Walking at Commencement Policy

I. PURPOSE

New York Medical College confers degrees three times during the year: in May, August and December. However, the formal Commencement ceremony is held only once, in May. The purpose of this policy is to define which Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences students are eligible to participate in the May Commencement Exercises at NYMC.

II. POLICY

GSBMS students may participate in the formal May Commencement Exercises (“walk”) at NYMC under the following conditions.

1. Master’s Students:

a. Students who have completed all degree requirements for a degree conferral in August, December, or May of a given academic year are eligible to participate in the May commencement ceremony.

2. Doctoral Students:

a. Students who have completed all degree requirements for a degree conferral in August, December, or May of a given academic year are eligible to participate in the May commencement ceremony.

b. Students planning to graduate in August of the subsequent academic year who have completed their dissertation research and scheduled their public defense to occur by the Friday preceding the current May commencement date are eligible to participate in the current year May commencement ceremony. Students are only eligible to participate in Commencement once. If a student chooses not to attend the ceremony during their eligible year, they will not be permitted to participate in a future ceremony.

III. SCOPE

This policy applies to all students in the GSBMS at New York Medical College.

IV. DEFINITIONS

NYMC: New York Medical College
GSBMS: Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences
M.S.: Master of Science
Ph.D.: Doctor of Philosophy Degree
Academic Year: beginning July 1 and ending June 30 the following year

V. PROCEDURES

A. Students (M.S. and Ph.D.) who have completed all academic requirements for August, December, or May degree conferral must apply for graduation in order to be eligible to participate in the May Commencement Exercises of the same academic year of the degree being conferred.

B. Ph.D. students granted the option under Section II.2.b must defend their dissertation by the last Friday in May prior to the commencement ceremony. Such students must submit a statement to the Academic Standards Committee by April 1st, signed by both the dissertation advisor and the chair of the dissertation committee, confirming that the student has completed their research, is in the process of finalizing their dissertation, and is prepared to defend.

VI. EFFECTIVE DATE

This policy shall be effective immediately.

VII. POLICY MANAGEMENT

Executive Stakeholder: Dean, Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences
Oversight Office: Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Dean’s Office