Preparing for Commencement Day
Preparing for Commencement 2025
Woods Graduation Process
Learn about the requirements that students must complete to be eligible to graduate and its deadlines.
Baccalaureate Mass: Sunday, May 18
12:00 p.m. | Conte Forum - Graduates should be attired in gowns but without caps and hoods. The Post-Baccalaureate Mass Reception will take place at 1:30 p.m. at the Lower Campus Lawn (across Maloney Hall).
Commencement Monday, May 19
Boston College Commencement Exercises are a two-part ceremony: 1. The University Commencement (Main Ceremony) is held in Alumni Stadium. 2. The specific School Diploma Ceremony is held immediately after the University Commencement Ceremony.
Map of Activities
Main Ceremony - Alumni Stadium
Times are approximate and open to change.
- 7:45 a.m. Academic Procession Assembly
- 9:05 a.m. Family and guests should be seated in Alumni Stadium.
- 9:05 a.m. The Academic Procession for the Main Ceremony will begin. Undergraduate students will depart from Linden Lane, go down the stairs (next to O'Neill Library), and enter Conte Forum to meet the Graduate students; when together, Woods students will process to the field. >Woods College is the first school to process and will lead the entire University into the stadium.
- 10:00 a.m. The University Commencement begins at Alumni Stadium.
Woods College Academic Procession
Main Ceremony, Alumni Stadium
Academic Procession Assembly:
Graduating students must arrive on time at the designated locations according to their degree program.
- Undergraduate Students: Linden Lane, 7:45 a.m.
Graduates will be met by Woods College Faculty Marshals, who will guide them through the procession.
Linden Lane on Commencement Day
Woods Undergraduate Assembly Point, Linden Lane
Academic Procession Assembly:
Graduating students must arrive on time at the designated locations according to their degree program.
- Graduate Students: Conte Forum, 7:45 a.m.
Access Conte Forum through Gate B, go upstairs, and at the concourse, go to the left corridor; the assembly point is behind sections H & I.
Graduates will be met by Woods College Faculty Marshals, who will guide them through the procession.
Woods Banner Carrier at the Graduate Assembly Point
Woods Graduate Programs Assembly Point, Conte Forum
To get from the Main Ceremony (Alumni Stadium) to the Woods College Diploma Ceremony (Cadigan Alumni Center Lawn), you can:
- Take a 15-minute walk from Alumni Stadium to the Woods College Diploma Ceremony location.
- Take the shuttle from Alumni Stadium Gate A, Beacon Street side (shuttle stop #1), to the Woods College Diploma Ceremony location, Cadigan Alumni Center Lawn, Brighton Campus (stop #6), by the McMullen Museum.
Click on the map below to see the shuttle stops and routes.
Shuttle stops and routes during Commencement Day
Immediately after the Main Ceremony ends, graduating students must proceed to the Woods College Diploma Ceremony location at the Cadigan Alumni Center Lawn.
Woods College Diploma Ceremony - Cadigan Alumni Center Lawn
The distribution of diplomas and awards to undergraduate and graduate students takes place during this ceremony.
Woods College Diploma Ceremony tent at the Cadigan Alumni Center Lawn
Times are approximate and open to change.
- 11:30 a.m. Check-in will open at the Diploma Ceremony location, Cadigan Alumni Center Lawn.
- 11:30 a.m. Refreshments will be available for graduates and guests in an adjacent tent
- 12:10 p.m. Students MUST have checked in and be in formation, ready for the Academic Procession
- 12:20 p.m. Families and guests should be seated at Cadigan Alumni Center Lawn
- 12:25 p.m. The Academic Procession for Woods College Diploma Ceremony will begin
- 12:30 p.m. Woods College Diploma Ceremony begins and will end around 2:00 p.m.
Seats reserved for graduating students at the Woods Diploma Ceremony
All graduating students must check in at the registration tables that will be located on Cadigan Alumni Center Lawn.
- The registration tables will be organized by the degree program.
- At check-in, students will receive a card that must be handed to the reader at the podium so their names can be announced to go to the stage.
- Students will be alphabetically organized by last name and asked to line up for the academic procession.
If graduating students skip the registration, they will not be called to receive their degree.
Woods College staff members, Tori Weston and Caroline White, checking in graduates for the Diploma Ceremony
> This program is subject to change.
- Academic Procession
- Welcome
- Invocation
- Dean’s Remarks
- Presentation of Awards, Honors, and Degrees
- Undergraduate Program
- Graduate Programs
- Closing
Out of respect for classmates and families, graduating students must remain seated until the end of the ceremony.
-Conferral of Degrees
- As the degree program is announced, graduating students will follow the staff instructions to approach the stage on the right side, close to the podium. Staff members will guide students to the stage row by row, single file.
- When close to the podium:
- Graduating students will hand the reader the card received at registration
- Upon hearing their name, students will go up to the stage
- At the center of the stage, the Dean will hand them a rolled piece of paper that symbolizes the degree
- The official Commencement photographer will take their picture
- Graduates will exit the stage and must return to their seats; out of respect for classmates and families, graduates must remain seated until the end of the ceremony.
-Diploma Pick-up
Formal distribution of Diplomas will take place at the end of the ceremony. Students must return to the registration tables and present a valid ID to obtain their Diploma.
Those who graduated in August or December 2024 must have already received their diplomas; please skip this process.
Resources
Accessibility
Main Ceremony
Special accommodations were requested through the University Commencement Registration form. Find detailed information on accessibility at the Main Ceremony on the website.
Woods College Diploma Ceremony
Guests with mobility issues were registered through the Woods College Diploma Ceremony Participation Questionnaire. Woods College staff will contact the students who requested special accommodations in May.
Cap and Gown
Ordering Your Cap and Gown
Undergraduate and Masters students should visit the page for details below:
If you missed the March 31 deadline to order your cap and gown, please call 617-552-6474, email bc@bkstr.com, or go to the bookstore in McElroy Commons to place your order in person.
Picking Up Your Cap and Gown
The Cap and Gown Headquarters will be located in the lobby/bookstore in McElroy Commons. Students must present their BC ID or a valid proof of identification and order confirmation number to pick up their orders during the listed days and times below.
- Wednesday, May 14, 2025, 9:00 a.m.–6:00 p.m.
- Thursday, May 15, 2025, 9:00 a.m.–6:00 p.m.
- Friday, May 16, 2025, 9:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m.
- Saturday, May 17, 2025, 12:00 p.m.–4:00 p.m.
- Sunday, May 18, 2025, 12:00 p.m.–4:00 p.m.
Emergency pickup is available on Monday, May 19, 2025 from 7:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m. at the McElroy Commons Bookstore.
Parking and Transportation
Heavy traffic makes traveling to the University on Commencement morning extremely slow. Ample time should be allowed to reach the Campus, especially from the Massachusetts Turnpike at Newton (Exit 17).
Satellite parking
Due to the large number of people attending the University Commencement, there will be a shortage of parking spaces on the main campus.
For a smoother experience with no delays or inconveniences, we recommend using one of the Satellite Parking locations provided below:
- Brighton Campus (closest to the Woods Diploma Ceremony location)
- Newton Campus
- 300 Hammond Pond Parkway and Chestnut Hill Mall
Shuttle transportation will be available from 6:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. to and from these satellite parking sites.
Professional Photos
At the Diploma Ceremony, a professional photographer will take pictures of each graduate receiving the diploma. You will receive information about placing orders from the photographer, GradImages.
Graduates can pre-register to receive a coupon for 20% off an order of $50 or more using this link: https://www.gradimages.com/Registration.
Please type “Boston College” in the box dedicated to “School,” then select the last prompt on the list, “Boston College - Woods College of Advancing Studies Spring.”
Friends and family are welcome to take photos. However, we respectfully ask that they refrain from crossing the stanchions in the graduates' area. This will help us maintain a smooth and orderly flow during the Diploma Ceremony program.
Rideshare Services
Designated taxis, livery cars, and rideshare service providers drop off at the following locations only:
- In front of St. Ignatius Church at Fr. Herlihy Dr., Chestnut Hill, MA 02467
- Adjacent to the St. Thomas More Apartments on Commonwealth Avenue at 2150 Commonwealth Ave., Boston, MA 02135
- Outside the Integrated Science Building at 245 Beacon St., Chestnut Hill, MA 02467
Seating
For all ceremonies, seats will be reserved only for graduating students and individuals with mobility issues. Guests will be served on a first-come, first-served basis.
Security Guidelines
The Boston College Police Department has issued security guidelines and policies to enhance security and to facilitate the quick entrance of all guests for our Commencement Exercises; please review them carefully, paying special attention to the “Bag Policy” and prohibited items listing.
Tickets
Tickets are not required for the Baccalaureate Mass or any of the ceremonies. Seats will be on a first-come, first-served basis.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, both forms must be submitted to confirm or decline attendance. Boston College Registration confirms your attendance at the Main Ceremony held at Alumni Stadium; this event is for all schools at BC. On the other hand, completing the Woods College Commencement Participation Questionnaire confirms your attendance at the Woods College Diploma Ceremony, held at Cadigan Alumni Center Lawn; diplomas and awards are presented at this event.
Attendance at either event is not mandatory. Those planning to attend any of the ceremonies must complete BC's and Wood's registration forms and wear their academic regalia (cap and gown).
Please call 617-552-6474, email bc@bkstr.com, or go to the bookstore in McElroy Commons to place your order in person.
You can request this letter from the Office of Academic Services via email at academic.services@bc.edu. They should be able to help.
There is no commencement rehearsal. Graduates must arrive at their assigned line-up location on time for the ceremonies they plan to attend.
For those who are unable to attend in person, all ceremonies, including the main ceremony and school diploma ceremonies, will be livestreamed on the Commencement Website. Livestream information will be available closer to Commencement Day.
If you would like to send electronic mail invitations to Boston College's 149th Commencement Exercises for your family and friends, please click here to download or print a version of the general invitation.
- Personalized AnnouncementsPersonalized graduation announcements are available through the Boston College Bookstore.
- To order by phone, please contact CB Graduation Announcements at 800-433-0296.
- To order online, visit www.cbgrad.com.
- For additional information, contact the BC Bookstore at 800-978-0978 or 617-552-0900.