To: Faculty and Staff
Re: 2014 Arching and Commencement Frequently Asked Questions
Date: January 24, 2014
Arching/Commencement Sign Up and Regalia Order Form
http://www.ramapo.edu/registrar/regalia-form/
I. Introduction
The College encourages all faculty and staff to participate in and support the 2014 Arching
Activities and Commencement Ceremony. To that end, information regarding transportation,
scheduling, and other related issues is provided for your review.
II. Schedule for 2014 Arching Activities and Commencement Ceremony:
Thursday, May 15, 2014: Academic and Arching Activities
 TBA: Nursing Pinning Ceremony
 TBA: Academic Achievement Ceremony
 TBA: Pictures and Music in the Grove
 5:00 p.m.: Organization of Graduates, Faculty, Staff, and Families along Mansion Road
 5:30 p.m.: Arching Procession Begins
 5:45 - 7:00 p.m.: School Receptions
 TBA: Special Event
Friday, May 16, 2014: Commencement
 8:30 a.m.: IZOD Center Doors Open for Graduates, Faculty, Staff and Guests
 9:45 a.m.: Processional Begins
 10:00 a.m.: Formal Ceremony Begins
 1:00 p.m.: Ceremony Concludes
III. Faculty/Staff Participants: Frequently Asked Questions
Q1. As a faculty/staff member wishing to process in the Arching Ceremony, what do I need to
know about the Arching Activities?
A2. Faculty and staff will gather in the Grove/Arch area between 4:00-4:30 p.m. on Thursday,
May 15. Specific school areas will be designated by school gonfalons. Students and their
families are invited to the ceremony and it is a wonderful opportunity to bid farewell to our
graduates, meet their family members, and take photos.
At 5:00 p.m., College marshals will begin organizing everyone for the Arching Ceremony.
Students will be clad in their academic regalia and faculty and staff wishing to participate in the
Arching Ceremony should also plan to wear their regalia.
Any faculty or staff requiring regalia, must order their regalia by March 26 via:
Arching/Commencement Sign Up and Regalia Order Form
http://www.ramapo.edu/registrar/regalia-form/
Promptly at 5:30 p.m. our graduates will begin processing through the Arch and down Mansion
Road and over to the Band Shell Lawn.
School Receptions in various locations across campus will follow the Arching Ceremony.
Q3. As a faculty/staff member wishing to process in the 2014 Commencement Ceremony,
what do I need to know about the Ceremony?
A3: Commencement 2014 will take place at IZOD Center in East Rutherford, NJ on Friday,
May 16.
Faculty and staff processing in the Ceremony are expected to report to IZOD Center by 8:30
a.m. Once on site, Commencement marshals will direct faculty and staff to the robing and lineup areas.
Q4. As a faculty/staff member planning to participate in the 2014 Commencement Ceremony,
I have a few concerns about transportation. How will I get to and from the College and IZOD
Center?
A4. Faculty and staff are responsible for their own transportation to and from the Ceremony.
Carpooling is encouraged. There is free unlimited parking at IZOD Center.
Q5. If I am interested in attending Commencement as a spectator, may I do so? If I do attend,
will I be required to use accrued personal or vacation time?
A5. Employees who wish to attend Commencement as a spectator may do so with the approval
of their unit head. Employees will not be required to use personal time if they are available and
willing to volunteer, as needed, by the Commencement Coordinators. If an employee does not
wish to be available to volunteer or is unavailable, they will be required to use their personal
time if they choose to attend.
Q6. Will I be required to use accrued personal or vacation time if the duration of
Commencement does not satisfy my normal 7 or 8 hour workday? Also, will I be reimbursed
for travel expenses incurred with Commencement (tolls, mileage, etc.)?
A6. Employees should adjust their schedules during the work week in anticipation of the total
amount of time they expect to spend at Commencement. The management team is responsible
to approve and track such schedules for timekeeping purposes. This means that a
Commencement volunteer that normally works 35 hours (7 hours per day) who expects to work
a total of 8 hours for Commencement may reduce his/her hours during Commencement week to
offset the additional hour.
Likewise, if the same employee attending Commencement anticipates that the time spent at
Commencement would not satisfy his/her 35 hour work week requirement, he/she should adjust
his/her weekly schedule to compensate for the shortage of hours. If there is additional travel
time required to commute to the IZOD Center, it should be considered in this calculation.
Travel expenses such as mileage and tolls will not be reimbursed as employees agree that this is
their work location for the day.
Q7. As a faculty/staff member planning to participate in the 2014 Arching and
Commencement Ceremonies, what are my next steps?
A7. Faculty and staff who wish to participate in Arching Activities and /or Commencement
must submit his/her request by March 26, 2014 via:
Arching/Commencement Sign Up and Regalia Order Form
http://www.ramapo.edu/registrar/regalia-form/
IV. Arching and Commencement Event Marshals: Frequently Asked Questions
Q8. I would like to serve as a Marshal for Arching and/or Commencement. What are my next
steps?
A8: Employees interested in serving as event marshals for Arching and/or Commencement
should look for a separate communication regarding marshal participation to be distributed in
the near future. All employees interested in serving as event marshals must obtain approval
from their supervisor/unit head.
V. Closing
The College is looking forward to your participation the 2014 Arching Activities and
Commencement Ceremony. The College is grateful for the continued support of the faculty and
staff and your commitment to ensuring our students benefit from a warm and memorable send
off.
Please direct your questions to commencement@ramapo.edu
Sincerely,
The Commencement Planning Committee