Information for Graduates

• Date: Friday, May 18, 2012
• Location:
  • IZOD Center, Meadowlands Sports Complex
    50 Rt. 120
    East Rutherford, NJ 07073
• Reporting time: 9:00 a.m.
• Ceremony: 10:00 a.m.
  

Academic Requirements for Graduation

Candidates who will complete their degree requirements by the end of the spring 2012 semester and who, after filing for a final audit, are on the May 2012 graduation list are eligible to participate in the Commencement exercises. Those whose degrees were conferred in August 2011 or January 2012 also are eligible to participate.

If you have questions concerning academic issues relative to your degree, final audit, or teacher certification please contact the Office of the Registrar at 973-655-4376. All questions regarding the events may be directed to the Office of University and Community Relations at 973-655-5459.

Line-up and Procession

Graduating students should report to the exhibition storage area on the lowest level of the arena. Enter the building through the box office lobby and proceed down the escalator. Make a right and continue to the exhibition area. Signs will be posted to indicate specific departmental locations.

Please note: Pocketbooks or other carried articles are not acceptable in the academic procession; please remember to keep your car keys in a safe place.

Academic Regalia

Please note, regalia is to be worn according to the following regulations:

For undergraduate convocations: robe and stole only (no cap)

For graduate convocation: robe and cap (no hood)

For Commencement: full regalia

Robes

Students participating in Convocation ceremonies and/or the Commencement exercises are required to wear academic robes.

Bachelor's regalia may be purchased at the University Bookstore during regular store hours beginning May 3 through May 17 (please see University Bookstore website for specific times) as well as on May 18 at the Izod Center.  Eligible Bachelor's degree candidates must purchase their regalia in person and will be required to present a valid student I.D. or driver's license at the time of purchase. Bachelor's regalia is $63. All purchases of academic attire are nonrefundable.

Master's degree candidates must order their regalia through Herff Jones by March 30, 2012. Master's robes are $70.   Orders may be picked up at the University Bookstore during regular store hours beginning May 3 through May 17 (please see the University Bookstore website for specific times) as well as on May 18 at the Izod Center. Masters degree candidates must present a valid student I.D. or driver's license at the time of pick up. No orders will be accepted after March 30, and all purchases of academic attire are non-refundable.

Doctoral candidates participating in the Commencement exercises should contact the Graduate School.

Stoles and Hoods

Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Science, Bachelor of Music and Bachelor of Fine Arts do not wear hoods.   All Bachelor degree candidates wear a red stole.

The hoods for the Master's and Doctoral degrees are lined with the official colors of Montclair State University, red and white. The colors of the outside trim of the hood associated with each degrees are as follows:

• Master of Arts (MA): white
• Master of Arts in Teaching (MAT): light blue
• Master of Business Administration (MBA): light brown
• Master of Education (MEd): light blue
• Master of Fine Arts (MFA): brown
• Master of Science (MS): gold
• Master of Public Health (MPH): salmon pink

• Doctor of Audiology (AuD): gold
• Doctor of Education (EdD): light blue
• Doctor of Environmental Management (DEnvM): gold
• Doctor of Science (ScD): gold
• Doctor of Philosophy (PhD): dark blue
  

Graduation Honors

• Summa Cum Laude: 3.85
• Magna Cum Laude: 3.65
• Cum Laude: 3.45

Students who are receiving a bachelor's degree with these honors may wear a gold tassel on their cap at the Commencement exercises. In order to be eligible, you must have completed a minimum of 51 undergraduate credits at Montclair State. Grades of "A" through "D-" must be received for a minimum of 48 of these 51 credits.

For recognition of May candidates at the Commencement Exercises, the honors designation will be based upon the student's cumulative grade point average as of the previous January. The in-progress MSU credits that will be earned by the end of the spring semester will be counted toward the minimum number of credits required.

Gold tassels may be picked up when you purchase your cap and gown. University Bookstore employees will have a list of all eligible honors graduates, and students will be required to present a valid student I.D. or driver's license to receive their gold tassel.

The honors designation will appear in the Commencement program. For May candidates who earn honors once the degree is conferred, the designation will appear on the official transcript approximately one month after graduation. It also will be indicated on the diploma, which will be mailed approximately two weeks after the conferment date.

There are no honors designations for graduate students.

Financial Clearances

All students must meet all financial obligations prior to receiving their diploma or final transcripts. Financial obligations include but are not limited to tuition, room, board, course fees, parking fines, library fines, residence hall fines, and any special fees or fines charged to a student's account.

All students should view their account summary via WESS for payment methods. For information concerning debt associated with parking, contact Parking Services (located in the Red Hawk Deck) at 973-655-7580 or see the Transporation and Parking Services website. For library fines, call 973-655-4191. For all other financial obligations contact the Bursar at 973-655-4105.

If you received Federal Loans, you will need to make arrangements for repayments. Please visit the Financial Aid Exit Counseling web page at http://www.montclair.edu/FinancialAid/loans/loaninfo/exitcounseling.html.

Please be aware there is also a $70 Graduation Fee billed to all graduating students. This is a non-refundable fee assessed to all students who have filed for graduation with the Registrar's Office.

Directions and Parking

The Meadowlands Sports Complex has ample free parking. Guards will be available to direct you and your guests to appropriate parking areas. Accessible parking for guests with special needs and who have state-issued license plates or placards is available in Arena Lots 21 and Deck 23. For more information on directions and parking, please visit the Izod website at http://www.izodcenter.com/parking/Parking.aspx

Leaving the Izod Center

Following the ceremony, guests will exit the Izod Center from the concourse level and graduates will march directly out of the arena through the box office lobby doors. No one will be allowed to remain in the lobby or to re-enter the lobby from the concourse level. Please plan to meet friends or relatives outside the center doors or at their cars.

Diploma and Diploma Covers

Diplomas will be mailed to May degree recipients within two weeks of the degree conferral date (May 18). Diploma covers are provided free of charge and may be picked up with your cap and gown. A valid student ID or driver's license is required.

Diploma frames may also be purchased at the University bookstore.

Announcements

Since there is unlimited guest seating at the IZOD Center, tickets to the ceremony are not necessary. Graduates wishing to send general Commencement announcements to friends and family may purchase them at the University Bookstore.

Personalized announcements may be ordered through Herff Jones at https://collegegrad.herffjones.com. Costs and delivery information available online.

Yearbook and Class Ring

Contact the Student Government Association at 973-655-4202.

Alumni

Our graduates join the ranks of a proud alumni community, over 100,000 strong, which has the power to influence legislation, recruit deserving students, attract critical resources to the University, and open doors for other alumni.  We encourage you to make use of all the resources available to you through the Office of Alumni Relations.