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 17th and May 18th 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 18th 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, Bree Common Monday, April 28th & Tuesday, April 29th from 12:15-6:00 p.m.

Pons Party

"Pons" stands for bridge in Latin and celebrates the passing of our graduates from students to alumni.

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.

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.

Diplomas

At the commencement exercises, you will only receive your diploma case. Diplomas will be mailed to graduates eight to twelve weeks after May 18,2025. 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, 2025 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 18, 2025 commencement.

Program

The commencement program is not an official graduation list. The printed program lists students who were eligible to graduate for Spring Semester 2025, as of 4:30 p.m., March 7, 2025, 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, 2025. Since this determination will be made prior to the outcome of final examinations and final grades, any acknowledgment 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.

Academic Degree Information

Students who are within their final degree credits of completing their Associate, Bachelor or Master degree requirements and who are in academic good standing may "participate" (walk in ceremony and have name in program) only if they fulfill the following conditions after filing a degree audit by February 25th::

• Have a 2.00 GPA overall and within the major and minor
• Pre-register and pay (or have payment arrangements in place) for the remaining coursework
• Traditional undergraduate students must pre-register for Mod 5 (summer) and complete all degree requirements by August 2025. Students who need classes beyond August 2025 are not eligible for 2025 Commencement.
• Professional & Graduate Studies students must pre-register for Mod 5 (Summer) classes and complete all degree requirements by August 2025. Students who need classes beyond August 2025 are not eligible for 2025 Commencement.
• Meet all financial obligations including those that were incurred for the pre-registered courses by March 31, 2025.
• If this option is to be utilized, it is the student’s responsibility to inform the Registrar’s Office in writing on the request for audit form/application for candidacy for graduation.

Commencement Parking & Accessibility Information

Graduates and guests attending Commencement may park in general campus parking lots or in surrounding street parking areas. We kindly ask all guests to be respectful of our neighbors and refrain from blocking driveways. Public Safety and New Haven Police officers will be on-site to assist and direct guests to available parking both on and near campus.

Gate Access:

• Gate 1 (Prospect Street – Rosary Hall entrance) will be closed for Commencement.
• Gate 7 (Huntington Street) will have restricted access.
• Please plan to arrive early to allow time to walk from your parking location to the Commencement site at Rosary Hall.

Accessible Parking:

• Handicap-accessible parking is available on a first-come, first-served basis in the McAuliffe Hall lot. A state-issued handicap placard must be presented to staff at Gate 7 (Huntington Street).
• Additional accessible parking is located in the Nilan Hall lot (300 East Rock Road), at the corner of Prospect Street and East Rock Road.

Transportation Assistance: Golf carts will be available to assist guests with disabilities in traveling from campus parking lots to Rosary Hall. Carts will also be available after the ceremony to help return guests to their vehicles.

Guest Drop-Off: Guests may be dropped off outside Gate 1 (Prospect Street) until 10:30 a.m. After that time, Prospect Street will be closed to traffic between Huntington Road and Ogden Street.

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