College of Computing to split Commencement into two ceremonies

Travis LaCoss / RIT

Golisano College of Computing and Information Sciences at Academic Convocation 2024. Pictured left to right: Dean Matt Huenerfauth, Graduate Delegate Athina Stewart, and Undergraduate Delegate Skyler Herman.

As the largest college at RIT, the commencement ceremony for the Golisano College of Computing and Information Sciences has grown exponentially longer than other college ceremonies. While it is symbolic to have everyone together in a single ceremony, we have decided to break the College of Computing commencement ceremony into two ceremonies to make for a more manageable and meaningful event for graduates and their guests. 

2025 Dates and Times

The schedule will proceed on Saturday, May 10, 2025, as follows:

Ceremony I:

Department of Software Engineering, School of Interactive Games & Media, and School of Information

  • Grad line-up at 10:30am on basketball courts in SLC

  • 11:30am  - 1:30pm in Gordon Field House 

 

Ceremony II:

Department of Cybersecurity and Department of Computer Science

  • Grad line-up at 2pm on basketball courts in SLC
  • 3:00pm – 5:00pm in Gordon Field House

 

This partitioning was selected because it balanced the number of graduating students crossing the stage at the two ceremonies. See full list of degrees programs for each ceremony below. 

 

Ph.D. Students

PhD students who have an advisor in our college would attend the ceremony in which their advisor’s department is participating. PhD students with advisors not in our college can choose either ceremony. Double majors and BS/MS students whose degrees are in different ceremonies, but still within the college, would be invited to walk at both ceremonies, just as they would if one of their degrees was in a different college.

More Information

Dean Matt Huenerfauth will be presiding at both ceremonies, but our goal is that the vast majority of students, families, faculty, and staff would only need to attend one ceremony and not both.

More information about 2025 Commencement can be found at rit/edu/commencement

If you have any further questions regarding this new format, please reach out to the Golisano College of Computing and Information Sciences at computing@rit.edu.

Ceremony Partitioning by Degree Program

Ceremony I 
Department of Software Engineering, School of Interactive Games & Media, and School of Information

Degree Programs:

  • Software Engineering BS, BS/MS, MS
  • Data Science MS
  • Game Design & Development BS, BS/MS, MS
  • New Media Interactive Development BS
  • Computing & Information Technology BS
  • Human-Centered Computing BS
  • Web & Mobile Computing BS
  • Artificial Intelligence MS
  • Health Informatics MS
  • Human Computer Interaction MS
  • Information Technology & Analytics MS
  • Web Development Adv. Cert.
  • PhD students whose advisor is in one of these departments

Ceremony II
Deptartment of Cybersecurity and Deptartment of Computer Science

Degree Programs:

  • Cybersecurity BS, BS/MS, MS, Adv. Cert.
  • Computer Science BS, BS/MS, MS
  • Artificial Intelligence in Computer Science Adv. Cert.
  • Big Data Analytics Adv. Cert.
  • PhD students whose advisor is in one of these departments