2019 Commencement Timeline

Declaration of Candidacy

You must file with the Office of Enrollment Services to notify the University that you intend to graduate in May 2019. The application is located in WebAdvisor under Academic Profile. Click on the link: Application for Graduation. You will be notified by the Records Department if you meet degree requirements, shortly after you declare.

A graduation application fee will be billed to your account and it will be noted in WebAdvisor on your student bill.

Deadline

The deadline to file for the May Commencement Ceremony has been extended to March 22, 2019. If you have not yet declared to graduate, you must do so by March 22 in order to be eligible to pick up regalia and important documents for Commencement.

IMPORTANT: Active Student Status

You must be an Active student in order to log onto WebAdvisor and apply for graduation. If you are not an Active Student, please contact the Office of Enrollment Services for your campus in order to be re-admitted and become an Active Student or for additional information. For students that missed two or more major semesters (FA/SP) you must visit the Admissions Office in order to be re-admitted.

Special handling for Executive MBA Programs

The application is not available for students seeking degrees in the Executive MBA Programs; therefore, you must meet with your advisor to discuss graduation and obtain an approval form when it is time to apply for graduation.

Graduate Admissions Open Houses

From March through Graduation Day and even beyond, graduating seniors are invited to attend Graduate Information Sessions and review the many opportunities for graduate degree studies at all four campuses of FDU.

Establish Eligibility to Graduate

All accounts must be paid in full before a diploma will be released to you. If you have any questions regarding your account, contact the Office of Enrollment Services at 201-692-2206 (Metro Campus) and 973-443-8608 (Florham Campus). Hours of operation for both campuses: 9 AM to 5 PM. For Campus Bookstore accounts, contact the accounting manager at 201-692-2093 (Metro), or 973-514-1644 (Florham Campus).

Senior Portraits (Metropolitan Campus)

Senior Portraits will be taken from Monday, April 1, 2019 to Friday, April 5, 2019 from  12 PM to 7 PM; appointments only, in the Metro Annex which is located on the lower level, Student Union Building. Portraits will also be taken on April 10, the day of Graduation Salute in Riverside Cafe, located in Alumni Hall, from 10 AM to 5 PM. Appointments must be made prior to this date. Walk-ins will not be accepted. To set up an appointment go to: www.lorsstudio.com/schedule. There is a $15.00 sitting fee that is due on the day of your appointment, cash or check only.

Senior Portraits (Florham Campus)

Senior Portraits will be on the following dates in the Florham Room of the Student Center: April 22 and 23, 2019 from 11:00 AM to 7:00 PM, and May 2 and 3, 2019 from 11:00 AM to 7:00 PM. GradImages will be taking cap and gown portrait photos. You will receive a passport-sized color proof image in the mail approximately 10 days after the event. A link to your digital proofs will also be e-mailed to you 5 days following the portrait session. There is no obligation to purchase. Portrait sessions may be scheduled by phone at 800-261-2576, or online at: GradImages. Walk-ins are also welcome.

Class Gift and FDU Philanthropy

Graduating students who make a Class Gift of $20.19 or more will get a special FDU Philanthropy Cord to wear during Commencement, and will be recognized during the ceremony. Make your gift online at or before the Graduation Salute event for your campus. Florham Campus graduates can donate online at https://support.fdu.edu. Metropolitan Campus graduates can donate online athttps://support.fdu.edu.

Graduation Salute 2019

At the Graduation Salute event on each campus, students will have the opportunity to pick up their caps, gowns, hoods, and announcements, have graduate portraits taken, purchase class rings and degree frames and enjoy free snacks. The Graduation Salute dates are:

During Graduation Salute students can videotape a ‘Grad Greetings’ from 10 AM to 6 PM (Metropolitan campus) and 11 AM to 7 PM (Florham Campus). The ‘Greetings’ will appear on the stadium screens at MetLife Stadium for family and friends to view while the students’ line up for procession. (See last year's Grad Greetings video online.)

Note: Students in Online Programs please contact the Office of Online Programs if you have questions about graduation preparations.

Student Loan Exit Interviews

Students who have received student loans are required to attend an exit interview. For more information on the interview and schedule, contact the Student Loan Repayment Office at 201-692-2083.

Alternative Dates to Pick Up Regalia and Announcements

We encourage all students to attend the “Graduation Salute” Program, but if a candidate for graduation cannot attend the “Graduation Salute”, then the student can pick up academic regalia along with the commencement announcements at their campus bookstore on the following dates and regular business hours:

Academic Regalia and Announcements can be mailed to you for a fee. Please contact the bookstore at 201-692-2093 (Metro) or 973-514-1644 (Florham). There will be no further distribution of regalia after dates shown above.

Webcast Planning

For family or friends who will not be able to attend the Commencement event, the event will be webcast at https://commencement.fdu.edu. The page will show a countdown screen so that visitors can confirm their ability to view the event online.

Graduation Day

All participants in the May 21 University Commencement at MetLife Stadium in the Meadowlands must be at the stadium by 8 AM to line up by college and degree. Because of stadium parking reconfiguration and traffic lane construction you should allow 45 minutes to an hour of extra time. Family and friends of the graduates should also allow for the extra travel time. Follow signs to the line-up area and line up by college. Participants are asked to remain in place once the line has been formed.

All guests should immediately proceed to stadium seating areas and be seated by 9 AM. No family or guests are permitted in the graduates' line-up area.

The Procession of Graduates and the University Commencement Ceremony begins at 9 AM.

Diplomas

We are excited to announce a new partnership with Parchment. This partnership ensures that each of you will receive a high-definition, digital copy of your diploma in addition to the paper copy by mail.  Once your diploma is processed you will receive an email notification from Parchment letting you know your digital diploma is ready.