**Tickets are not required for you or your guests**
Line up instructions
The COM Commencement Ceremony will take place on Friday, May 15, 2020 beginning promptly at 9 A.M. in Agganis Arena. Line-up for the COM Commencement Ceremony will take place at the Boston University Fitness and Recreation Center on the three course gym on the lower level. Students will enter the Boston University Fitness and Recreation NOT through the main entrance on Commonwealth Avenue, but rather they will enter through an entrance on Buick Street. There will be signage outside to direct graduates to that entrance area for line-up. Students who intend to walk in the ceremony should arrive beginning at 8 A.M. and must arrive no later than 8:15 A.M. Students who arrive late may not be able to participate in the COM ceremony.
Upon entering the line-up area at the 3 court gym on the lower level of the Fitness and Recreation Center, our staff and signage will direct students to check-in for their line-up space. Students will be lined up alphabetically, by department. As you check-in, you will be given a walk-card that has your name and a number on it. The number will help us line all students up in alphabetical order. Please hold onto your walk card throughout the procession and ceremony. This is the card you will give to our name readers just prior to walking across the stage. If your name is potentially difficult for our name readers to pronounce during the ceremony, we will have pens available so you can offer a phonetic spelling on your walk card.
Please make note, as part of the student commencement march from the Boston University Fitness and Recreation Center to Agganis Arena that morning, students will access stairs and walk through the tunnels beneath the arena. Additionally, as students have their name read to the audience during the COM Commencement Ceremony, they will walk across a stage to be handed their diploma holder and take a photo. The stage has approximately 5 steps students will climb before walking across and then down a set of stairs that leads back to their seat. Please be back in touch with us at comugrad@bu.edu as soon as possible and no later than Wednesday, April 29 if you have any special needs, physical limitation, injury, or disability that will affect your ability to march with your classmates in the manner described or climb the stairs to the stage so we can work on a plan with you for accommodations. We want to ensure that all of our graduates have a wonderful commencement day.
How do I get my diploma?
After the COM ceremony, all graduates will process out to the 4 court gym on the upper level of the Fitness and Recreation Center. Instructions for diploma retrieval will be given toward the end of the ceremony.
The All-University Commencement is on Sunday, May 17th. Please check out the All-University Commencement website (http://www.bu.edu/commencement/) for more details including how to order your cap and gown (http://www.bu.edu/commencement/for-students/caps-gowns-announcements/). Please keep in mind that we will NOT have regalia available at the COM ceremony, so please be sure to get your cap and gown prior to attending. If you do not have regalia, you will not be allowed to walk through the COM ceremony.
COM Commencement FAQs
Where and when does the ceremony take place?
The COM ceremony will begin promptly at 9 a.m. The COM ceremony will be held at Agganis Arena adjacent to the Student Village (925 Commonwealth Ave.), near the Pleasant Street T stop on the Green Line. The university-wide graduation ceremony takes place at Nickerson Field on Sunday.
What do I do once I get there?
Students must line up by 8:15 a.m. Each student must pick up a walk card provided before lineup. Please be sure to use the restroom and drop off any personal belongings PRIOR to coming to lineup. Students who arrive after 8:15 a.m. will not be able to join the processional. Backpacks and large bags are NOT ALLOWED in the lineup area or the arena. Please let your guests know.
How long is the COM ceremony?
The COM ceremony will last about two hours. Students are urged to arrive early for line-up.
Do I need tickets?
No, there are no tickets required for either ceremony. Seating is on a first come, first served basis. To secure seats, be sure to have your guests arrive early.
How can I arrange special seating for disabled guests?
Please visit the Disability Services section of the Commencement website and complete the online Accommodation Request Form – beginning April 1st.
Where should I park for the ceremony?
Street parking, lot and garage space is limited on campus during Commencement. Take advantage of BU shuttle service and the Green Line T service on Commencement Day. We strongly urge you to take advantage of all of the transportation provided.
How do the shuttles work?
Shuttles will be traveling east to west on the main campus.
What if I am a Dual Degree Program student and cannot make it to both ceremonies?
You should log on to the Student Link and complete a short questionnaire in the Graduation section where you are asked which ceremony you will attend and where you’d like your diplomas to be that day.
When do I get my diploma?
Diplomas for May graduates will be distributed following the ceremony. You will receive an empty envelope when you walk across the stage at the COM ceremony. Diplomas will NOT be handed out before the ceremony has officially ended. ONLY the graduating student my pick up their diploma.
Instructions for diploma retrieval will be given toward the end of the ceremony.
What if I have to leave the ceremony early and cannot pick up my diploma?
Diplomas will be available for pick-up at the Diplomas Office after Commencement. You may pick up your diploma if you are in town, provided you have a valid photo ID. Otherwise, you should send a written request to the Diplomas Office at 881 Commonwealth Avenue, 2nd Fl., Boston, MA 02215. The Diplomas Office will begin mailing out diplomas in June.
Note: Diplomas are NOT mailed out automatically. You must submit a written request for your diploma to be mailed via the student link.
What if my name on the diploma is incorrect?
Double check your name as it will appear on your diploma on the Student Link (listed under Graduation & Diploma). If the name on your diploma is listed differently than either of these, you will be able to order a new diploma at no charge. You will be charged for a new diploma if you later decide to change the way your name appears.
What if the Latin Honors on my diploma are incorrect?
Latin Honors will be calculated through the end of your last semester here and will be corrected if your Latin Honors award increases. If this applies to you, you may receive the correct diploma on Commencement Day if it has been printed and shipped to us in time. Otherwise, you will be able to order your corrected diploma and have it mailed at no charge.
What if I graduated in January or September and haven’t gotten my diploma yet? Will it be at the ceremony?
No. Diplomas for students who graduated in January and September will NOT be at the May ceremony. Students who graduated in January and September should have sent a written request to the Diplomas Office to obtain their diplomas. You may request your diploma at any time.