Master's Ceremony

The ceremony will be streamed live on this website, fitnyc.edu/commencement, and on Vimeo, and can be viewed from any location with internet access.  

All graduating students are required to wear academic regalia.

Anyone still needing to purchase regalia may stop by the FIT Campus Store during the master's regalia pickup times listed below to inquire about availability. 

Master's regalia pickup times for preorders and in-store purchases:  
Monday–Friday, May 13–17, 9 am–8 pm
Monday, May 20, 9 am–5 pm

FIT is monitored by Public Safety officers throughout campus. However, there is no storage for personal belongings at the Haft Theater. We recommend that graduates bring only their caps, gowns, hoods, and essential personal items or a small handbag that they can keep with them during the ceremony.

The following items are not permitted:

• BAGS, BACKPACKS, AND SUITCASES WILL NOT BE PERMITTED.
  Exceptions will be made for medical device bags and small clear bags no larger than 12” wide x 12” tall x 16” long. (30cm W x 30cm H x 40 cm L).
  Note: There are no bag storage facilities.
• flags, banners, signs, or balloons
• weapons (regardless of permit)
• flammable materials, such as bunting, tissue paper, helium-filled balloons, crepe paper
• confetti
• sealed packages of any kind
• glass bottles or aluminum cans (exception: empty reusable water bottles that are 24 oz. or less, metal and plastic)
• aerosol cans or noise-making devices
• alcoholic beverages
• video cameras or audio recording devices (exception: cellphones and SLR cameras, with lenses up to and not exceeding 300mm, with video or recording capabilities)
• computers or laptops
• animals (exception: service animals)
• any materials, items, or apparel constituting unauthorized advertising or promotion
• laser pointing device
• selfie sticks or other telescopic devices
• controlled substances
• any other items deemed dangerous or inappropriate by security personnel or FIT staff

Graduates are expected to arrive at 5 pm fully robed in their regalia (cap and gown) to be seated with their degree program. Students should use the marked Haft Theater entrance on West 27th Street. Please make sure all guests in your party have tickets; no one can be admitted without one.

Guests should use the Haft Theater entrance on West 27th Street. Look for balloons marking the entrance.

Doors open at 5 pm for guests. All guests need an electronic ticket to enter; tickets will be scanned at the door. 

Seating is first come, first seated, and seats may not be reserved. If all members of your party have not yet arrived, please delay entering the venue until your party is together to ensure you will all be seated together. The ceremony will begin promptly at 6 pm.

Graduates will go onto the stage with their degree progam. When their names are announced the graduates will walk towards the left side of the stage for hooding, with their hood on their right arm. The dean for the School of Graduate Studies will announce each student’s name and the department chair will place the hood on each graduate. (As they sit in the chair and face the audience, the hood is placed over the graduate’s head.)

After hooding, graduates will continue across the stage to receive a diploma cover and shake hands with the FIT president and the vice president of Academic Affairs. Before returning to their seats, graduates will have an official photo taken, a copy of which will be emailed the week after commencement.

The program will run approximately one hour long from the start of the procession.

Immediately following the ceremony, graduates will be guided to Room C205 for group photos of each degree program before joining their guests for the celebration in the Breezeway.  

There will also be a step-and-repeat, a photo booth, and a video booth in the Breezeway at the post-ceremony celebration for graduates to take their own photos and videos with their guests.

A celebration reception will follow the ceremony in the Dubinsky Student Center Lobby and FIT Dining Hall. Hors d’oeuvres will be served. The reception will last approximately one hour.

Alumni Relations will join the reception and will share information about future events and exciting networking opportunities.

Among the vendors that will also be present are FIT's Campus Store with FIT merchandise and The Commencement Group, a local floral provider, with flowers and other items available for purchase before and after the ceremony. To browse the selection and preorder, please visit thecommencementgroup.com/fit.

The Haft Theater is an accessible venue. Accommodation requests for graduates and their guests may be directed to the Office of Disability Support Services (FIT-ABLE). Attendees with special needs (wheelchair assistance, FM systems, etc.) may submit their request via the Request for Accommodations at Commencement form. Closed captioning of the ceremony can be accessed by selecting the captioning option on the commencement livestream, which will be available at fitnyc.edu/commencement and on Vimeo.

Graduates, please remember at this event you will be held to the same expectations and standards outlined in the Code of Student Conduct. Any individuals who violate these policies will be asked to leave the ceremony.

Also note that the ceremony is a smoke-free event covered under FIT's Tobacco-Free Campus policy.