Graduation FAQ

Outstanding Grades, Incompletes, Transfer Credits and BTI Grades

Incomplete grades from all semesters must be resolved by Friday, April 20, 2012.

All requests for transfer credits must be completed by Friday, April 20, 2012.

All BTI and Inter-session grades must be received no later than Tuesday, May 15, 2012.

Please review your academic transcript after the final exam period and before Tuesday, May 15 to confirm that all of your final grades have been reported.

GPA Calculation & Faculty Official Graduate Vote

Your GPA will be calculated once your grades are closed. If outstanding grades are not submitted to the Office of Registration and Financial Aid by Tuesday, May 15, 2012, you will not be eligible for a May graduation from the School of Theology, and graduation will be deferred until September 2012.

If you have completed all degree requirements and settled your student account, your name will be presented to the School of Theology faculty for their graduation vote on Friday, May 18, 2012. You will then be clear to participate in all graduation ceremonies. Note: the University may withhold a diploma if financial and academic obligations have not been met.

MTS Oral Comprehensive Examination Deadlines

May 2012 MTS graduates must complete their Oral Comprehensive Exam by Friday, May 4, 2012.  Students are responsible for obtaining the Oral Comprehensive Form by download from the STH website.  This form must be signed by the advisor and second professor following the Oral Examination indicating the student’s pass or fail.  All Oral Comprehensive Exam forms must be left in the drop box in Suite 108 for update of the student transcript.

STM, D.Min, Th.D. and Ph.D. Graduation Deadlines and Requirements

A list of graduation deadlines specific to STM, D.Min., Th.D., and Ph.D. students can be found here.

Final Exiting Procedures for Student Accounts and Financial Aid

You must settle any and all payments to Boston University prior to the Commencement Day exercises in order to have your diploma ready for you at the STH Hooding Convocation.  If you have outstanding charges on your student account, the University will withhold your diploma.

Similarly, you must return all library books to the School of Theology or Mugar Memorial Libraries in advance of graduation.  Any fines must be paid as well.  Failure to return books or pay library fines will cause the University to withhold your diploma.

Students who have borrowed from the Federal Direct Stafford/Ford Loan programs must undertake an Exit Interview with the University’s Office of Financial Aid.  Information on Exit Interviews will be mailed to you directly from the University.  Failure to do the Federal Loan Exit Interview will cause the University to withhold your diploma until this process is complete.

Obtaining Academic Regalia

Everyone participating in a Commencement Weekend academic ceremony must wear a cap and gown approved by Boston University.  The University Cap and Gown department is located at Barnes & Noble Bookstore at Boston University on the fourth floor (617) 267-8484/Regalia Department (617) 236-7401.  Barnes & Noble accepts cash, check, Visa, MasterCard, Discover, and American Express.  Graduating students must acquire Boston University Academic Regalia to participate in Boston University Commencement and School of Theology Hooding services.

Online orders for home delivery of your purchased bachelor’s or master’s regalia can be placed now through March 15. Online orders, including all rental doctoral regalia, can be placed specifying in-store pick-up now through 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 BU, beginning April 30, to purchase their academic regalia or rent for doctoral candidates

Doctoral Candidates:  You may rent regalia (tam, tassel, hood, and gown).  Student rentals are made on the condition that the regalia are returned to Barnes & Noble collection sites on or before May 22, 2012.   If you fail to return the regalia you will be billed for the full cost of replacement. You may wish to purchase a tailor-made BU Doctoral regalia set by submitting an order to Barnes & Noble Bookstore at Boston University, 660 Beacon Street, Boston, MA  02215.  Contact Barnes & Noble directly if you have questions.

For more detailed information check out the Academic Dress Website.

Nickerson Field

Arrival and Assembly

All degree candidates (bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral – all Schools and Colleges) are to reach the line-up areas via Harry Agganis Way. To ensure that you process onto Nickerson Field and are seated with fellow degree candidates from your School or College, you must reach the entrance to Harry Agganis Way by 12:00 pm. At the entrance to Harry Agganis Way, you will find a walkway reserved for all degree candidates only. University marshals will direct you to your appropriate School or College line-up area. Please note: Doctoral candidates from all Schools and all candidates from LAW, MED, SPH, SDM, SSW, GMS, and STH will be grouped together, not by individual Schools.

The faculty procession will form in the West Campus Dining Room. The entrance to this area is via the walkway on Commonwealth Avenue, adjacent to 985 Commonwealth Avenue. University Marshals will direct faculty to their robing area.

The families and guests of degree candidates may reach the Nickerson Field seating area by a separate walkway at the entrance to Harry Agganis Way.

Seating and Protocol

There is no reserved seating in the stands at Nickerson Field, except seating for disabled guests. The stands tend to fill quickly. It is advisable to arrive at Nickerson Field no later than noon. It is not advisable to arrange to meet family members or guests at Nickerson Field before the ceremony. Because the number of guests is very large, attendees will not be allowed to congregate outside on Harry Agganis Way. A seating map for Nickerson Field will be provided online.

Please remember that this is an outdoor ceremony. Previous Commencement days have seen temperatures ranging from 50 to 90 degrees. Be prepared for all types of weather conditions.

Nickerson Field Protocol

Such items as champagne, balloons, and beach balls, and any similar paraphernalia, will not be allowed into Nickerson Field. Our security staff has been instructed to confiscate these objects. This will allow the ceremony to proceed without interruptions. Out of consideration for others, we ask that cellular telephones and other electronic paging devices be turned off during the ceremony.