Albertus Magnus College Commencement Information for Class of 2024

Commencement Overview

The President and Faculty of Albertus Magnus College are looking forward to the Commencement Ceremony this year.  We ask that you please save May 18th and May 19th for our Commencement weekend activities. Please check this site often, since it will be updated regularly with important commencement information.

The Commencement Ceremony is on May 19th at 11:00 a.m. (graduates arrive at 9:30 a.m.). The ceremony is held on the Rosary Hall lawn. This is not a ticketed event and graduates may have as many guests as they like. There will be plenty of seating to accommodate all of your guests. Please be advised that the ceremony is held outdoors rain or shine and guests should come prepared.

In the event of extreme weather, the ceremony will be moved indoors to the Cosgrove Marcus Messer Athletic Center Gymnasium. Due to the limited space, each graduate will be allowed (2) Rain Tickets. Rain Tickets will be available for pick-up in Aquinas Hall, Student Administrative Suite (G1) beginning on April 30th. Rain Tickets will be mailed to Professional and Graduate Studies students ONLY.

Baccalaureate Mass

Baccalaureate is a liturgical service offering thanks for the presence of the graduates during their time as students and offering prayers for the future as the students embark on new paths. May 18th at 4:00 p.m. in the Atrium of the Tagliatela Academic Center.

Laurel Awards Ceremony

Bestowal of Laurels is one of the College’s oldest and most cherished traditions. During the Laurel Ceremony, the College honors its newest graduates and celebrates their degree achievements. This ceremony includes conferral of departmental awards, recognition of honor society inductees and special remarks from a member of our Albertus faculty. May 18th at 5:30 p.m. in the Behan Community Room in the Hubert Campus Center.

Pons Party

The word "pons" in Latin means "bridge." At Albertus Magnus College, the Pons Party is a tradition where the graduating class walk over a symbolic bridge, signifying their transition from students to alumni.

Honors Cord Distribution

Students who will be receiving honors will be notified via email in April

The College has set aside Tuesday, April 30th and Wednesday, May 1st for students who wish to come to campus to pick-up their cords. Cords will be available from 12:15 p.m. to 6 p.m. each day in Aquinas Hall, Bree Common.

Cords will be available for the following distinctions:

• Cum Laude
• Magna Cum Laude
• Summa Cum Laude
• With Honors
• Kappa Gamma Pi Honor Society

If you are unable to pick your cords up on these days, there is no need to worry. Cords will also be available to you when you check-in for the ceremony on commencement morning.

Diplomas

At the commencement exercises, you will only receive your diploma case. Diplomas will be mailed to graduates eight to twelve weeks after May 19,2024. In order for Albertus to order and mail the graduate’s diploma, the requirements are as follows: degree audits completed and submitted to the Registrar’s Office by the February 25, 2024 deadline; must be completed with all academic requirements; all balances must be paid in full; verification of your current address.

Only the graduate’s name & degree type will appear on the diploma, specific majors/minors will be listed on transcripts, which can be ordered online through the Registrar’s Office after the May 19, 2024 commencement.

Program

The commencement program is not an official graduation list. The printed program lists students who were eligible to graduate for Spring Semester 2024, as of 4:30 p.m., March 8, 2024, pending outcome of final examinations and final grades.  Therefore, the program list should not be used to determine a student’s academic or degree status. The College’s official registry for conferral of degrees is the student’s permanent academic record, kept by the Registrar’s Office, Aquinas Hall, Bree Common Office Suite, 700 Prospect Street, New Haven, CT 06511.  

Honors Designation

Graduates with honors will be acknowledged at the commencement ceremony if the following honors criteria are met as of 4:30 p.m., March 8, 2024. Since this determination will be made prior to the outcome of final examinations and final grades, any acknowledgement of honors is not official and is subject to change once final grades have been submitted and documented by the Registrar’s Office.

Honors-Qualifying Cumulative Grade Point Averages

Associates Degrees

• With Honors - Honors bestowed on students whose cumulative grade point average is 3.90 or above.

Bachelor Degrees

• Summa Cum Laude - Honor bestowed on students whose cumulative grade point average is 3.90 or above.
• Magna Cum Laude - Honor bestowed on students whose cumulative grade point average is 3.7-3.89.
• Cum Laude - Honor bestowed on students whose cumulative grade point average is 3.50-3.69.

Master Degrees

• With Honors - Honor bestowed on students whose cumulative grade point average is 3.90 or above. The student must receive a grade of "A" on the final project.

Note: Bachelor degree recipients must have completed 56 Albertus Magnus College credits as specified in the catalog in order to receive the honors designation or have it acknowledged at the commencement ceremony. Associate degree recipients must have completed half of their credits at Albertus.

***Note: please refer to the catalog for the criteria required in order to receive honors once all academic requirements have been satisfied. Information about the honor cords distribution process will be available at a later date.

Parking

Graduates and guests attending commencement may park in general parking on campus or street parking surrounding campus. We ask guests to be courteous towards our neighbors and avoid blocking driveways. Public Safety and New Haven Police Officers will be available to direct guests to available
parking.
 
Gate 1 on Prospect Street and Gate 7 on Huntington Street are closed for Commencement.

Handicap parking is available on a first come basis in the McAuliffe Hall parking lot by presenting a
handicap parking placard to staff located at Gate 7 on Huntington Street. Additional handicap parking is
available in the Nilan Hall parking lot on the corner of Prospect St and East Rock Rd.
 
Golf carts are available to help transport those with disabilities from our campus parking lots to the
commencement site. The carts will also be available at the conclusion of the event.
 
Drop off’s: You may drop off guests outside Gate 1 on Prospect Street until 10:30, at which time
Prospect Street will be closed between Huntington Rd and Ogden St.

Hotels and Lodging

Albertus Magnus College has secured discounts off prevailing rates at the following area hotels. Please contact the hotels for specific rate information.

The Graduate Hotel, 1151 Chapel St., New Haven, CT 06511

The Omni New Haven, 155 Temple St., New Haven, CT 06511

Cambria Hotel New Haven, 20 Dwight St., New Haven, CT 06511

The New Haven Hotel, 229 George St., New Haven, CT 06510

Marriott Residence Inn, 2312 Whitney Ave., Hamden, CT 06518