TABLE OF CONTENTS

INVITATION .............................................................................................................................. 1

GRADUATE COMMENCEMENT CEREMONY ................................................................................. 2

ATTENDANCE ........................................................................................................................... 2

TICKETS .................................................................................................................................... 2

PROCESSIONAL PREPARATIONS .................................................................................................. 3

STAGING LOCATIONS ................................................................................................................ 3

NAME CARD ............................................................................................................................. 4

ACADEMIC HOOD ..................................................................................................................... 4

TASSEL ..................................................................................................................................... 4

PROCESSIONAL PROCESS ........................................................................................................... 4

ORDER OF CEREMONY .............................................................................................................. 4

DIPLOMA/HOODING PROCESS ................................................................................................... 5

DIPLOMA PROCESS DIAGRAM .................................................................................................... 5

RECESSIONAL PROCESS ............................................................................................................. 6

QUESTIONS ............................................................................................................................... 6

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ...................................................................................................... 6

DISABLED GUESTS ACCESS ........................................................................................................ 6

PARKING .................................................................................................................................. 6

PHOTOGRAPHER ....................................................................................................................... 6

ULTRA GREEN CAP AND GOWN ................................................................................................ 6

VENDORS/COMMENCEMENT MEMORABILIA .............................................................................. 7

INSTRUCTIONS FOR WEARING THE ACADEMIC HOOD ................................................................... 8

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INVITATION We invite you to participate in this year’s Commencement Ceremony. Commencement at William Paterson University is an important event for you, your family, and friends, as well as the faculty and staff. The ceremony brings together all involved to celebrate your achievements and successful conclusion of earning a higher education degree. This year we have reinstated the holding of a separate ceremony for doctoral and master’s degree recipients. This ceremony was designed to provide you the individual distinction you have earned for this advanced degree. You will be led to the diploma platform by your Program Coordinator. The degree which you are earning will be read followed by the reading of your name and you will be hooded on stage by your College’s Associate Dean. Your College Dean will present you with your diploma cover. As this is a ceremonial event, we ask that all members of the community conduct themselves befitting the occasion. The ceremony is expected to last approximately one and one-half hours. Please respect your fellow students and their experience of the ceremony by remaining in your seats until its conclusion. Please remember that ADMITTANCE TICKETS are required. We look forward to joining with you and your fellow graduates at the ceremony. We look forward to seeing you on Wednesday, May 18, 2016, as we pay tribute to your achievements and potential. Congratulations on your achievement! The Commencement Committee

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COMMENCEMENT CEREMONY FOR MASTER’S DEGREE CANDIDATES

Wednesday, May 18, 2016 at 7:00 p.m.

Shea Center

THE FOLLOWING INSTRUCTIONS PERTAIN TO THE CEREMONY: Instructions are posted at

www.wpunj.edu/commencement

Questions pertaining to the ceremony should be directed to commencement@wpunj.edu

ATTENDANCE Your participation in the ceremony is voluntary. There is no rehearsal for Commencement. Shea Center is located next to Parking Lots No. 3. Parking for your guests is available in both Lots No. 3 and 4. Please bring your regalia (cap, gown, hood and tassel) and your name card with you to your staging area in University Hall. Family members and guests who have tickets are requested to go directly into Shea Center. Doors will open for admittance of guests at 6:00 p.m. Other guests should go to the simulcast locations of University Hall or Cheng Library Auditorium. Please leave any valuables or personal belongings in your vehicle or with family members as you will not return to the staging areas. TICKETS ADMITTANCE TICKETS are required for entrance into Shea Center. Each graduate will receive two tickets, provided to you at the Pioneer Salute. Additional seating (not requiring tickets) will be in University Hall 1st floor classrooms and Cheng Library Auditorium. The ceremony will be simulcast to those locations as well as broadcast over the Internet by accessing the University’s home page. Additional tickets can be requested at Additional Ticket Request. This request form does not guarantee tickets will be available. Student will be contacted if tickets become available for distribution after May 7 at the Office of the Vice President for Student Development in University Commons Rm 117. Concerns and questions may be referred to commencement@wpunj.edu.

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PROCESSIONAL PREPARATION Staging areas for the procession will be in University Hall. Please report to the classroom assigned to your academic program by 6:15 p.m. Please look for the signage indicating your program’s congregation area.

The Program Coordinator for your program will assist with line-up behind your respective College Associate Dean. You do not need to be in alphabetical order within your program.

STAGING LOCATIONS

Line A

COLLEGE OF THE ARTS & COMMUNICATION Art University Hall 114 Music University Hall 114 Professional Communication University Hall 114 COTSAKOS COLLEGE OF BUSINESS Business Administration University Hall 115 COLLEGE OF HUMANITIES AND SOCIAL SCIENCE Applied Sociology University Hall 116 Clinical & Counseling Psychology University Hall 116 Creative & Professional Writing University Hall 116 English University Hall 116 History University Hall 116 Public Policy & International Affairs University Hall 116 COLLEGE OF SCIENCE & HEALTH Biology University Hall 120 Bio-Technology University Hall 120 Exercise & Sport Studies University Hall 120 Nursing University Hall 120 Communication Disorders University Hall 121 Line B COLLEGE OF EDUCATION Curriculum & Learning University Hall 117 Educational Leadership University Hall 118 Elementary Education University Hall 122 Literacy University Hall 122 Secondary Education University Hall 122 Professional Counseling University Hall 126 Special Education University Hall 126

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NAME CARD If you have lost or forgotten to bring your name card with you, please stop at the table in the University Hall lobby to receive a duplicate card. ACADEMIC HOODS Master’s degree candidates will not wear their hoods into the ceremony. Drape your hood over your arm and carry it into Shea Center and to the stage for the hooding process. TASSEL Wear your tassel on the left side of your cap. For your own safety, please do not throw your cap. PROCESSIONAL PROCESS The procession will start from the University Hall staging areas promptly at 6:30 p.m. by program in the order indicated. Administrative line marshals will escort your line from University Hall to Shea Center. It is important for you to listen to their directions and stay in single file during this processional. Stairs are involved in accessing the auditorium. Please notify the Office of Disability Services at disability@wpunj.edu if specific accommodations are needed to fully participate in the event. ORDER OF CEREMONY Commencement programs will be available in the auditorium. The order of ceremony is as follows: Processional

Introduction

Singing of the National Anthem

Address by Graduate Student Speaker

Address by Dr. Kathleen Waldron, President

Awarding of Honorary Degree/President’s Medal

Commencement Address

Diploma Process

Conferring of Degrees

Singing of Alma Mater

Recessional

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DIPLOMA/HOODING PROCESS

At the designated time during the ceremony, your Program Coordinator will lead the candidates from your program to the main stage. Please have your “Hood” draped over your left arm and have the reader card in your right hand. You will need to remove your mortarboard to facilitate the hooding process.

Process onto the stage and hand the name card to the reader. Proceed to the Associate Dean (center stage) of your college who will take your hood from you and place it over your head. The first photo will be taken. Put your mortarboard back on. Proceed across the stage to your College Dean who will hand you your diploma cover and shake your hand. A second photo will be taken. Walk past the Dean to the photography backdrop for the third and final photo with your diploma cover in hand. Exit the stage and return to your seat.

At the completion of the diploma procession, the President will confer all the degrees. This conferment is the official granting of your degree.

Diplomas will be issued upon verification of completion of degree requirements and obligations. You will be notified by the Registrar’s Office when diplomas are available for pick up or upon arrangement can be mailed to your home. Please respect your fellow students and their experience of the ceremony by remaining in your seat until its conclusion.

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RECESSIONAL PROCESS

The singing of the Alma Mater (printed in the program) will immediately follow the conferring of the degrees.

The recessional will follow led by the University Grand Marshal followed by the Platform Party and the faculty. The Graduates will follow after.

The ceremony should be over at approximately 8:30 p.m. Please make arrangements to meet your guests outside Shea Center. A reception will be held in the Lobby of University Hall following the ceremony.

QUESTIONS Questions pertaining to the ceremony can be directed to commencement@wpunj.edu  

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

DISABLED GUESTS ACCESS

If any of your guests are disabled, they may be dropped off and picked up at the side of Shea Auditorium in Lot No. 3. University Police personnel will be stationed in several areas within the parking lot to facilitate this process and provide parking directions for all vehicles.

PARKING

Use Entry No. 4 from Pompton Road. Parking is available in Lots No. 3 and 4.

Visit Campus Map and Directions.

PHOTOGRAPHER

The Commencement photographers are from Grad Images. Enjoy an exclusive discount of $5 off any picture order of $25 or more if you register with Grad Images prior to the ceremony. Visit their website at www.gradimages.com to sign up under the Pre-Event Registration tab and review the FAQs online. Your proofs will be online at their website within 5-7 days following the ceremony. You may place orders or obtain answers to your questions at www.gradimages.com or 1-800-424-3686.

ULTRA GREEN CAP AND GOWN The University’s commitment to sustainability, environmental stewardship, and energy conservation is evident in your academic regalia. PET plastic bottles have created your academic regalia. Each cap and gown sewn from recycled bottle fabric prevents approximately 27 plastic bottles from being dumped into a landfill. The Ultra Green gown is a demonstration that sustainability is a focus of what’s happening on our campus with the ultimate goal of making conservation a permanent part of campus life.

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VENDORS—COMMENCEMENT MEMORABILIA The following vendors are affiliated with the University to provide commencement memorabilia to graduates

Fond Memories — www.fondmemoriesgraphics.com Jostens — www.Jostens.com Signature Announcements — www.signatureA.com University Cap & Gown — www.gradgowns.com

To receive a discount from GradImages on the photos taken at the ceremony click on the icon.

University Hall

Staging Locations and Reception Area

Marion E. Shea Center for Performing Arts

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INSTRUCTIONS FOR WEARING THE ACADEMIC HOOD

The academic hood is a visual representation of your level of academic achievement and the scholastic degree being

conferred. This hood has been designed within the guidelines established by the Intercollegiate Bureau of Academic Costume.

The following instructions are designed to assist you in the proper way to wear the hood: 1.   Put the graduate hood on over the robe. 2.   The hood should be placed over your head so that it drapes off your shoulders and over the back of your

gown. The border trim should be placed on the outside of the hood with the trim side facing up under the chin (as below). Pin the hood to the gown to prevent it from riding against the neck.

3.   Roll the edge of the hood outward so that the inside colors of the hood show. The

end of the hood will look something like a fin and should not be turned inside out but hang parallel to the ground.

4.   Be sure the hood lining (the colors of the University) are showing. This can be done

by turning the trim to the outside at the back just below your shoulders. 5.   There is a cord on the back of your hood that will keep it in place. Connect the cord

across the front of the hood. 6.   Make sure the hood is smoothed down and lays flat against the back of your robe.

7. Or watch instructions at http://bit.ly/wpunjhood

The velveteen trim (2) represents the degree you have earned. The chevron (4) and the lining (3) represent the University colors. The black shell (1) is the traditional color determined by the Intercollegiate Bureau of Academic Costume.