Commencement

Congratulations! You've Earned This!

All of your hard work, dedication to your academics, and countless hours of studying are about to pay off.  

Graduating from college is a major life accomplishment and one we want to celebrate with you! The 77th Commencement Ceremony honoring the graduating Class of 2023 will take place at Old South Church at 645 Boylston St. Boston on Friday, May 19, 2023,  beginning at 11:00 am. 

All Graduates should arrive between 10:15-10:30 am.

The ceremony will be livestreamed here.

Invitations and tickets are being mailed to all graduates the week of May 8th.

Bay State College is very proud of all your accomplishments and is working on making this a memorable experience.

Cap and Gown ordering is live - Order Here.

Requirements and Expectations

The faculty and staff at Bay State College would like to be one of the first to congratulate you on your pending achievement. Your hard work and dedication to your education deserve to be celebrated!

Below are academic and non-academic requirements you are expected to complete to help prepare you for your upcoming graduation. We encourage you to read through all the information presented to ensure you have completed all requirements and are prepared for graduation.

Pending Graduates for May and August should meet the following requirements by March 31, 2023.

  • Meet all academic requirements *. You must have a final cumulative GPA of a 2.00 or higher, have successfully completed all required courses in your major, and have earned the number of credits prescribed for the program in which you are enrolled. Please contact your Academic Advisor if you have questions about these requirements. 
  • Complete the Application for Graduation*. Please note that a $50.00 degree completion fee is due with your application. Be sure to print your name as you wish it to appear on your diploma. Diplomas are mailed 4-6 weeks after conferral, so make sure to also provide the most up-to-date mailing address! This application must be completed by all Pending Graduates & Walkers** regardless of whether or not you are attending the Commencement ceremony.
  • Check with the Office of the Bursar to be sure you are in good financial standing *. Your student account must be settled with the College before your diploma or transcripts will be released. This includes paying any outstanding balances such as tuition, room and board, library fines, etc. 
  • Schedule an appointment with your Financial Aid Counselor to complete Exit Loan Counseling. Federal regulations require Bay State College to offer exit interviews with students who received any loans during their time at the College. 
  • Complete the Career Services Agreement Form and the Graduate Status Verification Survey. You will be emailed a link to the survey prior to your graduation date. Please contact the Associate Director of Career Services if you have questions about these requirements.
  • International students should meet with the Designated School Official regarding F-1 Status. The end of your academic program affects your F-1 status, so make sure to discuss your grace period options with the Designated School Official. 

* Students who fail to meet this requirement will not be able to participate in graduation exercises and will have their diploma/official transcript held until completed.

**Walking candidates are active students that have 2 courses or less to complete at the end of the Spring term/semester. The exception to this is for students enrolled in the Associate Degree Nursing program who are eligible to walk with 3 courses or less due to differences in scheduling.

Commencement FAQ

 

What graduation requirements must I fulfill?

Your graduation status is contingent upon successful completion of a number of academic and non-academic requirements in your final semester. Please click here to complete all applicable Graduation Requirements. 

Are tickets required?

Graduating students do not need tickets. All guests will need a ticket to enter. Each graduate will receive four (4) complimentary tickets for guests. Students may submit for additional tickets should a lottery become available. Due to the fixed number of seats, we may not be able to accommodate all requests.

Do I need tickets for children?

Yes, everyone entering must have a ticket, including children and infants.

Where do guests enter the venue?

Old South Church in Boston is at the corner of Dartmouth and Boylston Streets at the Copley T stop at 645 Boylston St. Boston, MA 02116. Guests will enter through the main entrance doors  Doors will open for guests at 10:15 AM.

What should I wear and what should I bring?

You should show up wearing your College approved academic regalia consisting of cap, gown, tassel, and hood.  Honors students will receive an Honors Cord from Bay State College and Veteran students will receive an American Flag Lapel Pin from Bay State College.  Those adornments can be worn as well. You are not permitted to wear additional adornments such as stoles and you should not have any other personal items with you since there will be nowhere to store them during the ceremony. Feel free to keep your cell phone with you, but please remember to silence it before the ceremony starts.  

Where do guests sit during the Commencement Ceremony?

Reserved seating is available for graduating students, guests of trustees, and guests of valedictorians. All other seating is open on a first come, first served basis. Saving seats is not permitted.

Where can I take photos/video of my graduate?

There is no location beyond your own seat where guests may take photos of graduates. If you need to stand to get your shot, we ask that you do so briefly so as not to block others' view of the ceremony. Guests will be prohibited from taking pictures or videotaping from locations near the platform. GradImages, a professional photography company, will take a picture as graduates cross the stage and after they walk off the platform. Students will receive proofs after Commencement and you can purchase photos at that time. 

Is there a Commencement Ceremony rehearsal?

There is no formal rehearsal for Commencement. You will be guided through the ceremony by your Program Chairs and several Bay State College staff members.

Will my name be printed in the Commencement program if I have a FERPA block on my record?

If you have requested a FERPA block be placed on your record to prevent disclosure of your personal directory information, your name will be announced at Commencement but will not be printed in the program unless you request the block to be removed. For more information, please contact the Office of the Registrar at registrarsoffice@baystate.edu. 

When will the Ceremony end?

Commencement usually concludes between 12:30 and 1:00 PM.

Where may I park?

Old South Church does not have dedicated parking so please plan accordingly. The venue is located at the Copley T station (Green Line, all trains). It is also a short walk from Back Bay Station (Orange Line) (from the station, walk two blocks north on Dartmouth Street, towards Copley Square). Bus routes 9, 10, 39, and 55 also stop in Copley Square. If you must drive, Bay State College partners with two garages in the area to offer a daily discounted rate. information can be found here. 

Are strollers allowed in the seating areas?

Due to safety regulations, strollers are not allowed in the aisles or seated areas. Guests attempting to park strollers in these areas will be required to move them. 

Can I bring balloons, signs, and noise makers?

Sorry, no, these will not be allowed into the venue.

Do I receive my diploma at Commencement?

No, you will receive a diploma cover as you cross the stage. Graduating students will receive their diploma by mail 4-6 weeks after their conferral date.

Will refreshments be available?

No, food and beverages are not allowed in the venue.

Where do I meet my graduate after the Ceremony?

For safety purposes, guests and students will be directed to exit the venue immediately following the ceremony recession.  For the best Commencement experience, we encourage you to decide on a location outside of the venue where you and your guest(s) can meet after the ceremony ends. 

Is the building accessible?

Yes, we want all of our guests to have an opportunity to enjoy this special event. If you or a guest needs special accommodations, please contact the Registrar’s Office registrarsoffice@baystate.edu. We will have wheel chair reserved seating and Assistive Listening Devices upon request.

Ticket

Ticket allocation is based upon the number of students participating in the ceremony and the capacity of the venue. Your graduation from Bay State College is a major milestone in your life and we wish that we could issue an unlimited number of tickets for you to share with your family and friends.  However, we must accommodate some guests for all of our graduates. *  

 

To be respectful of your fellow graduates, we ask that you only request the number of tickets that you truly need.  If you find that you have extra tickets which you will not be using, please consider sharing them with a fellow graduate or returning them to the Registrar's Office by emailing RegistrarsOffice@baystate.edu so that they can be redistributed.

 

* For those family members and friends who are unable to attend the annual Commencement Ceremony, the College is pleased to offer a live video stream of the ceremony. More information will be forthcoming.

 

PARKING

Limited metered parking is available on the streets surrounding Old South Church. Parking is also available at nearby parking garages: 

Bay State College has partnered with two of the garages listed above, Motor Mart Garage and 200 Stuart Street Garage, to offer a daily discounted rate. 

To qualify for the discounted daily rates, enter the parking garage and collect the issued ticket from the garage. Once the ticket is issued, validation stickers are able to be picked up in the lobby of the venue. These tickets will be placed on the parking ticket and when it is inserted back in, it will automatically calculate the discounted rate. 

$16.00 if entering the garage between 3:00 AM - 3:00 PM 

Please be advised that parking for 12+ hours in either parking garage may result in an increased rate. 

 

The aforementioned businesses are listed as a courtesy to our patrons. Old South Church and Bay State College are not affiliated with these garages and cannot be held responsible for any lost, stolen or damaged items.