Guest Arrival Time, Entrance Towers and Security Screening
Arrival Times
Commencement will take place on Monday, January 13, 2025, at Prudential Center in Newark, NJ.
IMPORTANT TRAVEL ADVISORY: We anticipate heavier-than-normal traffic in and around the Prudential Center. Plan to allow ample time for traffic, parking, and security screening at the venue. Bringing prohibited items will cause significant delays in entering Prudential Center.
- Prudential Center Doors Open:
8:00 a.m. - Graduates Must Arrive By:
8:30 a.m. - Graduate Processional:
9:40 a.m. - Ceremony Start Time:
10:00 a.m.
Prudential Center Entrances
Guests may enter Prudential Center through the following three entrances:
- M &M’s Tower – corner of Mulberry Street and Lafayette Street
- Citizen’s Tower – corner Mulberry Street and Lafayette Street
- Lafayette Street Doors – Lafayette Street
Please view or print the Prudential Center Entrance Diagram
Security Screening Procedures
All attendees will be subject to a courteous screening via a walk-through metal detector to ensure the highest level of safety and security. Attendees will be required to place their bags, cell phones, keys and all metal objects on the security table prior to walking through the metal detector.
Bags 10”x10” or smaller in size are permitted. Anything larger, including backpacks, are not permitted, with the exception of childcare or medical bags. Permissible larger bags will be X-rayed.
All bags are subject to search by Prudential Center security team members at each point of entry. 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 will need to be checked at the entrance.
IMPORTANT: Prohibited items must be returned to the guest’s vehicle or stored in Prudential Center supplied lockers at the guest’s expense.
The following items are prohibited at Prudential Center:
- Alcoholic beverages or illegal drugs
- Balloons, signs, banners, flags, beach balls, horns, noisemakers
- Laser pointers, flashlights, fireworks, or balls of any kind
- Selfie sticks
- Outside Food/ Beverages
For a full comprehensive list of prohibited items, please visit Prudential Center Arena Policy.
Tickets, Seating and Accessible Accommodations
Tickets and Seating
Tickets are required to attend Commencement. All guests must have an authorized ticket to enter the Prudential Center. Tickets are specific to each commencement ceremony.
Graduates must register for Commencement and request guest tickets. Tickets are free and will be distributed to graduates at the Graduation Fair (Montclair campus on December 16 or Bloomfield campus on December 12, 2024.)
Seating is general admission and will be on a first-come, first-served basis.
Guests with Accessibility Accommodations
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.
Please visit Prudential Center Access Accommodations for more information on accommodations available.
If you have additional questions, you may email guestservices@prucenter.com.
Directions and Transportation
IMPORTANT TRAVEL ADVISORY: We anticipate heavier-than-normal traffic in and around the Prudential Center. Plan to allow ample time for traffic, parking, and security screening at the venue.
Prudential Center
25 Lafayette Street
Newark, NJ 07102
We strongly suggest that guests use public transportation, rideshare services, or carpool with family and friends. Highways surrounding the arena include 280, 78, NJ Turnpike, 1 & 9, 21, 22, Garden State Parkway, 80, and NJ 3. For detailed driving directions, please visit the Prudential Center Directions website.
Public Transportation
Prudential Center is located in downtown Newark, just two blocks from Newark Penn Station, and is also connected to the Newark Broad Street Station by frequent, convenient bus and light-rail service.
Please visit the Prudential Center Public Transportation website for more information to plan your trip.
Parking
Parking will be available at lots and garages surrounding Prudential Center. Costs are determined by each parking facility. Please visit the Prudential Center Parking website for a detailed map and directions to these locations.
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Class Gift and Commencement Messages
Each year, our graduating class participates in a proud Class Gift tradition where members of the class invest in the University by supporting current and future Redhawks. We invite the Class of 2025 to come together to show your support.
All gifts to Montclair count! Make your gift to support the university’s greatest needs, The Fund for Montclair State or The Bloomfield College of Montclair State Fund.
Your gift will pay it forward for future Red Hawks and kick-start your philanthropic connection to Montclair.
- Commemorate your class year! Make a gift of at least $20.25 and you’ll receive your customized Montclair or Bloomfield alumni philanthropy cord to wear over your commencement robe.
- For a gift of $40, celebrate this milestone with your family, friends and colleagues by having your message displayed on the screen at Commencement, and receive a customized Montclair or Bloomfield alumni philanthropy cord.
The final deadline to submit a Commencement message for the Monday, January 13, 2025 Commencement is December 31, 2024 at 2 p.m.
How do I get my customized philanthropy cord?
Customized philanthropy cords will be available for pick-up at the Graduation Fairs:
- Montclair Campus (Montclair or Bloomfield graduates): Monday, December 16, 2024 from 10 a.m. – 7 p.m. in the Student Center Ballrooms
- Bloomfield Campus (Bloomfield graduates only): Thursday, December 12, 2024 from 12-6 p.m. in Deacon’s Den, Talbott Hall
Graduates can also arrange to pick up their philanthropy cords in the Overlook Corporate Center, 150 Clove Road, Little Falls, NJ during business hours, Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. Philanthropy cords can also be mailed to those who cannot pick it up. The last day we will mail the cords is Friday, December 30. If you make a gift after Friday, December 30 you must arrange to pick-up your cord at Overlook between January 2 – 10, 2024 during regular business hours. Please contact James Stewart, Associate Director of Annual Giving at stewartj@montclair.edu or 973-655-5328 to finalize options to get your cords for the January 13 commencement ceremony.
Every student has benefitted from donor generosity to areas of academic support, emergency funding for students and overall priorities to boost students’ success every day. Thank you for paying it forward!
For more information, please contact James Stewart, Associate Director of Annual Giving, at 973-655-5328 or stewartj@montclair.edu.
Important Reminders for Guests
- Wear comfortable shoes as you will likely be moving in crowded areas.
- After the ceremony, the Prudential Center requests all guests and graduates vacate the building. A timely exit from the venue and parking areas is appreciated. Before the ceremony, plan where you and your graduate will meet after the event. The ceremony will last approximately 3 hours.
- Graduate Gifts including flowers, graduate t-shirts, and other gift items will be available for purchase on concourse levels.
- If graduates and guests wish to take pictures outside Prudential Center, we suggest that you arrive early to take pictures before the ceremony.
Concessions
Food and beverages will be available at concession stands located in Prudential Center. We strongly encourage your graduates to eat before arriving at the Prudential Center, 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. The concession stands are cashless, and guests must pay for concessions with a debit card, credit card, Apple Pay, or Google Pay. For guests needing to convert cash to a card, Reverse ATM kiosks with $0 transactional fees* are available near sections 1, 14, 125, and inside the Box Office Lobby.
Live Stream Links
The ceremony will be live streamed in English and Spanish. Be sure to share the links with family and friends.