Photo frames
Show off your #TCNJ2023 graduate status with photo frames to use on social media! Download these transparent PNG images in multiple sizes.
» Download Zip (5.3 MB) (includes all 16 frames)
Photo backgrounds
Share your Lions Pride with these virtual backgrounds for Zoom or other video-conferencing apps. They’re available in 16×9 orientation.
» Download Zip (9.5 MB) (includes all 20 backgrounds)
Print-at-home signs
Let everyone know there’s a TCNJ grad in the house! Download and print these PDF signs (8.5”x11”). They can also be converted to transparent PNG files.
» Download Zip (1.4 MB) (includes all four signs)
Parking
Graduates and their guests should follow campus signage and directions from Campus Police to designated parking areas.
Accessibility
Guests in need of accessible seating can be dropped off at Trenton Hall, where drivers will transport them via golf carts to Lions Stadium. Graduates may complete the Accessible Seating Form to request guest tickets to the accessible seating area. Questions? Call 609.771.2588 or email Dixita Malatesta.
Commencement Livestream Schedule
Prelude Concerto
TCNJ Wind Ensemble and Concert Band, Eric M. Laprade, Conductor
TCNJ Chorale, John P. Leonard, Conductor
Academic Processional
TCNJ Wind Ensemble and Concert Band
Call to Order
Susanne Svizeny ’79, Chair, Board of Trustees
Grand Marshal
Matthew Bender, Professor of History and Faculty Senate President
National Anthem
Brianna Carson, Class of 2020, Accompanied by the TCNJ Wind Ensemble
Welcome
Kathryn A. Foster, President
Faculty Greetings
Michael P. Marino, Professor of History
Graduating Class Greetings
Justin Lewbel, President, Class of 2020
Presentation of Class Gift
Louis Ferrara, Vice President of Public Relations, Class of 2020
Trevor Baldwin, Treasurer, Class of 2020
Presentation of Class Gift
Lianna Doley, Vice President of Operations, Class of 2020
Sabrina Mazahreh, Secretary, Class of 2020
Peter Simons, ’98, President, Alumni Association
Musical Interlude
The Road Home by Stephen Paulus
TCNJ Chorale, Rachael Alyse Watson, Class of 2020, Soloist
Presentation of Candidate for Honorary Degree
Kathryn A. Foster, President
Presentation of Candidates for Baccalaureate Degrees
William W. Keep, Interim Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs
School of the Arts and Communication
Maurice Hall, Dean
School of Business
Bozena Leven, Interim Dean
School of Education
Suzanne McCotter, Dean
School of Engineering
Steven Schreiner, Dean
School of Humanities and Social Sciences
Jane L. Wong, Dean
School of Nursing, Health, and Exercise Science
Carole Kenner, Dean
School of Science
Jeffrey Osborn, Dean
Conferring of Baccalaureate Degrees
Kathryn A. Foster, President
Presentation of Candidates for Graduate Degrees
Tim Clydesdale, Vice Provost and Dean of Graduate Studies
Conferring of Graduate Degrees
Kathryn A. Foster, President
Alma Mater
Monica Alvarado, Class of 2020; Angelina Francese, Class of 2020;
Maura McFadden, Class of 2020;
Accompanied by the TCNJ Wind Ensemble and Concert Band
Academic Recessional
TCNJ Wind Ensemble and Concert Band
Parking
Ample free parking is available throughout campus on both May 21 and 22.
Campus Police will direct guests to designated parking areas. Mobility-impaired guests may be dropped off at either the Trenton Hall Circle or the Green Lane entry to Lot #13 (Decker Garage). Golf carts are available to transport these guests to desired campus locations.
Accessibility
Accessible seating and parking is available.
Reserved, ground-level seating (including sightline to the sign language interpreter) is available during the commencement convocation. One guest from the same party may accompany the person requiring accessible seating.
Please contact Conference and Event Services at 609.771.2361 for accessible seating reservations. Contact your graduate’s academic department for accessible seating at the academic ceremony. Please fill out this form for accessible seating reservations.
If you need a sign language interpreter at an academic ceremony, please contact Disability Support Services at 609.771.3199 at least two weeks prior to commencement convocation.
Wheelchairs can be rented from the following vendors:
- Delcrest Medical Supplies 609.586.1679
- Monroe Medical Supplies 609.395.7500
Golf carts are available to transport mobility-impaired guests to desired campus locations.
Guest Parking
Campus Police will direct guests to designated parking areas. Mobility-impaired guests may be dropped off at either the Trenton Hall Circle (see map) or the Green Lane entry to Lot #13 (Decker Garage). Golf carts are available to transport these guests to desired campus locations.
Only vehicles bearing state-issued handicapped license plates and/or window placards will be permitted to park in the designated special-needs parking areas (Lots 4 and 14).
Please advise your guests that walking distances between the main ceremony and the departmental ceremonies may be considerable.
Traffic will be heavy; plan on extra travel and parking time.
Signing for the Hearing Impaired
The commencement convocation will have a sign language interpreter. Reserved seating with a sight line to the sign language interpreter can be arranged for the main ceremony in Lions Stadium.
If you require a sign language interpreter at departmental ceremony, please make this request through Disability Support Services.
Disability Support Services
Phone: 609.771.3199
Fax: 609.637.5107
Attention: Meghan Sooy, director
Email: dss@tcnj.edu
TCNJ Bookstore
Find all of your graduation needs in one place at the TCNJ Bookstore in Campus Town.
- Pick up caps and gowns at the Graduation Fair, held April 20–21, 2020, from 11 a.m.–4 p.m.
- Order your college rings.
- Order alumni gear and gifts.
- Pre-order flowers to pick up on Commencement Day.
Departmental Ceremonies
See times and locations below.
Day 1
Thursday, May 23, 2019
8:30 a.m.–10:30 a.m.
Business, School of
Recreation Center
9–10:30 a.m.
Biology
Kendall Hall Main Stage
Chemistry
Brower Student Center, Room 225
Educational Administration and Secondary Education
Education Building, Room 212
Music
Mildred and Ernest E. Mayo Concert Hall
Philosophy
Gitenstein Library Auditorium
Political Science and International Studies
Brower Student Center, Room 100
Noon – 1:30 p.m
Art and Art History
Mildred and Ernest E. Mayo Concert Hall
Career and Community Studies
Education Building, Room 212
Computer Science
Decker Hall
English
Recreation Center
Regional Training Center
Brower Student Center, Room 100
Sociology and Anthropology
Brower Student Center, Room 225
Special Education, Language, and Literacy
Kendall Hall Main Stage
World Languages and Culture
Gitenstein Library Auditorium
Day 2
Friday, May 24, 2019
9 – 10:30 a.m.
Communication Studies
Brower Student Center, Room 100
Counselor Education
Brower Student Center, Room 225
Criminology
Mildred and Ernest E. Mayo Concert Hall
Nursing
Kendall Hall Main Stage
Physics
Education Building, Room 212
Psychology
Recreation Center
Women’s, Gender, and Sexuality Studies
Gitenstein Library Auditorium
Noon – 1:30 p.m
African American Studies
Gitenstein Library Auditorium
Engineering and iSTEM, graduate
Recreation Center
Health and Exercise Science
Brower Student Center, Room 100
History
Mildred and Ernest E. Mayo Concert Hall
Journalism and Professional Writing
Education Building, Room 212
Mathematics and Statistics
Kendall Hall Main Stage
2 p.m
ROTC
Trenton Hall, Room 106
3 – 4:30 p.m
Elementary and Early Childhood Education
Recreation Center
Interactive Multimedia
Brower Student Center, Room 225
Public Health
Mildred and Ernest E. Mayo Concert Hall
Self-Designed Major
Education Building, Room 212
For more information about your departmental/school ceremony, please contact your school’s dean’s office or department office. The telephone numbers for schools and departments can be found in the Important Phone Numbers section.
Info for Graduates
Applying for Graduation
Graduates must have applied for graduation via PAWS by February 20, 2020. If you have questions or would like to register, please call Records and Registration at 609.771.2141
Academic Regalia/Caps and Gowns
Academic regalia is required for degree candidates. Caps and gowns must be picked up at the Graduation Fair at the TCNJ Bookstore in Campus Town, held April 20–21, 2020, from 11 a.m.–4 p.m. Graduates may keep their regalia.
NOTE: Special cords, ribbons, and pins are not provided with regalia. Students should contact their honor society or other organization regarding any special honors regalia.
Diplomas
During academic ceremonies, graduates will receive a diploma cover, but not their actual diploma. Graduates will receive diplomas by mail approximately six to eight weeks after commencement and should confirm with Records and Registration prior to commencement that their address on file is accurate. Any outstanding financial obligations (e.g., parking tickets, library fines, student loan exit interviews, etc.) will prevent graduates from receiving diplomas or transcripts.
Important Numbers
General Commencement Info and Special-needs Seating Reservations, Conference and Event Services: 609.771.2361
Campus Services
| Office/Service | Phone | |
|---|---|---|
| Disability Support Services | 609.771.3199 | sooym@tcnj.edu |
| Records and Registration—Undergraduate Students | 609.771.3241 | winfield@tcnj.edu |
| Records and Registration—Graduate Students | 609.771.2830 | balle@tcnj.edu |
| Student Accounts | 609.771.2172 | stuaccts@tcnj.edu |
| Student Financial Assistance | 609.771.2211 | osfa@tcnj.edu |
| TCNJ Bookstore (Cap and gown information) | 609.359.5056 | bkstore@tcnj.edu |
Schools and Departments
| School/Department | Phone |
|---|---|
| School of the Arts and Communication | 609.771.2278 |
| Art and Art History | 609.771.2652 |
| Communication Studies | 609.771.2107 |
| Interactive Multimedia | 609.771.2173 |
| Journalism and Professional Writing | 609.771.2895 |
| Music | 609.771.2551 |
| School of Business | 609.771.3064 |
| School of Humanities and Social Sciences | 609.771.3434 |
| African American Studies | 609.771.2138 |
| Criminology | 609.771.2442 |
| English | 609.771.2298 |
| History | 609.771.2341 |
| International Studies | 609.771.2472 |
| World Languages and Cultures | 609.771.2235 |
| Philosophy and Religion | 609.771.2438 |
| Political Science | 609.771.2472 |
| Psychology | 609.771.2485 |
| Sociology | 609.771.2670 |
| Women’s, Gender, and Sexuality Studies | 609.771.2539 |
| School of Education | 609.771.2100 |
| Early Childhood Education | 609.771.2252 |
| Education of the Deaf and Hard of Hearing | 609.771.2308 |
| Elementary Education | 609.771.2252 |
| Special Education, Language, and Literacy | 609.771.2308 |
| Secondary Education and Educational Administration | 609.771.2395 |
| School of Engineering | 609.771.2538 |
| School of Nursing, Health and Exercise Science | 609.771.2591 |
| Health and Exercise Science | 609.771.3034 |
| Nursing and Public Health | 609.771.2591 |
| School of Science | 609.771.2724 |
| Biology | 609.771.2371 |
| Chemistry | 609.771.2434 |
| Computer Science | 609.771.2268 |
| Mathematics and Statistics | 609.771.2269 |
| Physics | 609.771.2569 |
| Career and Community Studies | 609.771.3342 |
| Graduate Studies | 609.771.2300 |
| TCNJ Army ROTC | 609.771.3169 |
Commencement Convocation
The commencement convocation in Lions Stadium is an outdoor event featuring an academic procession; remarks by President Foster, the senior class president, and a faculty speaker chosen by the senior class; and the collective conferral of degrees. The event typically lasts about an hour.
NOTE: Graduates’ names are not announced during the outdoor event. Please see the Academic Ceremonies section of this site.
Guest seating is available in the stadium bleachers and on the field level. Tickets are not required, and there is no limit to the number of guests permitted to attend this outdoor event. Accessible seating is available.
To participate in commencement activities, students must have applied for graduation through Records and Registration. If your student has not applied, please encourage him or her to contact that office.
Brick Campaign
There’s still time to pave the way to excellence by purchasing a brick in Alumni Grove!
As a member of TCNJ’s family, you are invited to leave a lasting and unchanging legacy of your own by personalizing a brick in Alumni Grove. Bricks are available in 4×8 inch and 8×8 inch sizes and are priced at $150 and $350, respectively. Each brick order includes a free mini brick replica.
Brick orders placed by March 9 will be installed in Alumni Grove prior to commencement. The accompanying mini brick replicas will be available for pickup both days of commencement from 9:30 a.m.–1 p.m. on Quimby’s Prairie.
Visit tcnj.edu/brick to order your brick.
Class of 2020 graduates, parents, and family receive 15 percent off until June 30!
Academic Regalia
Academic regalia is required for degree candidates. Caps and gowns must be picked up at the Graduation Fair at the TCNJ Bookstore in Campus Town, held April 20-21, 2020, from 11 a.m.–4 p.m. Graduates may keep their regalia.
NOTE: Special cords, ribbons, and pins are not provided with regalia. Students should contact their honor society or other organization regarding any special honors regalia.
Severe Weather
In the event of severe weather, the outdoor commencement convocation will not be held. In lieu of the convocation, prerecorded video of the president and other speakers may be incorporated into the academic ceremonies—which will take place regardless of the weather. These recordings also will be available on the TCNJ website.
Severe weather notifications will be shared via announcements on the following TCNJ platforms:
Simulcast Locations
Live simulcasts of the main ceremony will be available in the following indoor locations on campus:
- Kendall Hall Main Stage
- Mayo Concert Hall, Music Building
- Brower Student Center, Room 100
- Recreation Center
Webcast/Social Media
A live webcast of the commencement convocation will begin at 11:30 a.m. and can be accessed via a link on the commencement website and at tcnj.edu. Guests can also be a part of the social media action by using #TCNJ20. Guests may view a live simulcast of the commencement convocation in various indoor locations on campus.
Commencement Receptions
A reception on Quimby’s Prairie will begin at 9:45 a.m. on both Thursday and Friday and will offer complimentary food and drinks throughout the day. All are welcome.
Main Ceremony
The main ceremony in Lions Stadium is an outdoor event featuring a full academic processional, remarks by President Foster, the commencement faculty speaker chosen by the senior class, and the conferral of degrees.
Gates to Lions Stadium open at 2 p.m. on Thursday, May 23, 2019. Guests are encouraged to be seated by 2:45 p.m. The ceremony lasts about one hour with the academic procession beginning at 3 p.m.
NOTE: Graduates’ names are not announced at the main ceremony. Names are announced at your graduate’s departmental or school ceremony.
Guest seating is available in the stadium bleachers and on the field level. Tickets are not required and there is no limit to the number of guests permitted to attend this outdoor ceremony.
View the main ceremony stadium diagram
The commencement main ceremony can be viewed live, via Webcast, beginning at 2:30 p.m. on the day of the event. A link to the Webcast will be posted on www.tcnj.edu. Guests can be a part of the action on social media by using #TCNJ19.
Live simulcasts of the main ceremony will also be available in the following indoor locations on campus.
- Kendall Hall Main Stage
- Mayo Concert Hall, Music Building
- Brower Student Center, Room 100
- Recreation Center
Accommodations are available for guests that need accessible seating. More information can be found in the Accessibility section.
The main ceremony will take place rain or shine. In the event of severe weather (lightning), guests will be advised to follow the severe weather scenario.
*Severe Weather
In the event of potentially dangerous weather, i.e. lightning, Thursday’s main ceremony will be moved indoors to the Recreation Center and follow the schedule outlined in the severe weather scenario.
Tickets are required for admission to the main ceremony if the severe weather scenario is in effect.
Academic Ceremonies
While the commencement convocation is a wonderful TCNJ tradition, things get personal at the academic ceremonies: You’ll hear your graduate’s name announced and he or she will receive a diploma cover. You’ll have a chance to hear from and meet faculty and other students who worked closely alongside your graduate over the past several years, helping to shape their memorable TCNJ experience.
Locations accommodate up to five guests per graduate, and tickets are not required. For more information, please contact the individual department. This special ceremony will take place regardless of the weather.