College of the Arts
Convocation and Commencement 2008

Congratulations bachelors degree candidates (and recent recipients) of the College of the Arts! Please join us at both our College Convocation and University Commencement so that we may recognize your achievement.

College of the Arts Convocation -
Thursday, May 15, 2008; 7 pm; check-in 6:00 pm
Location: MSU Amphitheater

(NOTE: For bachelors candidates only; masters candidates to attend Graduate Convocation on May 14) In the event of rain, the ceremony will be delayed or postponed to either Tuesday, May 20 or Wednesday, May 21, verified by calling 973.655.7810 or by logging on to http://www.montclair.edu. Tickets required.)

Montclair State University Commencement -
Friday, May 23, 2008; 10 am; check-in 8:45 am
Location: Izod Center, Meadowlands Sports Complex

(Note: For all students. Tickets not required.)

OVERVIEW AND INSTRUCTIONS - Please Read

The Montclair State University Commencement celebrates all bachelors and masters degree candidates of the university. Exercises will take place indoors at the Izod Center (formerly Continental Airlines Arena) within the Meadowlands Sports Complex in East Rutherford, NJ, on Friday, May 23, 2008 beginning at 10:00 a.m. The ceremony will last approximately 90 minutes. Commencement signifies the official conferral of degrees. Whereas students' individual names are not read during the ceremony. Commencement recognizes all of the colleges' graduating classes. Seating is unlimited and tickets are not required. For further information regarding Commencement. click here.

As a complement and precursor to Commencement, The College of the Arts' Convocation will take place on Thursday, May 15 beginning at 7 pm. The event celebrates achievements of students enrolled in the College of the Arts (student names are announced during the ceremony.) Seating is limited and tickets are required.

Students are encouraged to attend both Convocation and Commencement.

Eligibility to Participate in Both Events

Candidates who will complete their degree requirements by May 2008 and who after filing for a final audit are on the May 2008 graduation list are eligible to participate in the Convocation and/or Commencement exercises. Those whose degrees were conferred in August 2007 or January 2008 also are eligible to participate.

For information on the application for final audit, Certification (Teacher Education), or if you missed the deadline to file for graduation, please go to http://www.montclair.edu/registrar.

Questions concerning academic issues relative to your degree should be directed to the Office of the Registrar at 973.655.4376. All other questions may be directed to the College of the Arts Office of Student Services at 973.655.7346.

Academic Regalia & Attire for Both Events

Ordering Regalia -

Students participating in Convocation ceremonies and/or Commencement exercises are required to wear academic robes. Caps and gowns may be purchased at the University Bookstore during regular store hours beginning Wednesday, May 7, and continuing through Monday, May, 19. They will be available again from noon to closing beginning Tuesday, May 20 and continuing through Thursday, May 22.

Master's degree candidates must order their regalia through Herff Jones at http://www.herffjones.com/college/graduation by March 3, 2008. Master's robes are $62.

Doctoral Candidates participation in the Commencement ceremony should contact Dr. Kim O'Halloran, Associate Dean of the College of Education and Human Services at ohallorank@mail.montclair.edu no later than March 30, 2008, to order their academic attire.

All purchases of academic attire are non refundable.

Stoles and Hoods-

For information regarding stoles and hoods for Commencement, please visit Commencement web site.

Caps and Tassels-

note: caps and tassels are NOT to be worn for Convocation but will be worn at Commencement at the Izod Center.) Handbags or other carried articles are not permitted in either ceremony. Please leave these items at home, with a quest or in the car.

Shoes-

Due to the natural construction of the Amphitheater we ask that all students were flat comfortable shoes.

COLLEGE OF THE ARTS CONVOCATION INFORMATION

Location

All Convocation ceremonies are held in the Montclair State University Amphitheater. The Amphitheater is not covered so guest should dress according to the weather. In the event of inclement weather, the ceremony may be delayed or postponed to either Tuesday, May 20 or Wednesday, May 21. Please call the MSU weather hotline at 973.655.7810 of log on to http://www.montclair.edu/ for up to the minute weather cancellation information. See campus map.

(Please note that Master's degree candidates are to attend the Graduation Convocation on May 14 only rather than that for the College of the Arts.)

RSVP and Ticketing

• To request convocation admission tickets, please complete a request form on the Convocation RSVP /Ticketing Site. To request tickets you must use your "Net-ID." If you have never activated you Net-ID you can do so by going to http://netid.montclair.edu and entering your student ID, number and PIN. If you need further help, call the Help Desk at x7971 for assistance
• Students may request a maximum of 5 tickets (note: graduation students do not need tickets for themselves.) Additional tickets may be requested on a waiting list basis. As a courtesy to other students please request only those tickets that will be used. Tickets must be ordered online by no later than May 5th.
• Ticket pick-up: Tickets ordered online may be picked up between May 5th - May 9th at the Kasser Theater Box Office, adjacent to the Red Hawk Parking Deck, (Note: Before tickets are issued, the Box Office will verify that you are on the graduation lists of eligible participants.)
• The Box Office is open Monday through Friday from 12:00 - 5:00 p.m. for ticket pick-up (Call 973-655-5112 if you have questions.)

Arrival and Check-in

College of the Arts Convocation
Thursday, May 15, 2008
Amphitheater, Montclair State University

• CANDIDATES ARE TO REPORT TO CHECK-IN AT 6:00 pm
• Check-in is on the portico in the front of Alexander Kasser Theater by the main entrance to the theater.
• At check-in, candidates will be given an index card with the student's name, phonetic spelling and program of study.
• The number on the index card (if applicable) will indicate the order in which you are to line up by program.
• College of the Arts staff will be available for assistance. Guests are not permitted in the check-in or line-up area.

Line-up

• Candidates will line up no later than 6:45 pm. Latecomers will not be able to participate.
• The College of The Arts staff will organize and supervise line-up.

Procession/Recession

• Procession will begin promptly at 7:00 pm. Latecomers will not be able to participate.
• Candidates will process into the Amphitheater from line-up. Please listen to instructions carefully on the day of the event.

Ceremony

• The ceremony is expected to last up to 90 minutes.
• The Convocation ceremony will begin with a welcoming address by President Susan Cole. Toward the middle of the ceremony a processional of graduation candidates will then be called to the stage (your name will be announced) to be congratulated personally by the Dean, your department chair and faculty.
  Award recipients will also be recognized (note: recipients will be notified in advance.)

Photos

• Due to the physical requirements of the seating area and for safety reasons, it will not be possible for family members to take photos during the ceremony. Please plan to take photos with family and/or faculty following the ceremony. A photo station and student photographer will be available to take photos using family members� cameras.

Guest Seating

• GUESTS WITHOUT TICKETS WILL NOT BE ADMITTED.
• Entrances to the Amphitheater will be open to guest holding tickets at 6:00 pm. All guest should be seated by 6:45 pm. The Amphitheater entrance will close for 15 minutes at 6:45 pm to accommodate the procession of faculty and candidates, so be sure that your guest arrive prior to that time.
• Please see photos of the Amphitheater above; ticketed quest may be seated anywhere above the first 3 rows, on either side of the center seating area, where the graduates will be seated,
• No strollers are allowed in the Amphitheater (Families bringing strollers will be required to leave strollers in a designated location.)

Special Needs

• Students and guests requiring disability seating accommodations should send an email to arts school@mail.montclair.edu no later than Monday, May 5^th with the person's name and special accommodation request. (Type "Accessibility Needed for Convocation" in the heading of the email.)
• The Red Hawk Parking Deck includes designated accessible parking spaces on the 4th floor level for cars displaying a handicap hang tag and a ramp leading to the Amphitheater.

Parking

• Candidates with surface lot permits may park in those same lots during the Convocation Ceremony.
• Guest without permits may use the Red Hawk Deck, whose fee schedule my be found on the Parking and Transportation Services web site.
• There is also FREE parking available at Quarry Lots 18, 19, 20B, 21, 22, 23, 26 (short walk required to Convocation site-see campus map.) Parking in these lots will be allowed without a permit only during the Convocation.
• Shuttle bus service will run as normal during the day of the ceremony.
• Parking Map (PDF)

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