COMMENCEMENT CEREMONY

INSTRUCTIONS

- 1 -

TABLE OF CONTENTS

INVITATION .................................................................................................................... 2

COMMENCEMENT CEREMONY ........................................................................................... 3

ATTENDANCE ................................................................................................................. 3

PROCESSIONAL PREPARATION ......................................................................................... 3-4

CEREMONY PROGRAM ..................................................................................................... 4

DIPLOMA PROCESS ........................................................................................................ 4-5

RECESSIONAL PROCESS ................................................................................................... 5-6

DIPLOMA PROCESS DIAGRAM ............................................................................................. 7

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

DISABLED GUESTS ....................................................................................................... 8

FLOWERS & BALLOONS ................................................................................................ 8

HOTELS & RESTAURANTS ............................................................................................. 8

PARKING................................................................................................................... 8

PHOTOGRAPHER ........................................................................................................ 8

STROLLERS ................................................................................................................. 9

ULTRA GREEN CAP AND GOWN ................................................................................. 8-9

INSTRUCTIONS FOR WEARING ACADEMIC HOOD ................................................................. 9

ARENA LAYOUT DIAGRAM .............................................................................................. 10

SENIOR SEND OFF INVITATION .......................................................................................... 11

- 2 -

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.

The commencement ceremony is a formal celebration steeped in academic ritual and the

traditions of the University complete with procession, academic regalia, and other

elements of pageantry. Personal attention takes center stage as each graduate is

individually recognized.

Ceremony highlights instituted by your predecessors have become traditions. They are

experienced as you witness your peers in varying roles: leading in the graduates with

College banners, singing the National Anthem and alma mater, as well as speaking on

behalf of the master’s and the bachelor’s degree candidates.

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 two

and one-half hours. Please respect your fellow students and their experience of the

ceremony by remaining in your seats until its conclusion.

Guests do not need tickets to attend the ceremony. Complimentary parking will be

available at the IZOD Center. Family members will not be able to interact with

graduates in the ceremony-level staging and exit areas. Please arrange for a mutually

agreed upon meeting location with your family members outside the IZOD Center at the

end of the ceremony.

We hope that you will join us on Wednesday, May 15, 2013, as we pay tribute to your

achievements and potential!

Congratulations on your achievement!

The Commencement Committee

- 3 -

COMMENCEMENT CEREMONY

FOR MASTER’S AND BACHELOR’S DEGREE CANDIDATES

Wednesday, May 15, 2013 at 10:00 a.m.

at the

IZOD Center

50 State Route 120

East Rutherford, NJ 07073-2160

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. There is no rehearsal for

Commencement. Graduates should report at 9:00 a.m. to the IZOD Center and enter at

the Box Office Lobby Doors.

Family members and guests are requested to go directly into the arena. Doors will open

for admittance of guests at 9:00 a.m. through Gates A, B, and C.

Please leave any valuables or personal belongings in your vehicle or with family members

as there is no place to leave them in the staging area.

PROCESSIONAL PREPARATION

Upon entrance into the Lobby, please check in and pick up your name card (alphabetical

order) from University personnel stationed at the tables. Take Escalator D (right side of

lobby) down to the exhibition level. University personnel and signage will direct you to

the appropriate staging area by your academic major within the appropriate department

and College.

Please bring your cap, gown, hood, tassel, and honors regalia (if appropriate) and name

card with you to your staging area.

- 4 -

Both master’s and bachelor’s degree candidates will wear their hoods throughout the

ceremony. Hoods are draped around your neck (see the instructions on page 10 for how

to put on the hood). Wear your tassel on the right side of your cap. For your own

safety, please do not throw your cap.

Bachelor’s Degree Candidates

If you have a Latin Honors cord, it is to be draped over your shoulders,

tassels in the front.

CEREMONY PROCESS

The procession will start from the staging area at 9:50 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

Introduction of Guests

Address by Bachelor’s Degree Candidate Speaker

Address by Master’s Degree Candidate Speaker

Address by Dr. Kathleen Waldron, President

Awarding of Faculty Excellence Awards

Awarding of Honorary Degrees/President’s Medals

Commencement Address

Diploma Process

Conferring of Degrees

Singing of Alma Mater

Recessional

DIPLOMA PROCESS

Please listen to the directions given by the faculty and administrative marshals who will

be assisting with this process (see diagram on page 7).

- 5 -

During the diploma process your photo will be taken by GradImages as you process to

the platform and while you receive your diploma cover.

Master’s Degree Candidates

At the designated time during the ceremony, the master’s degree candidates will be

recognized first in their entirety. The Associate Dean of your College will lead your

College line to the diploma platform. You will process single file across the entire width

of the stage (notated in blue on diagram on page 7), Line B followed by Line C.

Proceed up the stairs and hand your name card to the reader. After your name is

announced, please proceed to your College Dean who will hand you your diploma

cover and shake your hand. Proceed across the remainder of the stage and down the

steps on the opposite side and return to your seat.

Bachelor’s Degree Candidates

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 platform. You will process single file halfway

across the stage (notated in black on diagram on page 7), Line B followed by Line A on

the left and Line C followed by Line D on the right.

Process up the stairs and hand your name card to the reader. After your name is

announced please proceed to your College Dean who will hand you your diploma cover

and shake your hand. Exit the platform by proceeding down the steps at center stage

and return to your seat.

All Candidates

At the completion of the diploma process, the President will confer all the degrees. This

conferment is the official granting of your degree. This is also the appropriate moment

for the turning of the tassel on your cap. Your diploma is mailed to your home upon

verification of completion of degree requirements and obligations.

Please respect your fellow students and their experience of the ceremony by remaining in

your seat until its conclusion.

RECESSIONAL PROCESS

The singing of the Alma Mater (printed in the program) will immediately follow the

conferring of the degrees.

- 6 -

The recessional will be led by the University Grand Marshal followed by the Platform

Party and the faculty. The graduates will follow after.

The ceremony is expected to be completed by 12:30 p.m.

Graduates will exit from the Box Office Lobby doors or from the concourse level through

Gate A.

- 7 -

- 8 -

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

DISABLED GUESTS

Accessible parking with state-issued license plates or placards is available in Parking Deck

23 adjacent to the IZOD Center. All entrances at Gates A, B, and C are ramped and

accessible. Wheelchair accessible seating is located in each of the lower level seating

sections. Accessible restrooms are located on the concourse behind Sections 101 and 115.

FLOWERS AND BALLOONS

Flowers will be available for sale within the IZOD Center concourse. Guests bringing

balloons should be made aware that they are strictly prohibited in the arena

HOTELS AND RESTAURANTS

The following link is recommended to locate hotels and restaurants in the Meadowlands

area near the IZOD Center:

http://www.stayinthemeadowlands.com/

PARKING

Parking is available at no charge in Parking Deck 23 or Lot 26.

PHOTOGRAPHER

The Commencement photographers are from GradImages. 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.

STROLLERS

Strollers are to be stored during the ceremony at the back of each seating section. Ushers

at each section will direct guests to the area.

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.

- 9 -

The Ultra Green gown is 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.

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 represents the degree you

have earned. The chevron and the lining

represent the University colors. The black shell

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 hood on over head with velveteen side up under the chin and with small tapered

end in front. Pin the hood to the gown to prevent it from riding against the neck.

2. The long tail portion of the hood should be left hanging against

your back. Do not invert the tail. Turn out the lining as illustrated

in the picture on the right.

- 10

-

- 11

-

For Graduating Seniors