Important Rules & Policies to note:

Regalia:

You will receive an email prior to the commencement date when your graduation regalia (cap and gown) has arrived on Campus. 

You will be responsible for coming to the EIC campus during regular business hours to collect your graduation regalia. Graduation regalia will NOT be brought to the graduation venue (William Patterson University) by the college staff. 

Registration:

Only students who have registered and paid the graduation fee are eligible to attend the commencement ceremony. You will need to check in at the Registration desk upon arrival at the venue, where you will be given instructions on where to go and can pick up your name card.

Tickets:

Each graduate has been allotted three (3) tickets for the commencement ceremony. Only those with tickets will be permitted into the commencement ceremony space. (Note: Children require an entry ticket, regardless of age.)

Tickets will be collected at the door, and stubs will be provided for guests. Guests exiting the ceremony space will be required to show a ticket stub for re-entry.

Attire: 

Graduates are required to wear appropriate attire for the ceremony. Only school-approved honors or professional society stoles or cords may be worn. 
(Honors stoles will be provided to students in accordance with their overall achieved GPA.)

Decorations are prohibited on the academic gown and hood. Decorations should not interfere with attaching the tassel to the cap. Only the flat top of the black cap may be decorated tastefully.  Any cap deemed to be inappropriate may result in the graduate being dismissed from the ceremony. 

Commencement Ceremony Arrival Time:

Graduates must arrive at the venue at least one hour prior to the ceremony’s start time for registration and gowning. 
Students MUST be on site no later than 11 AM.

Entering the Ceremony:

Graduates will be grouped by Program and listed in alphabetical order. Failure to arrive on time may result in your inability to sit with your classmates. The graduates will proceed from the first-floor hall up the stairs and to the commencement ceremony hall, led by the Faculty.

Marshals will lead the lines down the aisles to the graduate sections. Marshals will then direct the graduates to their seats, row by row. Graduates will remain standing throughout the processional and national anthem, which begins the ceremony. 

The Ceremony:

The candidates for degrees will be presented to the President of the College. When it is time for graduates to cross the stage, a staff Marshal will signal each row to stand and come forward. After crossing the stage, graduates must return to their chairs and remain seated throughout the ceremony. After the President confers degrees on all candidates, graduates will change the position of their tassel from the right to the left side of their mortarboard (cap). 

Exiting the Ceremony:

Marshals will escort the honored guests and faculty from the venue first, followed by all graduates. (Graduates must remain seated until the platform party and faculty have exited the room.) AFTER all faculty and graduates have exited the hall, Marshals will signal that guests may exit. **Since there will be many people in attendance, graduates should decide in advance where they will meet their guests after the ceremony. 

Photography: 

Professional photographers will be present at the ceremony to capture this momentous occasion. Additionally, guests are welcome to take photographs during the ceremony, but we kindly ask that they remain seated during the proceedings. 

Diplomas: 

Diplomas will be distributed to graduates following the commencement ceremony day. Students will be notified by email when their diplomas are available for pickup on campus. 

Commencement Ceremony Conduct: 

EIC commencement ceremonies are formal and dignified events. Maintaining decorum and respecting customs enhance the experience for graduates and their guests. Those who choose to participate must respect the rights of others, including EIC staff, fellow participants, and guests. Violations of conduct guidelines may result in delaying the posting of the graduate’s degree.

General Information for Guests:

1. ALL campus guests must produce a ticket for entry, regardless of age. (Separate tickets will be used for the commencement ceremony and pinning ceremonies.) Tickets will be taken at the door, and stubs will be provided for guests. Guests exiting the ceremony space will be required to show their ticket stub for re-entry.

    

2. Guests may enter the ceremony space with flowers or other gifts for the graduates, but the following items are prohibited: balloons, large items that may obstruct the view of others, silly string, beach balls, air horns, or any other similar item that may distract from the ceremony’s dignity. 

3. To honor each graduate properly, the names of all graduates will be called as they cross the stage. We appreciate your patience and understanding as we take the time to recognize each graduate’s hard work and achievements. We expect all guests to stay until all the graduates’ names have been called.

4. Free parking is provided on the William Patterson University campus. 

5. Guests will be allowed to enter the commencement ceremony space any time after 11 AM

6. Guests MUST be in their seats before the academic procession starts and are asked not to block the line of march or obstruct the view of other audience members. 

7. At the end of the ceremony, guests should remain in place until ALL graduates have left the ceremony hall.

We understand that this is a momentous occasion for you and your loved ones, and we are committed to making it a memorable and enjoyable experience.