President at Commencement

Faculty & Staff Information

Commencement is an important milestone in the lives of our students, their families, and the extended university community. It is also a moment during which we can appreciate the impact of our teaching and mentoring.   

Commencement Day 2023

This year's ceremonies will be held at three different locations: Prudential Center, New Jersey Performing Arts Center (NJPAC) and Newark Symphony Hall, all in Newark, NJ. The timeline for the day is as follows:

  • University-Wide Ceremony | 10 a.m. on the main court at Prudential Center

  • GradFest | 11:30 a.m. at ALL THREE locations

  • School Name-Reading Ceremonies for Undergraduates:

    • School of Engineering and Science and School of Systems and Enterprises | 1 p.m. at Newark Symphony Hall, main Concert Hall

    • School of Business | 1 p.m. at NJPAC

    • College of Arts and Letters (Bachelors and Masters) | 1 p.m. at Newark Symphony Hall, Terrace Ballroom

  • School Name-Reading Ceremonies for Graduates:

    • School of Business | 3 p.m. at NJPAC

    • School of Systems and Enterprises | 3:30 p.m. at Newark Symphony Hall, Terrace Ballroom

    • School of Engineering and Science | 3:30 p.m. at Newark Symphony Hall, main Concert Hall

Faculty Participation

If you did not RSVP already for the ceremonies and expect to attend, or your RSVP has changed, please contact [email protected] immediately. All faculty who RSVP yes for attendance will be contacted soon about parking passes, Uber vouchers, etc. For those who rented regalia, regalia sets can be picked up at the first venue you will arrive at in Newark - you do not have to pick them up on campus this year. Extra sets will be available at all venues in case someone arrives who did not order a rental set.

Please note that this year the PhD candidates will be hooded during the University-wide Ceremony at 10 a.m. If you are an advisor to one of these candidates, and they will be in attendance, then you will be expected to participate in this ceremony or to recommend a replacement. For further details, please email [email protected]

Staff Volunteers

Thank you to those who have signed up for volunteers, either for a half day working the University Ceremony and GradFest (7 a.m. - 1 p.m.) or the School Naming Ceremonies (10 a.m. - 5 p.m.), or working the entire day. Information on your assignments will be sent out on Monday, May 22nd. Any questions, please email [email protected]

Arrival and Entrances

  • For the University Ceremony, breakfast for volunteers will be served starting at 7 a.m., and for faculty breakfast will start at 8:00 a.m. Faculty must be present no later than 30 minutes prior to the 10 a.m. start for robing. Volunteers enter through the EVENT STAFF entrance and Faculty enter through the VIP entrance, both located on the Lafayette Street side of the building across from the Hyundai Parking Lot.

  • For the School Name Reading Ceremonies, Volunteers should arrive no later than 10 a.m., and Faculty should arrive at least 1/2 hour prior to the ceremonies to allow for robing. Lunch and snacks will be served (NICO at NJPAC and the White Room at NSH for Faculty, and the Green Room at NJPAC and the Dance Studio at NSH for Volunteers.

Transportation

All three venues are near to each other in Newark, and only blocks away from Newark Penn Station (PATH station and some NJ Transit.) Stevens will run shuttle busses between venues and Newark Penn from 7 a.m. until an hour after the last ceremony ends. Reserved shuttle buses will be available at 11:30 a.m. to take platform parties and faculty from one location to the other, where a private lunch will be served.

Parking and Uber

Stevens will provide transportation from Hoboken (or similar distance) via Uber to those staff and faculty participating in and volunteering for the ceremonies. Limited free parking will also be available at all 3 venues for those participating. Please note these options are not available to graduates or their guests. Contact Jane Leonard at the UC Welcome Desk for further information: [email protected] or x8993

Questions

If you have any further commencement-related questions, contact the Office of University Events at 201-216-5111 or email: [email protected].