Commencement 2024
Commencement 2024
Rain or Shine
Â鶹´«Ã½ is pleased to announce that we will host our University-wide commencement ceremony for all undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral students on Wednesday, May 15, 2024, at the in Harrison, New Â鶹´«Ã½.
Two commencement ceremonies will occur at the Red Bull Arena on May 15, 2024. The first ceremony will begin at 10:00 am, and the second will start at 2:00 pm.
- 10:00 am: School of Business and College of Professional Studies
- 2:00 pm: William J. Maxwell College of Arts & Sciences (CAS) and CAS/Education dual-degree recipients and Deborah Cannon Partridge Wolfe College of Education.
- Doors open at 9:00 am for the morning ceremony and 1:00 pm for the afternoon ceremony.
Ceremony
- Each ceremony will last for approximately two (2) hours. Commencement is an important and formal occasion for each graduate to be treated with the highest respect and honor.
- To ensure that each individual can enjoy this day, we ask that all graduates remain seated until the ceremony's conclusion.
- All participants will be asked to be immediately seated at the venue.
- Seating will be determined based on school and major.
Commencement Speaker
Â鶹´«Ã½ has announced that Dr. Bettina L. Love, a professor, change maker and New York Times Best-Selling Author, will be its 2024 Commencement speaker and will receive an honorary doctorate degree when the university holds its 2024 Commencement exercises.
Student Response Speaker
Tekla Tchelidze, '24, will deliver the student response from the Class of 2024 during this year's Commencement exercises. She is a Biology Major who immigrated to the United States from Republic of Georgia in the Caucasus region between Eastern Europe and West Asia. The international student transferred from Tbilisi State University, in Georgia. She currently serves as the President of the Biology club, as a Supplemental Instruction tutor and is a member of the Leadership Honor Society.
Commencement Livestream
In addition to the in-person ceremony, Â鶹´«Ã½ broadcasts both ceremonies.
Commencement Photos
Island Photography will capture each graduate's "moment" as they enter and exit the stage.
Within 48-72 hours after the ceremony, you will be emailed a unique link to view or order your images from your graduation celebration. There is absolutely no obligation to purchase. These cherished moments are forever fleeting. Don't miss this opportunity! For further information, please get in touch with us at curtserv@islandphoto.com or 800-869-0908
Regalia
Regalia ordering deadlines will be added shortly.
- Academic regalia MUST be ordered to participate in the Commencement ceremonies.
- All academic attire will be shipped to you at the address you provide in your regalia reservation. Caps and gowns will not be distributed to graduates at Commencement, so please enter a shipping address that you know is trustworthy.
- All graduates must have regalia to participate in the ceremony.
REGALIA RESERVATIONS SERVE AS COMMENCEMENT R.S.V.P!
Commencement Regalia
BACHELOR STUDENTS/GRADUATES:
If you graduate with a Bachelor's degree, you will receive a Black Â鶹´«Ã½ Bachelor gown, a Black Â鶹´«Ã½ cap and tassel, and the Â鶹´«Ã½ Custom Stole of Gratitude. These items are yours to KEEP.
- Undergraduate students with a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.65 or higher receive honor cords. Unfortunately, honor cords cannot be ordered online. Instead, please contact the Registrar to receive your honors cord.
- Graduate and doctoral students do not receive honors cords.
The Legend of the Stole: Every graduate has had a special person who made a big difference through moral or financial support. The Stole offers an opportunity to say, "Thanks for helping me make it through; thanks for making it possible for me to succeed!" After the ceremony, the new graduate presents their Stole to someone who provided extraordinary support or helped with wisdom, words of encouragement, or financial assistance. Immediately after graduation, the graduate may take the Stole from around their neck and place it around the neck of the recipient. Presenters often write words of love and appreciation on the back of the Stole using a permanent, fine-tipped marker. Friends and family of the graduate may autograph the front or back. The Stole is a lasting symbol of love, appreciation, and academic accomplishment.
MASTER STUDENTS/GRADUATES:
If you are graduating with a Master's degree, you will receive a Custom Â鶹´«Ã½ Master robe and hood. These items are yours to KEEP.
DOCTORAL GRADUATES:
If you are graduating with a Doctoral degree, you will receive a Custom Â鶹´«Ã½ Doctoral unit (robe, hood, tam & tassel). These items are yours to KEEP.
Ticketing Information
Graduating students and their guests DO NOT need an entry ticket, and all guests are welcome. There is no maximum number of guests per student.
Accessibility
Red Bull Arena is therefore, if guests need to utilize the accessible entrance and require access to accessible seating, please arrive as early as possible.
If you are a graduating student requiring special accommodations or have guests needing accommodations, please contact Jennifer Aitken in the Office of Specialized Services and Supplemental Instruction (201-200-2091).
Diplomas
- Diploma cases will be given out at the commencement ceremony.
- Students cleared for degrees will be sent postcards with the dates and times when diplomas may be picked up at the Registrar's Office.
Honors Cords
Undergraduate students with a cumulative grade point average of 3.65 or better as they begin their final semester at Â鶹´«Ã½ will be officially recognized as honors graduates. Students who achieve a cumulative average of 3.65 or better after their final semester have an "honors" notation on their permanent records. The different types of honors are defined below.
Students who graduate with honors will automatically receive honors cords with their commencement regalia. The honors designations are as follows:
- 3.65–3.79: Cum laude
- 3.80–3.89: Magna cum laude
- 3.90–4.00: Summa cum laude
2024 Commencement Cap Contest
We are excited to celebrate Commencement with you this Wednesday, May 15. Commencement is a day steeped in tradition. But it's also a day to celebrate your personal accomplishments to reach this moment in your academic journey! Are you ready to celebrate your achievements in style? 🎓 Get ready to unleash your creativity! 🎨
If you are planning to decorate your commencement cap, we invite you to showcase artistic flair and enter our 2024 Commencement Cap Decorating Contest. Transform your graduation cap into a masterpiece with personal meaning. Then submit a photo of the cap (or you wearing it), with a summary of what it represents.
Our Commencement committee will review all submissions and the Top 3 will receive a high-quality diploma frame! We'll also celebrate the winners, and some honorable mention selections, on our university social media platforms, so be sure to include your social handles!
The deadline to submit your cap photos is Monday, May 20 at 5 p.m.