Commencement FAQ

• The Metropolitan College Convocation Ceremony is held at the Track & Tennis Center on Saturday. Metropolitan College graduates will form a processional to begin this ceremony. A welcome by the dean and the commencement address by the guest speaker precedes the presentation of awards and diplomas. Each student is called by name and recognized at the podium. Students who have completed their requirements and have officially graduated will receive their diplomas after the ceremony at the original check-in area. A recessional and reception conclude the ceremony. Graduation photos will be taken by professional photographers and will be made available for sale.
• The All-University Commencement Ceremony is held at Nickerson Field on Sunday, and typically lasts one-and-a-half to two hours. An academic procession of Boston University graduates and faculty will formally begin the ceremony. The program includes the call to order, national anthem, invocation, student speech, conferring of honorary awards and degrees, the University address, and the presentation of candidates, concluding with the benediction and recessional.

Find directions to Nickerson Field here.

Metropolitan College’s ceremony will be held on Saturday, May 19 at 6 p.m. in the Track & Tennis Center, located at 100 Ashford Street, Boston, MA. Graduating students should arrive at 5 p.m.

There are no limits on the number of guests that you may bring to the Metropolitan College Convocation Ceremony or the all-University Commencement Ceremony.

There are no tickets for either the Metropolitan College Convocation Ceremony or the all-University Commencement Ceremony.

Guests are encouraged to use public transportation. Shuttle buses will operate along Commonwealth Avenue before and after the Nickerson Field ceremony and will stop upon request.

Unless used as a site for a convocation, all University parking lots will be open except Babcock Street. Parking spaces are extremely limited for the All-University morning ceremony. Note: Babcock Street will be open for the Metropolitan College evening ceremony.

Parking for the Metropolitan College evening ceremony is also available at Agganis Arena.

All special needs parking requests should be directed to Disability Services at 617-353-3658 or access@bu.edu.

The Metropolitan College ceremony will last approximately two-and-a-half hours. The Nickerson Field ceremony will last approximately two hours.

All such requests should be directed to Disability Services at 617-353-3658.

Both ceremonies are optional and you may choose to attend one or both. Names will be read only at the Metropolitan College ceremony. Both ceremonies require you to wear a cap & gown.

Metropolitan College students must apply for graduation.

NEW THIS YEAR: Online orders can be placed for home delivery of your purchased bachelor’s or master’s regalia beginning January 1, 2012. The deadline to place orders for delivery is March 15. Online orders can also be placed specifying in-store pick-up at Barnes & Noble at BU. Pick-up orders can be placed online from January 1 until March 15 and may be picked up at Barnes & Noble beginning April 22. Degree candidates who do not place an online order for delivery or in-store pick-up must visit Barnes & Noble at Boston University, beginning April 30, to purchase their academic regalia. Please be advised that in order to ensure that you have the correct academic dress for your ceremony with respect to color and size, you should plan to pick up any online regalia order or visit the bookstore to purchase your regalia no later than May 11. To order online, visit the Herff Jones website.

May graduates will be able to pick up diplomas immediately after the Metropolitan College ceremony. Please note that a photo ID is required. In rare cases, diplomas will not be available and may be picked up at or mailed by the Office of the University Registrar. May graduates who do not attend the ceremony should have completed the diploma and graduation information on the Student Link.

September and January graduates who did not already receive a diploma should arrange to pick it up at the Office of the University Registrar or have it mailed.

September 2012 graduates should complete the diploma and graduation information on the Student Link.

Learn about how you can order a class ring.

Yearbooks are available to undergraduates. More information is available on the BU Yearbook website.

Professionally produced video recordings of this year’s All-University Commencement Exercises at Nickerson Field and the Diploma Convocation for Metropolitan College will be available for purchase. Find full details on the BU Commencement site.

Metropolitan College will have professional photographers present to take your picture as you walk across the stage and receive your diploma cover from the dean. Full details can be found on the BU Commencement site. If you have not given permission to release your address, please contact the Office of the University Registrar.

We do hope that you plan to stay in touch with us. Start by visiting the Metropolitan College Alumni website.

You may sign up for an email forwarding address at the Metropolitan College Alumni website. The Boston University Alumni website also features an Alumni Directory.