Information for Students Affected by Hurricane Milton

Information for Students Affected by Hurricane Milton

With Hurricane Milton making landfall, the University is offering accommodations to students affected by the storm.

To help assist our students affected by Milton, the University is offering the following accommodations:

  • Students who are directly impacted by the hurricane and who are currently registered in courses for the Nursing Session 2 July, August, September or October 2024 terms have the option of receiving a free eight-week course extension without mentor approval; or, a 100% tuition credit for their course(s) to a future term. Affected students should submit a Request for Course Extension Form or a Request for Course Withdrawal Form indicating “Hurricane Milton” as the reason for the request. Please note that TECEP exams in these terms cannot be extended, nor credited for tuition after the exam has been taken.
  • Impacted students who are currently on a course extension for the July 2024 term can request a second eight-week extension on their current term at no additional cost.
  • The University will follow the New Jersey State Guidelines for U.S. military students residing in or deployed to the affected region.

Request an Accommodation: Students affected by the hurricane and flooding who need an accommodation should contact the Office of the Registrar by email at registration@tesu.edu or by phone at 609-777-5680.

Accommodation requests should be submitted by Oct. 25. Requests after that date can be accommodated if the student provides documentation of the reason for the late request.

TESU Annual Commencement

Thomas Edison State University’s Annual Commencement Ceremony will be held on Saturday, Oct. 5, 2024.

Please accept our sincere congratulations on earning your degree!

Thomas Edison State University’s annual Commencement ceremony has been scheduled for Saturday, Oct. 5, 2024, at the CURE Insurance Arena in Trenton, N.J. Additional details regarding the ceremony and what to expect will be emailed to eligible graduates and updated on the website in advance of the event.

All eligible students graduating in the December 2023, March 2024, June 2024 and September 2024 graduation cycles will receive communication with details on completing the attendance form, ordering regalia and requesting tickets in summer 2024.

Graduates receiving honors will be notified at the completion of their graduation cycle. To learn more about your eligibility for honor cords, please refer to the Awards and Honor Societies page or learn how to earn your Philanthropy Cord by supporting future graduates.

Keep an eye on your email and stay tuned to the Commencement website for additional details and the most up-to-date information as we get closer to the date.

Not sure when you should apply for graduation? Learn more about deadlines and Graduation Information.

For additional questions or more information, contact the Office of the Registrar at 609-984-1180 or commencement@tesu.edu.

Your Commencement ceremony is a momentous occasion and a reward for the hard work and dedication it takes to complete your degree. We look forward to celebrating with you in October 2024!

  • Tickets

    For family and friends who are not able to join us but would like to watch online, the livestream of the ceremony will be available on the Commencement website and also accessible from the main page of www.tesu.edu.

    We are very fortunate in that the CURE Insurance Arena is large enough to accommodate all our graduates and their guests so there is no limit to the number of tickets per graduate. You are welcome to bring as many people as you would like, and tickets are general admission so your guests may sit anywhere they would like.

    Graduates have all received the link to order tickets by registering for the TESU 2024 Commencement via Eventbrite and indicating the number of tickets you will need for you and your guests.

    A PDF of your tickets will be immediately available to download and print after you register. Once downloaded, tickets can be forwarded to guests electronically and printed at home. For security purposes, all guests, including graduates and children, will need a printed ticket to enter the arena.

    Don’t worry, if you experience trouble accessing or printing their tickets, or if your guests arrive without a ticket, extras will be available at Will Call, and TESU volunteers will be distributing tickets to guests of attending graduates at the door to the arena.

  • Regalia

    Associate degree graduates will receive a burgundy gown, burgundy mortarboard cap and tassel with a 2024 charm.

    Bachelor's degree graduates will receive a black bachelor’s gown, black mortarboard cap and tassel with 2024 charm.

    Master's degree graduates will receive a black master’s gown, an academic hood with colors that reflect the specific master’s degree they have earned, a black mortarboard cap and tassel with a 2024 charm.

    Doctoral degree graduates will receive a black doctoral gown, an academic hood with colors that reflect the specific doctoral degree they have earned, a black doctoral tam (cap) and a gold tassel with a 2024 charm.

    You may not wear anything not provided by the University or a TESU recognized honor society on top of your academic regalia.

  • Schedule

    The doors to the CURE Insurance Arena open at 11 a.m. for graduates and their guests and the ceremony will begin promptly at 1 p.m.

    Graduates need to begin lining up for the procession near Section 103 on the arena concourse by 12:30 p.m.

  • What to Expect

    Please arrive before your ceremony. This gives you time to:

    • Check in at Registration located on the main concourse at Gate C (street level). We will ensure that you have all your academic regalia and any earned honor cords and help you robe properly. If you are a member of the military or a veteran, you will also be able to pick up your cord and stole.
    • Stop at the Foundation’s Philanthropy cord table, donate $23 or more and receive a cord to wear during the ceremony.
    • Stop by the Office of Admissions and Enrollment Services table for your graduation gift!
    • Put the finishing touches on your regalia.
    • Allow your family members and guests to settle in.
    • Line up for your class procession by 12:30 p.m. at Section 103 on the concourse.

    The arena’s food vendors will be selling food and refreshments.

  • The Ceremony

    • When you walk on stage, you will announce your own name into the microphone. Members of the military may add your rank and branch of service. As a courtesy to other graduates and guests and to help ensure the ceremony concludes on time, please refrain from making any additional comments at the microphone.
    • Legacy Photographics will be taking photos as you cross the stage and in front of a TESU photo backdrop once you descend the stage. There is no obligation to purchase pictures. Proofs will be emailed to each graduate within 48 hours, and you may select and purchase photos at that time. For more information visit www.legacyphoto.com.
    • The ceremony is expected to last approximately two hours.

  • Stay Connected after Commencement: Join the TESU Genius Program!

    Join the TESU Genius Program!

    The Office of Alumni Engagement is dedicated to maintaining meaningful lifelong connections with TESU alumni. Throughout the University’s 50-plus years of serving adult learners, more than 60,000 alumni have been TESU’s biggest advocates. Last year alone, alumni referred 531 applicants to the University.

    The TESU Genius Program is a great way to stay connected and support the mission of the University! By attending Commencement, you have already completed the Wizard Step. Post a photo of your graduation celebration using the hashtag #TESUGrad, and you will have completed the Illuminator Step. Stop at the Philanthropy Cord table and become a donor and you will complete the Entrepreneur Step. After completing all five steps, you will receive a custom TESU Coin!

    Learn more about the TESU Genius Program and how to stay connected on the Alumni website.

  • Explore Trenton

    The celebration doesn't have to stop after commencement concludes. Discover where to continue your celebrations around Trenton, New Jersey.

Photos will be taken at the Commencement ceremony. Please take a moment to read the Photo Release information below:

As event registrants, you and your guests accept the terms and conditions: I do hereby give Thomas Edison State University, its assigns, licensees and legal representatives, the irrevocable right to use my name (or fictional name), picture, image or photograph in all forms and media, and in all manners for advertising, promotional or educational purposes, trade or any other lawful purposes, and I waive any right to inspect or approve the finished product, including written copy, that may be created in connection therewith. I am of full age. I have read this release and am fully familiar with its contents.

A separate photo release will be obtained for anyone participating at “Share Your Story” before the ceremony.

For additional questions or more information, contact the Office of the Registrar at 609-984-1180 or commencement@tesu.edu