When

May 26

10:30 a.m.

Where

Conte Forum,
Boston College
Chestnut Hill Campus

Speaker

Judy Woodruff
Former Anchor and Managing Editor of PBS NewsHour


2023 Commencement Video Livestream

Congratulations, Class of 2023!

Please note: The information on this page is incomplete and will be updated in early spring 2023.

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.

Official Events

4th Annual Graduate Students Virtual Toast

Day and Time TBD
Presented by the Office of Graduate Student Life, Graduate Student Association, Office of the Provost, and Alumni Association
More information to follow


Commencement Eve Awards Celebration

May 25, 2023
4:00-6:00 pm
Stuart/Barat House Lawn, Law Campus (rain location, Yellow Room)


Commencement Mass

May 26, 2023
8:30-9:30 am
Church of Saint Ignatius of Loyola, Chestnut Hill campus
Students attending Mass should wear their cap and gown and move to under the Alumni Stadium bleachers immediately following the service for Commencement line up. A shuttle bus for guests with mobility restrictions will be available at St. Ignatius for transportation to Conte Forum.


Law School Commencement Ceremony

May 26, 2023
10:30-11:45 am
Conte Forum, Chestnut Hill campus
Commencement parking for you and your family is available at no charge in the Beacon Street garage adjacent to Conte Forum. If you or a family member has mobility restrictions that will require assisted drop-off at the entrance to Conte Forum on Friday morning, please contact Amanda Crowley by email (crowleag@bc.edu) or phone at 617-552-4344.


Commencement Reception

May 26, 2023
12:00-1:00 pm
Conte Forum, Chestnut Hill campus

LSA/Student Events

Bar Review (Details TBD)
May 21, 2023

Corn Hole Tournament + BBQ @ BC Law (Details TBD)
May 23, 2023

3L Ball 
May 24, 2023
7:00pm-12:00 am
BC Club
Note: No plus-1

Other events TBD; LSA will email students with details

Hotels

A list of hotels offering discounts for BC graduation can be found here.

If you have mobility restrictions that will require assisted drop-off at the entrance to Conte Forum on Commencement morning, please contact Amanda Crowley via email or at (617) 552- 4344.

Boston College is unable to provide wheelchairs at the event. If you are in need, here are options for rentals:
 

Wheelchair Rental
 

Belmont Medical Supply
185 Belmont Street
Belmont, MA 02478
617-484-3888
www.belmontmedical.com

Sullivan's Medical Supply
1 Corinth Street
Roslindale, MA 02131
617-323-0304 (preferred number, leave a message) or 617-325-0013
www.sullivanspharmacy.com

Apria Healthcare
575 University Avenue
Norwood, MA 02072
800-649-2422 (Customer Service option #1)
www.apria.com

 

Commencement Exercises

Conte Forum, Chestnut Hill Campus

140 Commonwealth Avenue

Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts

Driving directions

Note: Parking will be in the Beacon Street Garage
2601 Beacon Street, Chestnut Hill, MA

 

Bar Certification

  • Massachusetts bar certifications will be submitted electronically for all graduates regardless of where the graduate is taking the bar. The SJC requires that Massachusetts law schools file electronically. No paper forms are allowed.
  • Review bar related online resources on the student CSO GoogleDrive (You must be logged into Google using your BC Law email account)
  • Out-of-state bar certifications: Submit to Academic Services for completion, Stuart M308
  • For further assistance with bar process and applications generally, contact Nina Farber, Director of Academic Success, located in Academic and Student Services, Stuart M308

 

Official Start and Graduation Dates (For Bar Application)

  • Official date of Graduation: Monday, May 22, 2023 (Law School Commencement exercises will occur on May 26)
  • Last date of attendance: May 15, 2023
  • Official start date: August 27, 2020 (*transfer students started August 25, 2021)