Graduation
Information is being updated and added frequently
Rutgers School of Public Health Convocation
Convocation is the Rutgers School of Public Health’s annual graduation ceremony. All graduates from the Class of 2025 are invited to join us in person at the State Theater New Jersey in New Brunswick, New Jersey, on Tuesday, May 20, 2025.
During this special ceremony, graduates will hear their name called, walk across the stage in front of their invited guests, and have their photo taken by a professional photographer. All Rutgers School of Public Health graduates from the Class of 2025 (October 2024, January 2025 and expected May 2025) are eligible to attend.
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Date: Tuesday, May 20, 2025
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Arrive by: 1:30 p.m.
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Ceremony Start Time: 3:30 p.m. – 5:30 p.m. Doors open for guests at 3:00 p.m.
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Location: State Theater New Jersey (15 Livingston Ave, New Brunswick, NJ 08901)
Graduating students are required to complete the 2025 Rutgers School of Public Health Convocation Registration to attend the 2025 Convocation! Be sure to submit your registration by Friday, March 28, 2025. If you have any questions, please contact studentaffairs@sph.rutgers.edu.
Please be reminded that this event is taking place to celebrate the culmination of our students’ hard work and earned degrees. It is a momentous event for our many graduates and their guests, activities that disrupt the ceremony will not be tolerated.
Attire/Regalia
Class of 2025 graduates who plan to participate in the school’s Convocation and/or university Commencement must wear academic regalia, which needs to be purchased from Oak Hall. Those in the Armed Forces must also wear academic regalia - military uniforms may be worn underneath academic gowns.
Graduates can purchase regalia from Oak Hall here.
Below are the deadlines to order regalia from Oak Hall:
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Last day to order online (ship-to-home): March 28, 2025
- Regalia will be available at Barnes and Noble starting April 4, 2025, while supplies last. Barnes and Noble is not guaranteed to have Rutgers School of Public Health regalia available for purchase. It is recommended that graduates order regalia from Oak Hall by the deadlines noted above.
Graduates who do not purchase their regalia from Oak Hall by the deadline acknowledge that they will not receive regalia from Rutgers University and will be required to purchase their own regalia for the 2025 Convocation and/or university Commencement. Rutgers University and the Rutgers School of Public Health are not responsible for finding appropriate alternatives. Students who do not have regalia will not be able to participate in Convocation or Commencement.
Tickets (Required)
Tickets are required.
Graduates must complete the "2025 Rutgers School of Public Health Convocation Registration" in order to receive their tickets. Graduates can receive up to five tickets for their guests (graduates do not need a ticket for themselves). All children, regardless of age, require a ticket to attend.
Additional tickets may be requested via the "2025 Rutgers School of Public Health Convocation Registration." Please note additional tickets are not guaranteed. If additional tickets are available, graduates requesting additional tickets will be contacted by the Office for Student Experiences & Alumni Affairs starting April 15, 2025.
Graduation Application
Students who anticipate completing their degree program in the current graduation year must complete a Graduation Application. The due dates for the application are as follows for each semester:
- Graduating at the end of Summer semester?
Application due August 1 and degree will be dated October 1. - Graduating at the end of Fall semester?
Application due November 1 and degree will be dated January 20. - Graduating at the end of Spring semester?
Application due February 15 and degree will be dated May 18.
Graduate Exit Survey
The Rutgers School of Public Health Graduate Exit Survey provides you an opportunity to reflect on your experience as a student and let us know how you feel the degree you obtained here has prepared you for your future professional and academic career.
Your responses for this survey will be anonymous, but you will have an option to complete a follow-up non-anonymous component to inform us how you would like to remain engaged with the School as an alumnus and enter for a chance to win one of three exclusive Rutgers School of Public Health swag bundles!
Convocation FAQ
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When participating in Convocation, you may prefer to keep your personal belongings to a minimum, as you’ll need to carry them when walking across the stage and being recognized. We recommend only bringing the essentials, like your phone, keys, wallet, medication, and anything you may need during your time at State Theater New Jersey and the two-hour ceremony.
State Theatre Event Policy
All bags will be checked by security upon arrival at the front doors. Guests will be directed to coat check any item not permitted in the theater for a nominal fee. Guests are welcome to return items to their cars.
Items that will need to be coat checked include:
- Oversized bags
- Strollers
- Outside food and drinks, except for milk or formula for infants
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Street, meter, and municipal parking is available near the venue with Morris and Church Street Deck being the closest. You can see municipal parking lot and deck options here and street parking options here. Please note: there are no Rutgers sponsored or managed parking lots near the State Theater New Jersey, so graduates and guests must plan ahead and identify their own parking options.
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Guests who require accessible seating should contact studentaffairs@sph.rutgers.edu. Upon entry, guests will be greeted by staff ushers who can direct guests to the accessible seating areas. Limited accessible parking is available and can also be arranged by contacting studentaffairs@sph.rutgers.edu.
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Tickets are required.
Graduates must complete the "2025 Rutgers School of Public Health Convocation Registration" in order to receive their tickets. Graduates can receive up to five tickets for their guests (graduates do not need a ticket for themselves). All children, regardless of age, require a ticket to attend.
Additional tickets may be requested via the "2025 Rutgers School of Public Health Convocation Registration." Please note additional tickets are not guaranteed. If additional tickets are available, graduates requesting additional tickets will be contacted by the Office for Student Experiences & Alumni Affairs starting April 15, 2025.
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Contact the Office for Student Experiences and Alumni Affairs: studentaffairs@sph.rutgers.edu
Commencement and Other Events
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Join the Rutgers University’s 259th Anniversary Commencement (aka Rutgers University – New Brunswick and Rutgers Health Commencement) on Sunday, May 18, 2025, at SHI Stadium in Piscataway, New Jersey. President Jonathan Holloway will address the degree candidates and guests and confer degrees. The Rutgers University - New Brunswick and Rutgers Health Commencement is only open to the Class of 2025 (October 2024, January 2025, May 2025). We encourage people to attend and represent our school and students. Those participating in the Commencement ceremony will need to wear academic regalia (see above, “attire”).
TICKETS ARE REQUIRED for Commencement. Commencement tickets are separate from Rutgers School of Public Health's Convocation tickets, and neither grants access to the other. Graduates should visit the Rutgers University Commencement page for ticketing details and attendance information.
Members of the Rutgers Community, please be reminded that this University event is taking place to celebrate the culmination of our students’ hard work and earned degrees. It is a momentous event for our many graduates and their guests, activities that disrupt the ceremony will not be tolerated.
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SAVE THE DATES
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Rainbow Graduation - Wednesday, May 7th, 2025
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Rites of Passage - Wednesday, May 14th, 2025
Information about Rainbow Graduation, Rites of Passage, and other celebrations and ceremonies (open to all graduating students) are available at this link: https://commencement.rutgers.edu/celebrations.
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Commencement is the Rutgers University-wide graduation ceremony. Convocation is the Rutgers School of Public Health’s own graduation ceremony, where graduates are individually recognized for their achievements.