Commencement 2020
Post-Graduation Celebration
We’re not done celebrating you yet!
We hope you enjoy viewing the personal messages and photos from your family, friends, fellow graduates and your Berkeley College family. We are so proud of you!
Be proud of what you’ve accomplished! Be confident in what you’ve learned! Be ready to make the world a better place!
#BerkeleyGrad2020
Celebrity Cameo Videos
Click to view the videos below as a range of celebrities offer their congratulations and inspiration to the most recent class of Berkeley grads.
Left to right: Peter Alonso, Cedric the Entertainer, and Lisa Leslie.
President Michael Smith often says “Commencement is the best day of the year’’ on the Berkeley College calendar. It’s the reason why we close our campuses each year to allow faculty and staff the opportunity to see firsthand why we work so hard for our students for the other 364 days.
It is therefore with disappointment that we announce the necessary decision to not hold Commencement at the Prudential Center on Friday, May 8, 2020. This decision was made in accordance with social distancing guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy’s directive to further limit large gatherings for the foreseeable future.
We know how important this milestone is, and we have found a way to recognize the hard work and successes of our students. Berkeley College will be hosting an integrated Virtual Commencement Ceremony in lieu of an onsite ceremony for the 2020 Commencement. More details regarding the virtual ceremony are forthcoming. Please continue to check your email and this Commencement website page for more details.
Spring 2019, Fall 2019, and Winter 2020 graduates who would like the opportunity to walk across the stage, will be able to do so at the 2021 Commencement Ceremony. Regardless, you will receive the diploma you have earned at the end of this semester.
We will keep you updated as these Virtual Commencement Ceremony plans are finalized. Updates will be sent electronically and posted on this page. Understandably, we, along with you are saddened by this turn of events, but the safety of our students, faculty, and staff continues to be our most important consideration. For more information and resources regarding the Coronavirus (COVID-19), visit BerkeleyCollege.edu/Coronavirus.
Frequently Asked Questions
We know how important this milestone is, and we are committed to finding a way to recognize the hard work and successes of our students. Berkeley College will be hosting an integrated virtual commencement in lieu of an onsite ceremony for the 2020 Commencement. More details regarding the virtual ceremony are forthcoming. Please continue to check your email and this Commencement website page for more details.
Spring 2019, Fall 2019 and Winter 2020 graduates who would like the opportunity to walk across the stage, will be able to do so at the 2021 Commencement Ceremony. Regardless, you will receive the diploma you have earned at the end of this semester. Please allow 6-8 weeks from the time you have graduated before you receive your diploma by mail.
Yes. Once you have officially graduated from Berkeley College and have taken care of the steps listed below, a diploma will be ordered. A diploma will not be ordered unless the steps listed below are completed. In order to receive your diploma, you must complete the following steps:
- Pay off all outstanding balances with Student Accounts, Financial Aid, and the Library.
- Complete a student loan exit interview through the Financial Literacy Department (if you borrowed through the federal student loan program).
- Verify your name and mailing address for your diploma through your student portal in Self-Service. Please follow the instructions below:
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- Log into Engage and click on the "Self-Service" tile.
- On the next screen, log in using your Berkeley College credentials.
- Once in your Self-Service account, click on "Self-Service" on the left side of the page and next “Degree Progress/ Graduation,” then “View Graduation Status.”
- If you would like a change to your primary name as it appears in Self-Service you can do so by clicking on the “Change name for your diploma” link. You will need to provide the Office of the Registrar with documentation to process the name.
- Click on “Address to send diploma” to verify where your diploma will be mailed. Diplomas will only be mailed to residential addresses; please be sure to include apartment number or floor. Diplomas cannot be mailed to businesses, any Berkeley campuses, or Residence Halls.
Please allow 6-8 weeks from the time you have graduated before you receive your diploma.
An email message from Jostens with a tracking number will be sent to your Berkeley College email once your diploma has shipped. You will still have access to your Berkeley College email as an alum; please contact the help desk if you are locked out of your Berkeley email.
After successful completion of all coursework and graduation requirements, please allow 6-8 weeks to receive your diploma.
The graduation fee is $100.00 and it covers administrative fees and the diploma.
Yes, expected graduates are assessed a graduation fee at the start of their final semester, based on their anticipated graduation term. If you are uncertain if you have been charged, you can review your account on Self-Service.
If you are a Spring 2019, Fall 2019, or Winter 2020 graduate and have been assessed the graduation fee, it will be waived. If your account reflects a credit, a refund will be processed for you. If your account stills reflects a balance after the graduation fee waiver, the credit will be applied to reduce the amount owed.
Refunds will be processed though BankMobile. In order for students to receive possible financial aid or other school refunds, they must select a refund preference with BankMobile. For more information about BankMobile, visit this link: https://bankmobiledisbursements.com/refundchoicessso/
Please visit this Commencement web page and check your email for updates on dates and times when graduates can pick up their cap and gown on campus.
You will still have access to your Berkeley College email as an alum; please contact the help desk if you are locked out of your Berkeley email.
The cap and gown you received in the mail is yours to keep.
Thornton Studio photographers is the company that we use at our New York and New Jersey graduate salutes. You can schedule an appointment with Thornton Studio at their New York City location or you can contact any local photographer in your area to inquire if they take graduation pictures.
Contact information for Thornton Studio Photographers:
210 W 29th Street, 3rd floor, New York, NY 10001
Phone: (212) 647-1966
Appointments: https://www.thorntonstudio.com
You can purchase a class ring online at the Jostens website. The class jewelry discount is now $100 off with a new promo code CONGRATS100. This discount is available through April 30th.
Jostens has created a new product discount for all of their products on https://www.jostens.com with promo codes. All discounts will be listed on the banner page at https://www.jostens.com under the individual names of each institutions. Please type Berkeley College and select your campus. These promos will be available through April 30th.
