What is SCILS Convocation?
It is a graduation ceremony for SCILS undergraduate and graduate students who have received, or are receiving, their degrees in October 2007, January 2008, and May 2008. If you are a SCILS student graduating in this academic year, please join us! We will call your name and you will walk across the stage and be congratulated for your achievement.
When and where is it held?
The convocation will take place on Tuesday, May 20, 2008, from 5:00 to 6:45pm at the College Avenue Gym. A reception for graduates and guests, sponsored by the SCILS Alumni Association, will be held in the Gym Annex immediately following the ceremony.
Who may participate in convocation?
All undergraduate students with a Communication, ITI, or Journalism and Media Studies major, and all graduate students in the MCIS, MLIS, and Ph.D. programs who have graduation dates in this academic year (October, January, May) may participate by RSVPing in advance (see below). Note that participation in the convocation should not be construed as verification of graduation; that must be done through regular academic channels.
Can I participate in May if I am going to finish my coursework during the summer?
If you are either (1) an undergraduate who will have completed ALL of your SCILS requirements AND are within 6 credits of completing your graduation requirements at the end of May, or (2) a graduate student and you are within six credits of completing all of your requirements for graduation at the end of May, then you may arrange to participate in the SCILS Convocation by contacting Associate Dean Karen Novick at knovick@rutgers.edu by the end of April.
Please note that if you participate in convocation but are not actually graduating from Rutgers by May, your name will not appear in the program booklet and you will not receive a diploma, but you may walk in the processional and have your name called and walk across the stage.
Do I have to let anyone know if I plan to come?
Yes, you should RSVP to us if you plan to attend. We need an accurate count of the number of students who will be attending in order to arrange for seating of graduates. If you’re not sure that you will be able to attend, we would prefer that you RSVP that you will be attending since it is better for us to plan for sufficient seating in advance than to try add seats at the last minute. You may:
Visit the SCILS Student Services Office (Room 214) in person between March 24th and May 9th to RSVP and pick up your invitations.
Call any of our Student Services staff to RSVP: 732-932-7500 – undergraduates use x8100 or x8150 and graduate students use x8200 or x8270. If you want to have us mail you two souvenir invitations, send a self-addressed, stamped envelop to SCILS Convocation, Rutgers SCILS, 4 Huntington Street, New Brunswick, NJ 08901-1071
Do I need a ticket to attend the ceremony?
You do not need a ticket for yourself to attend convocation.
How many guests can I bring? Do my guests need tickets?
We do not limit the number of guests you can bring to the ceremony and your guests do not need tickets since the Gym has enough seats to accommodate our expected guests. But you will want to give your guests driving and parking information and a souvenir invitation. You may pick up two souvenir convocation invitations and information about parking and directions for your guests when you RSVP to the SCILS Student Services Office. Your guests should plan to be seated by 4:45pm. Once the processional begins at 5:00pm, guests will not be admitted to downstairs seating until the processional is concluded. If you want to print the driving and parking directions for your guests, click here.
What if I cannot come in to pick up my invitations? Will you mail them to me?
If you are unable to come to the SCILS Student Services Office to RSVP and pick up your souvenir invitations and guest information, you may send a stamped, self-addressed envelope to us and we will mail the items to you. If you don't want us to fold the invitation, the envelope should be large enough to accommodate a 4.5" x 6.25" card. We can only mail you the invitations if you send a self-addressed, stamped envelope, we cannot accept requests over the phone. Mail your envelope to: SCILS Convocation, Rutgers SCILS, 4 Huntington Street, New Brunswick, NJ 08901-1071. Or, if you just want the directions for yourself and your guests and don't care about the invitations, click here for instructions for your guests and and click here for instructions for yourself.
Where should I go when I get to the Gym?
Graduates should report to the GYM Annex no later than 4:00pm. When you get to the Gym, check in at the table along the back wall of the Annex and we will give you a Name Card to fill out, which you will take up to the stage to hand to the reader so your name can be called when you walk across the stage. You will line up alphabetically in the Gym Annex with all the other graduates from your program. There will be plenty of signs and people who can direct you to the right place. Click here for a printable version of instructions for the ceremony.
If I am receiving a departmental award, do I have to sit in a special place?
Students receiving departmental awards will be seated with your fellow graduates in alphabetical order. When awards are announced, your name will be called and you will be asked to stand in place. Actual awards will be distributed at a separate Awards Ceremony which will be held in the afternoon of May 20th. If you are receiving a departmental award, you will receive information about the Awards Ceremony separately.
Will I receive special recognition for achieving departmental honors?
Students receiving departmental honors will have an asterisk next to their name in the convocation program and we will give you a special SCILS Honors pin when you come to the Gym for convocation. Pins should be worn on the right side of your graduation gown.
Should I wear my cap and gown to SCILS convocation?
Yes, if you can you should wear your cap and gown for the convocation ceremony. However, if you do not have regalia (cap and gown), you may still participate in the ceremony.
How do I get a cap and gown?
Students can purchase regalia (caps, gowns, hoods, tassels) from the Rutgers Bookstore beginning April 7th. You can call and order by phone as well as purchase in person. (http://www.rutgers850.bkstr.com/ | Phone: 800-240-6240)
Pricing for a complete set of regalia: bachelor's sets are $49 or $59, master's sets are $59, and doctoral sets are $69.
Are special accommodations available for disabled students or guests?
Yes, but please contact Associate Dean Karen Novick as early as possible at knovick@rutgers.edu or 932-7500 x8261 to arrange for guests and students in wheelchairs or who need other special accommodations. We will make every effort to seat your entire guest group together, but can only arrange this if we know in advance of your needs.
Will I receive my diploma at SCILS Convocation?
Only Master’s degree candidates will receive their diplomas at SCILS Convocation. Bachelor’s degree candidates will receive diplomas at your four-year undergraduate college commencements, and Ph.D. candidates will receive diplomas at University Commencement. At the SCILS convocation, students receiving departmental awards will be recognized, and all students will be called up on stage, by name, to shake hands with the Dean and receive a graduation gift from SCILS.
What about my undergraduate college's convocation and university convocation?
For details about these events, please check http://commencement.rutgers.edu
If I need additional information about the convocation, what should I do?
If you have a question that is not answered in this FAQ, please contact the SCILS Student Services Office.
Congratulations! See you on May 20th!
