Frequently Asked Questions

When will Commencement take place?
Commencement will take place on Wednesday, May 22, 2024, in Cooper Union’s Great Hall. Graduates will line up for the processional in the hallway of the second floor of the Foundation Building at 9:30AM. See below for information for guests at Commencement. 

How many guest tickets do I receive? Where do I get them?

Each student may have up to four guests attend the ceremony. Guests must be registered in advance using the online registration system found here. Guests must be registered through this system NO LATER than 9:00AM on Tuesday, May 21, 2024. 

All graduating students will be given four (4) commemorative tickets at commencement rehearsal that they can keep or give to friends and family. Physical tickets are not needed the day of Commencement as all guests will be pre-registered and checked-in that day. The tickets will not provide access to the Great Hall for graduation.

How do my guests get access to the Commencement ceremony in the Great Hall?
Check-in for all pre-registered guests will be held in the lobby of 41 Cooper Square beginning at 8:30AM on Commencement morning. Guests will receive a wrist band that will grant them access to the Great Hall for the ceremony.  We encourage guests to check-in to receive their wrist band as early as possible. Doors to the Great Hall will open for all registered guests at 10:00AM, and the ceremony will begin at 10:30AM.

When do I receive my diploma?

Diplomas for the class of 2024 will be distributed in-person in the library following the ceremony. Graduates not attending commencement will receive their diplomas by mail based on the address in their student portal. Please ensure your address is correct.

What am I prohibited from bringing into Commencement?

- Flags 
- Banners 
- Large bags
- Posters 
- Placards 
- Signs 
- Cardboard cutouts 
- Sticks  
- Poles/Rods, including selfie sticks 
- Weapons of any kind including firearms, knives, etc. 

How do I make sure I receive any important information from Cooper Union after Commencement?

All graduating students should complete the New Graduates Contact Information Form which can be found here. Bring proof that you have completed this form to the Alumni Affairs table at Commencement rehearsal on Tuesday, May 21 in exchange for your new alumni ID and a boxed lunch.

What if I do not plan to attend commencement?
Please email Eric Conley (eric.conley@cooper.edu) to let him know you will not attend. This is particularly important so we can take you out of the processional lineup and free up your seat for someone else.

How do I order my cap and gown?

Ordering is now closed. If you ordered one, you may pick your cap and gown at rehearsal.

What if I or my guests need disability accommodations at the ceremony?
Anyone needing accommodations due to a disability or medical condition should email disability@cooper.edu with those details. 

Is the commencement ceremony webcast?

Yes, the ceremony will be streamed on Cooper Union's YouTube channel.

How do my guests get to The Cooper Union?

You can find campus addresses and travel information here. See information about registering guests to attend the Commencement ceremony in the Great Hall. 

Where can my guests stay near The Cooper Union?

You can find a list of nearby accommodations here. Please note that graduation season is a very busy time for visitors to New York City. You are advised to reserve rooms as far in advance as possible.

Where can my guests park near The Cooper Union?

You can find a list of nearby parking here. 

How long is the Commencement ceremony?

The ceremony typically last 2.5 hours.

What happens if it rains?

The ceremony is indoors and takes place rain or shine.

Where are all the details about Commencement found online?

All the Commencement details will be on the Commencement website found here. All updates will be made on the website so please be sure to check the site for all current information related to the ceremony. 
 

  • Founded by inventor, industrialist and philanthropist Peter Cooper in 1859, The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art offers education in art, architecture and engineering, as well as courses in the humanities and social sciences.

  • “My feelings, my desires, my hopes, embrace humanity throughout the world,” Peter Cooper proclaimed in a speech in 1853. He looked forward to a time when, “knowledge shall cover the earth as waters cover the great deep.”

  • From its beginnings, Cooper Union was a unique institution, dedicated to founder Peter Cooper's proposition that education is the key not only to personal prosperity but to civic virtue and harmony.

  • Peter Cooper wanted his graduates to acquire the technical mastery and entrepreneurial skills, enrich their intellects and spark their creativity, and develop a sense of social justice that would translate into action.