Ceremony
- What time does the Main Ceremony on Commencement Day begin?
- How long will the Main Ceremony on Commencement Day last?
Guests
- Do guests need tickets to attend the Main Ceremony on Commencement Day?
- Is there a limit on the number of graduates’ guests who can attend the Main Ceremony on Commencement Day?
- Is there a limit on the number of graduates’ guests who can attend the individual Departmental Ceremonies on Commencement Day?
- Can you recommend hotels/motels near The College of New Jersey for out of town guests?
- Can you recommend any restaurants near The College of New Jersey?
- Will there be special needs seating areas for individuals with physical disabilities at the Main Ceremony on Commencement Day?
- Where can I rent a wheelchair for Commencement?
- Will there be a sign language interpreter?
- Where do (specific) graduates sit?
Students
- I have finished all the requirements for graduation. How do I make sure I am on the list for graduation?
- How do I order my cap and gown and can I keep it?
- I am unable to pick up my cap and gown during the designated hours that the bookstore is open. Can I send someone to pick it up for me?
- Where can I order personalized commencement announcements, diploma frames, and commencement commemorative items?
- Will there be an opportunity to get photos with faculty and/or the dean of my school on Commencement Day?
- When will I get my diploma?
- How do I join The College of New Jersey Alumni Association?
- Can I participate in Commencement if I have outstanding financial obligations?
- I graduated last December. Is there any way I can get a tassel with my graduation year on it?
- Will honors cords, ribbons or pins be provided with my academic regalia?
- What should I wear on Commencement Day?
General
Ceremony
Q. What time does the Main Ceremony on Commencement Day begin?
A. In addition to the morning and afternoon individual Departmental Ceremonies, the Main Ceremony on commencement day begins at 11 a.m. in Lions’ Stadium. Graduates are asked to begin lining up, in cap and gown, by 10 a.m. on C-Street. C-Street is the road that runs behind Travers/Wolfe and the Student Recreation Center.
Q. How long will the Main Ceremony last?
A. The Main Ceremony lasts approximately one hour.
Guests
Q. Do guests need tickets to attend the Main Ceremony?
A. No. Passes are required for special needs seating at the main ceremony only. Please refer to the Accessibility portion of this website for further details.
Q. Is there a limit on the number of graduate’s guests who can attend the Main Ceremony?
A. There is no limit to the number of guests who can attend the Main Ceremony in Lions’ Stadium.
Q. Is there a limit on the number of graduate’s guests who can attend the individual Departmental Ceremonies?
A. Guests do not need tickets to attend the individual Departmental Ceremonies, but each graduate is limited to three guests. If you have questions or require further information on an individual Departmental Ceremony, please contact the dean or department chair. The telephone numbers for schools and departments can be found on the Important Phone Numbers portion of this website.
Q. Can you recommend hotels/motels near The College of New Jersey for out of town guests?
A. Listing of local accommodations.
Q. Can you recommend any restaurants near The College of New Jersey?
A. Listing of local restaurants.
Q. Will there be special needs seating areas for individuals with physical disabilities at the Main Ceremony?
A. Yes, reserved seating will be provided for individuals with physical disabilities at the Main Ceremony in Lions’ Stadium. One guest from the same party may accompany the person requiring special needs seating.
For reservations for special needs seating at the Main Ceremony, please contact Ann Guarnaccia, Special Needs Seating Coordinator, at 609.771.3028, guarnaca@tcnj.edu.
Please contact your graduate’s department for special seating provisions that you may require at individual Departmental Ceremonies. Contact numbers are listed on the left hand column under the “Important Phone Numbers” section of this website.
Q. Where can I rent a wheelchair for Commencement?
A. Wheelchairs can be rented at Ambest Surgical Supply Company or Delcrest Medical Supplies. For further information regarding pick up and return, please call the vendors.
Ambest Surgical Supply Company
609.882.3702
Delcrest Medical Supplies
609.586.1679
Q. Will there be a sign language interpreter at the Main Ceremony?
A. Yes, the Main Ceremony will have a sign language interpreter. Also, the live simulcast of the Main Ceremony will have closed-captioning.
Reserved seating with a sight line to the sign language interpreter can be arranged for the Main Ceremony in Lions’ Stadium. One guest from the same party may accompany the person needing assistance. For reservations for sight line seating, please contact Ann Guarnaccia at 609.771.3028 or guarnaca@tcnj.edu.
If you have the need for a sign language interpreter at an individual departmental ceremony, please make this request through the Office of Differing Abilities.
Office of Differing Abilities Services
telephone: 609.771.2571
fax: 609.637.5107
attention: Michelle Gervasi
email: odas@tcnj.edu
Q. Where do (specific) graduates sit at the Main Ceremony?
A. Graduates will be seated by school in the front rows of chairs facing the stage in the stadium. The Main Ceremony stadium diagram is posted on this site as are the locations and times of the individual Departmental Ceremonies.
Students
Q. I have finished all the requirements for graduation. How do I make sure I am on the list for graduation?
A. You must apply for graduation via PAWS. If you have applied online via PAWS, you are on the list. If you did not apply on-line, call Records and Registration at 609.771.2141.
Q. How do I order my cap and gown and can I keep it?
A. All registered graduates on the list can pick up their caps and gowns at TCNJ’s Bookstore during Graduation Fair, April 9-13, 2012, with an active, current student I.D. And yes, your academic regalia is yours to keep.
Q. I am unable to pick up my cap and gown during the designated hours that the bookstore is open. Can I send someone to pick it up for me?
A. Yes, but the person picking up the cap and gown must have the graduate’s I.D. card. Caps and gowns will be available for pick up at the bookstore through commencement day.
Q. Where can I order personalized commencement announcements, diploma frames, and commencement commemorative items?
A. All commencement related memorabilia will be available at TCNJ’s Bookstore. Visit https://collegegrad.herffjones.com/ for complete information.
Q. Will there be an opportunity to get photos with faculty and/or the dean of my school on Commencement Day?
A. Yes, at the individual Departmental Ceremonies.
Q. When will I get my diploma?
A. Diplomas will be mailed to your permanent residence by the end of July.
Q. How do I join The College of New Jersey Alumni Association?
A. Contact Development and Alumni Affairs at 609.771.2393
Q. Can I participate in commencement if I have outstanding financial obligations?
A. YES. However, you will not receive your diploma or transcripts if you have any outstanding financial obligations. (This includes complying with the necessary student loan exit interviews.)
Q. I graduated last December. Is there any way I can get a tassel with my graduation year on it?
A. Tassels from the previous year’s graduation will be available to purchase at the bookstore. Contact them directly at 609.637.5001.
Q. Will honors cords, ribbons or pins be provided with my academic regalia?
A. No. You must contact your honor society regarding any special honors regalia.
Q. What should I wear on Commencement Day?
A. Please dress according to the forecasted weather. When selecting shoes, please consider that the stadium turf is not a solid surface and consequently, it is difficult to walk in heels.
General
Q. Is the Main Ceremony simulcast and on the radio?
A. Yes. The main ceremony can be heard on WTSR 91.3 FM. In addition, an indoor location at the Brower Student Center and a variety of other locations throughout campus will provide a simulcast of the Main Ceremony. Please refer to the Simulcasting portion of this website.
Q. I have other questions – who do I call?
A. Please refer to the Important Phone Numbers page to determine who to contact.