TABLE OF CONTENTS
INVITATION ............................................................................................................ 1 COMMENCEMENT CEREMONY ................................................................................ 2 ATTENDANCE ......................................................................................................... 2 GRADUATE LINE-UP AREA MAP ............................................................................. 3 PROCESSIONAL PREPARATION................................................................................. 4 STAGING LOCATIONS........................................................................................... 4-5 NAME CARD........................................................................................................... 5 ACADEMIC HOODS/TASSEL/HONOR CORDS ........................................................... 5 CEREMONY PROGRAM ............................................................................................ 6 DIPLOMA PROCESS .............................................................................................. 6-8 DIPLOMA PROCESS DIAGRAM ................................................................................. 7 RECESSIONAL PROCESS ........................................................................................... 8 ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ACCESSIBILITY ACCESS...................................................................................... 9 DIRECTIONS & PARKING ................................................................................... 9 HOTELS & RESTAURANTS .................................................................................. 9 PHOTOGRAPHER ............................................................................................... 9 PROHIBITED ITEMS ............................................................................................ 9 SECURITY SCREENING ....................................................................................... 9 VENDORS ........................................................................................................ 10 INSTRUCTIONS FOR WEARING ACADEMIC HOOD .................................................. 11 SENIOR SEND-OFF INVITATION ............................................................................. 12 ARENA LAYOUT DIAGRAM ................................................................................... 13
INVITATION We invite you to participate in this year’s Commencement Ceremony, our annual celebration where you along with family and friends gather among the faculty and staff to honor your achievement. The ceremony is being held on Friday, May 18, 2018 and our commencement speaker is Kristine Johnson, an anchor for WCBS-TV in New York. The commencement ceremony is a formal celebration steeped in academic ritual and traditions, complete with procession, academic regalia, and other elements of pageantry. Personal attention takes center stage as each graduate is individually recognized. Therefore, we ask that each student be afforded similar attention and that the community conduct themselves befitting the occasion. While the ceremony may last up to three hours, each student’s experience should be similar and we request that all students remain in your seats until the conclusion of the event. Early departures and other disruptive behavior can take away from what we hope will be a memorable event. Enclosed are varied instructions for you and your families to best prepare for the event. Please note that guests do not need tickets to attend the ceremony. Family members will not be able to interact with graduates in the ceremony-level staging and exit areas. Therefore, please arrange for a mutually agreed upon meeting location with your family members outside the Prudential Center at the end of the ceremony. We look forward to seeing you at the ceremony. Congratulations! Francisco Diaz and Pam Fueshko Commencement Coordinators
-1-
COMMENCEMENT CEREMONY FOR BACHELOR’S DEGREE CANDIDATES
Friday, May 18, 2018 at 9:00 a.m. at the Prudential Center 25 Lafayette Street, Newark, NJ 07102
Questions pertaining to the ceremony should be directed to commencement@wpunj.edu
ATTENDANCE Your participation in the ceremony is voluntary. There is no rehearsal for Commencement. Doors to the Prudential Center will open at 7:30 a.m. for students. Graduates must enter at the Lafayette Tower Entrance. Please allow time to go through the Security Checkpoint.
Please bring your regalia (cap, gown, hood, tassel, honor cords if applicable) and your name card with you to your staging area.
Family members and guests are requested to go directly into the arena. Doors will open for admittance of guests at 8:00 a.m. through the PNC Tower Entrance. All guests will go through a Security Checkpoint.
Please leave any valuables or personal belongings in your vehicle or with family members as you will not return to the staging areas.
-2-
-3-
PROCESSIONAL PREPARATION Upon entrance into the Lafayette Tower Entrance, you must go through the Security Checkpoint including a bag check. University personnel and signage will direct you to the service level of the arena and the appropriate staging area by your academic major within the appropriate department and College per the listing below and on page 5.
STAGING LOCATIONS The staging areas are as follows: College of the Arts & Communication Art Art History
Box Office Lobby Communication Music
Cotsakos College of Business Accounting Economics Finance Financial Planning
Loading Dock Global Business Management Marketing Professional Sales
College of Education
Press Room
Early Childhood Elementary Education Secondary Education College of Humanities & Social Sciences Africana World Studies Anthropology Asian Studies Criminology & Criminal Justice English Geography & Urban Studies History Latin American & Latino Studies
Loading Dock Legal Studies Liberal Studies Philosophy Political Science Psychology Sociology Spanish Women’s & Gender Studies
-4-
College of Science & Health Applied Health Athletic Training Biology Biotechnology Chemistry Communication Disorders Computer Science Earth Science Environmental Science
North Storage Environmental Sustainability Exercise Science Integrated Math and Science Mathematics Nursing Physical Education Public Health Sport Management
NAME CARD If you have lost or forgotten to bring your name card with you, please stop at the table in the Lafayette Tower Entrance lobby to receive a duplicate card.
ACADEMIC HOODS Bachelor’s degree candidates will wear their hoods throughout the ceremony. Hoods are draped around your neck (see the instructions on page 12 for how to put on the hood) or watch the instructions http://bit.ly/wpunjhood.
TASSEL/HONOR CORDS Wear your tassel on the right side of your cap. If you have a Latin Honors cord, it is to be draped over your shoulders, tassels in the front. For your own safety, please do not throw your cap.
-5-
CEREMONY PROGRAM The procession will start from the staging areas promptly at 8:40 a.m. Four lines will be processing at the same time by College. Commencement programs will be on your seats in the arena. The ceremony includes: Processional Singing of the National Anthem Address by Bachelor’s Degree Candidate Speaker Address by Dr. Kathleen Waldron, President Awarding of Faculty Excellence Awards Awarding of Honorary Degree/President’s Medal Commencement Address Diploma Process Conferring of Degrees Singing of Alma Mater Recessional
DIPLOMA PROCESS Please Note: For safety reasons children are not permitted to process or sit with parents on the arena floor or accompany the parent on stage.
Please listen to the directions given by the faculty and administrative marshals who will be assisting with this process.
During the diploma process your photo will be taken by Grad Images. Three photos will be taken 1) as you process to the main platform 2) with your diploma cover in hand and 3) receiving congratulations from your College Dean.
Two lines of students will be processing simultaneously across the platform. At the designated time during the ceremony, the Associate Dean of your College will lead your College line to the diploma cover area. Prior to proceeding up the ramp, the first two pictures will be taken at the side of the stage.
You will process single file halfway across the stage (notated in black/orange on diagram on page 7), Line B followed by Line A on the left and Line C followed by Line D on the right. -6-
-7-
Process up the ADA ramps and hand your name card to the reader. After your name is announced please proceed to your College Dean to receive congratulations. The third picture will be taken as you shake hands with your Dean.
Exit the platform by proceeding down the steps at center stage and return to your seat.
Please respect your fellow students and their experience of the ceremony by remaining in your seat until the conclusion of the ceremony.
CONFERRING OF DEGREES At the completion of the diploma process, the President will confer the degrees. This conferment is the official granting of your degree. This is also the appropriate moment for bachelor’s degree candidates to turn the tassel on your cap to the left side.
Diplomas will be issued upon verification of completion of degree requirements and obligations. You will be notified by the Registrar’s Office when diplomas are available for pick up or upon arrangement the diploma can be mailed to your home.
RECESSIONAL PROCESS The singing of the Alma Mater (printed in the program) will immediately follow the conferring of the degrees.
The recessional will be led by the University Grand Marshal followed by the Platform Party. The graduates will follow after.
The ceremony is expected to be completed by 12:00 noon.
Graduates will exit from the Lafayette Tower Entrance doors.
-8-
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ACCESSIBILITY ACCESS The Prudential Center facility is fully compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act. Seating is available on all levels of the arena and is accessible by elevators/escalators. Special assistance can be requested by seeing any Guest Services staff member the day of the event. Accessible restrooms are located on the main concourse outside Sections 12 and 22; Lincoln Suite level – outside Suite 120 & 127; Ford Suite Level – outside suite 216 & 217; and Upper Concourse – outside sections 110 and 127. Disabled parking spaces, including van-accessible spaces, are designated for vehicles displaying a current state-issued disability placard or license plate. The opportunity to purchase disabled spaces will be filled on a first-come, first-served basis, so please plan accordingly. To purchase parking please visit www.clickandpark.com. Additional ADA information can be obtained at www.prucenter.com/ada-information.
DIRECTIONS & PARKING To learn how best to arrive and where to park at the Prudential Center, please visit the following website: www.prucenter.com/plan-your-visit.html#/directions There are two options for Pre-paid parking: 1) Prudential Center Ford (Yellow 10) Parking Deck Go to www.clickandpark.com, select the date May 18/William Paterson University ceremony. 2) Book your guaranteed parking spot with SpotHero. Purchase your parking in advance and simply present your purchase confirmation at the selected location. Go to: www.spothero.com/newark/prudential-center-parking and select the date May 18/WPUNJ ceremony in the drop down menu and compare prices and distance of many lots and garages nearby. Book now and your space at the chosen facility is 100 percent guaranteed!
-9-
HOTELS AND RESTAURANTS The following link is recommended to locate hotels and restaurants around the Prudential Center: www.prucenter.com/around-the-arena
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 on line. 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. PROHIBITED ITEMS For safety reasons, guests are refused entry if they are in possession of prohibited items. Balloons, beach balls, air horns, and silly string are strictly prohibited in the Prudential Center arena. For a complete listing of prohibited items: www.prucenter.com/faq.
SECURITY SCREENING At the Prudential Center all persons (guests and graduates) are subject to a bag search and security screening. This security process should be factored into your arrival time to avoid delays.
VENDORS—COMMENCEMENT MEMORABILIA Visit www.wpunj.edu/commencement/memorabilia.dot for vendors affiliated with the University for commencement memorabilia. Balfour—www.balfour.com Commencement T-Shirts— www.commencementtshirts.com Jostens — www.Jostens.com Signature Announcements — www.signatureA.com University Cap & Gown — www.gradgowns.com Grad Images—www.gradimages.com To receive a 20% discount from GradImages on the photos taken at the ceremony go to http://www.gradimages.com/Preregistration/Search?ClientID=103617&SchoolName= to pre-register.
-10-
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. 3. Be sure the hood lining (the colors of the University are showing. This can be done by turning the trim to the outside at the back just below your shoulders. 4. 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. Make sure the hood is smoothed down and lays flat against the back of your robe.
-11-
-12-
-13-