Congratulations to the Class of 2026!
We can't wait to celebrate you at the College's 98th Commencement this May. Stay tuned to this site throughout the spring semester for all the latest information on the big day!
Commencement Ceremony
Sarah Lawrence College will confer degrees for the undergraduate and graduate classes of 2026 in a ceremony on Friday, May 8 under a tent (rain or shine) on Westlands South Lawn. The ceremony begins at 10 a.m. A celebratory reception on the North Lawn will follow the ceremony, and all guests are invited.
A Graduate Hooding Ceremony will be held for our Master’s candidates on Thursday, May 7 at the Barbara Walters Campus Center. The ceremony begins at 6:30 p.m. Graduate students will receive a total of four tickets to the ceremony.
Commencement Ticketing and Seating
Seating at the Commencement ceremony is very limited, therefore it is an event that requires tickets for guests. Each graduate will receive a total of four tickets (two for admission under the Westlands Lawn Tent and two for admission to the watch party location in the Barbara Walters Campus Center). Seating is on a first-come, first-served basis for ticket holders and begins at 8:30 a.m. on Friday, May 8. Students will be notified when tickets are available for pick up on campus. Please hold on to your tickets, as they cannot be replaced if lost.
Seating Accommodations
Sarah Lawrence College is committed to providing an accessible and inclusive event for students and their loved ones. Access considerations are an important part of the planning process. If you anticipate needing accommodations for a ticketed guest, please contact SLC Events at events@sarahlawrence.edu by Friday, April 24. In your request, please include the graduate's name, the guest’s name, and what type of seating or service your guest is requesting.
Parking on Campus
Parking lots will open at 7:45 a.m. on Friday, May 8. Guests may park in any Sarah Lawrence parking lot as directed by Campus Safety. Please note that parking on any side street or Kimball Avenue may result in a ticket from the City of Yonkers. SLC Campus Safety officers will be directing traffic on campus and will let guests know when lots are full. Once all lots are full, there will be a designated overflow parking area at the Cross County Mall with shuttle service to and from campus.
SLC Campus Safety and LEROS Transportation Services will provide shuttle services to all campus parking lots, the Bronxville Metro-North Station, and the Cross County Mall/the Hyatt hotel from 7:45 - 10:30 a.m. and from 12:30 - 3 p.m.
Please call Campus Safety at 914-395-2209 with any questions about parking on Commencement Day. Also, please refer to our interactive campus map for more information on parking, dining, and restroom locations.
Photographs
This is a big day for students and their families! The College has arranged for a professional photographer to take pictures of every student as they cross the stage and after they have exited the stage during the ceremony. These photos will be available for purchase a few weeks after Commencement; an order form for the photographs will be emailed as well as mailed to each student’s home address. We hope that this will enable families to sit comfortably in their seats with the reassurance that they will have a professionally produced photographic recording of this very special moment.
To make sure all guests have a positive experience during the ceremony, please do not stand up in rows, as this will block the view of those seated behind you. Standing in or blocking aisles is not permitted.
All graduating students will have a portrait option on campus prior to Commencement. Portrait dates will be Monday, March 23, and Tuesday, March 24 from 10 a.m. - 4 p.m. in the Barbara Walters Campus Center Multipurpose Room C. Make a Portrait Appointment.
Commencement Speaker: Noah Hawley '89
Noah Hawley is one of the most accomplished auteurs and versatile storytellers working today across television, film, and literature. Hawley balances the art of cinematic storytelling with unforgettable characters that linger long after you’ve been immersed in them. Over a career spanning more than two decades, Hawley has earned widespread critical acclaim and passionate global audiences, receiving an Emmy®, Writers Guild, PEN, Critics’ Choice, and Peabody Award, among others, for his achievements as a novelist, screenwriter, series creator, showrunner, and director.
Hawley is the creator, writer and showrunner of Alien: Earth, the critically acclaimed original FX television series based on the iconic film franchise that debuted in August 2025 on Hulu and FX. Season two of Alien: Earth will begin production in 2026.
Additionally, Noah is set to adapt Far Cry for FX, Ubisoft’s global hit video game franchise of the same title, alongside Rob Mac, with Mac set in the starring role. The series will retain Far Cry’s signature standalone storytelling format, with each season set in a new setting following a new cast of characters.
Under his 26 Keys banner, Hawley also continues to helm the acclaimed FX anthology series Fargo, serving as executive producer, writer, showrunner, and director. Across its five chapters, Fargo has earned 70 Primetime Emmy nominations and won seven. Hawley is also the visionary behind FX’s genre-defying series Legion. His feature film directorial debut, Lucy in the Sky, was released by Fox Searchlight in 2019.
Hawley began his television career as a writer and producer on the hit series Bones in 2005, and went on to create, executive produce, and serve as showrunner for ABC’s My Generation (2009) and The Unusuals (2010).
As a best-selling author, Hawley has published six novels: A Conspiracy of Tall Men, Other People’s Weddings, The Punch, The Good Father, Before the Fall and Anthem, which garnered acclaim as one of the most ambitious novels of 2022. In addition, Fargo: This Is A True Story, a companion book to the first three seasons of the series and authored by Hawley, was released by Grand Central Publishing.
Legion, Fargo, and Alien: Earth are produced under Hawley’s Austin-based 26 Keys Productions banner, which established its headquarters in downtown Austin in 2024. In 2025, Hawley was inducted into the Texas Film Hall of Fame.
Commencement Week Activities/Residence Hall Closings
Traditionally, Commencement Week is an opportunity for graduates to spend time with each other and with faculty. Seniors are welcome to remain in their residence halls during this time. Graduates must move out of their residence halls by 6 p.m. on Friday, May 8. See Commencement Week Schedule here.
Cap & Gown
Cap and gown are provided to graduates at no charge. Measurements must be given to SLC Events by Friday, March 6. An email will be sent to graduates in early February requesting this information. This regalia includes a cap and tassel, and students are welcome to keep the regalia after Commencement. The regalia, called GreenWeaver®, is made from 100% post-consumer recycled plastic bottles in an effort to remain environmentally conscious.
Graduation Announcements
Graduation announcements are available from Jostens. Order announcements online at jostens.com/college or by calling 1-800-854-7464.
Lodging and Restaurants
Some nearby hotels and restaurants offer discounted rates or specials for Sarah Lawrence College friends and family. Ask for the "SLC college" rate when booking or making a reservation.
ShopSLC Pop-Up Shop
The Pop-Up Shop will be open before and after Commencement, and will feature SLC items such as t-shirts, sweatshirts, bags, mugs, and more. The shop is located on the lower level of the Bates Center for Student Life, and will be open on Thursday, May 7, from 2-5 p.m. and on Friday, May 8, from 12-2 p.m.
Family Celebratory Reception
Join President Cristle Collins Judd for a celebratory reception in honor of graduating students in the scenic backyard garden of the President's House. Enjoy the company of your loved ones, fellow graduating students, and faculty and staff on the evening before Commencement. Light bites and refreshments will be served.
Thursday, May 7
3 - 4:30 p.m.
The President’s House
935 Kimball Avenue
Bronxville, NY 10708
RSVP
Guests attending the Family Celebratory Reception at the President’s House on Thursday, May 7, may park in any lot on campus. The parking lots closest to the President’s House are: Andrews Parking Lot and Marshall Field Parking Lot. Please email events@sarahlawrence.edu if you need special accommodations.