School of Communication and Information Graduation Convocation 2025

Thursday, May 15, 2025
Jersey Mike's Arena
Livingston Campus (Piscataway)

WHO CAN PARTICIPATE IN SC&I'S GRADUATION CONVOCATION?

If you are a SC&I undergraduate major or master's student with a 2025 degree (January, May, August), ours is the ceremony where your name will be called and you will walk across the stage and be congratulated by your faculty.  

Doctoral candidates with August 2024, January and May 2025 graduation dates are eligible to participate.

WHERE AND WHEN

• Thursday, May 15, 2025, at  Jersey Mike’s Arena on Livingston campus.
• Graduates must arrive by 9:00 a.m. to line up for the processional.
• Guests should plan to arrive in time to be seated by 9:45 a.m.
• The ceremony itself will run from 10:00 a.m. to noon. You can count on us to begin and end promptly.
• A small reception will follow the ceremony.
• If you have guests who cannot come to campus but want to watch, they will be able to view the ceremony through streaming, the link will be available before graduation.

TICKETS

All events at Jersey Mike's Arena are ticketed. Don't worry, we will have enough tickets for your guests!  But you will have to sign up for tickets.

Each graduate will receive one ticket for themselves and can claim up to SEVEN guest tickets for our ceremony.  If you will need more than seven guest tickets, you will be able to request them, and it is extremely likely we will be able to issue you those extra tickets.

You will be able to register for tickets beginning April 1.  Come back to this site for the link any time during April.

Please monitor this website for updates throughout the spring semester.

CAPS AND GOWNS

We strongly recommend you wear academic regalia for SC&I's convocation.  Regalia is required for the Commencement event at SHI Stadium on Sunday, May 18.

Visit the Barnes and Noble Rutgers University Bookstore website for information about ordering regalia. You’ll be able to order online and have it shipped to you if you prefer.

• Last day to order your regalia online (Ship-to-Home): March 28, 2025
• Regalia will be available at Barnes and Noble starting April 2, 2025, while supplies last.
• GRAD FAIR at the bookstore: April 2 & 3, 2025 - in addition to buying regalia, you will be able to purchase class rings, personalized announcements, diploma frames, and much more

If you are an undergraduate, you will get a gown based on your four-year Rutgers school (e.g., SAS, SEBS). You will wear a white hood for a B.A. degree.

If you are a graduate student, make sure you get a black cap and gown and the appropriate colored hood: for MCM it is crimson; for MHCI it is white; for MI it is lemon yellow; for Ph.D. it is a deep blue. 

FOR THOSE WITH SPECIAL NEEDS

Graduates who have guests coming from abroad who need a letter to accompany their visa application, please contact your international student adviser.

Graduates who needs accommodations of any kind for yourself at the ceremony, please send an email to Associate Dean Karen Novick as early as possible or call 848-932-8820 to make arrangements.

Guests who need accessible seating inside the arena will be directed to the special needs seating area.  Because we have limited accessible seating, only one member of your group will be able to sit with the person who has special needs; the rest of the group will be directed to regular seating.

Parking for those with special needs: The best place for someone to park who has accessibility issues is in the Green Lot near JMA. There will be golf cart shuttles running from the parking lot to the door of the stadium. If someone else is driving, they can drop the person with special needs off relatively close to the front door and then go and park.

DAY OF GRADUATION

Driving directions:  Jersey Mike’s Arena is at 83 Rockafeller Road in Piscataway, NJ, on the Rutgers-New Brunswick Livingston Campus.  Use our link for directions.

Parking:  No special parking tags are needed to park at SC&I's ceremony. Follow directions to Jersey Mike’s Arena and as you get close, there will be signs and attendants will direct you to park.

Photography:   A photographer will take photos of every graduate who walks across the stage. The vendor, Island Photography, will email you shortly after the ceremony with a link so you can review and purchase your photos. If you want, you will be able to register with them right at graduation to be able to view your photo gallery – this is especially important if you are no longer using your Rutgers email address. You can enter your own email and up to six emails of family and friends with whom you would like to share your photos.  Purchase is optional.  For questions and more information, contact:  Island Photography 800-869-0908.

Food and drink:  Drinks will be available for sale at the concession stands within the stadium. SC&I will host a small reception immediately after the ceremony in a tent outside.

Flowers and graduation gifts will be on sale at our event.

Watch it live remotely:  Family and friends who are not able to attend the ceremony in person can watch it live online.  Check back here for the link in May.

Getting your diploma:  Your Rutgers diploma will be mailed to you at the address you gave the Register when you completed the Online Diploma Application during your last semester of classes. It takes about six weeks for the diploma to be sent to you.

OTHER RUTGERS CEREMONIES YOU CAN ATTEND

Undergraduate students

Check the website of your four-year school (SAS, SEBS, etc.) for information about their ceremonies.  SAS students with a SC&I major generally attend the SC&I graduation, but you are eligible to also attend an SAS ceremony if you want.

You are also invited on Sunday, May 18 to SHI Stadium for the Rutgers University—New Brunswick and Rutgers Health Commencement. Check the University Commencement website for more information about obtaining tickets and parking permits.  This is a celebratory event for all Rutgers-New Brunswick and Rutgers Health students. No individual student names are called.

Masters students

In addition to the SC&I graduation, you are invited on Sunday, May 18 to SHI Stadium for the Rutgers University—New Brunswick and Rutgers Health Commencement. Check the University Commencement website for more information about obtaining tickets and parking permits.  This is a celebratory event for all Rutgers-New Brunswick and Rutgers Health students. No individual student names are called.

Doctoral students

In addition to the SC&I ceremony, doctoral students may also participate in the School of Graduate Studies ceremony on Wednesday, May 14.  And you are invited on Sunday, May 18 to SHI Stadium for the Rutgers University—New Brunswick and Rutgers Health Commencement. Check the University Commencement website for more information about obtaining tickets and parking permits.  This is a celebratory event for all Rutgers-New Brunswick and Rutgers Health students. No individual student names are called.

TELL US YOUR PLANS

Please let us know what you plan to do after you graduate!

January 2025 graduates survey

May 2025 graduates survey

August/October graduates survey - link coming soon!

RUTGERS ONLINE SERVICES YOU CAN USE AFTER YOU GRADUATE

Visit the OIT page to find out which Rutgers services you can use as an alumnus/alumna.