Rutgers University-Newark is proud to honor and recognize our 2023 graduates!
Commencement 2024
Congratulations to all Rutgers University-Newark students and guest participating in the 2024 in-person Commencement ceremonies!
Ceremony Dates and Locations
Wednesday, May 15
Rutgers University-Newark Commencement
Prudential Center at 9am
Guest speaker: Black Thought
Graduating students of the following schools are welcome to participate:
- School of Arts and Sciences-Newark (College of Arts and Sciences and University College)
- Rutgers Business School-Newark undergraduates
- School of Criminal Justice
- School of Public Affairs and Administration (undergraduate and graduate).
- Graduate School Newark
Tuesday, May 14, 2024 at 3:00pm Keynote Speaker: Dr. Gregory F. Ball
Graduate School-Newark Doctoral and MFA Hooding Ceremony
Paul Robeson Campus Center
Graduating students of the MFA and Ph.D. programs are welcome to participate.
Wednesday, May 15, 2024 at 4:00pm
Rutgers Graduate Convocation
NJPAC
Graduating students of the MBA and all specialty master’s programs are welcome to participate. Students should arrive by 2:45pm and Guests at 3:00pm.
Friday, May 24, 2024 at 10:00am
Rutgers Law School Commencement,
NJPAC
Graduating students of the Law School are welcome to participate.
Contact Information
Contact your academic advisor or the email listed below should you have questions about your graduation and/or ceremony participation status.
Graduation Rings
Graduation rings can be purchased through Balfour. Visit https://www.balfour.com/newark-rutgers to look at the rings and make a purchase. If you have any questions you may call the Customer Service Department at (800-225-3687) or email CollegeRings@Balfour.com.
Tina Stenman | Territory Manager |Commemorative Brands, Inc. | Balfour | PA/DE/NJ/NY| Direct: 484-868-3599
Graduation Portraits
Graduation portraits can be taken by Island Photography; an email with login has been sent to graduating students that have applied for graduation with their academic units. Please check your spam folder in case it’s not in your inbox. You can also try contacting Island Photography directly at (516) 767-1234 or email at custserv@islandphoto.com to schedule an appointment.
Currently, there is not a yearbook for the graduating class of 2024. This means you can take portraits at the studio of your preference.
Student Speaker
Applications for Undergraduate Student Commencement Speaker
The Office of the Senior Vice Chancellor of Student Affairs is requesting applications from members of the undergraduate graduating class of 2024 for the Undergraduate Commencement
Speaker at our commencement exercises on Wednesday, May 15, 2024. We request applications from graduating seniors who are not only strong students, but who also have demonstrated commitment to leadership and community service. The selected student will have the honor of representing the graduating class at the Prudential Center, an arena that seats over 17,000!
Applications must include letters of recommendation from two faculty and/or staff members and a one-paragraph summary with the intended themes of the speech. The topic of the speech should focus on an event at RU-N that resonates with you, demonstrates your commitment to RU-N and be both personally meaningful and relevant to the Class of 2024. Applicants must have at least a 3.0 or higher cumulative GPA or higher (Fall 2023).
A selection committee will review the applications and select finalists. Finalists must be available to present a two-minute speech to the committee based on the paragraph submitted on Friday, April 12, 2024 (between 9am – 1pm).
All Applications must be submitted using the following link no later than
Friday, March 29, 2024 at 5:00pm: http://tinyurl.com/RUNClassof2024
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As of now no orders are being accepted for any regalia, but students can shop in store.
Hello Grads!
On behalf of the Barnes and Noble, here at Rutgers Newark, Congratulations!
We are happy to announce that students who have not yet purchased regalia may do so starting on Wednesday, April 24th. Our store hours will be 10:00am - 5:00pm daily, and students will be able to purchase packages and accessories. These items are only available in-store, and units are not eligible for hold or reserve.
If you have any questions in regard to the package you'd need, please feel free to email @Brielle Amos.
If you are unsure if you placed an order, please contact OakHall via the information shared below. For those of you who have ordered via the online site for ship-to-bookstore, please await notification before coming into pickup items as we are still waiting for these items. If you've placed an order for shipping to your home, please use the track order tool linked here. You'd need to have your sales order number in order to use this feature.
Questions? 540-378-7001 or customercare@oakhalli.com
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Prudential doors open at 8:00am for students and 8:15am for guests.
The Prudential Center is an accessible facility that can accommodate guests with physical challenges. Please visit https://www.prucenter.com/ada-guide for details. Commencement staff will be available to provide assistance. We strongly suggest your family arrive early and park at the Prudential Center. There are a number of independently owned parking lots across the street. Doors will open for guests between 8:15am - 8:30am
GENERAL ADMISSION:
Please note that all seating for this event is on a first-come, first-served basis.
ENTRY POLICY:
Please allow time for security checks - allow at least 45 minutes to go through security.
Mask use is permitted based on fan preference by those who choose to do so, but there are no requirements for mask usage or proof of vaccination. These protocols are subject to change, based on updated guidance from applicable authorities or updated federal, state or local laws.
BAG POLICY:
Bags up to 12"x14" are permitted inside Prudential Center. Anything larger are not permitted, with the exception of childcare or medical bags. Backpacks and drawstring bags are not permitted, regardless of size. Permissible larger bags will be X-rayed. All bags are subject to search by Prudential Center security team members at each point of entry. Bags that do not meet these expectations must be returned to the guest’s vehicle or stored in a Prudential Center supplied locker at the guest’s expense. Lockers are located outside the M&M's Tower and Lafayette Street entrances.
FOOD & BEVERAGE:
Learn more about our arena food and beverage concessions and locations here:
https://www.prucenter.com/concessions
PRUDENTIAL CENTER IS NOW A CASH-FREE VENUE:
Cash will NOT be accepted at concession stands, retail locations or the Box Office. Pay with a debit or credit card using tap to pay, chip or swipe, or mobile payment, including Apple Pay and Google Pay. For guests needing to convert cash to a card, our Reverse ATM kiosks with $0 transactional fees* are available by sections 1, 14, 125 and inside the Box Office Lobby. * Use of Reverse ATM services are subject to ReadyCARD Visa Prepaid Card Terms & Conditions, provided at each Reverse ATM kiosk location.
PRUDENTIAL CENTER SAFETY INFORMATION:
Can be found here: https://prucenter.com/safety.
Parking
Graduating students and their guests will be able to park in either Rutgers-Newark parking decks for free or at other locations for a fee:
- See "Prudential Parking" for Tuesday, May 16, 2023 ceremony
- See "NJPAC Parking" for Thursday, May 18, 2023 RBS and MBA Graduation, and for the Friday, May 19, 2023, Law School Commencement ceremonies.
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Free commencement parking for all graduates and their guests all day long for all ceremonies (Undergraduate, Graduate and Law) will be available in the following Rutgers-Newark parking decks:
- Deck 1: 200 University Ave, Newark, NJ
- Deck 2: 166 Washington Street, Newark, NJ
- Deck 3: 180 Washington Street, Newark, NJ (next to Deck 2)
- Deck 4: 130 Washington Street, Newark, NJ
Interactive Map for Parking at Rutgers University-Newark
**Eagle West Lot | 120 Orange St., Newark, NJ | will be available for the Rutgers Business School Graduate Convocation on Thursday May 15, 2024. Once you park in any of the above parking decks, you can walk to either Prudential (May 15) or NJPAC (May 15 and May 24) OR feel free to use our commencement shuttle services that will take you to your location.
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Getting to Prudential Center
Rutgers University-Newark will be providing shuttle services to Prudential Center on Tuesday, May 16. Please note that our guests have the option to walk to their destinations or park at any of the independently owned parking lots near the Prudential Center for a fee set but the lot operators.
Rutgers University - Newark Commencement (SASN, SCJ, SPAA, RBS-UG, GSN)
Complimentary shuttles to and from the Prudential Center will run continuously from 7 a.m. until 2 p.m.
Departure boarding to the Prudential Center will be located at Decks 2, 3, and 4 (parking is complimentary on campus).
Guests traveling from the Prudential Center back to campus should board at the corner of Lafayette and Broad Streets.
Shuttles are ADA accessible.
- Deck 2: 166 Washington Street, Newark, NJ
- Deck 3: 180 Washington Street, Newark, NJ (next to Deck 2)
- Deck 4: 130 Washington Street, Newark, NJ
We strongly suggest planning ahead and arriving early since there will be the usual morning traffic across the city of Newark. The ceremony will begin at 9 a.m. SHARP.
Special Notes for RBS MBA Graduation Ceremony
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Eagle West Lot | 120 Orange St., Newark, NJ | will also be available for the Rutgers Business School MBA Graduation on May 18.
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Guests with special needs should be dropped off near the entrance of NJPAC at or soon after 9:30am. NJPAC ushers will direct ticketed guests and their families with special needs to a designated location. Only the person(s) accompanying that guest when they enter NJPAC will be seated together.
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Rutgers University - Newark Commencement (SASN, SCJ, SPAA, RBS-Undergraduate, GSN)
In addition to RU-N parking, the above graduates and their families can park in or near the Prudential Center. It is highly advised that guests use public transportation on commencement day.
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Rutgers Business School Graduate Convocation
In addition to RU-N parking, the above graduates and their families can park at NJPAC. We found that in previous years many students chose to park there for the convenience of their guests. Look for Parking Lots A and C, adjacent east of the building. Each of these lots contain special parking locations for handicapped patrons.
Special Notes for RBS Graduate Convocation:
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Eagle West Lot | 120 Orange St., Newark, NJ | will also be available for the Rutgers Business School Graduate Convocation on Wednesday, May 15th 2024.
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Guests with special needs should be dropped off near the entrance of NJPAC at or soon after 9:30am. NJPAC ushers will direct ticketed guests and their families with special needs to a designated location. Only the person(s) accompanying that guest when they enter NJPAC will be seated together.
School of Law Commencement Friday, May 24, 2024
In addition to RU-N parking, the above graduates and their families can park at NJPAC. We found that in previous years many students chose to park there for the convenience of their guests. Look for Parking Lots A and C, adjacent east of the building. Each of these lots contain special parking locations for handicapped patrons.
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Special Accommodations
For students and guests in need of special accommodations, we ask that you please reach out to the appropriate contacts below. We want to ensure you that every reasonable effort will be made to arrange accommodations in an effective and timely manner.
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The Paul Robeson Campus Center is an accessible facility that can accommodate guests with physical challenges. Graduate School staff will be available to provide assistance. For questions related to disability accessibility, please contact Kinna Perry at kinnap@rutgers.edu or (973) 353-5834
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Special Accommodations for Prudential Center- The Prudential Center is an accessible facility that can accommodate guests with physical challenges. Please visit https://www.prucenter.com/ada-guide for details. For questions related to disability accessibility, please contact Lorren Whitaker lw553@newark.rutgers.edu or 973-353-5375.
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Guests requiring accommodations at NJPAC are encouraged to reach out to their dedicated customer service team at 1-888-MY-NJPAC for personalized assistance.
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Students who require accommodations should contact: rbs_graduation_grad@business.rutgers.edu and RBS staff will accommodate their seating arrangements
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NJPAC provides accessible parking accommodations to all patrons requiring such assistance. For detailed information regarding designated parking locations tailored to specific needs, please reach out to NJPAC customer service at 1-888-MY-NJPAC. For parking information, directions, and maps, please visit https://www.njpac.org/visit/directions-and-parking/
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Guests with special needs should be dropped off near the entrance of NJPAC at or soon after 3:00pm. NJPAC ushers will direct ticketed guests and their families with special needs to a designated location. Only the person(s) accompanying that guest when they enter NJPAC will be seated together.
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NJPAC offers ADA seating in every tier should your guests require it. If you will have a guest with a disability that requires a special seating arrangement, contact Gail Brown at gail.brown@law.rutgers.edu for more information.
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NJPAC parking lots contain special parking locations for disabled patrons.
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Rutgers University-Newark is proud to honor and recognize our 2022 graduates!
Rutgers University-Newark is proud to honor and recognize all of our 2021 graduates!
Rutgers University-Newark is proud to honor and recognize all of our 2020 graduates!
Join in celebrating the accomplishments of our 2019 graduates!
Watch the 2018 Rutgers-Newark Commencement Replay
To all of our graduates: we couldn’t be more proud of you! To all of you who helped get them to this milestone: we couldn’t be more grateful that you did!