Commencement 2023

Congratulations to all Rutgers University-Newark students and guest participating in the 2023 in-person Commencement ceremonies!

Ceremony Dates and Locations

Tuesday, May 16

Rutgers University-Newark Commencement

Prudential Center at 9am

Click here to watch the live stream now!

Click here to view the Commencement Program Flip Book

Graduating students of the following schools are welcome to participate:

School of Arts and Sciences-Newark (College of Arts and Sciences and University College)

Rutgers Business School-Newark undergraduates

School of Criminal Justice

School of Public Affairs and Administration (undergraduate and graduate).

Graduate School Newark

PRUDENTIAL CENTER GENERAL INFORMATION

Prudential doors open at 8:00am for students and 8:15am for guests.

The Prudential Center is an accessible facility that can accommodate guests with physical challenges. Please visit https://www.prucenter.com/ada-guide for details. Commencement staff will be available to provide assistance. We strongly suggest your family arrive early and park at the Prudential Center. There are a number of independently owned parking lots across the street. Doors will open for guests between 8:15am - 8:30am

GENERAL ADMISSION:

Please note that all seating for this event is on a first-come, first-served basis.

ENTRY POLICY:

Please allow time for security checks - allow at least 45 minutes to go through security.

Mask use is permitted based on fan preference by those who choose to do so, but there are no requirements for mask usage or proof of vaccination. These protocols are subject to change, based on updated guidance from applicable authorities or updated federal, state or local laws.

BAG POLICY:

Bags up to 12"x14" are permitted inside Prudential Center. Anything larger are not permitted, with the exception of childcare or medical bags. Backpacks and drawstring bags are not permitted, regardless of size. Permissible larger bags will be X-rayed. All bags are subject to search by Prudential Center security team members at each point of entry. Bags that do not meet these expectations must be returned to the guest’s vehicle or stored in a Prudential Center supplied locker at the guest’s expense. Lockers are located outside the M&M's Tower and Lafayette Street entrances.

FOOD & BEVERAGE

Learn more about our arena food and beverage concessions and locations here:

https://www.prucenter.com/concessions

PRUDENTIAL CENTER IS NOW A CASH-FREE VENUE:

Cash will NOT be accepted at concession stands, retail locations or the Box Office. Pay with a debit or credit card using tap to pay, chip or swipe, or mobile payment, including Apple Pay and Google Pay. For guests needing to convert cash to a card, our Reverse ATM kiosks with $0 transactional fees* are available by sections 1, 14, 125 and inside the Box Office Lobby. * Use of Reverse ATM services are subject to ReadyCARD Visa Prepaid Card Terms & Conditions, provided at each Reverse ATM kiosk location.

Monday, May 15

Graduate School-Newark Doctoral and MFA Hooding Ceremony

Paul Robeson Campus Center at 3pm.

Graduating students of the MFA and Ph.D. programs are welcome to participate.

Thursday, May 18

Rutgers Business School MBA Graduation

NJPAC at 5pm

Graduating students of the MBA and all specialty master’s programs are welcome to participate.

Friday, May 19

Rutgers Law School Commencement,

NJPAC at 10am

Graduating students of the Law School are welcome to participate.

Contact Information

Contact your academic advisor or the email listed below should you have questions about your graduation and/or ceremony participation status.

Graduation Rings

Graduation rings can be purchased through Balfour. Visit https://www.balfour.com/newark-rutgers to look at the rings and make a purchase. If you have any questions you may call the Customer Service Department at (800-225-3687) or email CollegeRings@Balfour.com.

Graduation Portraits

Graduation portraits can be taken by Island Photography; an email with login has been sent to graduating students that have applied for graduation with their academic units. Please check your spam folder in case it’s not in your inbox. You can also try contacting Island Photography directly at (516) 767-1234 or email at custserv@islandphoto.com to schedule an appointment.

Currently, there is not a yearbook for the graduating class of 2023. This means you can take portraits at the studio of your preference.

Student Speaker

Undergraduate graduating students interested in applying to be the 2023 Commencement Student Speaker can apply via this link.

Deadline to apply: Friday, March 31, 2023

Application link

1. March 28, 2023: Deadline to order for Bookstore pick up
2. Regalia packages will be distributed at the Rutgers University-Newark B&N Bookstore on Halsey Street May 2nd – May 12, 2023
3. When ordering please provide an updated home mailing address in the event the pandemic situation requires that caps/gowns be shipped directly to your home.
4. March 28, 2023: Deadline to order for ship to home. (S&H fee applies)
5. Ship to home packages are estimated to arrive in approximately 3 weeks barring no fulfillment, distribution, or delivery interruptions by shipp ing carriers. (Note: all items will be shipped to the home address you provide at checkout.)
6. RU-N Graduates Order link: https://rutgersnewark1.shopoakhalli.com
7. RU-N Business School MASTERS Graduate Order Link: TBD
Can be found here: https://prucenter.com/safety.
The only exceptions are soft sided clutches/purses/wallets under 4” x 7” with a shoulder strap or wrist strap attached, and medical or childcare bags under 12” x 16” x 6”. Patrons with exceptions should enter at the Ford Tower or the Lafayette Street entrance and expect to have their bags X-rayed. Bags that do not meet these expectations must be returned to the guest’s vehicle or stored in a Prudential Center supplied locker at the guest's expense. Lockers are located outside the Ford Tower and Lafayette Street entrances.
Can be found here: njpac.org/visit/covid-health-and-safety.

Please check back for updates.

Parking

Graduating students and their guests will be able to park in either Rutgers-Newark parking decks for free or at other locations for a fee:

See "Prudential Parking" for Tuesday, May 16, 2023 ceremony
See "NJPAC Parking" for Thursday, May 18, 2023 RBS and MBA Graduation, and for the Friday, May 19, 2023, Law School Commencement ceremonies.

Free commencement parking for all graduates and their guests all day long for all ceremonies (Undergraduate, Graduate and Law) will be available in the following Rutgers-Newark parking decks:
- Deck 2: 166 Washington Street, Newark, NJ
- Deck 3: 180 Washington Street, Newark, NJ (next to Deck 2)
- Deck 4: 130 Washington Street, Newark, NJ
Interactive Map for Parking at Rutgers University-Newark

**Eagle West Lot | 120 Orange St., Newark, NJ | will be available for the Rutgers Business School MBA Graduation on Thursday May 18, 2023. Once you park in any of the above parking decks, you can walk to either Prudential (May 16) or NJPAC (May 19) OR feel free to use our commencement shuttle services that will take you to your location.
Getting to Prudential Center

Rutgers University-Newark will be providing shuttle services to Prudential Center on Tuesday, May 16. Please note that our guests have the option to walk to their destinations or park at any of the independently owned parking lots near the Prudential Center for a fee set but the lot operators.

Rutgers University - Newark Commencement (SASN, SCJ, SPAA, RBS-UG, GSN)

Complimentary shuttles to and from the Prudential Center will run continuously from 7 a.m. until 2 p.m.

Departure boarding to the Prudential Center will be located at Decks 2, 3, and 4 (parking is complimentary on campus).

Guests traveling from the Prudential Center back to campus should board at the corner of Lafayette and Broad Streets.

Shuttles are ADA accessible.
- Deck 2: 166 Washington Street, Newark, NJ
- Deck 3: 180 Washington Street, Newark, NJ (next to Deck 2)
- Deck 4: 130 Washington Street, Newark, NJ
We strongly suggest planning ahead and arriving early since there will be the usual morning traffic across the city of Newark. The ceremony will begin at 9 a.m. SHARP.

Special Notes for RBS MBA Graduation Ceremony
1. Eagle West Lot | 120 Orange St., Newark, NJ | will also be available for the Rutgers Business School MBA Graduation on May 18.
2. Guests with special needs should be dropped off near the entrance of NJPAC at or soon after 9:30am. NJPAC ushers will direct ticketed guests and their families with special needs to a designated location. Only the person(s) accompanying that guest when they enter NJPAC will be seated together.
Rutgers University - Newark Commencement (SASN, SCJ, SPAA, RBS-Undergraduate, GSN)

In addition to RU-N parking, the above graduates and their families can park in or near the Prudential Center. It is highly advised that guests use public transportation on commencement day.

Parking in and Around Prudential Center
Rutgers Business School MBA Graduation

In addition to RU-N parking, the above graduates and their families can park at NJPAC. We found that in previous years many students chose to park there for the convenience of their guests. Look for Parking Lots A and C, adjacent east of the building. Each of these lots contain special parking locations for handicapped patrons.

Special Notes for RBS MBA Graduation Ceremony:
1. Eagle West Lot | 120 Orange St., Newark, NJ | will also be available for the Rutgers Business School Graduate Convocation on May 18.
2. Guests with special needs should be dropped off near the entrance of NJPAC at or soon after 9:30am. NJPAC ushers will direct ticketed guests and their families with special needs to a designated location. Only the person(s) accompanying that guest when they enter NJPAC will be seated together.
Parking at NJPAC

School of Law Commencement Friday, May 19, 2023

In addition to RU-N parking, the above graduates and their families can park at NJPAC. We found that in previous years many students chose to park there for the convenience of their guests. Look for Parking Lots A and C, adjacent east of the building. Each of these lots contain special parking locations for handicapped patrons.

Parking at NJPAC

Special Accommodations

For students and guests in need of special accommodations, we ask that you please reach out to the appropriate contacts below. We want to ensure you that every reasonable effort will be made to arrange accommodations in an effective and timely manner.

The Paul Robeson Campus Center is an accessible facility that can accommodate guests with physical challenges. Graduate School staff will be available to provide assistance. For questions related to disability accessibility, please contact Sandy Reyes at sandy123@newark.rutgers.edu or 973-353-5834
Special Accommodations for Prudential Center- The Prudential Center is an accessible facility that can accommodate guests with physical challenges. Please visit https://www.prucenter.com/ada-guide for details. Commencement staff will be available to provide assistance. For questions related to disability accessibility, please contact Lorren Whitaker lw553@newark.rutgers.edu or 973-353-5375.
1. NJPAC offers ADA seating in every tier should your guests require it. If you will have a guest with a disability that requires a special seating arrangement, contact Miriam Alverez at miriama@business.rutgers.edu for more information.
2. NJPAC parking lots contain special parking locations for handicapped patrons.
3. Guests with special needs should be dropped off near the entrance of NJPAC at or soon after 9:30pm. NJPAC ushers will direct ticketed guests and their families with special needs to a designated location. Only the person(s) accompanying that guest when they enter NJPAC will be seated together.
1. NJPAC offers ADA seating in every tier should your guests require it. If you will have a guest with a disability that requires a special seating arrangement, contact Gail Brown at gail.brown@law.rutgers.edu for more information.
2. NJPAC parking lots contain special parking locations for handicapped patrons.