School of Dental Medicine
Saturday, May 12
5 p.m., Center for the Arts
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 DDS 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 |
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.
Eligibility
Commencement for the School of Dental Medicine will take place Saturday, May 12, 2012 at 5 p.m. in the Center for the Arts Mainstage Theatre on the North Campus. A reception for the graduates and their families will immediately follow the ceremony.
Students who have been recommended for graduation by the Executive Council of the School of Dental Medicine are eligible to participate in the Commencement exercises. Unless notified otherwise, the School anticipates that all D.D.S. graduates will participate in the ceremony.
Graduating students are welcome to invite relatives or others who have had a significant influence in their lives, and are dentists, to march in commencement and participate in the hooding ceremony.
Masters and Ph.D. students whose degree has been conferred in the past year or who anticipate receiving their degree by June 1 are eligible to participate in the Commencement ceremony. Please contact the Office of Student Affairs at the School of Dental Medicine for additional information.
Contact Information
Sheryl Harvey, 829-2839 saharvey@buffalo.edu
Registration
You do not need to register. However, if you will not participate in the commencement ceremony, please notify Sheryl Harvey at 829-2839 prior to May 1.
FAQs
Ceremony & Ticket Information
How long is the ceremony? The ceremony begins at 5 p.m. and lasts approximately two hours. The ceremony is followed by a brief reception in the lobby.
If we want to make dinner reservations after the ceremony, what time should we estimate that we'll be done at the CFA? The ceremony will run until about 7 p.m. If you plan to attend the reception and take some photos, you can plan on leaving the CFA by approximately 7:30 or 7:45 p.m.
How many tickets am I allowed? There are no tickets and no limits on the number of guests a student can have attend the ceremony. Doors for general seating open at 4:30 p.m.
Guest Information
Where should guests park? Free parking is available in any of the public lots surrounding the CFA. Passengers can be driven directly to the CFA Main entrance to disembark before parking.
Is the Center for the Arts handicapped accessible? Yes, it is. Ushers will assist with the seating of handicapped guests.
If I am the GUEST OF a graduate and I have a disability, what accommodations will be available? Please refer to the "Guests with Disabilities" page for information. Also, as graduates are registering to participate in the ceremony, they may indicate if they are bringing guests with disabling conditions and what accommodations they require.
I am a GUEST OF a graduate and have small children attending; can I bring a baby stroller?
- Guests with small children may bring a baby stroller into the Center for the Arts, however strollers are not allowed in the seats or aisles of the theater due to the hazards they create in the event of an emergency. Strollers may be left in the entrance of the theater at your own risk; ushers inside the theater can direct you to appropriate parking areas for strollers.
- Please note that guests with children who are talking, crying or moving around in a manner that is distracting to other guests or the ceremony may be asked to step outside of the theater.
Graduating Student Information
Do I need to register? No, you do not need to register. Unless you inform us that you will NOT be attending, we expect you to participate in Commencement. If you will not participate in the commencement ceremony, please notify Sheryl Harvey at 829-2839 prior to May 1.
Where do I report and when? Report to the Drama Theatre in the basement of the Center for the Arts by 4 p.m.
What if I (graduating student) have a disability that impacts my ability to participate in the University Commencement ceremony? Please contact Sheryl Harvey, Commencement Coordinator at 829-2839 to discuss accommodations for students with a disabling condition.
How do I order my cap and gown? Through the University Bookstore on the North Campus. Academic regalia is required to march at Commencement. When ordering the hood, DDS students should specify "Dentistry". Masters and Ph.D. students should specify either Masters or Ph.D. See Cap & Gown information section for details including ordering deadlines.
Can I have a relative or family friend participate in Commencement? Commencement includes a ceremony in which the Dean hoods each candidate. However, you are welcome to invite a relative or other dentist who has had a significant influence in your life, to march in commencement and participate in the hooding ceremony. Those participating in the hooding ceremony will need to wear the academic regalia; therefore you may want to order theirs at the same time you order yours if they do not own their own regalia. They will march in the processional and sit on stage with the faculty.
Will we receive further instructions? Commencement rehearsal will take place at the CFA on Wednesday, May 9. Graduating students will be informed of the rehearsal time in early May.
How will my name appear on my diploma? Your name will appear exactly as it is listed officially in University Records. To determine this, go to the HUB Student Center and click the Names link under the Personal Information group. Review your name, this rendition of your name will be printed on your diploma. You are not able to change or update your name on this site. If you need to correct the way your name is displayed (e.g. Legal name change), please refer to the Office of the Registrar’s website
.
International students should contact the International Student and Scholar Services Office at 210 Talbert or by email at intlservices@buffalo.edu.
When and where will I receive my diploma? Student diplomas should be available by mid-June for June 1, 2012 Conferral. Graduates may pick up their diplomas or have them mailed to you. You will be asked for this information on the "School of Dental Medicine Outprocessing Form." Any questions regarding this can be directed to Academic and Student Affairs.
Is the ceremony videotaped or is there a photographer? There is no official photographer, nor is the ceremony videotaped. Families are welcome to do so on their own during the ceremony.