Commencement Information | Drew University

Campus Life

Commencement Day Brunch

Get to campus early to enjoy
Commencement Brunch,
available for graduates and their families in The Commons. Graduate registration is complimentary, but all graduates must register in advance of the event. Tickets are also available for purchase for guests. Join us to raise a mimosa and cheers to the Class of 2026!

LEARN MORE AND REGISTER

Regalia

2026 regalia was ordered after the completion of your application to graduate with the Registrar’s Office.

Cap and gown pickup will take place the week of Monday, May 11 at the Drew University Bookstore.

The Bookstore will alert the Commencement team of when the delivery has arrived, and from there we will notify graduates about specific pickup times via email and here on drew.edu/commencement.

All regalia will be available for pickup both during the week, and on the morning of Commencement, if needed by graduates who are returning to campus.

Regalia questions? Please contact the Drew University Bookstore at [email protected], 973.408.3097, or stop by first floor Commons during regular business hours.

Parking

All guest parking will be hosted offsite at the neighboring BASF Florham Park site at 100 Park Ave, Florham Park, NJ 07932
There will be guest shuttles to and from campus, which will begin running at 8:45 a.m., and will run continuously until the time of the ceremony, with the last shuttle leaving campus at 5 p.m.
All on-campus graduates, as well as returning graduates, are permitted to park on-campus. Please note that only individual returning graduates will be permitted entrance, all guests must arrive via the shuttle from the BASF lot.
Handicap parking is available on-site at Drew; all guests are asked to display an appropriate tag or permit. Accommodation questions? Please contact our team so we can provide assistance.

Guest Reminders

For the safety and enjoyment of all guests, the following are not permitted within the event space:

Any animals that are not registered service animals
Laser pointers
Fireworks
Signs, balloons, and umbrellas (obstructs fellow guests’ view)
Alcohol
Cans and glass containers
Weapons of any kind

Please note that Drew is a smoke-free campus.

Additional Navigation

HAPPY COMMENCEMENT WEEK!

We look forward to celebrating the Class of 2026 at Commencement this Friday, May 15, at 1 p.m. on Mead Hall Lawn.

Drew University will return to the long-running tradition of a singular commencement ceremony, uniting the entire Drew community and the Class of 2026 from the Drew Theological School, Caspersen School of Graduate Studies, and College of Liberal Arts.

Tuning in for our livestream?

Check back here before the start of the event to access the link!

Commencement Day Schedule | Friday, May 15

8:45 a.m. | Parking shuttles begin | BASF guest lot to Shakespeare Theatre

9 a.m. | Commencement Brunch opens | Commons, 2nd Floor

9:30-11 a.m. | Blessing of the Graduates* | Craig Chapel, Seminary Hall

11:30 a.m. | All graduates report for lineup | Designated locations by school

- CLA: Baldwin Gym
- CSGS: Upper Dance Studio
- Theo: Seminary Hall Atrium
- Faculty: Seminary Hall Lounge

Noon | Guest seating opens | Mead Hall Lawn

12:30 p.m. | Commencement Brunch closes | Commons, 2nd Floor

1 p.m. | Commencement ceremony begins | Mead Hall Lawn

3:30 p.m. | Commencement ceremony concludes (estimated) | Mead Hall Lawn

5 p.m. | Parking shuttles end | Shakespeare Theatre to BASF guest lot

*Any and all attendees are welcome to participate in the ecumenical communion at the 9:30 a.m. event in Craig Chapel. The blessing of the Theological School graduates is an annual ritual conducted by the faculty to honor the graduates of the Theological School.

Guest Tickets

Each graduate is allocated 5 guest tickets for Mead Hall Lawn. The ticket lottery has closed, and graduates were notified of the results on Friday, April 24 via their Drew email.

Commencement Ticket Pickup | Commons, 2nd Floor

Wednesday, April 29 | 2-4 p.m.
Thursday, April 30 | 4-6 p.m.
Thursday, May 14 | 11 a.m.-1 p.m.

*Please note: all infants and toddlers age 2 and under do not require a ticket if they can comfortably sit on a guardian’s lap. All other children will require tickets as seating on Mead Hall Lawn is limited.

2026 Commencement Speaker

Marc Freedman

Founder and Co-CEO of CoGenerate, expert on the multigenerational future

LEARN MORE ABOUT MARC & COGENERATE

Doctoral Hooding Ceremony

Graduating doctoral candidates of both the Caspersen School of Graduate Studies and Drew Theological School will have the opportunity to be hooded on Thursday, May 14 at 2 p.m in the Concert Hall. This will be a non-ticketed event, and all guests are welcome.

A livestream will be available here at drew.edu/commencement the day of the event.

Additional Commencement Season Events

Thursday, April 16 | Summit Ceremony | 6-8 p.m. in Crawford Hall (Ehinger Center)
Friday, April 17 | Day of Scholars & Action Scholars Town Hall | 4-5:30 p.m. in the Ehinger Center
Monday, April 20-Thursday, May 7 | Special Honors Thesis Defenses | View schedule here
Tuesday, April 21 | Community Leader Awards | 5-7 p.m. in the Concert Hall (Dorothy Young Center for the Arts)
Thursday, April 23 | Graduate Appreciation Day at the Drew Bookstore | 20% off diploma frames, clothing, and gifts
Wednesday, April 29 | CLA Awards | 5-6:15 p.m. in the Concert Hall (Dorothy Young Center for the Arts)
Wednesday, April 29 | Theo Honors Convocation | 6-7:30pm in Craig Chapel (Seminary Hall)
Wednesday, May 6 | PJs & Pancakes Late Night Breakfast | 10 p.m.-1 a.m. in The Commons
Wednesday, May 13 | Theo African Students Community at Drew (AfriSCaD) Rite of Passage | 5-7 p.m. in Craig Chapel (Seminary Hall)
Thursday, May 14 | Faculty/Staff and Graduating Seniors Brunch | 11 a.m.- 1 p.m. in Crawford Hall (Ehinger Center)
Thursday, May 14 | Doctoral Hooding Ceremony | 2 p.m. in the Concert Hall (Dorothy Young Center for the Arts)
Thursday, May 14 | Theo Black Ministerial Caucus (BMC)/Women’s Ministerial Alliance (WoMa) Rite of Passage | 7-8 p.m. in Crag Chapel (Seminary Hall)
Friday, May 15 | Blessing of the Graduates | 9:30-11 a.m. in Craig Chapel (Seminary Hall)
Saturday, May 16 | Extended Bookstore Hours | 10 a.m.-3 p.m. | Commons, 1st Floor