Convocation 2025

New first-year students & new transfer students, undergraduate student leaders, faculty, staff and university administrative leaders. Convocation & WoW Festival are the perfect opportunity to begin networking with others and begin building relationships before the first weeks of classes.

Yes, all new first-year students and new transfer students should attend Convocation & Weeks of Welcome (WoW) Festival. This is a great way for new students to meet each and other and hear from university leaders.  Students will receive a convocation t-shirt and wristband for access to the food trucks at the WoW Festival. There may be other opportunities for give aways during the afternoon- you will need to be present to win.

Convocation will occur on Thursday, August 28 at 3:30PM in the Golden Dome Athletic Center, 42 Warren Street. We strongly encourage to encourage students to arrive on campus about 45 minutes prior to the event.  The WoW Festival will begin immediately after Convocation and across the street.

You should arrive a few hours ahead of the Convocation event. Plan to arrive on campus early to: 

• Pick up your textbooks from the Barnes & Noble Bookstore 
• Visit the One Stop for help with financial aid, billing, or your account 
• Meet with an academic advisor to review your course schedule 
• Explore campus and find your class locations 

Strive to make your early day on campus productive and reduce any stress during the first day of classes on Tuesday, September 2.

Students moving into on-campus housing will receive emails from the Housing Office with the details for move-in time along with other details. If you should have any questions after you receive the email,  please call 973.353.1037. Remember, Convocation begins at 3:30PM.

If you are a commuter student and not living in on-campus housing, you can take public transportation. Those driving will be able to park in Deck 4 (134 Washington Street) and Deck 2 (166 Washington Street).

Rutgers-Newark understands the importance families and their support. Family members can explore the surrounding area- they can:

• Check out the amazing places to visit curated by VisitNJ.org
• Visit ExpressNewark
• Eat at one of the restaurants located near Rutgers-Newark
• Check out the Rutgers-Newark Bookstore located on Halsey Street
• Visit the Newark Museum of Art
• Visit Military Park and Harriet Tubman Square
• Visit Branch Brook Park
• Shop in Newark and just moments away at The Mills at Jersey Gardens

The following streets will closed on August 28:

• Bleeker Street (between University Avenue and Dr. MLK, Jr. Blvd) will be closed from 6am-8pm. Bleeker will be used to streamline housing and residence life move-in events. Students and families will be entering Bleeker from University Avenue and exiting from Dr. MLK, Jr. Blvd.
• Warren Street (between University Avenue and Dr. MLK, Jr. Blvd) will be closed from 5am-9pm. This portion of the street will be used for the Weeks of Welcome Food Truck Festival that will run from 4:30pm-6:30pm. Those participating in the festival must have a wrist
• Warren Street (between Washington Street and University Avenue) will be intermittently closed while students arrive and leave for the convocation ceremony. Times of closures include 2:50-3:20pm and 4:30-4:50pm.

Parking Lot Access on August 28

• Warren Street (between University Avenue and Dr. MLK, Jr. Blvd) will be closed from 5am-9pm. Individuals parking in the lots below will need to enter and exit lots by Dr. MLK, Jr. Blvd and will need to show staff/faculty ID. 
  • lot 508 (110 Warren Street), 
  • lot 504A (corner of Warren Street & Dr. MLK, Jr Blvd next to Hill Hall)
  • lot 504B (back entrance of 1st floor Hill Hall and next to Smith Hall)

Parking Lot Closure on August 28

• Parking Lot 507 will be closed beginning midnight on August 28 and will reopen at midnight on August 29. Alternative parking for Staff will be located in Deck 4 (134 Washington Street). This closure is to permit the vendors for convocation to unload and load the equipment for the ceremony.

Parking Decks

• Students who have purchased parking permits can use Parking Deck 2 (166 Washington Street) and Deck 3 (180 Washington Street).
• For August 28 only, students who have purchased parking permits may park in Deck 4 (134 Washington Street); Deck 4 will be busy with students and families moving into our 48 New Street residence hall.
• Staff and faculty who have purchased parking permits can use parking Deck 4 (134 Washington Street).
• If you should choose to park in one of the parking decks, we would kindly request that you make your way to the upper floors and fill the upper floors first.