Montclair State University

Apply Now

Student Toolbox
CHSS Convocation

The College of Humanities and Social Sciences Convocation Ceremony

Saturday, May 17, 2008
Amphitheater (Next to Kasser Theater) 2:00 p.m.; check-in 11:30 a.m.
(Bachelor degree recipients and candidates)

Congratulations on your upcoming or recent graduation from the College of Humanities and Social Sciences at Montclair State University.  Please join us as we recognize and celebrate your achievement at our Annual College Convocation

The College of Humanities and Social Sciences will host a Graduation Convocation Ceremony on May 17, 2008 at 2 p.m.  While the University Commencement on May 23 signifies the official conferral of degrees, the individual College and School Convocations are pre-commencement ceremonies celebrating students' achievements.   Seating is limited and tickets are required for the Convocations.

Eligibility to Participate in Both Events

Candidates who will complete their degree requirements by May 2008 and who after filing for a final audit are on the May 2008 graduation list are eligible to participate in the Convocation and/or Commencement exercises. Those whose degrees were conferred in August 2007 or January 2008 also are eligible to participate.

If you have questions concerning academic issues relative to your degree, please contact the Office of the Registrar at 973-655-4376. All other questions may be directed to the College of Humanities and Social Sciences/Pat Jackson/973-655-4228

For information on the application for final audit, Certification (Teacher), or if you missed the deadline to file for graduation, please go to http://www.montclair.edu/registrar.

The College of Humanities and Social Sciences Convocation
Please read these instructions carefully

Arrival and Check-in times

Student Reporting Time: 11:30 am (at the portico, Kasser Theater)
Line Up In Place by Department: 12:30 pm – 1:30 pm
Procession: 1:45 pm (Latecomers will not be able to participate)
Ceremony: 2:00 pm

The College of Humanities and Social Sciences Convocation ceremony will be held in the Amphitheater.  The Amphitheater is not covered so guests should dress according to the weather.  In the event of inclement weather, the ceremony may be delayed or postponed to either Tuesday, May 20 or Wednesday, May 21. Please call the MSU weather hotline at 973.655.7810 or log on to http://www.montclair.edu/ for up to the minute weather cancellation information. 

Tickets for the College of Humanities and Social Sciences Convocation will be available beginning April 28, 2008 and can be obtained through Pat Jackson/ 973-655-4228/ DI-401. In order to receive tickets, ALL STUDENTS MUST REGISTER (RSVP ON LINE). Tickets will be distributed in alphabetical order.  For information on obtaining tickets see the information on ticketing below.

Please note that Master's degree candidates are to attend the Graduate Convocation on May 14 only.

Academic Regalia and Attire

Ordering Academic Regalia

  • Caps and gowns may be purchased at the University Bookstore during regular store hours beginning Wednesday, May 7, and continuing through Monday, May 19.   They will be available again from noon to closing beginning Tuesday, May 20 and continuing through Thursday, May 22.   Bachelor's robes are $59. Eligible bachelor degree candidates must purchase their regalia in person and will be required to present a valid student I.D. or driver's license at the time of purchase.   All purchases of academic attire are nonrefundable.
  • Doctoral Candidates participating in the Commencement ceremony should contact Dr. Kim O'Halloran, Associate Dean of the College of Education and Human Services at ohallorank@mail.montclair.edu no later than March 30, 2008, to order their academic attire.

Attire

  • For the Convocation, students will be required to wear the academic robe with stole (no cap).  The cap is worn only at Commencement. 
  • Pocketbooks or other carried articles (including water bottles are not permitted in the procession. Please leave pocketbooks or other items at home, in your car or with a guest. The University is not responsible for lost items you choose to carry.
  • Due to the natural construction of the amphitheater we ask that students wear flat comfortable shoes

Stoles and Hoods

For more information regarding stoles and hoods for Commencement, please visit the Commencement website.

Ticketing

To Request Tickets

  • Seating is limited and tickets are required for the College Convocation.  Students should fill out the Convocation RSVP Form online. The online form will be available beginning Monday, April 21.  Beginning Monday, April 21 and until Sunday, April 27, click on the RSVP <http://montclair.edu/rsvp/> link on this page and follow the instructions. Each student can reserve 3 tickets for guests. As a courtesy to other students, students should request only those tickets that will be used.
  • Because the Amphitheater may not seat all invited guests, students who reserve 3 guest tickets will receive one ticket (a blue ticket) for Kasser Theater.  In Kasser Theater guests can sit comfortably and view the convocation ceremony via a televised simulcast. The remaining 2 tickets will be Amphitheater seating tickets.
  • Tickets will be available for pickup in Dickson Hall, Rm. 401 between April 28-May 8 at the times specified below according to student's last name.  Students must reserve (RSVP) tickets before pickup.   Students will be required to show a valid student ID or driver's license at the time of pickup. Students who do not pick up tickets by the established deadline will forfeit their tickets. Lost or tickets reported stolen cannot be replaced.

A-G 4/28-9:00am-12:00pm, 4/29/08 9:00am-12:00pm, 2:00pm-4:00pm, (ONLY by appointments on 4/28/08 students can pickup tickets 4:30pm-5:30pm)

H-M 5/01/08 – 9:00am-12:00pm, 5/02/08- 9:00am-12:00pm, 2:00pm-4:00pm, (ONLY by appointments on 5/01/08 students can pickup tickets 4:30pm-5:30pm)

N-S 5/05/08 9:00am-12:00pm, 5/06/08 9:00am-12:00pm, 2:00pm-4:00pm, (ONLY by appointments on 5/05/08 students can pickup tickets 4:30pm-5:30pm).          

T-Z 5/08/08 9:00am-12:00pm, 5/09/08 9:00am-12:00pm, 2:00pm-4:00pm, (ONLY by appointments on 5/08/08 students can pickup tickets 4:30pm-5:30pm.

  • Certificates of accomplishment will be given to all Students participating in the College of Humanities and Social Sciences Convocation.  Students who choose not to attend the Convocation Ceremony and would like their certificate mailed to them can email Ms. Jackson their correct address at jacksonp@mail.montclair.edu before April 25, 2008. Once your email is received your name will be taken off the list for receiving tickets and your certificate will be mailed to you.

Check-in

  • CANDIDATES ARE TO REPORT TO CHECK-IN AT 11:30 am
  • Check-in is on the portico in front of Alexander Kasser Theater by the main entrance to the theater. 
  • At check-in, candidates will be given an index card with the student’s name, phonetic spelling and program of study.
  • The number on the index card will indicate the order in which you are to line up by program.
  • College of Humanities and Social Sciences staff will be available for assistance.  Guests are not permitted in the check-in or line-up area.

Line-up

  • Candidates will line up according to their department beginning at 12:30 and no later than 1:30 pm. Latecomers will not be able to participate.
  • College of Humanities and Social Sciences staff will organize and supervise line-up.

Procession/Recession

  • Procession will begin promptly at 1:45 pm. Latecomers will not be able to participate.
  • Candidates will process into the Amphitheater from line-up. Please listen to instructions carefully on the day of the event.

Ceremony

  • The Ceremony is expected to last 1 1⁄2 hours.
  • The Convocation ceremony will begin with a welcoming address by President Susan Cole. A processional of graduating candidates will then be called to the stage (your name will be announced) to be congratulated personally by the Dean, your department chair and faculty.

Photos

  • Due to the physical requirements of the seating area and safety reasons, it will not be possible for family members to take photos during the ceremony. Please plan to take photos with family and/or faculty following the ceremony.

Guest Seating

  • GUESTS WITHOUT TICKETS WILL NOT BE ADMITTED.
  • Entrances to the Amphitheater will be open to guests holding tickets at 12:30 pm. All guests should be seated by 1:30 pm. The Amphitheater entrance will close for 15 minutes at [1:45] pm to accommodate the procession of faculty and candidates, so be sure that your guests arrive prior to that time.
  • Please see photos of the Amphitheater above; ticketed guests may be seated anywhere above the first 3 rows, on either side of the center seating area, where the graduates will be seated.
  • No strollers are allowed in the Amphitheater. (Families bringing strollers will be required to leave strollers in a designated location.)

Special Needs Guest Seating

Seating for disabled persons or persons in wheelchairs, please contact Ms. Jackson@ 973-655-4228/ jacksonp@mail.montclair.edu at least two (2) weeks prior the Convocation day.

Dean's Recognition Award Application

Dean Claire Taub will present two students at the Convocation with a monetary award to recognize his/her high academic standing. To be eligible you must be a graduating student with a 3.9 GPA or better and must attend the CHSS Convocation. If you wish to apply for the Dean's Recognition Award, submit in a maximum of 250 words, a letter containing your GPA, a description of your graduate school or professional plans, your career goals, academic or discipline related achievements you think are outstanding, and any other related activities either at the university or outside MSU you would like to mention. Please email your letter to Carlos Ortiz, ortizc@mail.montclair.edu  by Friday, April 4.

Student Speaker Application

One student will be selected by a committee of faculty and students to speak (3 minute speech) at the Convocation. To be eligible as a student speaker, you must have a minimum grade point average of 3.5, and provide one CHSS faculty member's written endorsement. Send your letter of endorsement to Carlos Ortiz at ortizc@mail.montclair.edu by Friday, April 4. Please also send a letter containing the following information: Your major, overall GPA, GPA in your major, an explanation of a contribution you made to your Department, or to the College of Humanities and Social Sciences and/or show how you have been actively involved in your Department or College community. Also, include in a maximum of 200 words, a description of what you will speak about. Applicants will be judged on their ability to present an interesting and widely appealing topic. Please be aware that in providing a letter of application you are giving permission to other students who may serve on the selection committee to review your materials.

Parking

  • Candidates with surface lot permits may park in those same lots during the Convocation Ceremony.
  • Guests without permits may use the Red Hawk Deck, whose fee schedule may be found on the Parking and Transportation Services web site.
  • There is also FREE parking available at Quarry Lots 18, 19, 20A, 20B, 21, 22, 23, 26 (short walk required to Convocation site - see campus map). Parking in these lots will be allowed without a permit only during the Convocation.
  • Shuttle bus service will run as normal during the day of the Ceremony.

RSVP

(available April 21)


University Commencement

Commencement exercises will take place indoors at the Izod Center (formerly Continental Airlines Arena) within the Meadowlands Sports Complex in East Rutherford, NJ, on Friday, May 23, 2008 beginning at 10:00 a.m. The ceremony will last approximately 90 minutes. Students' names are not read during the ceremony.  Seating is unlimited and tickets are not required for the Commencement Ceremony.