Commencement

The University looks forward to celebrating the Class of 2022 at two commencement ceremonies!

This year’s Graduate Commencement will take place Tuesday, May 17 at 11 a.m., at the New Jersey Performing Arts Center in Newark.

Undergraduate Commencement will take place Thursday, May 19 at 8:30 a.m. at the Prudential Center in Newark. 

Traffic can be heavy getting into Newark during the morning rush period so please plan accordingly.

Bags are not permitted at both the New Jersey Performing Arts Center and the Prudential Center. The only exceptions are soft-sided clutches, purses, wallets under 4” x 7” that do not have a shoulder strap or chain attached, and medical or childcare bags under 12” x “16” x 6”.

Arrival

• Graduates should arrive at the Prudential Center, already dressed in their gowns, at 7 a.m. at the Ford Tower on the southeast corner of Prudential Center at Mulberry and Lafayette streets.
• There is no designated Kean parking. There are private parking lots and street parking surrounding the Prudential Center that graduates and their guests can use at their own discretion. Please follow all local parking rules. 
• Guests may enter the Prudential Center through the Lafayette Street Entrance on the south side of the Prudential Center, or the Investors Bank Tower on the corner of Mulberry St and Edison Pl. Seating is first-come, first-served. 
• If any graduates have not already picked up a reader card, they can pick one up on the morning of commencement in the Ford Tower Lobby. Graduates must have their reader cards in order to have their names called during the ceremony. 

The Ceremony

• The ceremony will begin at 8:30 a.m. 
• Graduates will be instructed to process into the venue and be seated. 
• After remarks from academic leaders, graduates will each get the chance to hear their names called and cross the stage.
• Click here for information regarding the Prudential Center bag policy.
• The ceremony will take place rain or shine. 

Safety Protocols

• As a result of the Executive Order from the City of Newark on March 2, 2022, graduates and guests will not be required to wear face masks, nor will they be required to show proof of vaccination or proof of a negative COVID-19 test to enter the building. Graduates and guests who prefer to wear face masks are welcome to do so. Policies are subject to change. 
• The ceremony will be livestreamed via this website for those who are unable to attend.

Arrival

• Graduates should arrive at the New Jersey Performing Arts Center, already dressed in their gowns, one hour before the ceremony begins at the Chase Lobby entrance. 
• There is no designated Kean parking. There are private parking lots and street parking surrounding the New Jersey Performing Arts Center that graduates and their guests can use at their own discretion. Please follow all local parking rules. 
• Guests should use the Rotunda entrance. Seating is first-come, first-served. 
• If any graduates have not already picked up a reader card, they can pick one up on the morning of commencement in the Community Room on the second floor. Graduates must have their reader cards in order to have their names called during the ceremony. 

The Ceremony

• The ceremony will begin at 11 a.m. 
• Graduates will be instructed to process into the venue and be seated. 
• After remarks from academic leaders, graduates will each get the chance to hear their names called and cross the stage.
• For information about the New Jersey Performing Arts Center bag policy, click here.
• The ceremony will take place rain or shine. 

Safety Protocols

• As a result of the Executive Order from the City of Newark on March 2, 2022, graduates and guests will not be required to wear face masks, nor will they be required to show proof of vaccination or proof of a negative COVID-19 test to enter the building. Graduates and guests who prefer to wear face masks are welcome to do so. Policies are subject to change. 
• The ceremony will be livestreamed via this website for those who are unable to attend.

Click here, to view FAQs about the upcoming 2022 Commencement. 

We would like to hear from our graduates in a confidential exit survey. Please click here to access the survey. Your responses will not affect your graduation or academic standing in any way but will inform us about your time at Kean and help improve the experience for future Cougars.

Graduates!  Shop https://www.balfour.com/kean for all of your graduation needs!

Capture the memories with your 2021-2022 Kean University Yearbook!

There's nothing else like your school yearbook.  Get your hands on the limited edition collection of our stories from the year.  Share it with your friends and hang on to it for years to come!

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To schedule your Senior portraits, click here.  Use school codes: 518 to view Union Campus portrait dates and 7518 to view dates for Ocean Campus.