Stockton University President Dr. Harvey Kesselman at the 2019 commencement.
GALLOWAY TOWNSHIP - Stockton University will be hosting eight, yes eight, socially-distanced 2020 outdoor Commencement ceremonies on Friday, Oct. 23.
In May, when the university hosted an online eCommencement, graduates were informed they might have a live ceremony in fall. Stockton is making good on that promise and some 1,200 graduates are donning caps and gowns to return for the formal ceremony.
The eight ceremonies will each feature about 150 graduates. They will be held alternately at two outdoor sites on the Galloway Township campus in parking lot 3 across from the Campus Center and parking lot 5 by the Athletic Center.
Ceremonies will be held an hour apart, starting at 9:30 a.m. at lot 5. The 10:30 a.m. will be at lot 3, then alternate back to lot 5 at 11:30 etc.
Zakiya Smith Ellis, the former New Jersey Secretary of Higher Education and now Chief Policy Advisor to Gov. Phil Murphy, who was originally scheduled as the keynote at the planned May ceremony at Boardwalk Hall, will speak at the 3:30 p.m. ceremony on lot 5.
To meet state COVID-19 guidelines for outdoor group events, each student is allowed to bring two guests. The event will also be livestreamed on the Stockton Commencement website stockton.edu/commencement. Face coverings will be required of all attendees.
