BUSSW Commencement 2025
The 2025 BUSSW Commencement Ceremony will take place Thursday, May 15 at 4pm at BU’s Walter Brown Arena (285 Babcock St, Boston – map). The ceremony will also be live-streamed here on the BUSSW Commencement webpage for those unable to attend in-person.
Doors open at 3:00pm.
Details will be shared with all graduating students via their BU email and posted on this webpage as they are determined. Tickets are not required and there is no guest limit. The ceremony will last approximately 2 hours followed by a reception for all.
- For event questions: Please email Tess Greenwood at tgreenwo@bu.edu.
- For graduation requirement questions: Please contact your program’s student services administrator.
Accessibility
Requests for accessible seating and individual services are managed by BU Disability & Access Services. All requests need to be submitted between April 1 and May 9. Once submitted and and reviewed by the Disability Office, BUSSW staff will connect with the parties directly.
Handicapped parking is available in all parking lots throughout the Charles River Campus on a first-come, first-served basis (no parking permit needed or reservations allowed).
The event will be live streamed with closed captioning for those who cannot attend.
For the in-person ceremony, CART services (live captioning) will be accessible on your mobile device. Details will be shared closer the ceremony.
Arrival & Schedule
Doors will open at 3:00PM.
Please enter Walter Brown Arena from the 285 Babcock Street entrance unless you have discussed an alternate accessible entry plan with the BUSSW planning team.
BUSSW staff will be present to guide you to your destination.
Please note that bag size will be limited to 12″ x 12″ x 6″ for all guests, graduating students, faculty and staff, and all bags will be physically inspected prior to entry. Review additional information about BU security protocols at bu.edu/commencement/security.
Additional details will be sent to graduating students, faculty, and staff via email.
Ceremony Roles & Class Gift
Student Speaker:
Gene Jerskey – Charles River Campus
Guest Speaker:
Ricardo Neal (MSW’99), President and Chief Executive Officer of We Will All Rise
Read about Ricardo Neal in our announcement here.
Faculty Roles:
Reader: Prof. Phillipe Copeland
Hooders: Profs. Wade Taylor and Luz Lopez
Faculty Marshals: Profs. Layla Khayr and M. Emilia Bianco
Teaching Excellence Award Winner:
Prof. Jennifer Gomez
The Class Gift will go to the BRIDGE Program Discretionary Fund. Bridge helps increase access to graduate social work education for those who have historically not had it, including participants from around the globe, while addressing critical cultural competency needs within the human services workforce. This fund provides for immediate needs that include, but are not limited to student financial aid support, classroom needs and program supplies, student travel, etc. Click here to donate!
Exit Song: “Feeling Good” by Lauryn Hill
Diplomas & Transcripts
Diplomas & Transcripts FAQ
Will I receive my actual diploma at Commencement?
On May 15 you’ll receive a diploma folder. The actual completed diploma will be mailed to you in July once balances are paid and exit counseling has been completed,
When will the transcript show that I graduated?
For those graduating in January, it will appear on your transcript around 1/25, for those graduating in May it will appear around 5/20 and for those graduating in August, it will appear around 8/25 of the year you graduate. View the graduation calendar here.
When can I request a certificate of completion?
Once you are designated an official graduate by the Registrar’s Office, you can request a certificate of completion which states that you have completed all the requirements for the degree and your official graduation date. Once the graduation date has passed, your graduation information will appear on your transcript and you’ll be able to order a certificate of graduation.
How do I request a certificate of completion?
A certificate of completion can be ordered by emailing or calling the BU Office of the Registrar at registrar@bu.edu or 617-353-3612. As soon as you see all your grades posted on the Student Link under transcript preview, contact the School of Social Work Registrar at swreg@bu.edu to ensure that your degree requirements have been met. Then the SSW Registrar can approve your request for a certificate of completion to the University Registrar.
When can I request a certificate of graduation?
A certificate of graduation can only be obtained after the graduation date has passed. More information on how to order a certificate of graduation can be found here: bu.edu/reg/graduation/certificates-of-graduation/
I have questions regarding ordering my transcript and/or my diploma. Who should I contact?
Questions regarding ordering transcripts should be directed to the Office of the University Registrar at registrar@bu.edu or 617-353-3612. Transcripts can also be ordered on the Student Link. Those with questions regarding diplomas should email diploma@bu.edu or call 617-353-3604 or diploma@bu.edu. For more information, visit the University Registrar’s Diplomas & Graduation webpage and the Ordering a Transcript webpage.
When will my diploma be mailed?
For information on when your diploma will be mailed or when you can pick it up, please check the University Registrar’s Office for their Diploma Ordering/Mailing Schedule.
Guests
The Walter Brown Arena is a large venue, so no tickets are needed for your guests. Doors to the arena will open at 3:00pm.
If you and/or your guests need hotel accommodations, visit BU’s Accommodations webpage here.
Livestream
The commencement ceremony will be live-streamed for those unable to attend.
In order to watch the livestream, simply return to this page at the ceremony start time. An embedded video live-stream will show up at the top of the page. It will be publicly viewable; there are no access restrictions.
The livestream will have closed captioning.
Please note: The livestream plays in real-time, so be sure to tune in by the beginning of the ceremony (4:00 pm Eastern Time on May 15th) to catch the full ceremony. Due to BU privacy protocols, we are not able to provide a recording.
Photography
Photos taken of graduates as they cross the stage are managed by GradImages, a company hired by the University. They will be available for purchase. Learn more here.
To find, view and purchase custom photo products such as prints, plaques, specialty gifts, and more, please visit www.GradImages.com.
If you have any questions or concerns regarding these photos, please contact the GradImages Customer Service Department at (800) 261-2576, online at www.gradimages.com, or email ecc.giservice@gradimages.net.
Please note: Images taken by the BUSSW photographer are used for the website and social media and are cannot be made available to students or guests, per the photography contract. By entering the event premisses, you consent to photography and video/audio recording and its/their release. Please contact your student services administrator if you have questions or concerns.
Guests and graduates are more than welcome to take their own photos throughout all commencement activities. If you’re sharing your photos on social media, use the hashtag #BUSSWGrad2025 and tag us! We will be sharing photos on our Instagram story (@busocialwork) throughout the day.
Regalia
Student regalia is handled by the University. A selection of items will be available for purchase (or rental, if doctoral) through BU.
Go to the University regalia webpage, bu.edu/commencement/for-students/caps-gowns, to order your cap and gown and find the most up-to-date information on deadlines, prices, pickup, and more.
Deadlines (as posted on BU Regalia webpage, 2/13/25)
MARCH 24: On-Campus Pickup | Order your Cap & Gown by March 24 for the on-campus pickup option. Campus pickup orders will be available beginning May 5 at the BU Campus Store at 910 Commonwealth Ave.
APRIL 1: Doctoral Final Deadline | Cap & Gown orders must be placed by April 1, including rental.
APRIL 15: Master (MSW) Final Deadline | Cap & Gown orders must be placed by April 15 to receive them for Commencement Weekend. They will not be available to order after this date.
Please stay tuned for email communications with further information, and contact regalia@bu.edu with any questions.
Transportation & Parking
All BU parking from Thursday through Sunday, May 15-18 will be free and available on a first come, first served basis. This link shows BU parking lots and locations. The best option near the Walter Brown Arena is Agganis Arena Garage. This link includes additional lots around campus. Handicapped parking is also available in all parking lots throughout the Charles River Campus on a first-come, first-served basis (no parking permit needed or reservations allowed).
For public transportation, please visit BU’s transportation page here.
Where to Stay (Overnight Accommodations)
If you and/or your guests need hotel accommodations, please go to BU’s Accommodations webpage here for a list of recommendations.
Please be sure to book your stay as soon as possible – overnight accommodations in Boston and surrounding areas fill up quickly due to high demand.
Questions about where to stay? Contact commencement@bu.edu.
2025 BU All-University Commencement
Please visit the BU Commencement webpage (bu.edu/commencement) or email commencement@bu.edu for information about the 2025 BU All-University Commencement.