Convocation

Sunday, May 19 at 2 pm.

Sprague Field

Congratulations on your upcoming or recent graduation from the College of Humanities and Social Sciences at Montclair State University!  Please join us as we recognize and celebrate your achievement at our Annual College Convocation.

The College of Humanities and Social Sciences will host a Graduation Convocation Ceremony on Sunday, May 19, 2013 at 2 P.M.  Although the University Commencement on Friday, May 24, signifies the official awarding of degrees, the individual College and School Convocations are pre-commencement ceremonies celebrating students' achievements.  Seating is limited and tickets are required for the Convocation.

Guests should enter the campus via the Carlisle Road, Clove Road, or Valley Road/Quinn Road entrance and are invited to park free of charge at the Red Hawk Deck. Entrance to Sprague Field is through gates 5 and 7.

For persons with disabilities, please park in the Red Hawk Deck and shuttle service will be available to and from Sprague Field.

 


Click the image above for a larger version.

(Bachelor Degree recipients and candidates)

Sunday, May 19, 2013
Sprague Field
2:00 P.M.; check-in by 1:00 P.M.

The College of Humanities and Social Sciences Convocation ceremony will be held on Campus at Sprague Field. The facility is not covered, so guests should dress to be comfortable in outdoor weather. Student participants are encouraged to wear sensible shoes. In the event of inclement weather, the ceremony may be postponed until Tuesday, May 15. Please call the MSU weather hotline at 973.655.7810 or log on to http://www.montclair.edu/ for up-to-the-minute weather cancellation information.

Should the weather on Saturday make it impossible to hold Convocation, we strongly encourage all students and their families to attend the Commencement ceremony on Friday, May 18, at the Izod Center in East Rutherford. 

In case of rain, a final decision regarding Saturday's schedule will be posted on the University's Web site (www.montclair.edu) by 6:30 p.m. Friday, May 11. Notification also will be sent via the All-Students and All-Users e-mail lists.

Please continue to check the University's Web site for the latest information and updates regarding Convocation and Commencement.

Eligibility to Participate in both Convocation and Commencement

Candidates who will complete their degree requirements by May 2013 and who after filing for a final audit are on the May 2013 graduation list are eligible to participate in the Convocation and/or Commencement exercises. Those whose degrees were conferred in August 2012 or January 2013 also are eligible to participate.

If you have questions concerning academic issues relative to your degree, please contact the Office of the Registrar at 973-655-4376. All other questions may be directed to the College of Humanities and Social Sciences, to Holly Den Bleyker at 973-655-4228.

Academic Regalia and Attire

Attire

  • For the Convocation, graduating students are required to wear the academic robe with stole (no cap or tassels). Caps and tassels are worn only for Commencement at the Izod Center.
  • Handbags or other carried articles (including water bottles) are not permitted during the ceremony. Please leave handbags or other items at home, in your car or with a guest. The University is not responsible for lost items you choose to bring.
  • Due to the outdoor construction of Sprague Field we advise that students and guests wear comfortable clothing and flat shoes for the event.

Stoles and Hoods

For information regarding the purchasing of academic regalia please visit the Commencement website.

Arrival, Check-in, and Line-up

  • CANDIDATES ARE TO REPORT TO CHECK-IN AT 1:00 P.M.
  • Line Up In Place by Department: Parking Lot 7, adjacent to Panzer Gymnasium.
  • At check-in, candidates will be given an index card that has your name, major, and graduation honors.
  • Guests are not permitted in the check-in or line-up area.
  • Candidates will line up according to their department beginning at 1:00 P.M. and no later than 1:45 P.M. Late-comers will not be able to participate.

Please note that Master's degree candidates are to attend the Graduate Convocation on Monday, May 20th at 7:00 P.M.

Procession/Recession

  • Procession will begin promptly at 1:45 P.M.
  • Candidates will process into the stadium from line-up. Please listen to instructions carefully on the day of the event.

Ceremony

  • The Convocation Ceremony is expected to last 1 and one-half hours.
  • The Convocation ceremony will begin with a welcoming address by President Susan Cole. A processional of graduating candidates will then be called to the stage (your name will be announced) to be congratulated personally by the President, the Provost, the Dean, and the Department Chair.

Photos

  • Due to the physical requirements of the seating area and 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.

Ticketing

In order to receive tickets, ALL STUDENTS MUST REGISTER (RSVP) ON LINE at http://www.montclair.edu/rsvp. Tickets will be distributed in alphabetical order.  Information on registering and obtaining tickets will be available later in the spring semester.

To Request Tickets

  • Seating is limited and tickets are required for guests at the Convocation. Each student can reserve up to 4 tickets for guests. As a courtesy to other students, students should request only those tickets that will be used.  

Guest Seating

  • GUESTS WITHOUT TICKETS WILL NOT BE ADMITTED.
  • Entrances to Sprague Field will be open to guests holding tickets at 1:00 P.M. All guests should be seated by 1:45 P.M. Entrances to Sprague Field will close for 15 minutes beginning at 1:45 P.M. to accommodate the procession of faculty and candidates. Be sure that your guests arrive prior to that time.
  • No strollers are allowed into Sprague Field (families bringing strollers will be required to leave strollers in a designated location).

Parking

  • Parking is available for free in all surface lots (except for the President's Circle) and the Red Hawk Deck. See a parking map, which includes information about parking for guests with special needs. The Red Hawk Shuttle will be running on a regular schedule during Convocations with service to all parking areas. Please note: Parking fees and ticketing will be suspended ONLY on the days of the events. Regular fees apply during regular days/hours.

 

INFORMATION ON APPLYING FOR AWARDS AND RECOGNITIONS

Outstanding Academic Achievement and Service Award

Dean Marietta Morrissey will recognize a student for his/her high academic standing and service to the College with a certificate and honorarium. To be eligible you must be a graduating student with a 3.9 GPA or better and must attend the CHSS Convocation. To apply, submit a letter (maximum 250 words) including your GPA, a description of your graduate school or professional plans, your career goals, outstanding academic or discipline related achievements, and any other related activities either at the University or outside MSU. Letters may be sent to Assistant Dean Jeff Indiveri-Gant at gantj@mail.montclair.edu

Student Speaker Application

One student will be selected to speak for 3 minutes at the Convocation. To be eligible to be the student speaker, you must have a minimum grade point average of 3.5, and provide one CHSS faculty member's written endorsement. Please also include your own letter containing the following information: your major, overall GPA, GPA in your major, an explanation of a contribution you made to your Department or the College community. Also, include in a maximum of 200 words, a description of what you will speak about. Applicants will be judged on their ability to present an interesting and widely appealing speech. Materials may be sent to Assistant Dean Jeff Indiveri-Gant at gantj@mail.montclair.edu or dropped off to the Reception Desk in Dickson Hall 401.