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SCHOOL OF ENGINEERING GRADUATION CEREMONY
Place: Louis Brown Athletic Center
Date: Thursday, May 22, 2008
Lineup Time: 8:45 am
Processional Begins: 9:30 am

Note: Information on this page is subject to updates.

May graduates must fill out a diploma application by February 15th. The Diploma application is found at: .
If you use the hardcopy form, it must be hand carried or mailed to the REGISTRAR (NOT to B100).

This form is mainly for the specific name that will appear on your diploma. Filling out this form does not take place of verifying with Dean Prendergast in B100 that you are on track to graduate.

May graduates must also review and return a . Please see Dean Prendergast for more details.

Graduation requirements: Students have to fulfill specific requirements for graduation. Click here for a list of general requirements. If you have not had a seen your updated check off sheet, please stop in B100 for a copy or contact for a Senior review.

Graduation dates: Although there is only one ceremony in May, there are three possible times each year to complete your degree requirements at Rutgers School of Engineering:

May: Students who complete their degree requirements at the end of the spring semester have a May graduation date. Students who have any grades or transcripts submitted after June 15th will NOT be processed as a May graduate (except for students on co-op or study abroad in the final semester). In this case, see October graduation information below.

January: Students who complete their degree requirements at the end of the fall semester or winter session have a January graduation date. Students who have any grades or transcripts submitted after January 31st will NOT be processed as a January graduate (except for students on co-op or study abroad in the final semester), see May graduation above.

October: Students who complete their degree requirements at the end of the summer session have an October graduation date. Students who have any grades or transcripts submitted after September 30th will NOT be processed as a October graduate (except for students on co-op or study abroad in the final semester), see January graduation above.

Marching: If you do NOT complete all degree requirements by the day of Graduation, it may still be possible to participate in the commencement ceremony as a MARCHER. Marchers wear cap and gown, go up on stage, and receive a diploma case (just like the actual graduates do), but there is no diploma inside. In order to be eligible to participate in graduation as a MARCHER, you must submit a Permission to March application and you must meet the following criteria:

2.0+ gpa in major and overall by the end of the spring semester.

No more than 9 credits remaining after spring semester.

If taking fall courses - no more than 1 major course (M prefix); no more than 7 credits to complete the B.S. degree.

A can be submitted between March 17th and April 14th to have your name appear in the program. Complete the form, and return to B100 for approval. You will be notified via email if you are approved or denied.

Caps and Gowns: Buy your cap and gown at the Rutgers Bookstore, Ferren Mall, 732.246.8448. They will be available for distribution in April (~April 9th) through graduation day. Fitting will take place at the time of pickup. No pre-ordering is necessary. The charge of approximately $50 includes cap (black), gown (all black), tassel (red), and hood (black outside, red inside, with orange trim). Red stands for Rutgers. Orange stands for Engineering. Academic regalia must be worn by all participants in the ceremony.

NOTE: Be sure to indicate that you are a School of Engineering student (not Rutgers College; affiliation does NOT determine your cap/gown colors). Bring a copy of this webpage with you to avoid any errors at the bookstore.

Honors Cords: If you will graduate with honors (3.2 cumulative gpa), high honors (3.4 cpga), or highest honors (3.65 cgpa) you can purchase a gold honors cord from the bookstore - WHILE SUPPLIES LAST.

Other Regalia: Several student groups and organizations give their members cords, sashes, etc. Students may wear these items at their own discretion.

Holds: It is your responsibility to check whether you are on hold for any reason. If you are on hold, you will NOT receive your diploma. You may check with the Registrar, ASB, Busch (732-445-4111) prior to May 1st to find out if there is a hold against your name. No amount is too small for your diploma to be withheld: unpaid parking tickets, a library book, immunization, unpaid tuition or fees. CLEAR ALL HOLDS NOW!!

Grade Changes/Transfer Credits: Grade changes and awards of transfer credits for semesters other than the Spring 2008 semester must be submitted by May 1st in order to be processed in time for graduation. Students who have any grades or transcripts submitted after June 15th will NOT be processed as a May graduate (except for students on co-op or studey abroad in the final semester). If you anticipate any delays, you should contact the Office of Academic Affairs-Room B100, or inform Dean Prendergast by email: lprend@rci.rutgers.edu or in person during office hours.

Minors and Second Majors: If you have completed or will be completing a minor or second major (non-engineering major), you MUST fill out a Certification of Minor/Major form in order to get credit for the minor (ie post the major/minor on your transcript). Minors and second majors appear on the transcript only, not on the diploma. There are not other certificates or methods of recognition for minors/double majors other than the transcript and whatever you choose to post on your resume.

Invitations: Each graduate may receive five invitations. Invitations may be picked up in the Office of Academic Affairs-Room B100 in April. Remember, an invitation is not needed to gain access to the Convocation. You may invite as many guests as you wish since there are no space limitations.

Guests: Your visitors and guests should use the front entrances to the Athletic Center and seat themselves in any of the bleacher areas. Seats will be cordoned off for graduates. An invitation is not needed to gain access to the Convocation.

Parking: Guests may use any of the parking areas. Permits will not be required.

Lineup area for the Athletic Center: The procession will form at the West end (rear) of the Athletic Center. Faculty marshals will be on hand to assist graduates in lining up alphabetically by curriculum. Lineup areas will be clearly marked.

Programs: Programs will be handed to guests as they arrive prior to the start of Commencement. Graduates will find programs on their chairs.

Convocation Ceremony: School of Engineering students should attend the School of Engineering graduation ceremony. Those students in the Dual Degree program have the option of attending School of Engineering or the other college's ceremony. The University Commencement ceremony is a separtate ceremony - by inviation only. Most students do not attend University Commencement.

The SoE ceremony will begin promptly at the start time and will last for about two hours. After the speeches are concluded, graduates will approach the platform in alphabetical order - first, by department and then by last name. As each name is called, the recipient will mount the platform, receive his/her diploma, and will return to their assigned seat. Following the Dean’s closing remarks, the platform group will file off the stage followed by faculty and graduates in the recessional.

Pictures: Please inform your guests that they will not be permitted to approach the platform area for the purpose of taking pictures while the ceremony is in progress and you are on the stage. A professional photographic studio (Chappell) will take pictures of all graduates as they receive their diploma. You will receive proofs and information concerning purchase of these pictures by mail/email directly from the photographer. You can also pre-register with them on-line:

Receptions: The various departments of the School of Engineering will schedule receptions for their graduates and guests during the afternoon of May 22nd. Invitations with details will be sent by each department.

Graduates Unable to Attend October, January, and May graduates not attending may pick up their diploma at the Registrar's Office or request that the Registrar mail it. If you are planning to attend the Graduation Ceremony, however, you may not pick up or have your diploma mailed to you - you MUST pick it up the day of the ceremony. We will keep the diplomas in B100 for the Friday after graduation only. The diplomas are then returned to the Registrar. If you are not coming to graduation and want your diploma mailed to you, or want to pick it up at a later date, contact the Registrar’s Office.

Rutgers University
Office of the Registrar Room 200B
65 Davidson Road
Piscataway, NJ 08854-8096
Telephone: (732) 445-7000
Internet: http://registrar.rutgers.edu
Email: diplomas@rci.rutgers.edu

Answers to Frequently asked Questions:
1. ** DON'T be late!!** ** DON'T be late!!** ** DON'T be late!!**
2. No, there will not be a rehearsal of the ceremony.
3. Tassels should be on the right side of the mortarboard.
4. There will be a ceremonial movement of tassels from right to left at the end of degree conferrals. Listen for the announcement by Dean Klein.
5. There will be a list of candidates for May graduation listed below and also posted on the bulletin board in front of B100 a day or two prior to graduation. If your name is not on this list and you are definitely completing ALL of your requirements by the day of Graduation, contact Dean Prendergast ASAP.
6. Graduates may attend the ceremony (in cap and gown) and will receive their diploma the day of graduation.
7. Marchers go to graduation, wear cap and gown, but do NOT get a diploma that day.

SPECIAL NOTICE TO SENIORS
Past experience indicates that there will be many seniors who, for some reason or another, will not complete all of your degree requirements as scheduled. I want you to understand now that if there are any problems with the actual completion of your degree which would prevent inclusion of your name on the official graduation list, you will be notified by letter to your B.P.O. or to your email address on Monday or Tuesday of graduation week. Again, you will be notified only if you do NOT complete all requirements. It will be your responsibility to check your BPO/email on the above days. If you should receive a letter, come to the Office of Academic Affairs to correct the problem, or make arrangements for deferring your graduation date to October or later. After all certifications are made, there will be a list of graduates posted outside of room B100 in the glass case and on this website (at the bottom) just prior to graduation. Check it out - make sure your name is on it.