Celebrating Academic Convocation and the Presidential Inauguration
This academic year, FDU’s 2023 Academic Convocation, will include the inauguration of President Michael J. Avaltroni and the presentation of Distinguished Faculty Awards and the University Pillars for outstanding staff. In addition, community members are invited to participate in a special Day of Service that week as well as add their touch to rock paintings on the New Jersey campuses.
The convocation and inauguration will be held on Wednesday, September 27, inside a tent on the Library Lawn on the Florham Campus, beginning at 2 pm. A reception will follow the event.
If you require transportation from the Metropolitan Campus please complete the Shuttle RSVP Form. The shuttle will leave the Metropolitan Campus at 12:30 and will return to the campus by 6 pm.
The event will also be available via livestream at the link here, starting at 2 pm. In addition, a viewing party will be held at the Metropolitan Campus at the Student Union Building Multi-purpose Room. Advance registration is not required. Doors open at 1 pm. Viewing parties will also be held at the Vancouver Campus and Wroxton College.
This will be a historic day in the institution’s history, and we hope you can attend or view the convocation and inauguration. In addition to the day’s celebration, the University will celebrate FDU’s longstanding spirit of service with a series of special events. A Day of Service will be held on Tuesday, September 26, on the Florham and Metropolitan campuses, focusing on food insecurity and voter registration, and featuring the various philanthropic organizations our student clubs, organizations, fraternities and sororities support throughout the year.
At the Metropolitan Campus, you are invited to visit the Student Union Building between 10 am and 6 pm to participate in “Pack a Snack Marathon,” a partnership with the Center for Food Action (CFA), in which we will be putting together snack packs that will be distributed to local communities. Please also plan on bringing non-perishable food items for the Metro Food Pantry. From noon to 3 pm, please also plan on stopping by the SUB Lobby for Voter Registration (co-sponsored with the League of Women Voters) as well as a showcase of the philanthropic organizations supported by the student clubs, organizations, fraternities and sororities.
On the Florham Campus, all are invited to the Student Center from noon to 2 pm to bring non-perishable food items for a Devils Food Pantry food drive. In addition, Voter Registration (co-sponsored with the League of Women Voters) will be held there as well as presenting the philanthropic organizations supported by the student clubs, organizations, fraternities and sororities.
Community members at the Vancouver Campus also participated in FDU’s service initiative through the Shoreline Cleanup Act of Service on Saturday, September 16.
Finally, we encourage those community members who are not on campus those days, including our online students, to give back to their communities by serving an hour or more during this month.
To further celebrate the upcoming presidential inauguration, the University community will kick off inauguration week with rock painting on the New Jersey campuses. Students, faculty and staff are invited to come by the campus rocks to place a thumbprint (disposable gloves will be provided). Student Life on both campuses will take care of the base coat, writing “Congratulations Dr. Michael Avaltroni, FDU’s Ninth President” as well as outline in big letters “FDU.” Participants will come by the rock and add their thumbprint.
Metropolitan Campus: The rock outside of the Housing and Residence Life Office, next to the Student Union Building. Rain date to be announced.
Florham Campus: Reuter’s Rock in front of Hennessy Hall. Weds., Sept. 27, from 1 – 2 pm & 3:30 – 4:30 pm. Thurs., Sept. 28, from 12 – 3 pm.
