Commencement Weekend

Schedule of Events

Student Assembly

Arrival and Assembly—Monday, May 20

All graduates should be in the assembly areas by 7:45 a.m.

Undergraduate Students

  • All undergraduate schools: Linden Lane
     

Graduate Students

  • All graduate schools (except WGCAS and CGSOM): Alumni Stadium, Merkert Chemistry Center end, to the right of Gate A
  • Woods Graduate College of Advancing Studies and Carroll Graduate School of Management: Conte Forum Concourse behind Sections H & I

 

Guests should be seated by 9:05 a.m.

Diploma Ceremonies

Monday, May 20

All school diploma ceremonies will begin between 12 p.m. and 12:30 p.m. on Monday. Livestreams of all of the ceremonies will be available on the Commencement home page.

  • Carroll School of Management (Undergraduates): Conte Forum
  • Carroll Graduate School of Management: Bapst Library Lawn
  • Connell School of Nursing (Undergraduates and Graduates): Connell Recreation Center Multi-Activity Courts (First Floor)
  • Lynch School of Education and Human Development (Undergraduates): Burns Library Lawn
  • Lynch School of Education and Human Development (Graduates): Campus Green Lawn (outside Stokes Hall)
  • Morrissey College of Arts and Sciences (Undergraduates): Alumni Stadium
  • Graduate School of the Morrissey College of Arts and Sciences: Robsham Theater
  • Boston College School of Social Work: Lower Campus Lawn (across from Maloney Hall)
  • Clough School of Theology and Ministry: St. Ignatius Church
  • Woods College of Advancing Studies (Undergraduates and Graduates): Cadigan Alumni Center Lawn, Brighton Campus

Campus Transportation

  

Following the University Commencement ceremony, shuttle buses are available outside of Gate A of Alumni Stadium for transportation to the school diploma ceremonies. Shuttles service the diploma ceremony locations until 3:30 p.m.

Please note that shuttle buses will run on Commencement Day (Monday, May 20), but will not be available on Sunday, May 19 for Baccalaureate Mass.

Shuttle Bus Routes

Before and During Main Ceremony

  • Chestnut Hill Mall to Beacon Street Stop (Near Merkert and Campion)
  • 300 Hammond Pond Parkway to Beacon Street Stop (Near Merkert and Campion)
  • McMullen Museum (Brighton Campus) to Alumni Stadium Gate A (Facing Beacon Street)
  • 825 Centre Street (Newton Campus) to College Road/Commonwealth Avenue intersection
  • AC Hotel Cleveland Circle (395 Chestnut Hill Avenue, Boston, MA) to Alumni Stadium Gate A (Facing Beacon Street)
  • Marriott Hotel (2345 Commonwealth Avenue, Newton, MA) to Alumni Stadium Gate A (Facing Beacon Street)
     

After Main Ceremony

  • Alumni Stadium Gate A (Facing Beacon Street) to Stops 1–5 (around campus), ending at 3:30 p.m.
  • Alumni Stadium Gate A (Facing Beacon Street) to McMullen Museum (Brighton Campus)
  • Beacon Street Stop (Near Merkert and Campion) to Chestnut Hill Mall
  • Beacon Street Stop (Near Merkert and Campion) to 300 Hammond Pond Parkway
  • 825 Centre Street (Newton Campus) to College Road/Commonwealth Avenue intersection
  • Alumni Stadium Gate A (Facing Beacon Street) to AC Hotel Cleveland Circle (395 Chestnut Hill Avenue, Boston, MA)
  • Alumni Stadium Gate A (Facing Beacon Street) to Marriott Hotel (2345 Commonwealth Avenue, Newton, MA)
     

After Individual Ceremonies

  • Beacon Street Stop (Near Merkert and Campion) to Chestnut Hill Mall
  • Beacon Street Stop (Near Merkert and Campion) to 300 Hammond Pond Parkway
  • Alumni Stadium Gate A (Facing Beacon Street) to McMullen Museum (Brighton Campus)
  • College Road/Commonwealth Avenue intersection to 825 Centre Street (Newton Campus)
  • Alumni Stadium Gate A (Facing Beacon Street) to AC Hotel Cleveland Circle (395 Chestnut Hill Avenue, Boston, MA)
  • Alumni Stadium Gate A (Facing Beacon Street) to Marriott Hotel (2345 Commonwealth Avenue, Newton, MA)
     

On-Campus (Chestnut Hill) Shuttle Bus Stops

All on-campus shuttle bus stops are wheelchair accessible.

  1. Alumni Stadium Gate A (Facing Beacon Street)—Brighton Campus, Newton Marriott, AC Hotel Cleveland Circle, and Airport Shuttle Bus Stop (2:00 p.m.–6:00 p.m.); Beacon Street Stop (Near Merkert and Campion): Chestnut Hill Mall, 300 Hammond Pond Parkway
  2. McElroy Commons
  3. College Road
  4. Main Gate
  5. St. Ignatius Church
  6. McMullen Museum (Direct to and from Alumni Stadium Gate A (Facing Beacon Street) stop only)
  7. College Road/Commonwealth Avenue—pick up and drop off for Newton Shuttle

Golf Cart Routes

Before Main Ceremony

  • Pick up at Commonwealth Avenue Parking Garage (ground level elevators) and drop off at Alumni Stadium Gate D and Gate E
  • Pick up at College Road shuttle stop and drop off at Commonwealth Avenue Parking Garage (top level elevators)
     

After Main Ceremony

  • Pick up at Alumni Stadium Gate D and Gate E and drop off at Commonwealth Avenue Parking Garage (ground level elevators)
  • Pick up at Commonwealth Avenue Parking Garage (top level elevators) and drop off at O’Neill Plaza (behind St. Mary’s Hall)
  • Pick up at Commonwealth Avenue Parking Garage (top level elevators) and drop off at College Road shuttle stop
  • Pick up at Commonwealth Avenue Parking Garage (top level elevators) and drop off at Main Gate
     

After Individual Ceremonies

  • Pick up at O’Neill Plaza (behind St. Mary’s Hall) and drop off at Commonwealth Avenue Parking Garage (top level elevators)
  • Pick up at Commonwealth Avenue Parking Garage (ground level elevators) and drop off at Alumni Stadium Gate D
  • Pick up at Commonwealth Avenue Parking Garage (top level elevators) and drop off at College Road shuttle stop
  • Pick up at Main Gate and drop off at Commonwealth Avenue Parking Garage (top level elevators)
     

Airport Transportation (from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m.)

Free bus transportation from Gate A at Alumni Stadium (near Merkert Chemistry Center loading dock) to Logan Airport is available immediately following the school diploma ceremonies. Starting at 2:00 p.m., buses depart every hour on the hour. The last bus leaves at 6:00 p.m. The University residence halls officially close at 8:00 p.m. on Commencement Day.

Rideshare Services

Designated taxi, livery car, 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

Alternate Viewing Locations

In addition to Alumni Stadium, there will be a number of indoor alternate viewing locations on campus where you can watch Commencement live:

  • Conte Forum 
  • Devlin Hall—Room 008
  • Robsham Theater
  • Stokes Hall—Room 195S

On the day of the event, live streaming will also be available on the Commencement homepage.

Severe Weather Plan

Emergency Shelters

In the event that the Boston College Commencement Ceremonies are affected due to severe weather (lightning, thunder, high winds, heavy, continuous rain) or other circumstances, the following facilities on or near the ceremonies have been identified as emergency shelters if needed.

  • Alumni Stadium (concourses/under stands only)
  • Bapst/Burns Library
  • Beacon Street Parking Garage
  • Cadigan Alumni Center, Brighton Campus
  • Commonwealth Avenue Parking Garage
  • Connell Recreation Center
  • Conte Forum
  • Corcoran Commons/Robsham Theater
  • Devlin Hall
  • Fish Field House
  • Fulton Hall
  • Gasson Hall
  • Higgins Hall
  • Lyons Hall
  • McElroy Commons
  • McGuinn Hall
  • Merkert Chemistry Center
  • O’Neill Library
  • St. Ignatius Church
  • St. Mary’s Hall
  • Stokes Hall
     

Diploma Ceremonies severe weather site announcements will appear on the Boston College Commencement website (www.bc.edu/2024), or you may call the Boston College Commencement Office at 617-552-4330.

University Commencement (Main Ceremony)

The 2024 Boston College Commencement main ceremony is held rain or shine in Alumni Stadium. The academic procession begins at 9:05 a.m., and the main ceremony begins promptly at 10:00 a.m.

In the event of severe weather (lightning, thunder, high winds, heavy, continuous rain), the ceremonies may either be delayed or canceled.

The ceremony may also be viewed on the Commencement website (www.bc.edu/2024).

Individual School/College Diploma Ceremonies Severe Weather Plan

The following diploma ceremonies have an alternate location in the event of severe weather:

  • Carroll School of Management (Undergraduate Only): Lower Campus Lawn (across from Maloney Hall)
  • Morrissey College of Arts and Sciences (Undergraduate Only): Conte Forum
  • Boston College School of Social Work: Carney Dining Room

Food and Beverages

Please note that campus dining and concession locations no longer accept cash at the point of sale. Accepted forms of payment include credit cards, Apple Pay, Google Pay, or cash cards which can be purchased at key locations in Alumni Stadium, Conte Forum, and around campus.

Sunday, May 19

Monday, May 20 (Commencement Day)

Water will be available at the Baccalaureate Mass, Main Commencement Ceremony, and individual degree ceremonies. No food or water may be brought into any of the ceremonies.

Flowers and Gifts

On Monday, fresh floral bouquets and Commemorative Class of 2024 T-shirts will be available for purchase at the Gabelli Plaza North Tent Gift Shop only. On Saturday and Sunday, Commemorative Class of 2024 T-shirts will be available for purchase at the Main Bookstore in McElroy Commons and at Hillside Shop in Maloney Hall. The new Boston College history, Ever to Excel, is also available for purchase throughout the weekend.  

Saturday, May 18

Sunday, May 19

Monday, May 20 (Commencement Day)

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