Commencement 2021

Location and Parking

• All ceremonies will be held at Sprague Field on the Montclair State University Campus
• Gates to the field will open 60 minutes before the start of ceremonies
• All parking is free during Commencement ceremonies at Red Hawk Deck and all surface lots
• Please enter campus via College Avenue or Yogi Berra Drive. See the campus map for details

Each of the Commencement Ceremonies held June 7–June 13, 2021 will be live-streamed on the University’s YouTube Channel at the links listed on the 2021 Commencement Videos & Live Streams page. Be sure to share the links with friends and family.

Live Stream Info

Regalia

Regalia is required to participate in the Commencement ceremony and must be purchased in advance of the ceremony. Regalia will not be available for purchase at Commencement.

All orders will shipped directly to the student’s home.

Please note ordering deadlines below.

Candidates for Bachelor’s Degrees: Bachelor’s regalia is black in color and includes cap, gown and tassel. The deadline to order regalia is May 12, 2021.

Candidates for Master’s Degrees: Master’s regalia is red in color and includes cap, gown, hood and tassel. The deadline to order regalia is May 12, 2021.

Candidates for Doctoral Degrees:  Doctoral regalia is red in color, faced down the front with black velvet, with three bars of the same across the sleeves; includes tam (cap) gown, hood, and tassel.

Doctoral degree candidates have three options for ordering regalia:

1. Purchase a Fine Quality Custom Package: Includes gown, fine quality hood and tam. The gown and tam are custom made to student’s exact measurements.  The deadline to order regalia is April 12, 2021. Please allow 6 weeks for delivery.
2. Purchase a Souvenir Gown, Fine Quality Hood and Custom Tam: The tam is custom made to student’s exact measurements. The deadline to order regalia is May 12, 2021.
3. Purchase a Souvenir Package: Includes a souvenir gown, souvenir hood and souvenir tam. The deadline to order regalia is May 12, 2021.

**Please note that there is a slight difference in the tams and tassel between the custom tams and the souvenir tam (photos are available on the ordering website). Students may contact The Graduate School at gradschool@montclair.edu to view the two options before ordering.

For any regalia related questions, please email 0356mgr@follett.com

Order Your Regalia

Commencement Programs

Print out your Undergraduate Commencement Program (PDF) or Graduate School Commencement Program (PDF) before the ceremony and bring it with you. Or share it with friends and family.

Faculty Information

Faculty and staff are required to complete the MSU daily screening assessment, Commencement Hawk Check, 6-14 hours prior to arrival on campus.

Commencement ceremonies will be held on campus Monday, June 7 through Sunday, June 13. Ceremonies have been assigned by college/school departments and/or major. Please check with your college/school regarding the detailed ceremony schedule.

All faculty must RSVP to their college/school if planning to attend a Commencement Ceremony. The deadline to RSVP is Monday, May 24.

• College of the Arts: Sarah Assalone, webers@montclair.edu
• College of Education and Human Services: Ruben Irizarry, irizarryr@montclair.edu
• College of Humanities and Social Services: Jackie Novak, novakj@montclair.edu
• College of Science and Mathematics: Scott Kight, kights@montclair.edu
• Feliciano School of Business: Eric Moskovitz, moskovitze@montclair.edu
• School of Nursing: Eileen Kearney, kearneye@montclair.edu
• The Graduate School: Laura Valente, valentel@montclair.edu

Faculty and staff participating as a Platform Party member have regalia to participate. The deadline to order regalia is Monday, April 26. Regalia rentals will be shipped to the University Bookstore and will be available for pick up May 24 – June 7.

University Bookstore Hours:

Monday- Thursday 10:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.

*The bookstore will be closed on Monday, May 31.

All regalia rentals must be returned at the conclusion of Commencement. University staff will be at the Commencement ceremonies collect your regalia.

Order Your Regalia

Ceremony Registration

If you plan to attend Commencement, you must register in advance.

Registration will open for all ceremonies by April 26, 2021.You will receive an email from commencement@montclair.edu with information on how to register at MarchingOrder.

We are pleased to share some good news with you, thanks to recent changes announced by Governor Murphy, graduates will be allocated four (4) guest tickets.

Registration has reopened for graduates to register their guests and claim additional guest tickets.

Registration and additional guest tickets will close on Wednesday, June 2. All graduates and guests must be registered to attend.

Important! Please confirm all of your guests have received their electronic tickets before arriving at the ceremony.

To ensure compliance with the New Jersey governor’s directives regarding outdoor gatherings, ceremonies will be held across several days and limits on guests will be required. When registering, your ceremony assignment will be displayed. Students are only eligible to attend the ceremony to which they have been assigned.

You will also be able to request and allocate electronic guest tickets when you register. Each graduate will be allocated four guest tickets. You must submit the names of your guests when you register. Please review all of the important information regarding guest registration.  Due to strict safety protocols, there will be no exceptions made to the electronic ticket procedure and guest requirements.

If You Missed the Deadline to Register… It’s Not Too Late!

1. You should have received an email from “commencement@montclair.edu” prompting you to click on a link to the MarchingOrder registration system that was sent to your Montclair State email address to start the registration process.
   If you didn’t receive the email, go to MarchingOrder, click on new users and enter your @montclair.edu email address. You will receive an email prompting you to create a new password to access the site. You must enter your Montclair email password using the @montclair.edu format. Entering @mail.montclair.edu will not be accepted by the system.
2. Log in and complete the registration process and click “Submit.”
3. IMPORTANT: On the confirmation page, make sure to scroll to the bottom and click “Get Your Tickets” to claim your tickets.
4. On the “Get Your Tickets” page, you have the option to print or email tickets to your guests.

If You Previously Registered and Want To Request Extra Guest Tickets:

1. Log into MarchingOrder.
2. Click on “Register Here.”
3. Enter the new number of guest tickets you are requesting.
4. Enter your new guest information and click “Submit.”
5. IMPORTANT: On the confirmation page, make sure to scroll to the bottom and click “Get Your Tickets” to claim your tickets.
6. On the “Get Your Tickets” page, you have the option to print or email  tickets to your guests.

If Your Guests Did Not Receive the Electronic Tickets:

1. Log into MarchingOrder.
2. Click on “Print/Email Tickets.”
3. On the “Get Your Tickets” page, you have the option to email or print tickets again.
4. Any ticket that is re-sent to a guest will contain the same barcode as the previously sent version, and will only allow admission for one.

Important Ticket Information

• Each ticket has a unique barcode that will be scanned upon entering the event.
• Each ticket can be scanned only once.
• Any ticket that is re-sent to a guest will contain the same barcode as the previously sent version, and will only allow admission for one.
• Duplicates will be denied entrance.
• All guests must have tickets to enter Sprague Field.
• Please confirm all of your guests have received their electronic tickets before arriving at the ceremony.
• All graduates and guests must be registered by Wednesday, June 2

Student Ceremony Information

Graduates are required to complete the MSU daily screening assessment, Commencement Hawk Check, 6-14 hours prior to arrival on campus.

• Due to safety protocols, we ask graduates to report 60 minutes prior to their ceremony start time. Commencement staff will direct students to graduate check-in and line-up area
• Graduates are not required to wear a mask outdoors. Please bring one with you, to wear indoors, including in the stairwells of the parking deck, bathrooms, or if you go inside a University building. You may wear your mask outdoors if you’d like, but it is not required.
• Guests and/or children will not be permitted in the student line-up or seating areas.
• To ensure the safety of all attendees, please follow signs, arrows, and verbal instructions from the event staff.
• Graduates should bring their own water bottle.
• Regalia is required to participate in the Commencement ceremony and must be purchased in advance of the ceremony. Regalia will not be available for purchase at Commencement.
• Any graduates who do not feel well on the day of the ceremony are asked to stay home.
• Any graduates not feeling well will not be permitted to enter.

Guest Registration

Please review this important information regarding guest tickets:

• Important! Please confirm all guests have received their paper or electronic tickets before arriving at the ceremony.
• Each graduate will be allocated four (4) guest tickets
• Guest names MUST be submitted in advance when registering
• Only guests whose names were submitted by the student may enter
• Each ticket has a unique barcode that will be scanned upon entering the event
• Each ticket can be scanned only once. Any ticket that is re-sent to a guest will contain the same barcode as the previously sent version, and will only allow admission for one. Duplicates will be denied entrance.
• Ticket is only valid for the Commencement ceremony listed on the ticket
• All guests must have tickets to enter Sprague Field
• Graduates do not need a ticket to attend but must register by 11:55 p.m. on Wednesday, June 2.
• Guests without an authorized ticket will not be permitted to enter. There will be no exceptions.

Guests are required to complete the MSU daily screening assessment, Commencement Hawk Check, 6-14 hours prior to arrival on campus.

Guest Ceremony Information

Guests are required to complete the MSU daily screening assessment, Commencement Hawk Check, 6-14 hours prior to arrival on campus.

• To ensure the safety of all attendees, please follow signs, arrows and verbal instructions from event staff.
• Any attendees who do not feel well on the day of the ceremony are asked to stay home.
• Any attendees not feeling well will not be permitted to enter.
• Guests will be seated in the bleachers.
• ADA seating will be available. Event staff will help direct guests to these locations.
• All guests must have a valid ticket to enter Sprague Field. Please review the guest registration information section above for more important information. Important! Please confirm all guests have received their electronic or paper ticket before arriving at the ceremony.
• Sprague Field is an outside venue. Guests should bring their own water bottles and bring umbrellas (or wear a hat) for shade. Please dress according to the weather and bring a poncho in the event of inclement weather. Please visit this page for any updated weather information.
• All guests will have their bags checked upon entering Sprague Field.
• Strollers and wagons will not be permitted on the bleachers. Families who bring strollers or wagons must leave them behind prior to entering the bleachers. The University is not responsible for lost or stolen items.
• The length of the ceremony will be approximately one hour and will be streamed live.
• Guests are not required to wear a mask outdoors. Please bring one with you, to wear indoors, including in the stairwells of the parking deck, bathrooms, or if you go inside a University building. You may wear your mask outdoors if you’d like, but it is not required.

Important Safety Information

All attendees are required to complete the MSU daily screening assessment, Commencement Hawk Check, 6-14 hours prior to arrival on campus.

For everyone’s safety, if you have been exposed to someone with COVID-19 or have COVID-19 symptoms, you must not come to the ceremony.

We will not admit people who have, within the last 14 days:

• Tested positive for COVID-19
• Been directly exposed to someone with COVID-19
• Been directed by a medical professional to quarantine or isolate due to exposure to COVID-19
• Have had or currently have symptoms of COVID-19

Post-graduation Survey

Prior to registering for commencement, you must complete the post graduation survey.  The post graduation survey is designed to collect feedback about your experience while studying at Montclair State as well as your post-graduation plans. (View information about this survey.) To access the survey, log in below using your NetID and password. Please Note: Your name will be submitted with your responses. Take the Survey

Please Note: If you are a December 2020 or January 2021 graduate, we ask that you resubmit the survey if you indicated that you were still seeking employment or still researching continuing education programs at the time of graduation, or if your post-graduation plans have since changed. If you submitted any other outcome, you do not need to complete the survey again at this time.

Please Note: Completing the survey does not guarantee graduation.  To check on your graduation application status, you will need to review your Degree Works audit.

If you have any questions, please send an email to careerserv@montclair.edu

Count Me In – Senior Class Gift

The senior class gift is a proud Montclair State tradition where members of the graduating class invest in the University, joining alumni and fellow students in strengthening the areas of Montclair State that they love. Being a part of the senior class gift gives members of the Class of 2021 the opportunity to leave their legacy by making their first gift to the University. Gifts to any program or area at Montclair State count. You can choose to support the Emergency Scholarship Fund, created by the Class of 2015, or the program or club that means the most to you.

Count Me InView the Commencement Video

Class of 2021 Distinguished Alumni and Speaker Honorees

Congratulations to our newest class of distinguished alumni and friends for 2021. Join us as we celebrate these distinguished honorees who have been selected based on personal accomplishments, professional achievements, community service involvement and support of the mission of Montclair State University.

Learn More

FAQs

What is the difference between graduation and Commencement?

Graduation and Commencement are frequently confused terms.

Graduation

To graduate, a student must complete all undergraduate degree or graduate program requirements, apply for graduation through their Final Audit and be certified by the Registrar’s Office for graduation. A student can complete all requirements and graduate in August, January or May, depending upon when certified by the Registrar’s Office.

Commencement

Commencement is the symbolic ceremony that marks the closing of your academic career where you receive commendation for your graduation. It is an opportunity for you, your family, friends and the Montclair State University community to celebrate your achievement.

Why did Montclair State decide to hold commencement ceremonies?

Commencement is an important milestone for Montclair State students, many of whom are the first in their families to graduate from college. Our graduates have asked for an opportunity to celebrate their accomplishments together with their loved ones. The University decided to hold multiple smaller ceremonies in accordance with state guidelines for outdoor events in order to give our students that opportunity.

What will happen at the ceremonies?

Graduates will line up and march in. They will be seated on Sprague Field. There will be remarks from the platform, and graduates will walk across the stage to be individually acknowledged. Graduates will recess.

Am I eligible to participate in Commencement if I will be enrolled during summer 2021 to complete my degree requirements?

No, only students who will have completed all requirements by the end of the Spring 2021 semester will be eligible to participate.

Are faculty required to attend Commencement?

No. Faculty are always invited to commencement ceremonies, but they are not required to attend.

Are graduates required to attend Commencement?

No. Participation is entirely voluntary.

What will be done to reduce the health risks at the ceremonies?

The health and safety of our students, faculty, staff and guests is always our top priority. The University will follow state and federal public health guidelines. Specifically:

• Holding the ceremonies outdoors, in the football stadium
• Holding numerous ceremonies to limit the number of persons attending
• Providing hand sanitizer
• Live-streaming the ceremony for those who cannot attend in person
• Installing plexiglass at Graduate Check-In Tables and Guest Ticket Tables
• Requiring advance registration and using a ticketing system to assure that only pre-registered persons are admitted. Important! Please confirm all of your guests have received their electronic tickets before arriving at the ceremony.
• Prohibiting handshakes on stage
• Requiring all graduates, MSU staff, guests and campus visitors to complete the MSU screening assessment, Commencement Hawk Check, 6-14 hours prior to arrival on campus.
• Advising graduates and guests not to attend if they are sick, and refusing admission to anyone who is sick

How do I order a yearbook?

Contact Manuela Paula Alonso, Yearbook Editor-in-Chief, at yearbook.sgamsu@gmail.com, or alonsom6@montclair.edu

Where do I order class rings?

Class rings may be purchased through Balfour

 Where can I find information about my diploma and graduating with honors?

Diplomas will be mailed to students approximately two weeks after your conferment date. Diploma covers will be distributed at Commencement.

If you are graduating with honors, you may pick up your honors tassel at Commencement. Please note: you must be on the official honors list provided by the Office of the Registrar to pick up an honors tassel at Commencement. To confirm your eligibility, visit Registrar’s Office.