TABLE OF CONTENTS INVITATION........................................................................................................................... 1 GRADUATE COMMENCEMENT CEREMONY ........................................................................... 2 ATTENDANCE ....................................................................................................................... 2 TICKETS ................................................................................................................................ 3 PROCESSIONAL PREPARATIONS ............................................................................................. 3 STAGING LOCATIONS ............................................................................................................ 4 NAME CARD ......................................................................................................................... 5 ACADEMIC HOOD ................................................................................................................. 5 TASSEL .................................................................................................................................. 5 PROCESSIONAL PROCESS ....................................................................................................... 5 ORDER OF CEREMONY .......................................................................................................... 6 DIPLOMA/HOODING PROCESS .............................................................................................. 6 DIPLOMA PROCESS DIAGRAM ............................................................................................... 7 RECESSIONAL PROCESS ......................................................................................................... 7 QUESTIONS ........................................................................................................................... 7 ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ................................................................................................. 8 DISABLED GUESTS ACCESS ................................................................................................... 8 PARKING ............................................................................................................................... 8 PHOTOGRAPHER ................................................................................................................... 8 ULTRA GREEN ...................................................................................................................... 8 VENDORS .............................................................................................................................. 9 INSTRUCTIONS FOR WEARING ACADEMIC HOOD .................................................................. 10
INVITATION
We invite you to participate in this year’s Commencement Ceremony. Commencement at William Paterson University is an important event for you, your family, and friends, as well as the faculty and staff. The ceremony brings together all involved to celebrate your achievements and successful conclusion of earning a higher education degree. This ceremony was designed to provide you the individual distinction you have earned for this advanced degree. Your Program Coordinator will lead you in procession and be on stage as you are hooded. The degree which you are earning will be read followed by the reading of your name and you will be hooded on stage by your College’s Associate Dean. Your College Dean will present you with your diploma cover. As this is a ceremonial event, we ask that all members of the community conduct themselves befitting the occasion. The ceremony is expected to last approximately one and one-half hours. Please respect your fellow students and their experience of the ceremony by remaining in your seats until its conclusion. Please remember that ADMITTANCE TICKETS are required. We look forward to joining with you and your fellow graduates at the ceremony. We look forward to seeing you on Wednesday, May 17, 2017, as we pay tribute to your achievements and potential. Congratulations on your achievement! The Commencement Committee
COMMENCEMENT CEREMONY FOR DOCTORAL AND MASTER DEGREE CANDIDATES
Wednesday, May 17, 2017 at 7:00 p.m. Shea Center THE FOLLOWING INSTRUCTIONS PERTAIN TO THE CEREMONY: Instructions are posted at www.wpunj.edu/commencement
Questions pertaining to the ceremony should be directed to commencement@wpunj.edu
ATTENDANCE Your participation in the ceremony is voluntary. Shea Center is located next to Parking Lots No. 3. Parking for your guests is available in both Lots No. 3 and 4. Please bring your regalia (cap, gown, hood and tassel) and your name card with you to your staging area in University Hall. Family members and guests who have tickets are requested to go directly into Shea Center. Doors will open for admittance of guests at 6:00 p.m. Other guests should go to the simulcast locations of University Hall or Cheng Library Auditorium. Please leave any valuables or personal belongings in your vehicle or with family members as you will not return to the staging areas.
TICKETS ADMITTANCE TICKETS are required for entrance into Shea Center. Each graduate candidate who has purchased their regalia for the ceremony can receive up to two e-tickets at www.wpunj.edu/tickets. Tickets are required for children. Fire code prohibits children sitting on laps of adults. One additional e-ticket may also be requested at this link. The request for an additional ticket does not guarantee one will be available. The graduate candidate will be notified via email to their WPUNJ email address if an additional e-ticket can be downloaded on Tuesday, May 16. All e-tickets are barcoded and will be scanned for entry into the Shea Center. Additional seating (not requiring tickets) will be in University Hall 1st floor classrooms and Cheng Library Auditorium. The ceremony will be simulcast to those locations as well as broadcast over the Internet by accessing the University’s home page.
Concerns and questions may be referred to commencement@wpunj.edu PROCESSIONAL PREPARATION Staging areas for the procession will be in University Hall. Please report to the classroom assigned to your academic program by 6:15 p.m. The Program Coordinator for your program will assist with line-up behind your respective College Associate Dean. You do not need to be in alphabetical order within your program.
STAGING LOCATIONS Line A Doctor of Nursing Practitioners
University Hall 125
COLLEGE OF EDUCATION Educational Leadership Higher Education Admin Curriculum & Learning Elementary Education Literacy Special Education Middle Level Education Secondary Education Professional Counseling
University Hall 117 University Hall 117 University Hall 118 University Hall 118 University Hall 118 University Hall 121 University Hall 122 University Hall 122 University Hall 126
Line B COLLEGE OF THE ARTS & COMMUNICATION Art Music Professional Communication
University Hall 113 University Hall 113 University Hall 113
COTSAKOS COLLEGE OF BUSINESS Business Administration
University Hall 114
COLLEGE OF HUMANITIES AND SOCIAL SCIENCE Applied Sociology Clinical & Counseling Psychology Creative & Professional Writing English History Public Policy & International Affairs
University Hall 120 University Hall 120 University Hall 120 University Hall 120 University Hall 120 University Hall 120
COLLEGE OF SCIENCE & HEALTH Nursing Biology Bio-Technology Communication Disorders Exercise & Sport Studies
University Hall 115 University Hall 116 University Hall 116 University Hall 116 University Hall 116
NAME CARD If you have lost or forgotten to bring your name card with you, please stop at the table in University Hall lobby to receive a duplicate card.
ACADEMIC HOODS Doctoral and Master’s degree candidates will not wear their hoods into the ceremony. Drape your hood over your arm and carry it into Shea Center and to the stage for the hooding process.
TASSEL Wear your tassel on the left side of your cap. For your own safety, please do not throw your cap.
PROCESSIONAL PROCESS The procession will start from the University Hall staging areas promptly at 6:40p.m. by program in the order indicated. Administrative line marshals will escort your line from University Hall to Shea Center. It is important for you to listen to their directions and stay in single file during this processional. Stairs are involved in accessing the auditorium. Please notify the Office of Disability Services at disability@wpunj.edu if specific accommodations are needed to fully participate in the event.
O RDER OF CEREMONY Commencement programs will be available in the auditorium. The order of ceremony is as follows: Processional Introduction Singing of the National Anthem Address by Graduate Student Speaker Address by Dr. Kathleen Waldron, President Diploma Process Conferring of Degrees Singing of Alma Mater Recessional DIPLOMA /HOODING PROCESS At the designated time during the ceremony, you will be directed to the main stage. Please have your “Hood� draped over your left arm and the reader card in your right hand. You may need to remove your mortarboard to facilitate the hooding process.
Process onto the stage and hand the name card to the reader. Proceed to the Associate Dean (center stage) of your college who will take your hood from you and place it over your head. The first photo will be taken. Put your mortarboard back on. Proceed across the stage to your College Dean who will hand you your diploma cover and shake your hand. A second photo will be taken. Walk past the Dean to the photography backdrop for the third and final photo with your diploma cover in hand. Exit the stage and return to your seat.
RECESSIONAL PROCESS The singing of the Alma Mater (printed in the program) will immediately follow the conferring of the degrees. The recessional will follow led by the University Grand Marshal followed by the Platform Party and the Faculty. The Graduates will exit Shea Center through the lobby. The ceremony should be over at approximately 8:30 p.m. Please make arrangements to meet your guests outside Shea Center. A reception will be held in the Lobby of University Hall following the ceremony.
QUESTIONS Questions pertaining to the ceremony can be directed to commencement@wpunj.edu.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION DISABLED GUESTS ACCESS If any of your guests are disabled, they may be dropped off and picked up at the side of Shea Auditorium in Lot No. 3. University Police personnel will be stationed in several areas within the parking lot to facilitate this process and provide parking directions for all vehicles.
PARKING Use Entry No. 4 from Pompton Road. Parking is available in Lots No. 3 and 4. Visit https://wpconnect.wpunj.edu/map/map.html for the campus map and directions.
PHOTOGRAPHER The Commencement photographers are from Grad Images. Enjoy an exclusive discount of $5 off any picture order of $25 or more if you register with Grad Images prior to the ceremony. Visit their website at www.gradimages.com to sign up under the Pre-Event Registration tab and review the FAQs online. Your proofs will be online at their website within 5-7 days following the ceremony. You may place orders or obtain answers to your questions at www.gradimages.com or 1-800-424-3686.
ULTRA GREEN CAP AND GOWN The University’s commitment to sustainability, environmental stewardship, and energy conservation is evident in your academic regalia. PET plastic bottles have created your academic regalia. Each cap and gown sewn from recycled bottle fabric prevents approximately 27 plastic bottles from being dumped into a landfill. The Ultra Green gown is a demonstration that sustainability is a focus of what’s happening on our campus with the ultimate goal of making conservation a permanent part of campus life.
VENDORS—COMMENCEMENT MEMORABILIA The following vendors are affiliated with the University to provide commencement memorabilia to graduates Balfour – www.balfour.com Commencement T-Shirts—www.commencementtshirts.com/ Fond Memories — www.fondmemoriesgraphics.com Jostens — www.Jostens.com Signature Announcements — www.signatureA.com Balfour/University Cap & Gown — www.gradgowns.com To receive a discount from GradImages on the photos taken at the ceremony click on the icon.
INSTRUCTIONS FOR WEARING THE ACADEMIC HOOD The academic hood is a visual representation of your level of academic achievement and the scholastic degree being conferred. This hood has been designed within the guidelines established by the Intercollegiate Bureau of Academic Costume. The velveteen trim (2) represents the degree you have earned. The chevron (4) and the lining (3) represent the University colors. The black shell (1) is the traditional color determined by the Intercollegiate Bureau of Academic Costume.
The following instructions are designed to assist you in the proper way to wear the hood: 1. Put the hood on over the robe. The hood should be placed over your head so that it drapes off your shoulders and over the back of your gown. The border trim should be placed on the outside of the hood with the trim side facing up under the chin (as below). Pin the hood to the gown to prevent it from riding against the neck.
2. Roll the edge of the hood outward so that the inside colors of the hood show. The end of the hood will look something like a fin and should not be turned inside out but hang parallel to the ground. There is a cord on the back of your hood that will keep it in place. Connect the cord across the front of the hood. Or watch instructions at http://bit.ly/wpunjhood
University Hall Staging Locations and Reception Area
Marion E. Shea Center For Performing Arts