified deadlines. Only those students graduating in Fall 2020, Spring 2021 or Summer 2021 may participate in Commencement 2021. All filing for graduation is done through CUNYFirst. Review the detailed instructions on how to file for graduation (pdf).
Step 3: Take Senior Photos and Order Your Yearbook
Senior Photos are a long-held tradition for academic institutions, and we'll be partnering with a professional photographer to ensure you have the chance to join in on that legacy. Best of all, your photo will appear in the 2021 edition of Broeklundian, the Brooklyn College Yearbook. Refer to senior photos and yearbook for more details.
Step 4: Order Your Cap and Gown
Online orders will resume on May 27th and close on June 30th for those who missed the deadline, but would still like to receive a cap and gown.
Step 5: Personalize your Graduate Card in Marching Order
Marching Order helps personalize the virtual celebration. Each student will have a Graduate Card that shows their name, major, degree and school. In addition, students can submit a photo and personal quote to be included. Marching Order also allows you to download your Graduate Card and share it with family and friends.
In order to receive an invitation for Marching Order, you must have filed for graduation by the specified deadlines. All filing for graduation is done through CUNYFirst. Review the detailed instructions on how to file for graduation (pdf).
The invitation for Marching Order will be sent to your preferred email address on April 15th. To set a preferred e-mail address, go to your CUNYFirst Student Center, select "emails" in the drop-down list located under the personal information section, and add/set your preferred e-mail address before April 15th. Once you received the email with the link to log in to Marching Order, you may upload your photo and comment.
DEADLINE: All information for the graduate card must be uploaded by 5:00PM on May 14, 2021. There will be no exceptions or extensions.
Step 6: Order Your Class Ring and Graduation Announcements
Commemorate your achievement with your college ring from Balfour. Your Brooklyn College ring will represent your most unforgettable years and the institution where is all happened. You can also share your special moment with friends and family with graduation announcements. To order your class ring and graduation announcements, call 877.225.3687 or visit the Balfour website.
Step 7: I Graduated! Now What?
The Magner Career Center will be hosting a series of job search events focused on 2020 and 2021 graduates. Most of the events will include recruiters and alumni from a variety of organizations. We encourage you to take full advantage of these events and services while you are a recent graduate.
