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Family Info

Since our first Commencement ceremony in 1924, thousands of graduates, their families and friends have gathered on the picturesque University Green to celebrate the achievements of our academic community.

Rowan University’s 2009 Commencement exercises for bachelor’s degree candidates will be held on Friday, May 15, beginning at 10 a.m. on the University Green in front of Bunce Hall. We expect to host more than 10,000 guests on campus throughout the day, so please expect to arrive early and prepare for a busy, yet memorable day.

Please note: Route 322, from Bowe Boulevard to Main Street, will be closed from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Commencement day. Plan to arrive before 9 a.m.

Alternate routes to the Rowan campus

Via US Route 322 West
Please follow posted signs for US Route 322 West and proceed to campus.

Via US Route 322 East
(NJ Turnpike, Commodore Barry Bridge, I-295), please follow signs for 322 East to campus where an officer will most likely direct you to park in Lot A, D or C.

Closing of US Route 322
Route 322 will be closed from the driveway east of the University Bookstore to Main Street. Local traffic will be allowed into businesses and down into the Rowan campus. A detour for the construction of Route 322 and Rowan Boulevard has been installed. The main detours will be set up at the corner of Bowe Boulevard and Route 322, the corner of Bowe Boulevard and Route 47 (Delsea Drive) and Main Street and Route 47 (Delsea Drive). After arriving on the campus, an officer will direct you to park in Lot A, D, C or U.

Via Route 47 (Delsea Drive) North and South
Route 47 southbound will be detoured onto Holly Avenue westbound (Gloucester County Route 624) to Woodbury Avenue/Glassboro Road southbound (County Route 553) to Route 47. Route 47 northbound will be detoured onto Woodbury/Glassboro Road northbound to Holly Avenue eastbound to Route 47. From Route 47, make a left (or right) on Donald Barger Blvd. Follow Barger to Carpenter Street where an officer will direct you to park in one of the North lots (D, C or B).

Via US Route 55 Exit 48 (Least congested route)
From Exit 48, proceed North on Route 641 (Ellis Street) to High Street. Make a left on High and find residential parking on High, Victoria, New, Holly or Oakwood. Posted time restrictions are lifted just for Commencement day. Please be careful not to block driveways and intersections.

Via Route 55 Exit 50A
From Exit 50A, take US Route 322 East to campus where an officer will most likely direct you to park in Lot A, C or D. Please note: this route is the most heavily travelled and traffic congestion and delays can be significant.

Via US Route 55 Exit 53
From Exit 53, follow Route 553 South (Woodbury-Glassboro Road) through Pitman to Route 47 (Delsea Drive). Make a right onto Delsea. At the first traffic light make a right on Donald Barger Blvd. Follow Barger to Carpenter Street where an officer will direct you to park in one of the North lots (D, C or B).

Family and guest parking

Parking for guests of students is available on streets adjacent to the University and in all exterior lots except Lots P, R and J.

Handicapped parking information

Students who need handicapped parking passes for Commencement should contact Regina Baumgartner at (856) 256-4259.  Handicapped parking passes for undergraduates will be used for Lots P and J.  Please visit here for a campus map of the parking lots.

Drivers of disabled passengers may take their party to the drop-off point on Whitney Avenue.  ROTC students will be available outside of Lot P to escort anyone who needs assistance to the handicapped seating area.  The driver will then move the car to either Lot J (only if they have a handicapped hang tag or license plate) or any other available lot.

Disabled drivers who use wheel chairs will park in Lot P.  Passes will be given to drivers that qualify on a first come, first served basis.

After the main ceremony, shuttles will be available in Lot P to take disabled attendees to the secondary ceremonies.

Reservations are not needed for the handicapped seating area.  It is on a first come, first served basis.  The handicapped seating area for the main ceremony is limited to the handicapped person and one (1) companion.  Graduates should contact their departments/colleges for handicapped seating information for their secondary ceremonies.

Note: Secondary ceremonies may be in progress before shuttles transport handicapped guests from the main ceremony area. Please be patient. Foot traffic and shuttle traffic will need to accommodate over 10,000 guests.

Tickets

Tickets are not necessary for the main outdoor ceremony on the University Green. However, tickets are required for admission to the College secondary ceremonies held about 20 minutes after the main ceremony concludes at approximately 12 p.m. Each degree candidate in the Colleges of Business, Communication, Education, Engineering and Fine & Performing Arts is issued four (4) tickets for his/her respective secondary ceremony. Degree candidates in the College of Liberal Arts & Sciences are issued three (3) tickets to their secondary ceremony.

Undergraduates must pick up and sign for their tickets by presenting a valid student ID Card and one other form of identification (or two forms of photo identification). Tickets will be available in Memorial Hall between Wednesday, April 29 and Thursday, April 30 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., and on Friday, May 1 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. No tickets may be picked up on the day of Commencement.

College ceremony sites

Secondary College ceremonies will begin approximately 20 minutes after the conclusion of the main outdoor ceremony at the following locations:

For the hearing impaired

Sign language interpreters are available during the main ceremony. If a sign language interpreter is needed for a secondary ceremony, please contact the Academic Success Center at (856) 256-4259.

Commemorative photographs

Professional photographers from Chappell Studio will photograph all graduates in the processional line and while receiving their diplomas during each secondary ceremony. Chappell will send information directly to graduates about the purchase of photos. Please direct photography questions to Chappell Studio at (800) 247-3435.

GradTrak® by Graduation Images currently offers a $5 discount on any photo order over $25 when students register their e-mail address at www.gradimages.com prior to graduation.

Flowers

Flowers may be purchased by the bouquet from the Senior Honor Society just behind Bunce Hall.

Graduation announcements

The Rowan University Bookstore offers personalized and generic graduation announcements. Beginning April 6, generic announcements may be purchased at the Bookstore for $15.98/pack. Personalized Announcement Packages can be ordered at the Bookstore or online at rowanbookstore.bncollege.com.

Diploma frames, class rings and gifts

The Bookstore offers a variety of Commencement-related products with samples on display.

Bookstore hours for Commencement

Wednesday, May 13, 2009 – 9 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Thursday, May 14, 2009 – 9 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Friday, May 15, 2009 – 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Meeting with your family

Because of the great crowds attending Commencement, reuniting with your family and friends after the main or secondary ceremonies can be daunting. For those unfamiliar with campus, University staff will be on hand with maps and signs to help direct foot traffic. You may find it helpful to designate a location on campus where you can meet during the day. The parking area to the east of the University Green, between Oak and Laurel Halls and the oak grove behind Bunce Hall are well-suited for family gatherings and photographs. The University will also provide a Rowan-themed portrait station in the Student Center.

Dining options

On campus and within a few moments’ drive, visitors will find many dining options.

On-campus
The University’s Marketplace Cafe in the Student Center is open from 7 a.m. to 12 p.m. with a full breakfast buffet. The cost is $6.50 per person and children under 10 are half-price. The Market Basket Convenience Store in the Student Center is open from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. Concession kiosks near the secondary ceremony locations are open at 11 a.m. through the end of the ceremonies.

Off-campus
Just off-campus on Delsea Drive, Glassboro offers specialty and national restaurants as well as fast food options. Go east on Bowe Boulevard to Rt. 47 (Delsea Drive) and north to Italian Affair, Terra Nova, Peking Buffet, Salad Works Cafe and Pizza Hut. Go south on Delsea Drive for Wendy’s, McDonalds, Tokyo Mandarin and PB’s Diner. East on Rt. 322 about 15 minutes from campus is Scotland Run Golf Course and its fine restaurant. Note: Plan lunch reservations accordingly.

Inclement weather procedures

In the event of inclement weather (thunderstorms, heavy rain, etc.) the main outdoor ceremony will be cancelled and the secondary ceremonies will be held at indoor locations beginning at 10:30 a.m. for the Colleges of Communication, Education, Engineering and part of the College of Liberal Arts & Sciences. For the Colleges of Business, Fine & Performing Arts and the rest of the College of Liberal Arts & Sciences, the ceremonies will begin at 2:30 p.m. Indoor ceremony locations are listed below:

Secondary ceremony tickets are designated for a specific location and will admit guests only to that location. Time changes or cancellations for inclement weather will be announced beginning at 7 a.m. on WGLS-FM 89.7 and KYM-AM 1060. This information will also be available by phone at (856) 256-4000 and on the University Web site here.

Additional Information

Bottled water, snacks, disposable cameras, film and balloons are available at kiosks throughout campus and at the Bookstore.

Baby strollers cannot be left in the aisles.

There are no designated baby changing facilities on campus. Please plan accordingly.

Balloon bouquets are not permitted in the seating areas during the ceremony. They will block the view of other guests.

Departure from the parking lots after the ceremonies may take up to 45 minutes.

Campus maps

For your convenience, please find directions to Rowan University and campus maps below. Be sure to remember where you park.

Driving directions

Campus map

Commencement map