What to Expect at the Honors College Scholars Convocation
Congratulations, Honors graduates!
Your hard work has paid off.
Celebrate your achievement at the Honors College Scholars Convocation for the Class of 2026.* At this much-anticipated ceremony for all Honors students who have completed their requirements, you will be celebrated as an "Honors College Scholar with Distinction" or an "Honors College Scholars."
* Graduation events are two-part: Convocation and Commencement. Convocation honors and recognizes the individual graduates and the honors earned from the Honors College. The 260th Anniversary Commencement celebrates all members of the Class of 2026 from Rutgers–New Brunswick and Rutgers Health at one event. It is at Commencement where President Tate confers the degrees. Learn more about the 260th Anniversary Commencement.
HC Scholar Experience—Spring Semester
Ceremony Program
We look forward to celebrating you as Honors College Scholars at our upcoming convocation.
◊ Opening ◊
J.D. Bowers, PhD
Dean, Honors College, Rutgers University–New Brunswick
◊ Welcome ◊
Jason Geary, PhD
Provost and Executive Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs, Rutgers University–New Brunswick
◊ Honors College Scholars Presenters ◊
This information is forthcoming.
◊ Convocation Address ◊
Jeremy Lewan
Meteorologist for WNEP-TV in central and northeastern Pennsylvania, Honors College and School of Environmental and Biological Sciences alumnus—Class of 2022
◊ Presentation of the Honors College Stole and Medal ◊
Please hold your applause until all names have been read.
◊ Readers ◊
Krista Klein, PhD
Associate Dean, Honors College, Rutgers University–New Brunswick
Andrea Rydel, PhD
Assistant Dean, Honors College, Rutgers University–New Brunswick
◊ Induction Into the Honors College Alumni Society ◊
Honors College Traditions Student Leaders
This information is forthcoming.
◊ Closing ◊
J.D. Bowers, PhD
Dean, Honors College, Rutgers University–New Brunswick
Come Prepared
Honors College Scholars
- All Honors College Scholars MUST complete the mandatory Honors College Senior Exit Survey as well as the Rutgers Center for Career Exploration and Success Exit Survey by Monday, April 20, 11:59pm, to participate in the Honors College Convocation. Complete the surveys now, if you haven't already.
- Registration for the Convocation ceremony is required! *See Registration Section below and RSVP by Thursday, April 23. Note: No tickets will be issued for you or your guests, but you must register yourself to participate in the ceremony.
- Register your vehicle for the event parking. *See more in the Parking Section below.
- Come dressed in your academic regalia (your cap and gown), which is required for participation in the Scholars Convocation—no exceptions.
- Wear comfortable shoes as you’ll be walking and standing for a long duration, including in the grass. You’ll want to be comfortable!
- Fill out the Special Accommodations section when registering for the event if you or your guests require any accommodations, including special-needs parking, seating, alternate viewing options, and traveling on campus. People requesting parking accommodation will need to have handicapped signage on their vehicles. *See Event Accessibility section below.
- Check out the HC Scholar Experience webpage to learn all you need to celebrate your upcoming graduation and prepare for life as alumni.
Scholars' Guests
- No tickets are required for the Honors College Convocation.
- Guests may enter Antilles Field starting at 2:30 PM. Please note that seating is first-come, first-served; overflow will be directed to the surrounding open lawn spaces where lawn chairs are welcome.
- Please allow at least 30 minutes to park and walk. *See more in the Parking Section below for details and how to register your car ahead of the event.
IN THE EVENT OF INCLEMENT WEATHER, WE WILL MOVE THE CEREMONY INSIDE AND NO GUESTS WILL BE PERMITTED TO JOIN DUE TO SPACE CONSTRAINTS. We will evaluate the weather for Convocation day on Thursday, April 30. If the predication calls for inclement weather, we will move the ceremony in advance into Voorhees Chapel, adjacent to Antilles Field on Douglass Campus. As noted, if we must move inside, no guests will be permitted to join.
However, the event will be live-streamed, rain or shine, and accessible from the Honors College website (more below).
Event Registration
RSVP IS REQUIRED FOR THIS EVENT.
Each Honors College Scholar must register to participate in the Honors College Convocation. No tickets will be issued.
NOTE: The RSVP form is provided via Rutgers Qualtrics platform. You will need to log in with your RUID in order to fill out the RSVP.
NOTE: Honors College Scholars who are unable to attend the Countdown to Graduation Coffeehouse on Thursday, April 30, or Convocation on Sunday, May 3, will be able to pick up their postcards to themselves from their first-year induction (HC legacy students only) as well as their stoles and medals (for Scholars with Distinction) at the front desk of the Honors College main office in the East Wing at 5 Seminary Place during these times:
Monday, May 4–Friday, May 8
Monday, 8:30–11:00am
Tuesday, 8:30am–1:30pm
Wednesday, 8:30am–4:30pm
Thursday, 8:30–11:30am and 1:00-3:30pm
Friday, 9:00–11:30am and 1:30-4:30pm
Scholars' Arrival and Procession
- All graduates should plan to arrive at College Hall Parking Lot 705, near Antilles Field on the Douglass Campus no later than 2:30 PM to allow time to find your place in the procession area. (Remember that guests may arrive to Antilles Field starting at 2:30 PM)
- The ceremony begins promptly at 4:00 PM with the student procession.
- In the procession area, line up with your classmates.
- If you want to sit with friends, be sure they are standing in front of or behind you.
- Plan to process in a dignified, single file line, with some formality.
Smile as you process – you’re on camera! Follow the instructions of the Scholars Convocation Ambassadors as you walk to your designated seating area on the field.
Event Parking
View each location above to get directions. You can also zoom in on the parking map provided to you on this page or visit the main Rutgers Map to identify where these parking lots are located in advance of your arrival.
Before arriving at the event and parking, guests must register a vehicle to be able to park at the available locations, otherwise guests may receive a citation.
Guests must enter an email address (at the registration link page above) where they will receive a confirmation. Until this process is completed the guest vehicles are not registered and your guests may receive a citation. Special Event parking does not include metered parking or allow free parking to faculty, staff, or students. Rutgers affiliated Faculty, Staff and Students must have a Rutgers parking permit (Semester, Daily, or Event) and park accordingly. Faculty, Staff, and Students parking without a parking permit or outside their parking permit assignment will be subjected to ticketing and/or towing.
Photography
Rutgers has partnered with Pro Pics to take professional portraits of all graduates during the ceremony. Photos will be available for purchase after the ceremony. There is no cost to have your photo taken and no obligation to purchase. If you would like to receive your photo proofs, please go to www.RutgersPhotos.com to submit your information. If you have any questions regarding photos, please contact Pro Pics at support@propicsusa.com.
All students are encouraged to share their memories from the Convocation on social media. You can tag us in your posts @ruhonorscollnb. We may share your posts online after the event.
Livestreaming of the Event
Please be aware that this event will be livestreamed by Rutgers iTV and may be viewed online for your convenience.
This live stream will be available on the page below. Please share this with your family and friends who are unable to attend the event in person.
The ceremony and live stream will begin at 4:00 PM EDT on Sunday, May 3, 2026.
Event Accessibility
Rutgers University strives for our campus experiences to be universally designed and useable by all people to the extent possible. If you require an accommodation to participate in this event, please fill out the Special Accommodations section on the registration form.
People requesting parking accommodation will be required to have handicap signage on their vehicles.
Rutgers University complies with all applicable federal and state laws regarding non-discrimination, equal opportunity, affirmative action, and providing reasonable accommodations for persons with disabilities.