FAQ

The Gallagher Center, the site of the Graduate Ceremony and the Commencement Liturgy, is located on the main campus of Niagara University.

The Undergraduate Commencement is held at Alumni Arena located on the grounds of SUNY Buffalo (North Campus).  From the NYS Thruway (I-90), take Exit 50 to the Youngman Highway (I-290) and exit at Millersport Highway North (Exit 5B-Route 263). Proceed to the SUNY exit (SUNYAB Coventry Entrance), which is located in front of the Amherst Pepsi Arena. Turn left onto the campus grounds, and follow the signs.

If you are traveling from Canada please leave ample time for crossing the bridge and clearing customs. This is a Canadian holiday weekend and bridge traffic will be very heavy, expect long delays.

All the lots near the Gallagher Center are available for those attending the Graduate Ceremony and the Commencement Liturgy. At SUNY Buffalo, there are large parking lots adjacent to Alumni Arena where there is parking for our guests at the Undergraduate Ceremony (follow the directions of the parking attendants when you arrive on campus). There is no shuttle service for parking; feel free to drop off at the front door of the venues those guests who may have difficulty walking before parking your vehicle.

At the Graduate Ceremony and the Commencement Liturgy in the Upper Level Gallagher Center, no tickets are needed and you may bring as many guests as you wish. Seating is on a first-come, first-served basis.

For the Undergraduate Ceremony, each graduating student in attendance is entitled to six tickets for their guest(s) use, for general admission seating, determined by first-come, first-seated arrival at Alumni Arena (graduating students do not need tickets). This requirement is due to regulations imposed by the State University of New York (the location of the undergraduate ceremony) based upon the size of the class and the number of available seats in the arena. Any person of any age occupying a seat must have a ticket: strollers are not allowed in the main hall of the arena (we do not recommend that young children be brought to the ceremonies, as they may distract others in attendance and will find the ceremonies much too long for their comfort).

There are areas reserved for those in wheelchairs at both the Gallagher Center and at Alumni Arena. In order to accommodate as many people as possible in these areas, we kindly ask that only one other family member remain in this area with the special needs individual, while the remaining guests are seated in an area very close by. No wheelchairs will be available onsite for use during the events, so please bring your own if you know you will be in need of one.

However, you must be aware that Alumni Arena in particular has many stairs and can be difficult to navigate. It is a huge venue seating 5,000 guests, with some bleacher seats without backs. Even though elevators are available, there is still a great deal of walking and stairclimbing necessary to locate a seat in many sections of the venue. 

Please note that for those family members who are not able to attend the ceremony in person, the ceremony is available to view live via our live webcast, free of charge, to anybody wishing to view the event online.  For more information regarding the live Webcast please visit www.niagara.edu/live-webcast .

As noted on the schedule, graduate students are to report to the Gallagher Center by 10 a.m. on Saturday, May 21 and seating for our guests will begin at the same hour. At the Commencement Liturgy on Saturday, May 21, students are seated with their families and we ask that you be in attendance by 3:45 p.m. that day (remember graduates do not wear gowns or caps to the Liturgy). Undergraduates are to report by 11 a.m. on Sunday, May 22 to Alumni Arena on the grounds of SUNY Buffalo, and doors will open for guests at 10 a.m. for the general admission seating. Guests should be in their seats NO LATER THAN 12:15 p.m.

The graduate ceremony usually lasts approximately 1-1/4 hours, the Commencement Liturgy approximately one hour, and the undergraduate ceremony approximately three hours. Knowing this time frame may assist you making reservations for dinner and other festivities.

From the Commencement 2011 webpage there is a link to a list of accommodations that are quoting reduced rates for guests attending the Niagara University events. Remember to identify yourself as such when making reservations.

Absolutely! We invite you, your family and guests to join us to honor members of the Class of 2011, both Graduate and Undergraduate.

To check other points of interest in the area, go to the website for the Buffalo Niagara Convention and Visitor's Bureau by clicking on Visit Buffalo Niagara. For restaurant suggestions, click on The Buffalo News: Entertainment.