Lawrenceville 2022 Commencement

Rider does not have a ceremony rehearsal.  On Commencement day, students should plan to arrive on campus at least one hour prior to the start of the Commencement.  Please use the Campus Map for parking needs, photo opportunities and guests needs.   Graduating students do not need a ticket for entrance into the gym.  Please do not bring pocketbooks or bags as they should not be carried in the procession and there is not a place to keep personal belongings during the ceremony.

Please refer to the Alumni Gym Map, enter either at the Alumni Gym or SRC and proceed to the SRC Courts to check-in for Commencement.  You will receive a pre-printed information "reader" card that includes your name and honors - do not lose this card!  You will need to hand this to the faculty member or administrator reading names before you walk across the stage to be recognized.

The SRC is a good place to make arrangements to meet with faculty, friends and family before and after the ceremony.  There will be college backdrops for photo opportunities.

You may walk around the Alumni Gym and SRC Courts until 30 minutes before your ceremony procession start time.  At that time you should report to SRC Court 1 find the designated line area for your college, dress in academic attire and line up for the procession.  Marshals will assist you with your academic attire, guide you along the procession route and to your seat. Graduates will be seated with their college or school in the Alumni Gym. You do not need to sit in alphabetical order.

After the ceremony you will follow your Marshal back to the SRC Lobby area where you checked in.  Please arrange to meet faculty, family and friends there.

Campus is Open!

Campus Reception

All graduates and their guests are invited to a lite reception in the Bart Luedeke’s Cavalla Room from 4 p.m. to 5 p.m. 

Photo Opportunities

The campus will be open for photo opportunities and this is a nice way to share your college experience with your family and guests. Touch the Rider Rock to as a symbolic end to your academic journey, take a selfie with Andrew J. Rider’s statue on the BLC Plaza, and gather for a group photo with your friends on the Rider berm or by the Main Entrance sign. 

Campus Offerings

The University Bookstore will be open as well as and Starbucks.  Flowers and Commencement shirts will also be available for purchase while on Rider’s Campus.

Rider does not have a ceremony rehearsal.  On Commencement day, students should plan to arrive at the arena at least one hour before the start of the procession. Graduating students do not need a ticket for entrance into the arena.  Effective January 1, the Cure Insurance Arena has a strict No Bag Policy.  Please do not bring pocketbooks or bags as they should not be carried in the procession and there is not a place to keep personal belongings during the ceremony. 

Please refer to the arena map, enter at the gate indicated for your college and report to the Concourse Level to the designated check-in table for your college.  You will receive a pre-printed information "reader" card that includes your name and honors - do not lose this card!  You will need to hand this to the faculty member or administrator reading names before you walk across the stage to be recognized.

The Concourse Level gate designated for your college is a good place to make arrangements to meet with faculty, friends and family before and after the ceremony.  There will be college backdrops for photo opportunities.

The arena concession stand will be open for graduate and guests enjoyment.

You may walk around the arena until 30 minutes before your ceremony procession start time.  At that time you should report to the Lower Level and find the designated line area for your college, dress in academic attire and line up for the procession.  Marshals will assist you with your academic attire, guide you along the procession route and to your seat. Graduates will be seated with their college or school on the arena floor. You do not need to sit in alphabetical order.

After the ceremony you will follow your Marshal back to the Gate area where you checked in.  Please arrange to meet faculty, family and friends there.

Campus is Open!

Campus Reception

All graduates and their guests are invited to a lite reception in the Bart Luedeke’s Cavalla Room from 10 a.m. to Noon. 

Photo Opportunities

The campus will be open for photo opportunities and this is a nice way to share your college experience with your family and guests. Touch the Rider Rock to as a symbolic end to your academic journey, take a selfie with Andrew J. Rider’s statue on the BLC Plaza, and gather for a group photo with your friends on the Rider berm or by the Main Entrance sign. 

Campus Offerings

The University Bookstore will be open as well as and Starbucks.  Flowers and Commencement shirts will also be available for purchase while on Rider’s Campus.

Shuttle Service

Don’t forget to take advantage of the shuttle service between Rider University and the Cure Insurance Arena.  Shuttles will start running from Rider’s Campus in front of the BLC to the Cure Insurance Arena from 12:30 p.m. to 5 p.m. 

Please note there are important differences between graduation and commencement with which you should be familiar.

Graduation is a three-step process consisting of submitting an Application for Graduation form, completing all academic requirements for your degree, and settling all financial obligations.

Commencement refers to the ceremony where you share the excitement and importance of your academic accomplishments with peers, family, and friends. It is also a time for the University, Board of Trustees, senior administrators, and faculty to pay special tribute to you for the outstanding efforts you have shown in earning your degree.

Rider students graduating in December 2021, January 2022, May 2022, and August 2022 are invited to participate in the May 2022 ceremony. The ceremony features remarks from the President, guest speakers, and the calling of your name, upon which you will proceed across the stage.  The undergraduate ceremony typically last no more than 3 hours.  The graduate ceremony last approximately 1.5 hours.  Graduates and guests are asked to remain for the entire ceremony.

Cap and Gown Distribution

Academic attire will be distributed prior to the May ceremonies beginning April 26, 2022 at Senior Send-Off from 11 a.m. - 7 p.m. the the Cavalla Room of the BLC.

Cap and gown distribution will continue in the University Bookstore after April 26.  All cap and gown packages must be picked up by the day of your assigned Commencement.

The university provides graduates with a souvenir black gown and cap, along with a hood in the appropriate color to designate school, and a tassel, at no cost. Honor society and student organization stoles or cords are distributed by their respective advisers. 

The ceremony will be live streamed on the day of Commencement for any family or friends that are unable to attend the event in person.

Ticketing will be electronic this year.  Graduates will be able to secure tickets for Commencement at the end of April, beginning with cap and gown pickup.

• Students participating in the graduate ceremony taking place on Thursday, May 12 in the Alumni Gym will receive 4 tickets each.  Parking passes will not be necessary for the graduate ceremony.
• Students participating in the undergraduate ceremony taking place on Saturday, May 14 at the Cure Arena will receive 6 tickets each.  Each graduate will also receive two parking passes, distributed during Senior Send-Off.  Parking passes can be picked up from the University Bookstore in the BLC after Senior Send-Off until May 13.

Anyone attending as a guest will require a ticket to enter. Tickets and parking passes will be made available in the weeks approaching and/or at Senior Send-Off on April 26.  

Live video streaming of the event will be available on the Rider web site.

Commencement Candidate Lists

Students can verify that their degree application has been submitted by checking the Commencement candidates list which will posted on the Commencement Candidates page in early 2022.  The lists are updated daily as degree applications are submitted. Students should check that their name is spelled correctly. How it appears on the list will be as it appears on your diploma. Any changes should be reported to the Registrar's Office at (609) 896-5065. If you are not listed and feel you should be, please contact your dean’s office directly.

Diplomas and Transcripts

Diplomas are not distributed during the Commencement ceremony. Your actual diploma will be mailed to you 4-6 weeks after clearance from the Registrar and Dean for your specified degree conferral date (December 2021, January 2022, May 2022, or August 2022). If you would like a copy of your transcript, please request it through the Registrar's Office.  Information and the Transcript Request Form can be found on the Registrar's Office website.  Diplomas and transcripts indicate academic honors based upon the cumulative grade point average achieved at the end of the senior year.

Since the onset of COVID-19 Rider University has been working diligently to minimize the risk of spreading the disease. For a detailed accounting of these steps please visit Rider’s Resolved and Ready page.  

Additional questions regarding Commencement and COVID can be answered here.

Are masks required to participate in or attend the Commencement ceremonies?
Currently, masks are not required for the May 12 Lawrenceville graduate ceremony in Alumni Gym nor the May 14 Lawrenceville undergraduate ceremony at Cure Arena.  Graduates and attendees are certainly welcome to wear masks if they so choose. We will provide an update should circumstances require a change to this requirement prior to the ceremonies.  

Does Rider require proof of vaccination or a negative COVID-19 test to participate in or attend Commencement?
Currently, Rider is not requiring proof of vaccination nor a negative COVID-19 test to participate in or attend either the May 12 or May 14 ceremonies.  We will provide an update should circumstances require a change prior to the ceremonies.  

What if I am symptomatic, have been identified as a close contact of someone who is COVID-19 positive or am myself COVID-19 positive just prior to the ceremonies?
As per the language that you will be required to agree to in order to secure tickets for the ceremonies, you may not participate in or attend a ceremony if you are symptomatic, have been identified as a close contact of someone who is positive or you, yourself, are COVID-19 positive within 14 days of the ceremony.  We appreciate everyone’s cooperation in that regard in order to minimize the spread of the virus.

The ceremonies will be presented live via Rider’s website for those who are unable to attend in-person. The link to the live stream will be posted the week of Commencement.

What precautions is Rider taking to help minimize the spread of the virus at the ceremonies?
Graduates and participants are asked not to attend the ceremonies if they are symptomatic or have been identified as a close contact of a COVID-19 positive individual or they, themselves, are COVID-19 positive within 14 days of the ceremony.  

Graduate Ceremony

The graduate Commencement ceremony will take place in Alumni Gym located on Rider University’s campus.  

Campus will be open on Commencement day for photographs.  Graduates and their guests are invited to a reception serving lite fare from 4 - 5 p.m in the Cavalla Room.

Undergraduate Ceremony

The undergraduate Commencement ceremony will be held at the CURE Insurance Arena Center, located at 81 Hamilton Ave, Trenton, NJ.  The air conditioned arena offers comfortable seating and easily accessible parking. The arena is fully compliant with all ADA accessibility guidelines. Arena maps indicating graduate gathering and seating areas will be posted to this website in early 2022.  Tickets will be required for entrance to the ceremony and will be provided in advance to graduates.  Seating is general admission, all seating is on a first-come, first-served basis.

Campus will be open on Commencement day for photographs.  Graduates and their guests are invited to a reception serving lite fare from 10 a.m. - noon in the Cavalla Room.

Special Needs Accommodations, Parking and Seating

Accommodations are available for graduates and guests who require parking or seating due to a disability or special need. Please contact [email protected] if you require special needs accommodations.

Commencement Announcements and Class Rings

Personalized Commencement Announcements and Class Ring may be ordered online through the Balfour website. Generic Commencement announcements are available for purchase in the University Store. Diploma frames and other Rider merchandise are available at the University Store or may be ordered online in advance. Please contact the University Store directly at 609-896-5121 for more information.

Bouquets of roses may be pre-ordered or purchased on Commencement Day from Commencement Flowers. Pre-orders will be available for pick up at the ceremony location. It is recommended that you pre-order through Commencement Flowers website.

Academic Honors and Academic Attire

Rider University recognizes exceptional academic achievement at Commencement. Qualifications for academic honors at Commencement are based upon the student's academic average at the end of the first term of the senior year (December 2021 for May 2022 Commencement). Honors, as noted in the Commencement program and by tassel color, are awarded as follows:

Undergraduate (white tassel)

• Summa Cum Laude: academic average 3.75 - 4.00
• Magna Cum Laude: academic average 3.50 - 3.74
• Cum Laude: academic average 3.25 - 3.49

Graduate (cranberry tassel)

• With Distinction: academic average above 3.85