Packet Pick-Up Information for SBS & CAS Students

Dates for SBS & CAS Undergraduate & Graduate Students

 

• Wednesday, April 29, 9:00 a.m. - 8:00 p.m. *extended hours*
• Thursday, April 30, 9:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m.
• Friday, May 1, 9:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m. 
• Monday, May 4, 9:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m.
• Tuesday, May 5, 9:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m.

Please note that Packet Pick-up will NOT be held on Saturday, May 2 or Sunday, May 3.

Location: Suffolk Bookstore, 120 Tremont Street. 

Please use the Tremont Street entrance to enter and exit the Bookstore. Do not go through Sargent Hall security, or enter the Sargent Hall lobby.

When to Arrive & What to Bring

 

All SBS and CAS Undergraduate and Graduate Students may pick up their packet at any time stated above.

 

Please note: due to student volume, there may be a line. Please be patient as certain times may be busier than others.

 

You must bring the following with you:

• A valid photo ID (Suffolk University student ID or driver's license)
• Confirmation (printed or electronic) of your Graduating Student Exit Survey completion

 

What Will I Receive?

 

At Packet Pick-up, you will receive:

 

Tickets

• Because seating is limited at the venue, SBS & CAS students receive 4 guaranteed guest tickets.
• Students that are graduating do not need a ticket to attend.
• Children under the age of 3 do not need a ticket to attend.
• Additional guest tickets were awarded via a lottery on April 1, based on availability using a tiered system designed to be as fair as possible. If you received an additional ticket(s), it will be given to you at Packet Pickup.
• Due to the limited seating capacity, lost tickets cannot be replaced.

 

Please note: guest ticket amounts are determined based on the size of the graduating class and the venue's capacity, which differ between schools.

 

In the event additional guest tickets become available, there will be a second round lottery that you may enter at Packet Pickup. Students who enter the second round lottery will be notified on May 11 if any additional tickets become available.

 

Tickets may not be sold. Students who are suspected of selling Commencement tickets will be referred to the Student Conduct System.

 

Line-up Cards

You will receive a line-up card with your name, degree*, and any appropriate honors.

 

Do not lose this card. You must bring the card with you to your Commencement ceremony, where it will be used to place you in alphabetical/numerical order within your degree group. It will also be presented to the card reader when you arrive on stage to be recognized. Do not make any changes or additions to it. If you have any concerns about the card, speak to a staff member when you pick up your packet.

 

Regalia

Commencement regalia is free for all students participating in the Commencement ceremony. The Commencement packet you receive serves as a "release" for your regalia.

 

With the Commencement packet and a valid picture ID in hand, you can obtain your cap and gown.

 

If you ordered your regalia in advance, your cap, gown, and hood will be waiting for you at the Bookstore. 

 

If you did not order your regalia in advance, the Bookstore will have caps and gowns available in a variety of sizes. You will need to provide your height and line-up card along with the Commencement packet you receive and a valid picture ID.

 

Questions about regalia may be directed to the Bookstore by email to Chris Petit.

 

CAS & SBS Undergraduate Students Only

Students in the CAS and SBS Honors Programs will receive honor cords to wear at Commencement.

 

For the purposes of materials distributed at Packet Pick-up, Latin honors are based upon students' cumulative grade point averages at the end of the Fall 2025 term. Final academic honors are calculated upon degree conferral.

 

If you have questions about Latin Honors, please email [email protected]. The Graduation Honors policy can be found here. 

 

Students who have earned Latin honors will be provided with a colored cord representing the honor received:

• Summa Cum Laude - Gold
• Magna Cum Laude - Silver
• Cum Laude – Bronze

What If I Can’t Attend?

 

CAS & SBS Undergraduates

All undergraduate and graduate students must pick up their Commencement packets during the posted times. If you are unable to attend due to an extenuating circumstance, you must arrange for a classmate, relative, or friend to pick up your packet. You must provide an email including your name and ID number authorizing this person; the email must be submitted at Packet Pick-up. We do not mail Commencement materials.

 

CAS Graduate Students

If you are unable to attend Packet Pick-up, you must contact Cortney Kelly by May 5 to arrange an alternate pickup time at the CAS Dean’s Office (73 Tremont, 12th floor).

 

If you have not picked up your packet or arranged for someone to do so by May 5, we will assume you are not attending the CAS Commencement ceremony.

 

PhD students: Those receiving a PhD in Psychology should refer to department communications or email Cortney Kelly directly.

 

SBS Graduate Students

If you are unable to attend Packet Pick-up, you must contact Jackie O'Rourke by May 5 to arrange an alternate pickup time at the SBS Graduate Programs Office (Sargent Hall, 120 Tremont Street, 5th floor).

 

If you have not picked up your packet or made arrangements by May 5, we will assume you are not attending the Sawyer Business School Commencement ceremony.

What to Do BEFORE Packet Pick-Up

 

Students MUST receive the following clearances in order to pick up their Commencement packets:

 

Registrar's Office

Students must be academically cleared for Commencement prior to Packet Pick-up.

 

Please review the steps below to confirm you are academically cleared:

• Review your academic progress report in Workday. If all your requirements have a status of Satisfied or In Progress (with nothing listed in the Remaining column), you are cleared to pick up your packet.
• If you have not been cleared, you must contact the University Registrar's Office.

 

Students completing degree requirements over the summer must be officially registered for the required courses during Summer 2026 prior to packet pickup.

 

All students must meet the minimum GPA requirements to be eligible to participate in the ceremony.

 

Contact your advisor, program director, or academic dean if your academic progress report indicates any requirement as In Progress for guidance on possible options to satisfy the requirement.

 

Student Accounts Clearance

• Please log into Workday to ensure your student account is paid in full. Any balance must be resolved in full before your diploma will be released.
• If you borrowed a College loan, you will need to complete the Heartland ECSI Exit Interview

 

Student federal loan borrowers must complete an exit interview for each type of loan borrowed at the University.

 

• The US Department of Education requires all borrowers of Federal Direct Loans (Subsidized, Unsubsidized and Graduate Plus Loans) to complete Exit Counseling upon graduation. Please complete Exit Counseling (Choose “Loan Repayment” and “ Loan Exit Counseling”). Failure to complete this requirement can prevent you from receiving your diploma.

 

Students must clear all other holds on their accounts. Please log in to Workday and navigate to the Academics Hub to review your holds.

 

Questions? Email the Ram Registration & Financial Center or call 617-573-8488.

What If I am Receiving Two Degrees?

 

Dual-degree students within the same school must select one degree group with which to walk across the stage. If you have earned degrees from different schools, you may participate in either or both of your schools' ceremonies. Law students will receive information on law packet pick-up separately.

 

Undergraduate/Graduate dual-degree students may attend their undergraduate ceremony when they complete their undergraduate degree requirements, but they will not receive a degree in May. Their degree is awarded when they complete its graduate portion.

Record Your Thank You Message

 

Have someone you want to thank before you cross the Commencement stage? A professor who encouraged you, parents and grandparents who supported you, or friends who have been there along the way? Here’s your chance.

 

Graduating students are encouraged to stop by the Sargent Hall Lobby (left side, just outside the indoor bookstore entrance) on the following dates/times to record Thank You messages that will be shown during the pre-show of Commencement:

• Wednesday, April 29, from 11:00 – 4:00pm;
• Thursday, April 30, from 10:00 – 4:00pm; and
• Friday, May 1, from 10:00 – 3:00pm

 

No appointment necessary. Just stop by!