Congratulations to the upcoming graduates of the Brookdale Community College class of 2024!


Please review all of the general information listed on this page to learn more about the upcoming Commencement being held on May 9, 2024. Information on everything from applying for graduation to how to order your cap and gown is available in the FAQ below.

If you have a question that isn’t answered here, please contact Student Life & Activities at graduation@brookdalecc.edu

 

Is there a difference between Graduation and Commencement?

Yes! Graduation is the awarding of the degrees by the office of the Registrar after completion of all academic requirements.

Commencement is the ceremony celebrating the conferring of degrees!

How do I apply for graduation?

Students who have a minimum of 45 degree credits by the beginning of the graduation semester are sent an email from the Registrar regarding graduation eligibility. If eligible, students can submit an application for graduation via WebAdvisor (instructions below), or by appointment with a Student Success Coach. The deadlines to apply for graduation are*:

Spring 2024: March 22 * Please note, after this date, names will no longer be added to the printed Commencement program, however (if approved) you are still eligible to graduate.

*Summer I applicants who do not intend to participate in commencement have until May 17. If the deadline date falls on a weekend or holiday, the deadline date will be the next business day.

To check if you are eligible to apply for graduation through WebAdvisor, click on the MyBrookdale tab at the top right corner of this webpage.  When the Quick Launch bar pops up, click on the WebAdvisor icon, and then click on Application for Graduation from the Student Menu to check your eligibility to apply for graduation online.

If, for whatever reason, WebAdvisor does not allow you to apply, you may meet with a Student Success Coach to verify your graduation eligibility. This action must be taken as soon as possible so you do not miss out on future correspondence about graduation.

What are the requirements for graduation?

The graduation requirements in force during a degree student’s first term are those by which the courses will be selected and evaluated for graduation. Should a program change during a student’s tenure at Brookdale, the student may still graduate by meeting the requirements in force during the first term of that program. Students who withdraw for a year and are later re-admitted or change programs must follow graduation requirements in effect in the re-entry term. In rare circumstances, a course substitution may be made for a program requirement. Institute Dean Approval is required for the substitution.

Detailed Graduation requirements can be found under these College Regulations:
Matriculation Regulation
Graduation Regulation
Foundational Studies Regulation

How do I request a transcript?

If you need your transcripts to reflect your status as a graduate, please note this information will not automatically appear on a transcript until approximately two to three weeks after the graduation date.  Whether you request online, by postal mail, or in person, please be sure to check the box indicating “hold for recording of degree” if you wish transcripts to include your status as a graduate. Detailed information on transcript requests can be found here.

How do I obtain my diploma?

All diplomas are mailed within 15 weeks after the Registrar’s Office confirms graduation requirements have been met. (This is typically done in August.)

When and where is my ceremony?

The 2024 Commencement will be held on May 9th. The day will be split into two sessions.

The morning session for Associate in Arts (A.A.) degree candidates starts at 10am.

The afternoon session for Associate in Science (A.S.), Associate in Fine Arts (A.F.A.), Associates in Applied Science (A.A.S.), and Certificate Program candidates starts at 3pm.

Both ceremonies are held in the Robert Collins Arena on the Lincroft Campus. If your degree program has an additional ceremony, such as Allied Health Pinning Ceremony, Nurses Pinning Ceremony, or Culinary Awards reception, please contact your program’s office directly for more information.

When and where do I report for my ceremony?

All graduates are asked to arrive one hour before each ceremony (9am for the morning and 2pm for the afternoon) and report to the Brookdale Recreation & Events Center (BREC) to line up for the formal entry into the Collins Arena. We ask that you arrive with all of your graduation regalia on and leave any bags or personal items in your vehicle or at home. There will be no place to store your personal belongings during the ceremony.

Our volunteers will assist you in getting in alphabetical order by last name so your families will know when to expect your name as you cross the stage.

Please note: there is no graduation rehearsal.

When you arrive, you will also be asked to phonetically spell-out your name on a card provided to ensure pronunciation of your name at the ceremony. This card should also be filled out with your personal contact information so that, after the ceremony, the photographer may contact you directly about ordering prints.

How do I obtain my graduation regalia?

Graduates, be sure to order your graduation regalia online by clicking here! The deadline to order graduation regalia is April 17, 2024.

All regalia orders will be shipped to Brookdale and will be available to pick-up from the office of Student Life & Activities. Pick-up will be available from April 22-26 and April 29 – May 3.

How do I obtain guest tickets?

Guest tickets are limited to three per graduate. Guest tickets will be distributed with your cap and gown (regalia) upon pick-up from the office of Student Life & Activities. Pick-up will be available April 22 – 26 and April 29 – May 3.

Please be advised that each individual guest entering the Arena MUST have a ticket (this includes children of all ages). No one will be permitted entry without a ticket. The Commencement will also be a live simulcast on-line by subscribing to the Brookdale TV YouTube page.

How do I obtain honor regalia and/or cords?

Armed Forces Honor Cords

Are you a Veteran of the US Armed Forces or a member of the Reserves or National Guard? Are you eligible for Commencement this May? If so, you may be eligible to receive an Armed Forces Cord for graduation and be recognized for your service to our country. To be eligible, you must either:

Have served as a member of the US Armed Forces in an Active Duty, Reserves or National Guard capacity as is evidenced by a DD-214. Discharge must be anything other than a “Dishonorable”. “Less than Honorable” or “Other than Honorable” Discharge.

or

Are a current member of the Reserves, National Guard or Active Duty and have been deployed. Evidence of deployment as evidenced by an issued DD-214. Discharge must be anything other than a “Dishonorable”, “Less than Honorable” or “Other than Honorable” Discharge.

Please contact the Veterans Center for further details. Please note, cords are available on a first-come, first-served basis.

Armed Forces Cord sponsored by the Brookdale Student Veterans Club with support from the Student Life Board.


Education Opportunity Fund Cords

Graduates enrolled in Brookdale’s Educational Opportunity Fund Program are encouraged to wear their program admission honor cords, Chi Alpha Epsilon Academic Honor Society honor cords, and graduation stoles at their graduation commencement. Please contact the EOF office directly for more information on securing these items at 732-224-2510.


National Society of Leadership & Success

Please contact the National Society of Leadership and Success store directly at https://shop.nsls.org/collections/graduation for more information regarding purchasing stole and cords for commencement.


Phi Theta Kappa Honors Stole

Brookdale’s Alpha Pi Theta chapter of Phi Theta Kappa International Honors Society will be selling honor stoles to graduating members at the cost of $40. The Key Honors Stole is made of gold satin and finished with an embroidered Key Medallion. Please check directly with the chapter for more details or contact chapter advisor Angela Saragusa through the link above.

How do I request an accommodation?

If you need an accommodation, please complete the 2024 Commencement Accommodation Request Form found here . We work collaboratively with the Office of Disability Services to make sure we are able to meet all reasonable accommodations.

I'm interested in delivering the Student Speech at my ceremony. How do I enter my name for consideration?

One graduate, per ceremony, will be selected to give a speech for the 2024 Commencement as the student speaker.  Speakers must be available to come to campus on a to-be-determined date following all regulations and guidelines to have their speech professionally recorded in the Collins Arena prior to the ceremonial events.

For your speech to be considered, it must be typed and submitted to Student Life & Activities via our commencement email at graduation@brookdalecc.edu  When you submit your speech, you must also give your name, student ID number, and contact information. Your speech should be a personal story about how Brookdale Community College positively impacted your life. Please limit your speech to three typed pages, double-spaced. The deadline for submitting a commencement speech for consideration for the 2024 commencement is April 15.

I'm interested in serving as Graduate Trustee. How do I run for the position?

If you have applied for graduation, you will receive a message inviting you to consider running for the position of Graduate Trustee. The position is for one year, with a time commitment of at least two meetings per month. The Graduate Trustee serves as the student voice on the Brookdale Board of Trustees and has a vital impact on how the college is run.

The completed application, and the statement, are to be emailed to Cynthia Gruskos, Senior Assistant to the President & the Board of Trustees, cgruskos@brookdalecc.edu by 5:00 PM. on April 15, 2024. Each graduate will be added into a Graduate Trustee Canvas Shell for the voting period.

How do I vote for Graduate Trustee?

The elections for the open board seat will be held online through the CANVAS learning management system in April. A link to the shell will be sent in an email message to all graduating students once the field of candidates is finalized. All students may only vote once.  Voting will take place April 23-25.

Is there any other information I should be aware of?

Be on time! The lineup takes quite a while so you must be at the Brookdale Recreation & Events Center at the time designated – at least a full hour before the ceremony start. Anyone arriving late will be placed at the end of the line.

Please leave all personal belongings in the car or with an attending guest, be prepared to bring bobby pins for your cap, be advised to wear comfortable shoes and weather/ceremony appropriate attire.

Plan to stay! Once Commencement begins, no graduates will be permitted to leave. If you have plans following the graduation ceremony, please keep this in mind.

If you have any questions, please email Student life & Activities at graduation@brookdalecc.edu

How Do I Join the Alumni Association?

To learn more about the Alumni Association, click here!
To become a member, click here!

2023 Commencement Videos

The 2024 Commencement ceremony will be live-streamed at  the following link:

Brookdale TV YouTube Channel

 

The 2024 Commencement ceremony video will be available for purchase, after the events take place, by visiting the following link:

Brookdale Television Shop