Commencement Day Information

Regalia & Lineup Cards

If you are an SBS or CAS graduating student, you must bring your regalia and lineup card with you in order to be placed in the Processional lineup. You will receive your regalia and lineup card at Packet Pick-up, or from your program director. If you requested a change to your lineup card at Packet Pickup, you may pick up your updated lineup card once you arrive at Commencement. 

If you are graduating from the Law School, you will receive your lineup card once you arrive at Commencement. You will only need to bring your regalia with you on the day-of.

If you are missing pieces of your regalia or lost your lineup card, please go to the Suffolk Bookstore booth, located to the left of the stage. Please allow plenty of time to get from the Bookstore Booth to the robing and lineup area along the Harborwalk.

Weather

Please dress accordingly to the forecasted weather, keeping in mind that you will be wearing your robe during the outdoor line-up and procession. The waterfront area can be cooler than in the rest of the city, especially during the early evening. Once the ceremony starts, you will be under the shade of the tent. Sunscreen (for the outdoor line-up) and comfortable shoes are strongly recommended. Please be smart about your attire, especially footwear, and remind your out-of-town guests to plan for our fickle Boston weather. Depending on the forecast, guests may wish to bring a blanket with them.

Please see the Safety Policies page for important information on the procedures for severe weather. 

Water & Concessions

Concessions will be open and you may bring an empty, clear reusable water bottle. There are water filling stations available around the pavilion.

Parking

There is very limited on-street parking near the Pavilion. Several pay for parking lots are available close by.

Venue Policies

Please review bag/item restrictions and other important venue policies on the Safety Policies page.

Photos

Guests, including personally-hired photographers, may take photographs and video during the ceremony only in designated areas. Photographers will not be permitted in the roped-off areas or in the aisles.

Please note: personal photographers are not given press passes and must present a guest ticket in order to enter the Pavilion.

Suffolk University has arranged to have a professional photographer take pictures of graduating students as they cross the stage. You can find the images at the GradImages website or contact them at 800-261-2576.

Please see the Safety Policies page for information on camera restrictions and other bag/item policies.

Robing & Lineup

Suffolk staff will be available to assist you with robing. You must stay in the designated area until the ceremony begins and be in your designated place in line when we give the signal to march. Lineup will occur along the Harborwalk and in the tented area. When you enter the Pavilion to the left of the main entrance, Suffolk staff will direct you where to go.

It will be very important to keep noise to a minimum in this area so you can hear directions from staff and follow last-minute instructions.

Please note that only CAS Doctoral graduates will be “hooded” on stage. All other graduates will wear their hoods during the procession and throughout the ceremony.

Processing to Your Seat

Before you depart the robing & lineup area, please be sure to turn off/silence your cell phone.

Graduating students will begin to march behind a student marshal. Walk slowly, stay in line, and follow the directions of the Suffolk staff member guiding you. File into the seats reserved for your degree group as directed by the usher. Remain standing until the Dean calls the Commencement exercises to order and gives further direction.

When Your Degree Group is Called

When your Dean announces the candidates for your degree, please stand up together. Under the direction of an usher, proceed to the stage one row at a time and keep a continuous flow to the foot of the stage. You will process to the left front stairs as you face the stage. Be sure to allow the student ahead of you adequate time to go up on stage before you follow.

You must bring your lineup card with you. You will be placed in line in alphabetical order by last name within your degree group, using your lineup card. You will present your card to the name reader when you arrive on stage to be recognized. Do not write on your card.

Policy for Graduates Who Wish to Bring a Child On Stage

If you wish to have a child accompany you on stage to receive your diploma, a family member must meet you at the bottom of the stage to hand off the child as you first approach the stage. Your family member must then meet you and the child on the opposite side of the stage, and as you come off the stage, take the child back to their seat.

Please note that your family member should be as indiscernible as possible and cannot interfere in any way with the ability of the audience to view the ceremony.

No children (or other guests) are allowed in the procession, recession, or graduate seating areas.

While Onstage

Once you are on stage, hand your lineup card to the name reader, who will announce your name at the microphone. You will then turn, accept a rolled scroll with your left hand, and use your right hand to shake hands with the Dean and President Marisa Kelly, respectively. As you do this, your picture will be taken. You will then walk across the stage and down the second set of stairs and return to your seat. You are expected to remain throughout the entire ceremony.

CAS Doctoral Students: Special stage instructions will be sent separately to CAS doctoral students.

Support Your Fellow Graduates Throughout the Entire Ceremony

Commencement is a celebration of all of our graduates. Everyone, no matter where they fall in the alphabet or what degree they are receiving, deserves the support of our entire community on this special day. Please show respect and Suffolk spirit by remaining for the entire ceremony.

Recessional

The University marshal will raise the mace to signal the stage party and all graduates to stand for the recessional. The stage party will process down the left aisle when looking at the stage, and the graduates will follow, moving out in two lines. Please carefully follow the directions given to you by the ushers and proceed slowly, remaining in line until you exit the tent.

Due to the limited time between ceremonies, graduates and guests must exit the Pavilion immediately following the ceremony.

Safety Policies & Behavior Expectations

All graduates and guests should familiarize themselves with the Safety Policies and Behavior Expectations for Commencement Day.