Important Dates 2026
February 10 – Commencement Catering Showcase. Updated reception orders should be sent to coordinators before this date. Please check your emails.
February- Start regularly e-mailing your graduates (Jan 2026, May 2026 and August 2026) with convocation info and reminders. Here are instructions for pulling lists of tentative graduates by major.
Here are instructions for pulling lists of MA candidates by department.
Here are guidelines for printing names in programs/displaying on slides (how to navigate FERPA restrictions, etc)
Mid February – Renee and Matt from Geskus Studios will reach out to coordinate handshake photography at your convocations. Geskus has replaced Grad Images as our handshake photography vendor this year.
March 2 – Faculty/staff regalia orders due. Faculty order directly here (communicate with your faculty).
March 2 – Requests for design and printing of convocation programs due to Marketing and Communication.
March 6 – Update and return 2025 event sheets to Catering on the Charles. Any liquor license requests must also be submitted at this time.
March 20 – CAS Convocation Coordinators should complete the CAS Convocation Information Form to report honor cord needs and College Prize winner.
March 23 – Student cap and gown order deadline for on-campus pick-up. Student cap and gown order info here (communicate with your students). If students want to request funding for their cap and gown they must do so here.
March 25 – Final catering event sheets sent to coordinators from Catering on the Charles.
March 30 – Return convocation set-up diagrams to Space Management with any updates.
Early April – Students will receive an email to request guest tickets for commencement on Nickerson Field.
April 1 – Requests for non-handshake photography must be submitted to Marketing and Communications (erinylee@bu.edu).
April 1 – Submit any special A/V requests, including live stream requests, to LETS (letshelp@bu.edu).
April 1 – Disability & Access Services’ website opens for accessible parking, seating, and individual services requests. While every effort will be made to provide accommodations requested after May 8, they cannot be guaranteed.
April 1 – Final catering event sheets returned to Catering on the Charles.
April ish– Students assigned a “task” in MyBU Student to add a diploma mailing address and diploma name. More info here.
April 8 – ISRs due for Catering events.
Early April– Students receive an e-mail to request tickets to Nickerson Field. More info here.
April 15 – Student cap and gown order deadline for home delivery.
April 15 – Deadline to request BUPD services.
April 26 – Catering on the Charles guarantees due (i.e. last chance to change the number of attendees)
April 27 – Final deadline to make changes to convocation set-up diagrams based on graduate sign-ups or line-up changes.
Schedule of CAS Convocations can be found here.
Useful Links
Boston University Commencement details and related information – a great resource for students and their families: https://www.bu.edu/commencement/
University policy on printing names for Commencement here
Points of Contact
General CAS Related Questions:
Simon Anderson, Assistant Director of Student Programs & Leadership
msimona@bu.edu
617-358-3198
General GRS Related Questions:
Kristen Shannon O’Conner, Assistant Director of Graduate Affairs & Student Support
grsgs@bu.edu
617-353-2696
Events & Conferences
Michael Ciarlante, Director of Events & Conferences
michaelc@bu.edu
617-353-2769
Registrar:
diploma@bu.edu