ALANA Celebration of Achievement
Friday, May 11, 2012
11 a.m., Slee Concert Hall
Graduation Ceremonies
Remember: All undergraduate students, and certain graduate students, must apply for their degree via the HUB Student Center before February 15, 2012. Exceptions: Law, Medical (MD), and Doctor of Dental Surgery (DDS) students do not need to fill out the Graduate School's degree forms. However, Law students graduating with dual degrees (e.g. MBA, MSW), or MD students graduating with dual degrees (e.g. MBA, MPH) need to apply for these graduate degrees via the HUB Student Center. Please check with your other department or school. Visit the registrar's site 
for more information
Recognition of Latin Honors
Students earning baccalaureate degrees (including those awarded as part of combined degrees) are eligible to receive Latin honors based on their UB cumulative grade point average (GPA) on the following scale:
| Average (based on 4.0 = A) | |
|---|---|
| 3.20 | cum laude |
| 3.50 | magna cum laude |
| 3.75 | summa cum laude |
To qualify for Latin honors, students must present a minimum of 60 credit hours of UB undergraduate coursework, at least 54 of which must be graded credits (i.e., not satisfactory or unsatisfactory [grades of 'S' or 'U']).
To receive the Latin honors designation in the printed 2012 Commencement programs, and to be eligible to wear the honorific Gold Cord (magna or summa cum laude ONLY) during these ceremonies, candidates for the June 2012 degree conferral date must qualify based upon their UB cumulative GPA through the Fall 2011 semester and projected UB credit hours through the Spring 2012 semester. Standings for Latin honors MAY change once final grades are posted or degrees conferred.
These Commencement 2012 recognition elements are only intended for students who have had or will have their degrees conferred in Sept. 2011, Feb. 2012, or Jun. 2012.
The Gold Cords will be available for purchase ($11) at the University Bookstore (N. Campus) beginning Mar. 6. Students must present UB ID at time of purchase.
Candidates for graduation are encouraged to wear on their robes any insignia, emblems or pins signifying membership in honorary societies or academic organizations, or special honors received for academic or extracurricular activities.
Eligibility
Students are invited to attend the University at Buffalo's 16th Annual ALANA Celebration of Achievement. This pre-commencement ceremony was originally conceived to honor the achievements of African, Latino/a, Asian, and Native American students. In more recent years, the category has expanded to include all individuals that understand, advocate and appreciate the guiding principles applied by and for People of Color in historic, political, educational, economic and social contexts. Student Life and the Center for Academic Development Services will be honoring all these students for their great accomplishments.
Contact
Intercultural & Diversity Center - 645-2434 stu-idc@buffalo.edu
Registration
Graduating students who wish to participate in this ceremony must register online
. Registration deadline is Friday April 27, 2012.
FAQs
What are the date, time, and location of the ALANA Celebration?
Friday May 11, 2012
11 a.m.
Slee Hall (Coventry entrance - next to Center for the Arts) http://www.slee.buffalo.edu/map.htm
What is the deadline for graduates to register? All graduates must register by Friday April 27, 2012.
Who can I contact about the event? If you have further questions, please call the Intercultural & Diversity Center at 716-645-2434 or send an email to stu-idc@buffalo.edu.
What time should graduates arrive? Graduate check-in is from 9 a.m. - 10:15 a.m.
Where do I first report and when? Student Union Lobby starting at 9 am to pick up tickets and Kente cloth.
Should graduates wear their cap and gown? Yes. All participating students are asked to wear their cap, gown and hood.
How do I order a cap and gown? Through the University Bookstore, located on the North Campus, January 18 - February 24 for doctoral students and starting March 6, 2012 for all other students. For out-of-town orders, call (716) 636-6290 (ext. 19 or 25). Credit Cards are accepted. See Cap & Gown information section.
I will not complete my degree in May. May I still march in the ceremony? Yes, if you will be completing your degree by the end of 2012.
How long is the ceremony? Approximately 1.5 hours, followed by reception in the Student Union Lobby.
How many tickets am I allowed? Two tickets - Seating begins at 9:30 a.m. and is general admission (first-come first-served seating.)
What if I need more than two tickets? Due to the number of graduating students and the capacity limitations of Slee Hall, two tickets is the maximum per student. Additional guests will be seated in the Student Union Theater, where the ceremony can be viewed live via simulcast. No tickets are required for the Student Union Theater venue.
When will I receive my Kente stole? ALANA graduates will receive their Kente stole when they report to the Student Union Lobby the morning of the ceremony, along with their Certificate of Achievement.
If a graduate is participating in another graduation ceremony before or after ALANA, can they arrive late or leave early? Yes. If you arrive late or need to leave early, volunteers will be present to help you.
How are students chosen to be a student speaker at the event? All graduating students are encouraged to apply to speak at the ceremony. One graduate student and one undergraduate student will be chosen by a committee. Information about the process will be posted early in the spring semester on the ALANA website.
Is everyone invited to the reception following the ceremony? Yes. All graduates and their guests are welcome to attend the reception immediately following the ceremony. The reception will be held in the Student Union - Main Lobby. Volunteers will be available to accompany guests from Slee Hall to the Student Union.
When and where do I get my tickets? Graduates will pick up tickets at registration in the Student Union Lobby from 9:00 a.m. to 10:15 a.m. A detailed message will be sent to all registered graduates prior to the date of the event.
What accommodations are available for graduates' guests with disabilities? Upon arrival at Slee Hall and/or Student Union, please go to the Guest Services Desk and a volunteer will assist you. For more information, please visit the Guests with Disabilities section.
What if I (graduating student) have a disability which impacts my ability to participate in the ALANA ceremony? Please note if you have a disabling condition and what accommodations you require, as you register for the ceremony. Registration to participate in the ceremony is done online
. Our commencement coordinator will contact you to discuss and finalize your accommodations.
Where do my guests park? For Slee Hall side of Arena - Baird, Jacobs & Slee Lots on Augspurger Road. East side of Arena - Arena Lot. Many signs will be posted and aides will direct traffic (including handicapped parking). Slee B will be a designated handicapped parking lot. http://www.slee.buffalo.edu/map.htm
For Student Union,
If you're traveling by car via the New York State Thruway (I-90), take Exit 50 to I-290 West. Stay on I-290 to Exit 4 (I-990). Follow the signs for University at Buffalo (Exit 1 off I-990). Exit 1 will bring you onto Audubon Parkway, the main road that encircles UB’s North Campus. Make the left U-turn just before the traffic light and travel north on Audubon. Turn right at Lee Entrance, the first street after the traffic light. Turn right into the Jarvis B Parking Lot. After parking, follow signs to the Student Union.
Are baby strollers permitted? Guests with baby strollers are asked to go to the Guest Services Desk in the Slee Hall lobby to arrange access to the building elevator.
Are individual names announced? Yes.
Will there be a professional photographer at the University Commencement? Yes and the pictures of the event will be posted on the ALANA website as soon as possible.