Message for Degree Candidates

Dear Degree Candidate:

It is my understanding that you will soon receive your degree from Monmouth University. Congratulations! This is a major accomplishment in your life and the culmination of many years of hard work. I hope you are considering participating in Commencement, and I would like to share some important information with you.

The University will hold a winter commencement to formally recognize our students who have completed their degree requirements during the Fall 2023 semester. Commencement will be held on campus in the OceanFirst Bank Center on Friday, January 12, 2024, at 1 p.m. If necessary, Saturday, January 13, has been reserved as a snow date. Admission to the OceanFirst Bank Center will be by paper ticket only. Considering the number of graduates and the seating capacity of the OceanFirst Bank Center, each graduate will receive six (6) tickets for their guests. Graduates do not need a ticket. Those without tickets may view the ceremony via livestream (link to be provided at a later date). Please note there is no fee to participate in Commencement.

Students participating in the ceremony must satisfy all obligations to the University prior to January 12, 2024. This includes the return of all equipment, books, and materials belonging to the University and the fulfillment of all financial obligations, such as tuition and fees, parking tickets, fines, and library fines. If you feel you have anything outstanding in any of these areas, please contact each office directly. A complete telephone directory is available on our website.

Finally, we realize that Commencement Day is an important occasion for you and your family. It is also an important day for the University to publicly acknowledge and affirm your achievement. Because of this, each graduate is individually recognized at the stage during the conferral of degrees. As you can appreciate, this is a lengthy but extremely important part of our ceremony. If you choose to participate in Commencement, you are expected to remain until the conclusion of the ceremony. This is a courtesy we ask our graduates to extend to one another. Attached you will find the Commencement Decorum document.

Information regarding ordering your cap and gown and receiving your tickets will be sent at a later time. This information will also be posted on the Commencement website. Please continue to check your student email for more information.

I hope this information is helpful and you will be able to join us on January 12. Please do not hesitate to contact my office (732-571-3417) with any questions you may have.

Sincerely,

Jim Pillar
Vice President for Student Life

Commencement Decorum

The Commencement Ceremony is a dignified academic event that recognizes the achievements of our graduates and honorees. Students who choose to participate in Commencement are asked to observe the following guidelines.

• Graduates must return to the seating area after receiving their degrees. Out of respect for all students being recognized, participants are required to remain for the entire ceremony. The conferral of degrees is an important part of our program, and it is imperative that consideration be extended until the final student receives his/her degree. If you choose to participate, you are expected to remain until the recessional. 

• All cell phones and electronic devices must be turned off for the duration of the ceremony. 

• Noise-making devices are prohibited, as are any objects that would detract from the formality of the event.

• Applause should be held until all students have received their degrees. Names will be read quickly, and it is important that every name is heard.

The points listed above are meant to ensure that our graduates and guests have the most enjoyable day possible. 

Honor Cords

Please note: If you are a baccalaureate degree recipient graduating with Honors (cumulative GPA 3.50 or higher with at least 53 MU credits) please pick up your honor cord at the check-in table the day of commencement.

Honors Designations:

• Cum Laude: 3.50 – 3.64
• Magna Cum Laude: 3.65 – 3.84
• Summa Cum Laude: 3.85 – 4.00

Honor society and non-academic honor cords will be distributed by the advisor for each of the relevant organizations. If you are currently a member of such an organization, you should contact your advisor to determine if and when honor cords will be distributed to the graduating members.

Graduate students are not eligible for honor cords unless provided by their specific academic discipline’s honor society.

Color Representation

The colors you will see in the hoods of our faculty represent the various fields in which the degrees were taken:

• Apricot – Nursing
• Brown – Fine Arts
• Citron – Social Work
• Crimson – Journalism
• Dark Blue – Philosophy
• Golden Yellow – Science
• Green – Medicine
• Lemon-Yellow – Library Science
• Light Blue – Education
• Orange – Engineering
• Pink – Music
• Purple – Law
• Sage Green – Physical Education
• Salmon Pink – Public Health
• Scarlet – Theology
• Yellow-Brown: Commerce, Business, Accounting
• White – Arts, Letters, Humanities