FAQs

When and where is the ceremony held? 

The ceremony is held at Prudential Center Newark, N.J., on Wednesday, May 13, 2026. The Commencement ceremony begins at 5:00 PM.

Candidates for graduation must arrive no later than 3:30 PM. Graduates must enter at the M&M Tower. You will be lined up according to your degree and by college. No family or guests are permitted in the graduate line-up area. Graduates can review the graduate line-up here.

Family members and guests will enter through the Citizens Tower. This entrance opens at 4:00 PM.

The length of the ceremony is variable depending on the number of graduates who process, and we expect the ceremony to last approximately three hours. It is expected that all graduates and their guests stay for the entirety of the ceremony, and we appreciate your commitment to doing so.

Will guests require a ticket for admission to the ceremony? 

All candidates for graduation can invite an unlimited number of guests. Therefore, an admission ticket for the ceremony will not be required. 

Will the ceremony be streamed online? 

Yes. Guests who are unable to attend the ceremony in person will be able to view the ceremony online by going to the commencement webpage the day of the ceremony.  

Will an itinerary of the commencement ceremony be handed out? 

While there are Commencement programs at the event, we do not hand out itineraries of the ceremony. 

Will diplomas be distributed on stage? 

No, the diploma will be mailed to the home address indicated on the declaration form.  The diplomas will be mailed out to students starting late June.

How should I dress for the ceremony? 

Dress should be appropriate for the occasion. It is recommended that the candidates for graduation wear business-casual attire. It is also recommended that they wear comfortable shoes, but not sneakers and not stiletto heels. Personal belongings should not be brought to the line-up area.

Will there be a Commencement Rehearsal? 

There will not be a commencement rehearsal, but designated marshals will guide the candidates for graduation through the processional into their proper seating areas. 

ACADEMIC REGALIA

Get Your Cap & Gown for Commencement

Didn’t Pick Up at the Grad Salute?

If your regalia was shipped to campus and you didn’t pick it up at the Grad Salute, it’s available at your campus bookstore. Please note: regalia will not be transported to Prudential Center for Commencement. You must pick up your order at the bookstore by Tuesday, May 12, the day before Commencement.

Questions? We’re here to help.

Need Help?

Can I pick up my academic regalia and announcements at another FDU campus, other than my primary campus? 

Students will not be allowed to pick up their academic regalia and announcements at an FDU campus other than their primary campus. Florham Campus students must pick up their academic regalia and announcements at the Florham Campus, and Metropolitan Campus students must pick up their academic regalia and announcements at the Metropolitan Campus. No exceptions can be made. 

All Partnership Program students and all students in online programs must go to the Metropolitan Campus Grad Salute or specify to have their regalia shipped to their home address when ordering. 

  • Only Fairleigh Dickinson University-approved academic regalia is permitted. This includes cap, gown, hood (hoods are only for doctoral and master’s candidates), Fairleigh Dickinson University zipper pulls and approved stoles, cords, and pins.
  • Graduates should wear flat, comfortable shoes as they will need to walk throughout the arena for line up, graduate processional, and across the stage during the ceremony.
  • Every graduate will receive a Fairleigh Dickinson University zipper pull in their regalia package. Attach the zipper pull to your regalia to show off your FDU pride at Commencement!

CEREMONY NAME READER CARDS

  • Your name will be announced as you walk across the stage at Commencement by way of your reader card. 
  • Please take care of this card and bring it with you to Commencement. Do not lose, damage, fold, rip, crumble or write on it, as we cannot replace them. It is important that you PRINT your name PHONETICALLY and CLEARLY for the name reader to properly pronounce your name.
  • Reader Cards will be available for pickup the week of May 4 in the Florham Campus Dean of Students Office, Student Center.

Navigating Prudential Center

Prudential Center is located at 25 Lafayette Street, Newark, NJ

To ensure graduates and loved ones have a seamless experience, please take a moment to review the Know Before You Go guide. 

IMPORTANT TRAVEL ADVISORY: We anticipate heavier-than-normal traffic in and around Prudential Center. Plan to allow ample time for traffic, parking, and security screening at the venue.

ENTRANCE for GRADUATES and GUESTS

  • Graduates MUST arrive at M&M Tower (Mulberry Street and Lafayette Street) 
  • Guests will enter through the Citizens Tower (Mulberry Street and Edison Place)

SECURITY SCREENING

  • All attendees will be subject to a courteous screening via a walk-through metal detector to ensure safety and security for all.
  • IMPORTANT: Prudential Center security will deny entrance to guests with any prohibited items. The following items are prohibited at Prudential Center: alcoholic beverages, illegal drugs, balloons, signs, banners, flags, beach balls or balls of any kind, horns, noisemakers, laser pointers, flashlights, fireworks, selfie sticks, and outside food/beverages. For a comprehensive list of prohibited items, please view Prudential Center Arena Policy.
  • Bringing prohibited items will cause significant delays in entering Prudential Center.

PARKING & TRANSPORTATION

  • Parking will be available at lots and garages surrounding Prudential Center. Costs are determined by each parking facility.
  • Consider taking public transportation through NJ Transit, carpooling, or a rideshare service.
  • For detailed directions and parking locations, visit the Prudential Center Directions website.

BAG POLICY

  • Limit any personal items you bring, as they must always remain on you. Graduates cannot leave belongings in the graduate lineup or seating areas. Guests may carry small handbags up to 10” x10” for personal items. Anything larger (e.g., backpacks), except childcare or medical bags, is not allowed.
  • Bags that do not meet these expectations must be returned to the guest’s vehicle or stored in a Prudential Center-supplied locker at the guest’s expense. Lockers are located outside M&M’s Tower and Lafayette Street entrances. Strollers that fit underneath seating are permitted in the arena; all larger strollers must be checked at the entrance.

ACCESSIBLE ACCOMODATIONS

  • Guest Services staff are located at all entrances. Guest Services staff will assist guests needing accommodations, including wheelchair escorts, providing elevator locations, and ADA seating. Entrance ramps are located at M&M’s Tower and Lafayette Street Entrance.
  • For more information on accommodations available, please visit Prudential Center Access Accommodations. For additional questions, email guestservices@prucenter.com.
  • Any GRADUATE who needs accessible accommodations may contact Disability Support Services on their home campus.

CONCESSIONS

  • Food and beverages are available at concession stands located in Prudential Center. We encourage graduates to eat before arriving, as the concession stands are not accessible from the student line-up area. Guests and graduates cannot bring outside food, beverages, coolers, bottles or cans into the arena. All concession stands are cashless, and guests must pay for concessions with a debit card, credit card, Apple Pay or Google Pay.

GRADUATE GIFTS

  • Graduate gifts including flowers, graduate t-shirts and other gift items will be available for purchase on concourse levels at the top of the escalators towards the left of entering Citizens Tower.