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Commencement and Convocation


For Graduate Students planning to participate in May Commencement Ceremony (for degrees conferred August 2011, January 2012 and May 2012)

Commencement

Commencement will take place this year during the day on Friday, May 18 at the IZOD Center, Meadowlands Sports Complex. Students expecting to graduate in May (or have graduated in August 2011 or January 2012) and planning to attend the Commencement ceremony, must order their academic attire (cap, gown, hood and tassel) no later than March 30, 2012.

To distinguish graduate students from undergraduate students during the ceremony, master's commencement attire will be red in color. Master's degree candidates must order their regalia through Herff Jones at www.herffjones.com/college/graduation by March 30, 2012. Master’s robes are $70. They may pick up their order at the University Bookstore during regular store hours beginning May 3, and continuing through May 17.   Master's 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, 2012, and all purchases of academic attire are nonrefundable.

Please watch your MSU e-mail from now until the end of May, as messages will be sent to those on the graduation list regarding Commencement.

For more information regarding Commencement, including times, guests, etc., please visit the University Commencement page. For general graduate student questions regarding Commencement, please contact The Graduate School at gradstudentservices@mail.montclair.edu.


Graduate Convocation

Date & Time

Graduate Convocation
Monday, May 14, 2012 at 7:00 p.m.
Location: Sprague Football Field, Montclair State University

Student Reporting Time: 6:00 PM
Line Up In Place: 6:00 PM - 6:40 PM
Procession: 6:45 PM (Latecomers will not be able to participate)
Ceremony: 7:00 PM

Rain Date: Tuesday, May 15, 2012

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Ticketing

The ticket request site will open in April. Information will be posted as it becomes available, and will be sent via email.

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Location

Graduate Convocation will take place outdoors on Sprague Football Field. Sprague Field is not covered, so guests should dress according to the weather.

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Attire

Students expecting to graduate MUST pre-order and pay for their academic attire online by the March 30, 2012 deadline. There will be extremely limited options to purchase master's academic attire at the bookstore in May, and graduates may not participate in either ceremony without it.

To order your academic attire, please visit https://www.herffjones.com/college/graduation/. For those who pre-order via the web site by the March 30, 2012 deadline, academic attire may be picked up at the University bookstore in May during normal operating hours. Graduating students are required to show their MSU ID for pick up, and all purchases are nonrefundable.

  • STUDENTS MUST HAVE ACADEMIC ROBE, CAP AND TASSEL to participate (students without the red MSU graduate student academic robe will not be able to participate, there will be no exceptions). Academic hoods are NOT to be worn for Convocation but will be worn at Commencement at Continental Airlines Arena.
  • Pocketbooks or other carried articles (including water bottles) are not permitted in the ceremony. Please leave pocketbooks or other items at home, with a guest or in the car.
  • As student seating will be located on the metal bleachers, please wear appropriate footwear.

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Guest Seating

  • Guest access to the stadium will be at Gates 5 and 7.
  • Guests will be able to enter Sprague Field no earlier than 6:00 PM
  • GUESTS WITHOUT TICKETS WILL NOT BE ADMITTED - see "Ticketing"
  • NO strollers are allowed in on the Sprague Field bleachers (Families that bring strollers will be required to leave strollers unattended as they cannot be brought onto the bleachers.)
  • Please note from the entrance gate to guest seating there is an approximate 50 yard walk and 2 flights of stairs.
  • Please make sure all guests are made aware of the seating arrangements.
  • If a graduate or a graduate's guest has a physical disability and/or needs wheelchair accommodations, an email must be sent to gradstudentservices@mail.montclair.edu by Frriday, May 4, 2012 with the special accommodation request.

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Registration / Line-up

  • Graduate students should report to Lot 7 for registration and line- up at 6:00 PM.
  • Students should go to the table of the college/school of their degree program. At check in, students will be given an index card with the student's name, phonetic spelling, college/school and program of study and important directions about the ceremony.
  • Students will then proceed to line-up. Line-up will be by program and college/school in the order indicated by your index card. Please remain at all times in the number order indicated on your index card.
  • Students must line-up no later than 6:40 PM. Latecomers will NOT be able to participate.
  • The Graduate School staff will organize and supervise line-up. Please listen to all instructions carefully by the graduate school staff.
  • Guests are not permitted in the registration or line-up area.
  • Please note students will remain in line before the procession begins. There is an approximate 50 yard walk and 2 flights of stairs to student seating on the bleachers. Graduates who require special accommodations should contact The Graduate School at gradstudentservices@mail.montclair.edu or call 973-655-5147.

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Ceremony

  • The Ceremony is expected to last 1 1/2 hours.
  • The Convocation Ceremony will begin with a welcoming address by President Susan Cole. A processional of graduating graduate students will then be called to the stage (your name will be announced) to be congratulated personally by the dean, your department chair and faculty.

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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. 

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Parking

  • Guest access to the stadium will be at Gates 5 and 7.
  • Parking will be available for free on all surface lots and in the Red Hawk Deck after 5:00 PM
  • If parking at the Red Hawk Deck, please exit at Level 2 and proceed to Sprague Football Field.

http://www.montclair.edu/map/parking.php

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Disability Access, Seating and Parking

  • Gate 7 is the most convenient access for guests with special need or accommodations.
  • Lot 42 will be reserved for handicap parking. Below is a link to the campus map indicating the location of Lot 42. Lot 42 is located directly next to Gate 7.
    http://www.montclair.edu/map/index.php?FontSize=10&w=950&h=494&x=429.333333333&y=863&Zoom=0&Building=Lot42
  • Handicap parking is also available in the Red Hawk Deck. A shuttle will make stops at the Red Hawk Deck and the Gate 7 entrance throughout the duration of the event.
  • The first 2 rows of the bleachers will be reserved for special accommodations, wheelchairs and less mobile guests.
  • Guests who require special accommodations should contact The Graduate School at gradstudentservices@mail.montclair.edu or call 973-655-5147.

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