In just a few hours, Barack Obama will address graduates at Rutgers University's 2016 commencement, and according to The White House, the President plans to encourage students to make positive changes in the world.

Obama's speech at High Point Solutions Stadium in Piscataway will emphasize the challenges 2016 graduates will face and how they can overcome them and remain optimistic despite obstacles.

"These students are as well-prepared as any students have ever been to confront those challenges and use this changing environment to create a better world," White House spokesman Josh Earnest tol the Associated Press. "That's what makes the president so fundamentally optimistic about the future of our country, and that optimism is manifested quite well in this year's graduating class at Rutgers."

In the days leading up to the commencement, Obama agreed to an interview with The Daily Targum, Rutgers' officials newspaper. During the interview, he was asked about topics ranging from student loan debt and the economy to First Amendment rights and elections.

"We have to make sure we also recognize this is a big country, and there’s very rarely a single set of silver bullets out there that would immediately solve all of these problems," Obama told The Targum. "We’re part of an interconnected global economy now, and there’s no going back from that. It’s important for us to not oversimplify how we’re going to bring about the kind of change we need."

When the news of Obama's upcoming visit to Rutgers was first announced last month, the response was primarily positive. Students, including Republican student groups on campus, did not show any strong opposition to having the Democratic president give the keynote address at commencement.

The student Republican group on campus, meanwhile, said they will not protest just because they disagree with Obama’s politics — and took a swipe at those who protested Rice.

“In the University environment one is expected to confront differing opinions and beliefs, and part of becoming an educated adult is respecting others, even when we may vehemently disagree,” the group stated.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Toniann Antonelli is a social content producer for NJ 101.5. She can be reached at toniann.antonelli@townsquaremedia.com, or on Twitter @ToniRadio1015.

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