2025 Commencement FAQs

Iona University will celebrate the Class of 2025 with one Commencement ceremony on Friday, May 16, 2025, at 10 a.m. for both undergraduate and graduate classes. 

Please note that check-in is at 9 a.m. for both graduates and guests. All vehicles entering campus must have a Commencement Parking Pass clearly displayed in the windshield. The Gael Express will begin running shuttles from the New Rochelle train station starting at 8 a.m. 

Commencement will take place on Mazzella Field on Iona’s New Rochelle campus. In the event of inclement weather, Commencement will be moved to the Hynes Athletics Center adjacent to the field. 

• All graduates must begin check-in 60 minutes before the start of the ceremony (9 a.m.).
• Graduates must check in 60 minutes before the ceremony starts (9 a.m.) at Hynes Athletics Center Arena.
  If the ceremony moves indoors, graduates will check in at Mulcahy Gym.
• Guest check-in also opens 60 minutes before the ceremony at the main entrance of Mazzella Field (or Hynes Athletics Center Arena if moved indoors).
• Graduates must be in line by 9:30 a.m. for the procession. 

All graduates are required to wear appropriate academic regalia. This includes a cap, tassel, hood and gown. Caps may be decorated appropriately. Event staff will ask for removal if attire is distracting or deemed inappropriate. Flat comfortable shoes are encouraged. Please keep in mind that there are a number of steps in the procession route. Contact access@iona.edu for accommodation requests.

Graduates must wear full academic attire ordered through the Oak Hall website by the stated deadline. 

This includes a zippered all black graduation gown with appropriate clothing underneath, graduation cap with tassel, and degree hood. The Oak Hall website and the Iona Campus Store have accessories including decorative tassels, zipper pulls, and stoles available for purchase.  

Iona University Honor Society members must contact their Honor Society advisor directly for information on ordering approved accessories.  

Student-athletes will have an option to wear an Athletics stole. Please contact Senior Associate Athletic Director, Jamie Fogarty, for more information.  

Student leaders may be eligible to wear additional approved accessories representing their leadership role. Contact your club advisor and commencement@iona.edu for more information and approval.  

Regalia accessories including stoles may not contain nicknames, degrees, or sayings.  

Approved Regalia may not be modified in design in any way, with the exception of caps which must be decorated appropriately and not distracting.  

All requests for consideration to wear accessories must be sent to commencement@iona.edu. Check your Iona e-mail and the Commencement website for additional information. Approvals granted will be received in writing. Iona University personnel reserve the right to require the removal of any attire that is not approved or appropriate.  

All graduates participating in the ceremonies must arrive dressed in appropriate academic regalia (gown, cap, hood). Caps may be decorated appropriately. Event staff will ask for removal if attire is distracting or deemed inappropriate. Failure to comply may be deemed a disturbance to the ceremony.  

Proper decorum and conduct are expected at all times from graduates and their guests. There are to be no distractions to the ceremony. Inappropriate behavior may result in removal from campus, disciplinary action, or arrest where warranted. 

We anticipate the ceremony lasting until approximately 12:30 p.m. 

Yes. Graduates must request accommodations in advance. The graduate procession route is lengthy and has a number of stairs. Graduates must reach out in advance to go through the accessible procession route and plan for the ceremony. Students requiring accommodations are asked to complete the Commencement Accommodation Request located under Electronic Forms on PeopleSoft. 

For more information or assistance, please contact the Accessibility Services Office at (914) 633-2366 or Access@iona.edu. 

• American Sign Language (ASL) interpreting is available for in-person guests.
• Graduates should ask an event staff member for directions to the designated accessible seating area.
• Yes. Guests attending the Commencement ceremony and in need of accommodations are asked to complete the following form so we are best able to meet their needs:  

Guest Accommodations Form

Yes, graduates will assemble, process, sit, and cross the stage by degree type (i.e. BA, BS, BBA, MA, MS, MBA).

No. Guest tickets are for General Admission. Seating is on a first come, first served basis. All attendees must follow the directives of event staff and Campus Safety personnel. All guests on campus on the day of Commencement must have tickets for the ceremony. 

There are separate tickets for the outdoor ceremony on Mazzella Field and the indoor ceremony in Hynes Arena (in the event of inclement weather). The tickets are not interchangeable. 

Yes, graduates will assemble, process, sit, and cross the stage by degree type (i.e. BA, BS, BBA, MA, MS, MBA). 

Congratulations! If you have been selected to receive an academic award from your department or School, please inform one of the staff members when you arrive. Award recipients should process towards the front of their group line and be certain that they are seated in the front row of graduates or on an aisle. The Commencement staff will attempt to line you up in order so that this part of the ceremony can flow smoothly. When it is time to be called to the stage all award recipients will be brought up and form a line to the right of the stage in the order they will receive their award. 

Yes, the link to the livestream will be available at  www.iona.edu/commencement the morning of the ceremony. 

Yes. All graduates and guests are required to bring valid photo identification. 

Yes. It is essential that graduates bring the yellow Degree Candidate Card they received at the Commencement Fair. You will use this to check in on May 16. If you have misplaced your Degree Candidate Card, please plan to arrive early and show your ID to the Registrar check-in table at the Graduate procession.  

Yes. Please ensure that your guests have their tickets. See the Ticket Information section below for more details. 

There is no place to secure personal belongings. All graduates and guests should only bring what is absolutely necessary. All bags are subject to search and individuals and vehicles arriving on campus may be screened. 

Yes. Please bring the parking pass that you received at the Commencement Fair. See the “Travel and Parking Information” section below for more details. Each graduate received one parking pass for one vehicle that they will pick up at the Commencement Fair.  

Umbrellas, balloons, drones, noisemakers, posters, signs or other items that could disrupt the view of, or pose a danger to, participants and guests, are not permitted on the Field or in the Arena as a courtesy to the graduates and guests. Drones are not permitted. Tripods for cameras are not permitted. All photos and recordings must be taken from your designated seat.

Strollers are not able to be placed in aisles or in seats. There is no designated location on the Field or in the Arena to safeguard or park strollers. 

Graduating students must confirm eligibility and pick up tickets for their guests at the Commencement Fair on Thursday, April 10 between 10 a.m. and 6 p.m. in the Mulcahy Gym, after the graduate obtained clearance to take part in the ceremony. Each graduating student must have a Degree Candidate Card and photo ID to participate. 

Each eligible graduate will receive 5 tickets for the outdoor ceremony and 2 tickets for the indoor ceremony in the event of extreme weather. The graduate does not need a ticket, these are for guests only. Tickets are not interchangeable 

You can request to be placed on the waiting list for additional tickets at the Commencement Fair. In the event some graduates do not pick up their ticket allotment their tickets will be redistributed through a lottery to students on the waiting list.  

Graduates are responsible for their guest tickets and lost tickets will NOT be replaced. These tickets are general admission only. 

Guests under 2 years of age do not require tickets as they can plan to sit on the lap of an adult. Please be mindful that it may be a long ceremony. Strollers are not permitted in place of seats or in the aisles.  

Graduates and guests may enter campus through the main entrance on North Avenue. The exit of campus will be out the Montgomery Gates. All cars coming to campus should park in the parking garage or an overflow lot as directed by Campus Safety and event staff on site. 

Yes. All cars coming to campus should park in the parking garage or an overflow lot as directed by Campus Safety and event staff on site. 

Yes. All graduates received a parking pass at the Commencement Fair. Vehicles entering campus must have a Commencement Parking Pass clearly displayed in their windshield. Please be respectful and follow the directions of Campus Safety officers and the New Rochelle Police Department on the day of the ceremony. 

There will be overflow lots on Summit Lot and Murphy Lot. Please note that parking passes are still required. 

Cars with a Commencement Parking Pass and DMV handicap plates/hangtag will be able to park in one of the ADA lots (Montgomery Lot) designated for the ceremony. 

The Gael Express Shuttle will begin running from the New Rochelle transportation center beginning at 8 a.m. Shuttles will depart from the station as they are filled and will run continuously throughout the day. After the ceremony, shuttles will run to the transportation center. The on-campus drop-off and pick-up location will be by the North Avenue entrance of campus by McSpedon Hall. See walking directions between McSpedon Hall and Mazzella Field here. Additional shuttles will be on campus and in the nearby vicinity if guests or graduates are in need of transportation to the field. If you have any questions, please call (914) 633-2560.

Yes. Graduates will each be photographed by a professional photographer while crossing the stage, and then when they have left the stage. The photography company, Island Life, will contact graduates with optional proofs and photo packages for purchase. Guests must remain in their seats at all times and may not move from their seats during the ceremony unless it is an emergency. 

We ask that all guests remain in their seats at all times and not to move from their seats during the ceremony unless it is an emergency. There will be ample time following the ceremony for guests to take pictures of their graduate. 

No. Flying drones on campus is strictly prohibited. 

Checklist for Graduates 

• Attend the Commencement Fair on Thursday, April 10, 2025.
• Read all materials including emails, the Commencement website and the  Commencement FAQs.
• Distribute the tickets to your guests. Your guests will need to show the following:
  • An authorized ticket for the ceremony
  • Photo ID
• Graduates, you will need to show the following at your ceremony:
  • Yellow name card for entrance to the ceremony
  • Photo ID
  • Academic Regalia
  • Commencement Ceremony Parking Pass
• Enjoy!

Off-Campus Dining

The following local discounts are being offered with code IONA2025.

• Beechmont Tavern – free dessert
• Rocbody Fitness Café – 10% off
• Crotty’s Cheese Steaks – 10% off
• A No. 1 Pizza – 10% off
• Subway – free cookie with any purchase OR buy two footlongs and get a free footlong Churros.

Click here for details on these restaurants and other off-campus dining options.

Hotel Accomodations

SpringHill Suites in Tuckahoe, N.Y., is offering a discount using the code GHA. Please make sure to ask for the Iona rate.

Graduates will be able to use restroom facilities in the Hynes Athletics Center East. Guests will be able to use restrooms located on the first and second floors of Hynes Athletics Center West and on each floor of Spellman Hall. Spellman Hall's ground floor, first floor, and second floor have men’s and women’s restrooms. Additional ADA Family Restrooms are located on the ground floor and first floor across from the Campus Store.

• Proper decorum and conduct are expected at all times from graduates and their guests. There are to be no distractions to the ceremony. Inappropriate behavior may result in removal from campus, disciplinary action, or arrest where warranted.
• Anyone believed to be intoxicated will not be eligible to participate in the Commencement Ceremony.
• All bags are subject to search.  Individuals and vehicles arriving on campus may be screened.
• Umbrellas are prohibited, as are posters, signs or other items that could disrupt the view of, or pose a danger to, participants and guests.
• Noise makers, inflatable devices, cell phones turned on, drones or other distractions to the ceremony are prohibited.
• This should be a safe and special occasion. Be respectful.