Commencement

Please note: The information on this page is archived from the 2023 Commencement celebration, and will be updated in early spring 2024.

Guests

Graduates may bring an unlimited number of guests to the ceremony. Please register you and your guests to give us a better sense of the crowd size. Commencement will be live streamed on this page for family and friends.

Pronunciation of Names

The Commencement team currently plans to use the NameCoach system for proper pronunciations. Some students may have recorded and entered their phonetic spelling in the system for the purposes of being called on in class, rather than the formal name they would like read at graduation. If you would like to change how your name is recorded or spelled in Name Coach, please do so by following instructions here. For any graduates who have not yet entered their information in the Name Coach system, please do so as soon as possible. Please contact lawevent@bc.edu with any questions of concerns.

Caps and Gowns

• All students must order their cap and gown online through the BC Bookstore by April 10, 2023. The cost to purchase is $105 for the Doctoral souvenir gown, hood, tam, and tassel; the Doctoral premium gown is $270. We anticipate the vast majority of students will use the souvenir gown, but the premium gown is a slightly thicker cloth. Both are suitable for Commencement.
• If you do not order your garb by the deadline, limited supplies may still be available through the Bookstore. If that occurs, please contact Ben at pinkhabe@bc.edu or 617-552-4923.
• We will distribute your caps and gowns May 23-25 from the BC Law Bookstore in the basement of Stuart House. Emergency pickup will be available the morning of Commencement in Conte Forum. If you are not available to pick up during any of these dates and times, please contact Ben at pinkhabe@bc.edu or 617-552-4923.
• Students will be required to fill out the Career Services Office exit survey in SAGE (coming soon) before being allowed to pick up their gown or receive their diploma.
• If you are not participating in Commencement, but would still like to purchase a cap and gown, you may contact Ben to give him your shipping info. Please clarify that you will not be attending in person, and simply prefer to order garb as a souvenir.

Photographs

GradImages has been selected as our Commencement photographer. The company has over 40 years of experience and is used by many college and universities around the country. They will take photos of each graduate as they cross the stage, and these photos will be available for purchase, as well as custom photo products like prints, plaques, and specialty gifts. 

If you have any questions or concerns regarding your photos, please contact the GradImages Customer Service Department at (800) 261-2576, online at www.gradimages.com, or email ecc.giservice@gradimages.net.

Security

The Boston College Police Department has issued the following guidelines to enhance security and to facilitate the quick entrance of all guests for our Commencement Exercises.

To allow for expedited entrance for all guests, Boston College strongly recommends individuals attending Commencement Ceremonies refrain from carrying non-clear bags and or purses into the stadium. All bags including purses are subject to search prior to entry for the below prohibited items. Bags deemed too large by stadium security including backpacks, camera bags, luggage and/or duffle bags are strictly prohibited from entry and should be stored in the graduates residence until post ceremonies. Medical bags and diaper bags accompanied by an infant will be searched and allowed into the venue.