Rutgers Commencement Exercises

Rutgers’ 242nd anniversary commencement is scheduled to begin – rain or shine – at 1:30 p.m. Wednesday, May 21, on historic Voorhees Mall in the heart of the College Avenue Campus in New Brunswick.

University President Richard L. McCormick officially will confer all graduate and undergraduate degrees on an estimated 10,852 graduates (approximately 7,168 receiving baccalaureate degrees and 3,684 receiving masters and doctorates) and offer greetings and congratulations to the graduates and their families during the colorful event. Candidates for doctoral degrees from the Graduate School-New Brunswick (GS-NB), the Graduate School of Applied and Professional Psychology (GSAPP), the Graduate School of Education and Mason Gross School of the Arts, as well as master’s candidates from the GS-NB and GSAPP, will cross the platform. Representative graduates from all degree-granting units will be present.

Broadcast journalist Gwen Ifill, moderator and managing editor of Public Broadcasting Service’s Washington Week, will be the main speaker. She also will receive an honorary Doctor of Letters degree. Ifill will be joined by student speaker Melanie A. Spero, a biotechnology major graduating from the School of Environmental and Biological Sciences. The East Granby, Conn., resident is the fourth graduating senior to speak at the universitywide commencement since Rutgers became The State University of New Jersey in 1956.

Along with Ifill, others receiving honorary degrees during commencement are: William F. Baker, president emeritus of Thirteen/WNET, the flagship station of PBS (Doctor of Humane Letters), and Ivy F. Matsepe-Casaburri, the Republic of South Africa’s minister of communications (Doctor of Laws). Wolf Singer, a renowned neuroscientist, director of the Max Planck Institute for Brain Research, and founding director of the Frankfurt Institute for Advanced Studies (Doctor of Science), and Arthur F. Ryan, chair and recently retired chief executive officer of Prudential Financial Inc. (Doctor of Laws) will receive their honorary degrees in Newark.

Individual collegiate convocations begin Sunday, May 18 and will be held through Friday, May 23. Check Commencement-at-a-Glance for speakers, times and locations for these events.

INFORMATION FOR THE MEDIA

Work Space: Reserved media seating on May 21 (commencement) and May 22 (Rutgers College convocation at 1:15 p.m.) will be available to the left of the platform party (facing the platform) in front of Murray Hall. A multbox will be available. Bring appropriate cables.

Representatives from Rutgers’ Office of Media Relations will have media kits and sign-in sheets at commencement and the Rutgers College convocation, and will be present throughout the ceremonies. Reporters, photographers and videographers may not access the platform at any time.

During the Rutgers College convocation, videographers will be required to take a pool feed once the ceremony begins. You are urged to arrive early for B-roll opportunities.

At the universitywide commencement and the Rutgers College convocation, press representatives also can watch the ceremonies via a TV hookup in Room 204 of Murray Hall. You will be unable to view the platform party directly because a canopy is erected to keep participants dry in case of rain. A sign-in sheet and press kits will be available. Reporters will be able to access Murray Hall via the front entrance.

Limited reserved media parking will be available in Lot 16 on George Street between Hamilton Street and Seminary Place, a short walk to Voorhees Mall. Show credentials to parking personnel or members of the Rutgers Police.