Convocation 2024: Frequently Asked Questions
New Student Convocation is back! On Aug. 27, the entire SUNY New Paltz community is invited to celebrate and welcome our incoming class of new first-year and transfer students. We want to let them know that becoming a college student is a major achievement, and something to be proud of!
When is Convocation?
Convocation 2024 is on Tuesday, Aug. 27. The run of show is as follows:
3:30 p.m.: Volunteer Check-In begins at Coykendall Science Building
4 p.m.: Student Check-In begins at Parker Quad (Near Starbucks)
4:15 p.m.: Faculty/Staff Check-In begins at Coykendall Science Building
4:45 p.m.: Processional to Old Main Quad
5 p.m.: Convocation Ceremony and Class Photo on Old Main Quad
6 p.m.: Convocation BBQ outside Wooster Hall
Where does Convocation start?
Students will check in at Parker Quad starting at 4 p.m., where they will line up and prepare for the Processional walk to the ceremony.
Faculty and staff, including volunteers, will check in at the Coykendall Science Building in the Lobby outside the Auditorium. Volunteer check-in begins at 3:30 p.m., and general participation faculty/staff check-in starts at 4:15 p.m.
Do I need to sign up in advance?
If you’re a student, there’s no need to sign up in advance – just meet us at the Parker Quad (near Starbucks) on Aug. 27 to check in.
Faculty and staff are kindly asked to RSVP for Convocation using this link.
Did I hear something about free T-shirts for faculty and staff?
You sure did. The first 175 faculty/staff who RSVP will receive a unique Convocation 2024 T-shirt to wear during the ceremony on Aug. 27 (think of it as a collector’s item!).
Please indicate your preferred size when you RSVP.
T-shirts can be picked up at the Welcome Center in The Atrium of the Student Union Building at the following dates and times:
Friday, Aug. 23, 2024, from 10 a.m.-12 p.m. and 2-4 p.m.
Monday, Aug. 26, 2024, from 9 a.m.-12 p.m. and 2-6 p.m.
T-shirt pick up will not be available on the day of Convocation.
Academic regalia is not required at this event.
What happens after check-in?
Around 4:45 p.m., the students will begin the Processional down Excelsior Concourse to the Old Main Quad for the ceremony.
Faculty, staff and volunteers will line up along the Processional route to cheer them on and help welcome them to New Paltz!
Who are the speakers at Convocation 2024?
Once everyone is seated on Old Main Quad, Student Association President Xavier Morell ’25 (Finance) and SUNY New Paltz President Darrell P. Wheeler will offer a few words of welcome to the assembled members of the incoming class.
This portion of the program will be less formal than in years past – no regalia, no stage party, just an opportunity for new students to hear two campus leaders set the stage for the year ahead.
Tell me about the Class Photo!
After the brief remarks from our speakers, we will invite everyone to join together for a massive class photo.
Our hope is to capture an important moment in our new students’ lives – something they can look back on as a happy reminder of their first days on campus, and that can help them reflect on how far their journey here has taken them. We hope lots of faculty and staff can be part of this!
Who is invited to eat at the BBQ?
Everyone! After the Convocation ceremony, we will host an open BBQ so new students, returning students, faculty and staff can spend a little time getting to know one another.
All students with a campus meal plan are invited to eat at the BBQ free of charge. Please just make sure to bring your Student ID card with you.
Faculty and staff will need to get a meal ticket ahead of time when they check in to participate. The check-in station will be open until 5 p.m. for students, faculty and staff who are unable to pick up their meal ticket until later in the day.
Will other campus dining options be affected during Convocation?
Yes, all other campus dining locations (except for the Convocation receptions) will be closed on Aug. 27 from 4–9 p.m. so that Dining Services staff can support the receptions.
Peregrine Hall will reopen at 9 p.m. to serve students for Late Night Dining, and normal dining hours across campus will resume on Wednesday, Aug. 28.
What if it rains?
If weather conditions require us to adjust these plans, we will relocate and send an update with new information. Fingers crossed for clear skies!
Are classes cancelled during Convocation?
No, there is no campus-wide cancellation of classes on Aug. 27.
The University is hoping to see as many students, faculty and staff participate in this event as possible, and faculty have been invited to cancel or early-dismiss courses that afternoon to enable participation. But this is not a requirement and the decision to cancel is at the discretion of the individual faculty members.
Questions: Lisa Sandick sandickl@newpaltz.edu or Ashley Walker walkera@newpaltz.edu
If you have accessibility questions or require accommodations to fully participate in this event, please contact Lisa Sandick at sandickl@newpaltz.edu as soon as possible.