INFORMATION FOR
William Paterson University will celebrate the accomplishments of the Class of 2020 with a series of 11 smaller in-person outdoor ceremonies to be held on Wightman Field on campus from August 10 through 12. All students who completed their requirements for bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral degrees in January 2020, May 2020, and August 2020 have been invited to attend.
The ceremonies will give graduates the opportunity to cross the stage and be recognized by family and friends for their achievements.
Ceremonies will be held on Monday, August 10 at 9 a.m., 11:30 a.m., 3:30 p.m., and 6 p.m.; Tuesday, August 11 at 9 a.m., 11:30 a.m., 3:30 p.m., and 6 p.m., and Wednesday, August 12 at 9 a.m., 3:30 p.m., and 6 p.m. Ceremonies will be held rain or shine. In the case of severe weather, postponed ceremonies will be rescheduled for August 13.
For a list of colleges and majors to be recognized at each ceremony, click here.
To comply with the state regulation limiting outdoor graduation ceremonies to 500 people, each in-person ceremony will be limited to 150 graduates and two guests per graduate. Graduates have been assigned to their ceremony based on the University’s five colleges, their majors, and degree level.
Each ceremony will be approximately one hour in length and will include the student processional, the presentation of the graduates (students will be individually recognized as their names are called, they cross the stage, collect a diploma cover, and take photographs), the conferral of the degrees, and the recessional. Each ceremony will be livestreamed online so friends and family can watch remotely as well.
Graduates will be seated six feet apart on Wightman Field, with guests seated in the the bleachers. All graduates, their guests, and University staff will be required to follow social distancing requirements and wear a face covering. Sanitation stations will be available at entrances to Wightman Field.
The University also held a Virtual Commencement ceremony for all graduates on May 26, 2020.
For additional details on the upcoming in-person-ceremonies, or to access the virtual ceremony, visit wpunj.edu/commencement.
