CSAM Convocation

Each year The College of Science and Mathematics (CSAM) will host a Graduation Convocation Ceremony during the month of May. While the University Commencement signifies the official conferral of degrees, the individual College and School convocations are precommencement ceremonies celebrating bachelor’s degree candidates' achievements. Seating is limited and tickets are required for the CSAM Convocation.

The CSAM Convocation will be held on Saturday, May 16, 11 a.m., in the Amphitheater.

Master's degree candidates are to attend the Graduate Convocation only.

Eligiblity

Candidates who will complete their degree requirements by May 2009 and who after filing for a final audit are on the May 2009 graduation list are eligible to participate in the Convocation and/or Commencement exercises. Those whose degrees were conferred in August 2008 or January 2009 also are eligible to participate.

If you have questions concerning academic issues relative to your degree, please contact the Office of the Registrar at 973-655-4376. All other questions may be directed to your academic advisor.

For information on the application for final audit, Certification (Teacher), or if you missed the deadline to file for graduation, please go to http://www.montclair.edu/registrar.

Venue

The Convocation ceremony will be held in the Amphitheater. The Amphitheater is an open air venue. Guests are urged to dress according to the weather. Due to the natural construction of the Amphitheater, it is recommended that students and guests wear comfortable, flat shoes.

Ticket Procedures

Tickets are required for Convocation. Because of the limited seating available, each student participating in Convocation is eligible for up to 4 (white) guest tickets for the Amphitheater. Tickets can be requested on line at http://www.montclair.edu/rsvp beginning April 21 and ending May 10 and picked up from your academic department secretary. As a courtesy to other students, please request only those tickets that will be used since seating is limited. Please note that graduating students do not need tickets for themselves.
Additional tickets will be distributed in order of request and depending on availability. 
The ceremony will be cast live into the Kasser Theater for additional and unlimited guests with (blue) tickets.

Academic Regalia

Students participating in Convocation Ceremony and/or the Commencement exercise are required to wear academic regalia. For the CSAM Convocation, candidates are to wear robes and stoles (no caps/hoods). All Bachelor degree candidates wear a red stole. Pocketbooks or other carried articles are not permitted in the procession and the University cannot be responsible for loss of any items you may choose to carry.

Academic regalia may be purchased at the University Bookstore during regular store hours beginning May 7 through May 19, May 20 and May 21 from 12pm to 7pm, as well as on May 22 at the Izod Center.

Eligible Bachelor's degree candidates must purchase their regalia in person and will be required to present a valid student I.D. or driver's license at the time of purchase. Bachelor's regalia is $54. All purchases of academic attire are nonrefundable.

Check-in

Check-in is on the portico in front of Alexander Kasser Theater by the main entrance to the theater. CANDIDATES ARE TO REPORT TO CHECK-IN no later than 10:00 a.m. At check-in, candidates will be given an index card with the student’s name, phonetic spelling and program of study. CSAM staff will be available for assistance. Guests are not permitted in the check-in or line-up area.

Line-Up

Candidates will line up no later than 10:30 a.m. Signs will be posted identifying major/ department locations for the line-up. University staff will be available for assistance. Guests are not permitted in the check-in or line up-area.

Procession/Recession

Procession will begin promptly at 11:00 a.m. Latecomers will not be able to participate. Candidates will process into the Amphitheater from line-up. Please listen to instructions carefully on the day of the event.

Ceremony

Convocation ceremony is expected to last 1 1⁄2 hours. It will begin with a welcoming address by President Susan Cole. A processional of graduating candidates will then be called to the stage (your name will be announced) to be congratulated personally by the Dean, your department chair and faculty.

Photos

Due to the physical requirements of the seating area and safety reasons, it will not be possible for family members to take photos during the ceremony. Please plan to take photos with family and/or faculty following the ceremony.

Guest Seating

GUESTS WITHOUT TICKETS WILL NOT BE ADMITTED. Entrances to the Amphitheater will be open to guests holding tickets at 10:00 a.m. All guests should be seated by 10:45 a.m. The Amphitheater entrance will close for 15 minutes at 10:45 to accommodate the procession of faculty and candidates, so be sure that your guests arrive prior to that time. Ticketed guests may be seated anywhere above the first 4 rows, on either side of the center seating area, where the graduates will be seated. No strollers are allowed in the Amphitheater. (Families bringing strollers will be required to leave strollers in a designated location.)

Special Needs

Graduate(s) and/or guest(s) needing wheelchair or any other accommodations may request assistance by sending a message to flatleyp@mail.montclair.edu indicating the special need(s) no later than Tuesday, May 12.

Parking

Candidates with surface lot permits may park in those same lots during the Convocation Ceremony. Guests without permits may use the Red Hawk Deck, whose fee schedule may be found on the Parking and Transportation Services web site. There is also FREE parking available at Quarry Lots 18, 19, 20A, 20B, 21, 22, 23, 26 (short walk required to Convocation site - see campus map). Parking in these lots will be allowed without a permit only during the Convocation. Shuttle bus service will run as normal during the day of the Ceremony.

Commencement 2009

Commencement exercises will take place indoors at the Izod Center (formerly Continental Airlines Arena) within the Meadowlands Sports Complex in East Rutherford, NJ, on Friday, May 22, 2009 beginning at 10:00 a.m. The ceremony will last approximately 90 minutes. Students' names are not read during the ceremony. Seating is unlimited and tickets are not required for the Commencement Ceremony.

Students participating in Commencement are required to wear full academic regalia. Academic regalia may be purchased at the University Bookstore. Availability dates and times, as well as cost will be posted here on or about April 21.

For more information regarding Commencement, including times, guests, etc., please visit the University Commencement page at http://www.montclair.edu/commencement/.