The School of Hospitality Administration Diploma Convocation is normally held in the month of May in METCALF HALL at the George Sherman Union, 775 Commonwealth Avenue. You will receive your diploma at this ceremony.

The official date for the  Boston University Commencement is still being determined. It is normally held on Nickerson Field, rain or shine, and will last about two hours. This is an All-University function at which President Brown confers degree on all University graduates.

You are cordially invited to attend and participate in both ceremonies. If you decide to participate in either ceremony, you will be required to wear a cap and gown. Please read the cap and gown announcement for ordering deadlines and to purchase. Additionally, please try on your cap and gown to make sure everything fits and your tassel is included. We will not have any extra caps, tassels or gowns at Metcalf.

Students who are graduating should access the student link to update their graduation ceremony information.

To access the update functions:

• Log-on to the Student Link
• Select the “Academics” tab
• Select the “Diploma and Graduation Information” option

As a reminder, if you are completing any courses outside of Boston University, we must receive official transcripts from all outside institutions NO LATER THAN MAY 1, 2019 in order to clear you to graduate in May. Transcripts should be sent to the attention of:

BU School of Hospitality Administration Director of Student Services

Molly-Kate Carven

928 Commonwealth Avenue

Boston, MA 02215

 

You can also send an official transcript electronically to Molly-Kate Craven at mkcarven@bu.edu.

SHA CONVOCATION INSTRUCTIONS – Please read carefully.

The instructions that follow will ensure that the convocation ceremony proceeds smoothly.

The School of Hospitality Administration Convocation will be held in Metcalf Hall at the George Sherman Union – 775 Commonwealth Avenue, 2nd floor on Saturday, May 16th, 2020.

• The ceremony will begin promptly at 10:00am. Graduates must assemble in the GSU Conference Auditorium (next to Metcalf Hall) by 9:15am. There will be assistants on hand to direct you to the proper location.
• VERY IMPORTANT: In the GSU Conference Auditorium you will immediately pick up your blue NAME CARD at the check-in table located in the Conference Auditorium. Please hold on to this important card as the number in the upper right corner will assist you when you line up for the procession. Also, you will give the blue card to a SHA professor to announce your name on stage when you receive your diploma from the dean. Please proofread the card to be sure that your name is printed the way that you want it stated as you cross the stage. DO NOT LOSE YOUR CARD.
• Once you have your numbered name card, please take a seat in the auditorium that is labeled with the same number that is written on your card. You must be seated in the Conference Auditorium by 9:40 am.
• At 9:55 a.m. the Pomp and Circumstance processional music will begin in Metcalf Hall. You will be led by marshals from the GSU Conference Auditorium to the seats designated for graduates in front of the stage inside Metcalf Hall. When all of the graduates have reached a chair, Dean Upneja will step to the podium and ask everyone to be seated. Please remain standing until Dean Upneja asks you to sit.
• The diploma ceremony will begin after the introductory remarks, speeches, and award presentations. The Dean and faculty members will present each degree.
• A marshal will stand at each row to indicate when you should begin walking to the stage to receive your diploma. It is very important for you to have your blue name card with you at this time. You will be lead to the left side of the stage to walk up the stairs, give your blue card to the SHA professor, and begin walking across the stage to receive your diploma from the dean at center stage. Please wait at the stairs until you are told to begin your walk up to the SHA professor. TO ALL DEGREE CANDIDATES: After you receive your diploma, return to the row of seats indicated by the marshal and be seated. Please remain seated until the ceremony is over. There will be a recessional and all graduates are expected to exit together.
• During the ceremony you will be handed your diploma inside a red diploma envelope. If you do not have a diploma it could be for one of a number of reasons. Talk with Molly-Kate Carven, SHA’s Director of Student Services, about your academic standing.
• RECESSIONAL INSTRUCTIONS: When Dean Upneja makes his concluding remarks, the Pomp and Circumstance music will indicate that the recessional is about to begin. Please stand but remain at your chair in the graduate seating area until Dean Upneja has led the ceremony participants off stage and down the center aisle of the guest seating area. Marshals will direct graduates to follow. The ceremony will then be officially over and our reception will begin immediately in the Ziskind Lounge. The reception will end by 1:30 p.m.

Other Logistics & Information for Day of Graduation:

• Inform your family and guests to immediately take their seats in Metcalf Hall upon arrival to the George Sherman Union.
• DISABLED STUDENTS OR GUESTS: If special seating is needed for the SHA diploma convocation, please indicate in the RSVP survey in step 3. For questions concerning special seating for the morning ceremony at Nickerson Field on Sunday, call Disability Services at 617/353-3658.
• PHOTOGRAPHS: Please inform your guests that photographs are NOT allowed to be taken at the platform or in the aisles during the ceremony. The School of Hospitality Administration will use the services of Commencement Photos, Inc. They will take a photograph of each degree recipient as they receive their diploma from the dean. You will receive information from them shortly after the ceremony.
• BU PRODUCTIONS: A copy of SHA’s ceremony video will be available for purchase through the Commencement website at a price of $25 per DVD. See Commencement website for details.

To help celebrate the joy of the event, Dean Upneja will be hosting a graduation reception immediately following our convocation ceremony. All SHA graduates, family, and friends are welcome to attend.

Boston University School of Hospitality Administration Reception
Ziskind Lounge
775 Commonwealth Avenue, 2nd floor
Saturday, May 16, 2020

We look forward to seeing you and your guests at this reception.