SMLR Class of 2024 Convocation and 258th Anniversary Commencement

Please review the document linked below for information about parking, Jersey Mike's arena policies, instructions for graduates during the ceremony, and other important details about our convocation on Wednesday, May 15.

> 2024 Student Information Document for SMLR Convocation

Congratulations, SMLR graduates!  This is an exciting time, but please make sure to plan ahead so you can truly enjoy it. Here are some tips to make your SMLR Convocation day go smoothly!

• Check-in starts at 9:00am. Please arrive no later than 9:30am. The procession starts sharply at 10:00am.
• Come dressed in your academic regalia (cap, gown, and hood), which is required for participation in the SMLR Convocation - no exceptions. 
• Wear comfortable shoes as you’ll be walking and standing for a long duration. You’ll want to be comfortable! 
• Be prepared to pass through security before entering Jersey Mike’s Arena. There is a bag check. Those with oversized bags or prohibited items may be directed to return such items to their vehicle. Backpacks and large bags/purses are not permitted. 
• Parking is available in the Green Lot and Yellow Lot behind Jersey Mike's Arena. Handicap spaces are on a first-come, first-serve basis. A limited shuttle service to and from the parking lots (Green & Yellow Lots) to Jersey Mike’s Arena will be available.
• Our ceremony will be livestreamed on the school's YouTube channel.
  Here is the link: https://youtube.com/live/MS5PPnnyIS4
• We anticipate that the ceremony will conclude around 12:00pm.

For the SMLR Convocation ceremony on Wednesday, May 15 at Jersey Mike's Arena: 

Jersey Mike's Arena is located at 83 Rockafeller Road in Piscataway, NJ, on the Rutgers-New Brunswick Livingston Campus. Click here for directions.

No special parking tags are needed. Follow directions to Jersey Mike’s Arena on the Rutgers Livingston Campus. As you get close, signs and attendants will direct you to park. You may park in the Green and Yellow Lots behind the arena.

Click on the links below to access the SMLR Class of 2024 Invitation 

The Rutgers School of Management and Labor Relations (SMLR) is proud to announce that Lisa Takeuchi Cullen RC'92, President of the Writers Guild of America East and a TV writer, author and journalist, will serve as the School of Management and Labor Relations 2024 Convocation Speaker.

Lisa Takeuchi Cullen is the President of the Writers Guild of America East and a TV writer, author and journalist. As a leader of the successful WGA strike of 2023, she has been named to Variety’s 2024 Power of Women and 100 Most Powerful Women of New Jersey by former State Senator Loretta Weinberg. For her DEI leadership, she was awarded the WGAE’s 2020 Richard B. Jablow Award. In television Lisa has served as a writer-producer on THE ENDGAME (NBC), LAW & ORDER: SVU (NBC) and ANNA DELVEY (HBO), and has developed drama pilots for Apple, Netflix, ABC, NBC, CBS, A&E, Universal and Warner Bros. Previously she worked as a foreign correspondent and staff writer for TIME magazine, and has published a book about the funeral industry and another about pastors’ wives. Lisa is a graduate of the Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism and Rutgers University.

No guest tickets are required for the SMLR convocation on May 15, 2024. You may bring as many guests as you would like! 

The School of Management and Labor Relations Class of 2024 Convocation Ceremony will be livestreamed on the school's YouTube channel. 

Here is the link to view the ceremony: 

https://youtube.com/live/MS5PPnnyIS4

A complete replay of the ceremony will be available at this same link after the ceremony.

Graduates who have guests coming from abroad and need a letter to accompany their visa application, please see information on the Rutgers Global website. 

The SMLR Convocation will be held Wednesday, May 15th at 10:00am in Jersey Mike's Arena. During this school-specific ceremony, each individual graduate of the School of Management and Labor Relations will have their name called as they walk across the stage. Watch the video of last year's SMLR Convocation to see an example of our ceremony.
> Click here to attend the SMLR Convocation

The 258th Anniversary Commencement will be held Sunday, May 12th in SHI Stadium and celebrates all members of the Class of 2024 from Rutgers–New Brunswick and Rutgers Health at one large event. Details about Commencement can be found here: commencement.rutgers.edu. No individual student names are called.

Undergraduate students in the School of Arts and Sciences (SAS) majoring in Human Resource Management or Labor Studies & Employment Relations will be individually recognized at the SMLR convocation ceremony on Wednesday, May 15th, but you are eligible to attend one of the SAS ceremonies as well. You can attend both!

We have partnered with Island Photography to photograph graduates at our ceremony. Images will be posted within 72 hours of the ceremony. You will receive an email with a link to review and purchase your photos. Purchase is optional. For questions, please contact Island Photography at 800-869-0908 or custserv@islandphoto.com.

Lors Photography is offering Senior Portrait Sessions at three remote off-campus locations in New Jersey (New Brunswick, Mount Laurel, and Toms River.)  Lors can be contacted via their website or email to see what appointments they have available for Rutgers students.

Undergraduate regalia will be available to use for portraits. 

Academic regalia (cap and gown) for the 2024 School of Management and Labor Relations Convocation and the 258th Anniversary Commencement ceremonies is available for online purchase now through March 31 via https://rutgersnbu.shopoakhalli.com/purchasewizard/Welcome. 
 
Online orders offer these delivery options:

• Ship to store for no extra charge. Must order for ship to store by February 29 for pick up at Barnes & Noble starting April 4.
• Ship to home for an additional delivery charge. Deadline to order with ship to home option is March 31.

Purchase regalia in-store OR pick up online orders at Barnes & Noble on Somerset Street beginning April 4.
 
Grad Fair will be held at Barnes & Noble on April 4 & 5 from 10am-6pm. 
Join in the festivities, come for a complimentary professional headshot, and meet with representatives for purchasing class rings, diploma frames, personalized announcements and more!

Step 1: Check your graduation date

Please check your graduation date to be sure it accurately reflects your degree completion through Degree Navigator. When you log in, you can see the date at the top right of the page in the box where your name, RUID, and NetID are listed. 

If you need to change your graduation date and are a SMLR student (Bachelor of Science in Labor and Employment Relations), complete this form. If you are a School of Arts and Sciences (SAS) student (Bachelor of Arts, Human Resource Management major or Labor Studies and Employment Relations major), please contact your advisor at SAS Advising and Academic Services.  

Step 2: Apply for your diploma

Don't forget to apply for your diploma as soon as possible for either May 2024 or August 2024. All students must complete this online process to graduate. May graduates have until May 15th to apply for their diploma. August graduates can complete the diploma application between April 15 – August 15. Click here to view all University deadlines for submission. 

Please note: All 2024 Graduates wishing to have their name included in the SMLR Convocation program must have the correct graduation date on their record by April 1 regardless of their graduation month.

Step 3: Clear any financial obligations

To learn more about financial holds and loan exit counseling, visit the Student Accounting, Billing, and Cashier Services website. Students will not receive their diploma until all financial holds are cleared.

Information about honor awards

Departmental Honors 

Bachelor students of the Human Resource Management program, Labor Studies and Employment Relations program, and Labor and Employment Relations program who achieve a 3.70 GPA or higher for coursework within their major will receive an excellence pin and a certificate upon graduation.

Latin Honors

The baccalaureate degree is conferred summa cum laude, magna cum laude, and cum laude for students achieving honors in the overall program of study at Rutgers University. All degree honors are determined by final cumulative GPA as listed below and are noted on the diploma and final transcript:

Note: Averages are not rounded to the next higher number in the calculation of honors.

Students earning the Bachelor of Science in Labor and Employment Relations who achieve overall program honors of summa or magna cum laude will receive white cords from the School of Management and Labor Relations. The School of Arts and Sciences awards the honor cords for Bachelor of Arts students majoring in Human Resource Management and/or Labor Studies and Employment Relations.

Step 1: Submit your degree candidacy form

Submit your Degree Candidacy Form as soon as possible for either May 2024 or August 2024. All graduate students must complete this form to graduate. 

• MLER program graduates: Complete and submit the MLER Degree Candidacy Form to Ann Marie Fiorella-Mullen at amf322@smlr.rutgers.edu.  
• MHRM program graduates: Complete and submit the MHRM Degree Candidacy Form to Rebecca Tinkham at tinkham@smlr.rutgers.edu. 
• Online Professional MHRM program graduates: Contact Allison Kushner at allison.kushner@rutgers.edu for the degree candidacy form. 

Step 2: Apply for your diploma

Don't forget to apply for your diploma as soon as possible. All students must complete this online process to graduate.

• SMLR Graduate Student Application Deadline for May 2024 graduates is April 1.
• SMLR Graduate Student Application Deadline for August 2024 graduates is August 15.  

Please note: All 2024 Graduates wishing to have their name included in the SMLR Convocation program must apply for their diploma by April 1 regardless of their graduation month.

Step 3: Clear any financial obligations

To learn more about financial holds and loan exit counseling, visit the Student Accounting, Billing, and Cashier Services website. Students will not receive their diploma until all financial holds are cleared.

Information about Honor Awards

All SMLR master’s degree students achieving a 4.000 GPA within their program receive gold cords to adorn their regalia. Students who believe they are eligible for a cord should check their program records with their individual SMLR student counselor.