Baccalaureate Ceremony
May 15, 2020
6 p.m.
This will be the final gathering of the Class of 2020 before Commencement and Convocation. There is a light dinner served. The candlelight walk around Passion Puddle then takes place followed by a champagne toast. If you have any questions, please contact our Convocation Coordinator, Latisha Crubaugh, at crubaugh@sebs.rutgers.edu.
Commencement
May 17, 2020
10 a.m. (rain or shine)
SHI Stadium, Busch Campus
University Commencement is a giant celebration with your fellow students from across the entire university and all three campuses. There, you will see your name scroll on the stadium ribbon board and enjoy special videos such as graduate shout-outs to family and friends, photo montages, and more. With thousands of guests saluting the culmination of your achievement, it will be a day you will never forget. Please allow plenty of time to arrive at the stadium. Gates open at 8 a.m.
School of Environmental and Biological Sciences Convocation
May 18, 2020
10 a.m.
Passion Puddle, George H. Cook Campus
In the event of potential dangerous weather conditions, the convocation ceremony will still take place on May 18 at 10 a.m., but at the Louis Brown Athletic Center (a/k/a "the RAC"). Check this website through Sunday, May 17 for last-minute updates.
Seating for the SEBS Convocation is provided for faculty and graduates only. All others are encouraged to bring their own chairs.
Your other must-attend graduation ceremony is this intimate event, where you'll join with your graduating class and faculty members to receive individual recognition. The School of Environmental and Biological Sciences Convocation will include the following festivities:
- Your name will be read
- Your photograph will be taken
- Celebrate with the students, faculty and staff who have been alongside you during your studies at the School of Environmental and Biological Sciences
Questions? Call 848-932-3000.
Additional Information
Eligible Commencement and Convocation Participants
All School of Environmental and Biological Sciences students who have:
- Graduated in January 2020; or
- Registered to complete all degree requirements by May 2020; or
- On track to graduate in August 2020 (will have completed a minimum of 116 credits at the end of the spring term, and registered for summer session for all courses to complete their degree requirements may participate in the May 2020 Commencement and Convocation ceremonies).
Graduation Honors
All graduating seniors who complete their academic career with a cumulative GPA of 3.500 or above will be awarded graduation honors. Gold cords will be worn as part of the regalia and be distributed at Convocation. Those students in honors programs will receive their scarlet and/or green cords through their program.
Summa Cum Laude: 3.850–4.000
Magna Cum Laude: 3.700–3.849
Cum Laude: 3.500–3.699
Academic Regalia
All students who plan to participate on the field at the stadium during University Commencement and in individual school convocation ceremonies must wear academic regalia. As a reminder all student regalia is purchase only. There is no option to rent.
New Brunswick students will be able to purchase regalia by ordering online via the Oak Hall student ordering site or purchasing at the Bookstore. Regalia for New Brunswick students will be available for pick up (if pre-ordered online) or purchase (if not pre-ordered online) beginning at Grad Fair, which will be held at the Bookstore in April. This is the first available date for pick-up/purchasing but regalia will continue to be sold at the Bookstore until Commencement.
Online Ordering Sites Dates:
- Sites go live for student purchasing on February 15.
- New Brunswick student online order deadline is March 22. This is a hard deadline. No orders can be accepted by the bookstore after the deadline.
- Don't forget to pick up any honor society or other recognition cords and stoles, if applicable.
- Please note: Academic regalia will not be sold at the stadium. Plan ahead.
Graduation Products
For individual graduates who wish to order formal announcements, they can do so through the Barnes and Noble University Bookstore.
Diploma Frames are in stock at the Bookstore year round but most students purchase during Grad Fair. Representatives from both Framing Success and Church Hill Classics will be at Grad Fair.
Parking
Students must register online for parking passes for University Commencement beginning in March.
No parking permit is needed for Monday's SEBS Convocation. Parking is permitted in any open lot that morning on Dudley Road and College Farm Road.
Special Needs Parking
To register for special needs parking for Commencement, please visit commencement.rutgers.edu/parking
Seating
Seating for the SEBS Convocation is provided for faculty and graduates only. All others are encouraged to bring their own chairs.
Miscellaneous
Wear comfortable shoes. Shoes with very high heels are not recommended. In the stadium, students and guests must maneuver on concrete steps. During the Commencement procession, students will walk across the football field, and at Convocation they will walk on the Lawn of Passion Puddle. The floor of the RAC can be slippery.
Bring sunglasses and wear sunscreen.
Photos
GradImages will once again be taking photos at both locations. They will email you proofs just a few days after graduation and you can place your order online, by telephone, or mail. GradImages may be contacted at 800-261-2576 or www.gradimages.com.
Photo opportunity locations will be set up around the Commencement and Convocation sites to allow you to take family photos.
There will be a security check at the Stadium, and in case of rain, at the RAC.
Important: Make sure the Registrar's Office has your correct home address as (1) a mailing will go to all home addresses inviting your family to join us for these events; and (2) all diplomas will be mailed to that address over the summer. To change or correct your home address, go to the Registrar's website, click New Brunswick, then click address changes.
We endeavor to make this important event a memorable one. We encourage you to participate fully in all of the graduation events to make this weekend one of the most memorable of your time on the Banks.