Communications Archive—Faculty and Administrators

2025 COMMENCEMENT
Rumsey Playfield, Central Park, New York City
May 21 and 22, 2025

Thank you for your participation in this year’s ceremonies. Our goal is to make these events a joyful occasion for the FIT graduates and their families. Following is some general information, procedures to follow, and the two-day schedule.

Commencement is a rain-or-shine event.

Rain and colder temperatures are predicted for both days, and we have been making plans to add tents over more areas of the backstage area for your comfort, but please plan accordingly for the weather. 

Arrival Info and Venue Entrance

Please arrive one hour before your ceremony begins. Find ceremony times and arrival information on the Undergraduate Ceremonies: Faculty Information page.

Enter the park at Fifth Avenue and 72nd Street. Proceed straight to East Drive. Go across East Drive and turn left up the path to the Mother Goose Statue with circular benches around it. The path will lead you to Rumsey Playfield. It is a four-minute walk from Fifth Avenue.

If you need further directions, you can use Central Park's map for Rumsey Playfield or use Google Maps.

A golf cart will be available at the Fifth Avenue and 72nd Street entrance to meet anyone who requires assistance only to get to the Rumsey Playfield gate. Upon arrival, look for an FIT staff member greeter (wearing a blue polo shirt with an FIT logo on it) assigned to this entrance to request the golf cart escort. 

Platform Party Participants

Check in at the VIP table to receive a wristband for access to the backstage area. Liaisons will be available to direct you.

New This Year: In response to your feedback, the robing tent will now have two adjacent lounges so that Platform Party members and event workers may comfortably enjoy breaks with food and beverages together in an enhanced spacious and comfortable setting.

Members of the Platform Party are asked to refrain from using electronic devices while on stage during the ceremonies.

Faculty in Audience Seating

Check in at the VIP table to be directed to the assigned seating area for faculty.

Those who choose to sit in the general audience are encouraged to visit the graduate and guest celebration areas near the entrance to greet the graduates and their families; they are welcome to partake of the snacks and beverages available there.

There are several restrooms available throughout the venue.

Attire and Personal Belongings

Please wear comfortable shoes, and do not bring anything of value with you. There will be FIT Public Safety officers stationed in the backstage area throughout the day; however, people from inside and outside the college have access to this area and we prefer you plan accordingly.

You can find additional information on the faculty/administrator pages of the commencement website.

We look forward to having you with us and making these events special for all the FIT graduates!

Helpful Links

• Commencement website
• Schedule by school/major
• Faculty/administrator FAQ
• Undergraduate livestream

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Important: Regalia Ordering Information

Due to an overwhelming response this year, please do not wait to place your order.

Anyone who still needs to order regalia must do so by April 30 by calling the FIT Campus Store at (212) 217-5690 or emailing Nate Crawford at [email protected] with the following information:  

• Name
• Height
• Weight
• Cap Size
• Highest Degree
• College or University (from which your terminal degree was received)

Please note, we have been advised that if orders are not received by April 30, the FIT Campus Store may not have sufficient regalia on hand to meet the demand.

Reminder: All members of the platform party must wear regalia to sit on stage. The deadline to RSVP to attend is April 30.

Additional details about the undergraduate ceremonies can be found on the Undergraduate Ceremonies: Faculty Information web page.

You can also find a link to a full schedule of the undergraduate ceremonies and complete student details on the Undergraduate Student Information page on the commencement website. 

Questions? Contact Jackie Espaillat-Guerrero at [email protected].

 

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Reminder: The deadline is April 30.

This is your last chance to reserve a seat at this year's commencement to be held at Rumsey Playfield in Central Park on Wednesday and Thursday, May 21 and 22, 2025—either as a member of the platform party or the audience. Please use the button below to complete the reservation form prior to the April 30 deadline.

Faculty and Administrators: RSVP for Commencement

• If you plan to attend one or more of the ceremonies as a member of the platform party, you are required to wear regalia and reserve your seat on stage by April 30.
• If you haven't already ordered your regalia, please visit the FIT Campus Store to assure you receive your regalia for pickup by mid-May.
• If you plan to attend one or more of the undergraduate ceremonies but do not wish to sit onstage with the platform party, you are still required to reserve a space in the audience area reserved for FIT faculty by April 30.
• No late requests will be able to be accommodated.

About the Ceremonies

Each event will run approximately 90 minutes in length and will be held outdoors in the park, rain or shine.

You are encouraged to greet your students and their guests as they enjoy refreshments, take family portraits, and pick up gifts and festive items prior to or immediately following each ceremony at the celebration area tents. 

Please refer to the Faculty and Administrators Information for other pertinent information and FAQs or you may contact Jackie Espaillat-Guerrero at [email protected] with any questions or concerns, or to make any requests for special accommodations prior to the event dates.

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The deadline is April 30.

RSVP for Undergraduate Commencement

Rent Regalia  OR Purchase Regalia*

*If you plan to be part of the platform party at any of the ceremonies, you must wear regalia. You may order your regalia to be picked up at the FIT Campus Store in May or have it delivered to your home for an extra charge.  

Questions? Contact Jackie Espaillat-Guerrero at [email protected]

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Dear Faculty and Administrators,

Each year, commencement is an opportunity for students, their families and their loved ones along with the FIT community, to celebrate the academic journey that led to this significant milestone—achieving a degree. Please join us at FIT’s 80th commencement exercises at Rumsey Playfield in Central Park on Wednesday and Thursday, May 21 and 22, 2025. 

There will be six ceremonies grouped by school and program majors, which means that the graduates will attend the ceremony that corresponds with their program. 

You may attend one or more ceremonies as a member of the platform party or audience. Please refer to the schedule for the undergraduate ceremonies by school and major to see when your students will be in attendance.

Important!

• If you plan to attend one or more of the undergraduate ceremonies as a member of the platform party, you are required to wear regalia and reserve your seat on stage.
• If you plan to attend one or more of the undergraduate ceremonies and not participate as a platform party member, you are required to reserve your seat in the FIT faculty audience seating area.
• You must RSVP in advance; venue personnel, not FIT staff, are responsible for check-in.

RSVP for Undergraduate Commencement

Ceremony Details

Each ceremony will have reserved sections for FIT faculty. Each event will run approximately 90 minutes in length and will be held outdoors in the park, rain or shine. 

You are also encouraged to join your students and their guests as they enjoy refreshments, take family portraits, and pick up gifts and festive items prior to or immediately following each ceremony at the celebration area tents. 

Please refer to the faculty and administrator page on the commencement website for information, including FAQs, regalia purchase/rental details, and more. 

I look forward to seeing you in Central Park!

Dr. Joyce F. Brown 
President
Fashion Institute of Technology

 

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I am very pleased to announce the dates for the 2025 undergraduate and graduate commencement exercises next spring.

Similar to last year, FIT will hold six undergraduate ceremonies at Rumsey Playfield in Central Park, on Wednesday and Thursday, May 21 and 22, 2025.

We will also hold a Family Celebration event before and after each ceremony so all can enjoy refreshments, take family photos at our official step-and-repeat backdrop, and partake of special commencement activities and gifts. 

I am delighted to share that the ceremonies have been grouped by school and major to enable you to participate with your classmates. 

The 2025 Undergraduate Commencement Ceremonies will be held on:

• Wednesday, May 21: Jay and Patty Baker School of Business and Technology
• Thursday, May 22: School of Art and Design; School of Liberal Arts and Sciences

You may find the time of your ceremony by going to the commencement website at fitnyc.edu/commencement. 

The conferral of degrees and a hooding ceremony for the master’s degree candidates of the School of Graduate Studies will take place at 6 pm on Tuesday, May 20, 2025, in the Morris W. and Fannie B. Haft Theater at FIT.

Periodically throughout the spring 2025 semester, commencement information will be sent to you including reminders of important deadlines to register for graduation, order graduation regalia, make guest ticket reservations, etc. You are also encouraged to check fitnyc.edu/commencement regularly for updates.

I hope you have a productive rest of the fall semester and I look forward to seeing you at next spring’s commencement exercises.

Dr. Joyce F. Brown 
President
Fashion Institute of Technology

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