Weather Forecast Alters RCBC Graduation Plans

Extensive rain in the forecast for this week has forced Rowan College at Burlington County to change its graduation plans, the college announced on Wednesday. The college had planned to hold two ceremonies, on Thursday night and Friday morning. It will now hold five commencement ceremonies.

Under the rain plan, Thursday’s Health Sciences ceremony will move inside Votta Hall, 5 p.m. Friday’s Liberal Arts and Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics ceremony will be split into four ceremonies throughout the day all held inside Votta Hall. The schedule is as follows:

• 9:30 a.m. – Business, Education and Law majors with remarks from Student Government Association President Altana West.
• 12:30 p.m. – Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics majors with remarks from Burlington County Freeholder Director Kate Gibbs.
• 3:30 p.m. – Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences majors with remarks from Valedictorian Madison Weller.
• 6:30 p.m. – Liberal Arts and Sciences majors with remarks from keynote speaker The Rev. Aubrey Fenton.

Below is the complete list of majors for each ceremony:

Business, Education and Law majors: Accounting, Accounting Technology, Business Administration, Business Management, Business Technology, Criminal Justice, Education and Paralegal.

Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics majors: Alternative Engineering Technology, Biology, Biotechnology, Chemical Engineering, Chemistry, Computer Automated Drafting, Computer Management Information Systems, Computer Science, Computer Servicing and Networking Technology, Computer Information Systems, Computer Networking Support / Servicing, Construction Management, Electronics Engineering Technology, Engineering, Engineering Technology, Information Assurance and Cybersecurity, Math, Physics, Sustainable Energy Studies, Fashion Product Merchandising, Graphic Design and Digital Media, Fashion Design, Culinary, Pastry, Cooking and Baking, and Hospitality.

Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences majors: Art, Photography, American Sign Language, Communication Arts, English, History, Music, Journalism, Liberal Arts, Philosophy, Political Science, Psychology, Sociology, Communication Arts, Entertainment Technologies, Human Services, and International Studies.

Liberal Arts and Sciences majors: Liberal Arts and Sciences majors (AS.LSC degrees only).

To ensure every graduate is recognized, each ceremony will include just one featured speaker.

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The ceremonies were previously scheduled to be held on the quad in front of the Student Success Center on its Mount Laurel campus, but the weather had other ideas.

“We had really hoped to celebrate on our new quad, but we’re not going to let a little rain damper the spirit of hundreds of graduates who worked so hard to achieve their degrees,” Rowan College at Burlington County Acting President Michael Cioce said. “Our plans have changed, but the most important thing is that graduates will have an opportunity to participate in a ceremony and have their achievements recognized by the college community.”

The forecast for Thursday and Friday, according to the National Weather Service, can be found below:

Thursday: Showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm. Cloudy, with a high near 67. Light northeast wind. Chance of precipitation is 60%. New rainfall amounts between a quarter and half of an inch possible.

Thursday Night: Showers and possibly a thunderstorm. Patchy fog after 2am. Low around 58. East wind around 5 mph becoming calm. Chance of precipitation is 80%. New rainfall amounts between a half and three quarters of an inch possible.

Friday: Showers and possibly a thunderstorm. Patchy fog before 8am. High near 64. East wind 10 to 14 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80%. New rainfall amounts between three quarters and one inch possible.

Friday Night: Showers. Patchy fog. Low around 54. Chance of precipitation is 80%. New precipitation amounts between a half and three quarters of an inch possible.

Because of the limited number of seats in Votta Hall for graduates and their guests, each graduate will be given two tickets at Thursday’s graduation rehearsal scheduled for 10 a.m. in Votta Hall. Additional guests are welcome to watch a livestream of the broadcast on campus in the Student Success Center. The stream will also be available off campus at rcbc.edu.

The attached image was previously provided by Rowan College at Burlington County.