Photo Credit: Kris Qua
Commencement 2025
Commencement 2025 will take place on Saturday, May 17, 2025, at 10 am at the Albany Capital Center in Albany, New York.
Please refer to drop down menus below to access details about the Commencement ceremony.
Ceremony & Event Details
If you're looking for things to do, events, dining and lodging in Albany, NY, please visit Discover Albany for more information.
Helpful Links:
Each student will be allotted five free tickets for family and friends. Graduates do not require a ticket for admittance. Children ages 3 and under who will sit on their guardian's lap do not require a ticket. Children age 4 and above require a ticket.
Tickets will be available beginning March 24. After that, if there is seating still available, ACPHS will offer a limited supply to graduates on a first-come, first-served basis. More details will follow after the initial ticket distribution.
Albany Capital Center
55 Eagle Street
Albany, NY 12207
Date: Saturday, May 17, 2025
Time: 10:00 am
Helpful Information:
- The ceremony will last 2 - 2 ½ hours
- Doors open at 8:30 am
- Graduating students and families should arrive between 8:30 - 9:15 am
- Faculty and Staff should arrive by 9:00 am
- Tickets will be collected upon entry. Guest seating is first-come, first-served.
Note: there are several events taking place in downtown Albany on Saturday, May 17th, so it is recommended attendees arrive early to avoid traffic and to secure parking.
Directions:
Parking:
- Albany Capital Center Lot – 7 Wendell Street (entrance on the side of the building) off Howard Street. Take the elevator to level C1 (Lobby). Please watch the Parking Directional Video. You will need your license plate number for payment at the lobby kiosk.
- MVP Lot – Entrances are located on both Market Street and Beaver Street. Park on levels 3 or 5 for direct access to Capital Center. Follow signs to Albany Capital Center. Take the elevator to level C1 (Lobby). Please watch the Parking Directional Video. You will need your license plate number for payment at the lobby kiosk.
Other nearby parking:
- Grand Street Lot – 45 Grand Street, Albany, New York,12207 is available at no cost
- Green Hudson Garage – 45 Hudson Ave, Albany, New York, 12207. $5/parking (no cash/card only)
- On-street parking is also available in downtown Albany
For more information on directions and parking, please visit the following resources:
ACPHS has arranged a complimentary shuttle to transport faculty, staff and guests from the ACPHS campus to the Albany Capital Center. Shuttle service is offered on a first-come, first-serve basis and allows guests to park on campus and return after the ceremony. Individuals wishing to use this service should arrive on campus by 9 am and park in Lot C, where the pick-up will also be located.
The Albany Capital Center is fully ADA compliant.
- ADA access is provided at all parking levels and at the main entrance with an integral ramped entrance to the main lobby at Level 1 and full elevator access to all levels including parking.
- Provisions have been made for the charging of motorized conveyance, restrooms are fully accessible, Braille signage and universal symbols are in use.
- Audio & visual aids are employed throughout the facility to assure the highest level of service for the convention and meeting attendee.
- Floors surfaces are continuous with minimalized transitions.
The ceremony will last 2 - 2 ½ hours. There is one scheduled guest speaker and each graduate walks across the stage to receive their diploma.
Professional photographers will be onsite during Commencement. Photos will be available for viewing on the Commencement webpage, via social media channels and available for complimentary download in the days following the ceremony.
Note: Participants and attendees at the 2025 Commencement may be included in images and video footage shared with the campus community and the public.
Share your photos using #ACPHSGrad and #PantherPride.
Patricia (Patty) Tompkins
Events Manager
518-694-7123
patricia.tompkins@eduftp.net
Commencement Speaker
Mayor Kathy Sheehan is in her third term as Albany’s 75th mayor and has dedicated her administration to creating a city where every neighborhood works — neighborhoods that are safe and have access to quality housing that is affordable to the people who live there, world-class amenities, and vibrant economic opportunities.
Under Mayor Sheehan’s leadership, the City has invested nearly $200 million in new parks, pools, community centers, streets, sidewalks, and water and sewer infrastructure across the City. These investments have been made with a commitment to equity and responsive government that includes diverse community voices, and a focus on neighborhoods impacted by redlining and other historically discriminatory practices.
Since Mayor Sheehan took office, crime in Albany is down 21%, Albany’s population has grown beyond 100,000 for the first time in decades, Albany’s tax base is 75% larger, Albany's tax rate is 36% lower, more than 5,000 new units of housing have been built, and Albany has seen more than $1 billion in new development citywide with another $500+ million in the pipeline – all indicators of the growing optimism within New York’s Capital City.
These accomplishments are the seeds Mayor Sheehan helped plant — the same seeds that prepared Albany to be selected as the future home of National Semiconductor Technology Center and be in a prime position to capitalize on Governor Hochul’s proposed $400 million investment in Downtown Albany. Thanks to Mayor Sheehan’s leadership, Albany now stands on the brink of a transformational era.
Mayor Sheehan has served as our city’s Mayor since 2014 after spending four years as City Treasurer. After graduating from Albany Law School, she practiced law before entering politics. The Chicago, IL-native earned a Bachelor of Science degree from Bowling Green State University.