Ocean County College Moves Graduation Indoors Due To Rain

TOMS RIVER, NJ — Ocean County College has postponed its Spring 2025 graduation ceremony until Thursday due to Wednesday's rain.

The commencement ceremony — the college's 58th annual ceremony — had been set for the lawn at the Gateway Building on the campus, off Hooper Avenue in Toms River.

The forecast for rain prompted the college to move the ceremony indoors and break it into three smaller celebrations on Thursday, at 10 a.m., at 1 p.m. and 4 p.m., according to updated information on the college's website.

The graduates will be permitted three guests each at the celebrations in the HPE Gymnasium, Building 29 on campus.

OCC also is providing a livestream for family and friends to watch the ceremonies online, and the livestream will be available at this link.

Ceremony assignments will be:

• 10 a.m. – High School Academy students and graduates with last names beginning A-C
• 1 p.m. – Graduates with last names beginning D-M
• 4 p.m. – Graduates with last names N-Z

Graduates should arrive one hour prior to their assigned ceremony time. Upon arrival, graduates must report to the Auxiliary Gymnasium for check-in.

"Due to limited space, we must strictly enforce the three-guest limit per graduate. We ask that everyone comply with this request to be considerate of fellow graduates and their families," OCC officials said.

Additional details:

• Doors to the Gymnasium will open one hour prior to each ceremony.
• Each ceremony will begin promptly at the designated start time and guests should plan accordingly.

Campus parking lots will be open on Commencement Day. However, due to the number of guests expected, parking in the lot closest to the Gymnasium may not be available. We ask attendees to allow extra time for parking.###a>

For questions, please contact the Office of Student Life at 732-255-0348, officials said.