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Welcome

Convocation at Rowan University is a traditional ceremony to welcome incoming students and celebrate the new school year for the University community. This year's Convocation ceremony will take place on Sunday, August 30 at 5 p.m. in the Student Recreation Center with a keynote address from Donovan McCargo, director of student services on Rowan's Camden Campus. We hope Convocation marks the start of a rewarding educational experience in higher education for our first-year and transfer students.

About Convocation

By definition, Convocation means a large formal assembly of a college or university. The Rowan University Convocation ceremony opens with an academic procession that includes University administrators, faculty and professional staff. The Grand Marshal—our senior faculty member—leads the procession by carrying the Mace, an ornamental symbol of authority. The President, Provost and academic deans all wear medallions symbolizing their respective colleges. Wearing academic regalia at formal university events is a Rowan tradition. Doctoral gown colors represent the university in which the person acquired his or her terminal degree.

Gonfalons (gold and brown vertical banners) depict imagery specific to each college. The eight colleges and/or schools at Rowan University include: College of Education, College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, College of Fine and Performing Arts, Rohrer College of Business, College of Engineering, College of Communication, Graduate School and College of Professional and Continuing Education. The gonfalons’ placement on stage—left to right—marks the order in which each one acquired college or school status. Gonfalons illustrate and symbolize the University’s heritage and scholastic mission.

Rowan’s brown and gold colors represent the Brown-eyed Susans that grew wild in the Whitney estate orchard where Rowan University currently resides. Hollybush, the original Whitney home, now hosts classes as well as special events. Tours are available for students and their parents during orientation.

Student Participation

All student information concerning Convocation is outlined on the Welcome Week Web site. Please make every effort to attend.

Participating Platform Guests Information

Platform guests should arrive by 4:30 p.m. on Sunday, August 30 in the Student Recreation Center. All administrators, deans, faculty and staff are welcome to be platform guests. The University will pay the rental costs of academic regalia. Faculty and staff who own their robes are expected to dress for the occasion. Last year 65 platform guests participated in Convocation. After the program all are invited to the Student Center Marketplace for dinner. If you have any questions, please contact University Events at (856) 256-5432. If you would like to participate as a platform guest, please RSVP your name and department to convocation@rowan.edu.

Robing and Line-Up

Platform guests who own regalia should report already robed to the first-floor Recreation Center exercise room by 4:30 p.m. Platform guests needing to order regalia should click here. Board of Trustees members, cabinet members, academic deans, the Master of Ceremonies and Convocation speaker will line up in front of the Recreation Center smoothie bar. All other administrators, faculty and professional staff will line up in the exercise room.