Commencement 2008: What to Do and Where to Go
Weekend is packed with activities for grads, family, friends

The finish line is in sight. But are you really prepared for Commencement? There’s more to the big day than just dressing up and accepting your diploma. BU Today has what you need to know about Commencement — Sunday, May 18, at 11 a.m. at Nickerson Field — and the entire weekend.
Graduates must pick up their caps and gowns before the day of the ceremony. The Cap and Gown Room will be open Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m., Saturday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., and Sunday from noon to 6 p.m. Regalia costs $75 to $103.
During Commencement weekend, information booths will be set up along Commonwealth Avenue. Campus Information and Visitor Relations can be reached at 617-353-INFO (4636) or AskUs@bu.edu during the weekend. On Commencement day, Campus Information will be operational beginning at 7:30 a.m.
In addition, Student Health Services will provide care and referrals to all students and guests attending Commencement weekend activities. Click here for more information on first aid.
Unless being used as a Convocation site, all parking facilities will be open and free of charge for general Commencement parking. But with heavy traffic and demand for spaces in campus garages and lots and along Commonwealth Avenue, public transportation might be the best bet.
The Babcock Street parking lot will be reserved for parking for the disabled during the All-University Commencement; a special permit will be required to enter the lot between 6 a.m. and 3 p.m. on Commencement day. Request a permit by submitting the Disability Services Accommodation Request Form, and click here for more information about disability services.
Shuttle buses will operate continuously along Commonwealth Avenue between 7:30 a.m. and 10 p.m., transporting guests to Nickerson Field and to on-campus Convocation sites.
Click here for important phone numbers and contact information for the Commencement coordinators at each school and college.
Click here for a campus map.
Commencement Weekend Events
Friday, May 16
Housing Check-in, noon to 8 p.m.
Commencement guests staying in campus housing should check in at Warren Towers, 700 Commonwealth Ave.
Senior Champagne Reception, 4 to 6 p.m.
The 2008 Senior Week Committee and the Office of the Dean of Students are hosting a champagne and hors d’oeuvre reception in honor of the Class of 2008. Tickets are no longer available through the Commencement Web site but may be purchased through the Student Activities Office. Admission is $12.
Saturday, May 17
Housing Check-in, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Commencement guests staying in campus housing should check in at Warren Towers, 700 Commonwealth Ave.
Shabbat Services, 9:30 and 10 a.m.
Orthodox Shabbat services will begin at 9:30 a.m.; Conservative and Reform services will begin at 10 a.m. Lunch will be served at noon. All services, programs, and meals are at the Florence and Chafetz Hillel House, 213 Bay State Road. For reservations, call Hillel at 617-353-7200. For more worship information, click here.
Riverboat Cruises on the Charles River, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Cruise along the scenic Charles with family and friends. Boats leave every 15 minutes between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m., rain or shine. This event is not accessible to the disabled. Admission is $5.
Picnic on the Mall, noon to 2 p.m.
The festival features picnic fare, live music and entertainment, face painting, and BU giveaways. Admission is $15.
Baccalaureate Mass, 4 p.m.
The Roman Catholic Center hosts a mass at Marsh Chapel, 735 Commonwealth Ave. For more worship information, click here.
Celebration ’08, 5:30 to 8 p.m.
The buffet features an array of salads, pasta, entrees, and mouth-watering desserts. Beer, wine, and soft drinks are included. Admission is $25 for adults, $12.50 for children ages 3 to 12, and free for children under 3.
94th BU Night at the Pops, 8 p.m.
The Boston University Night at the Pops at Symphony Hall is sold out. To add your name to a waiting list for tickets, call 617-353-2248. Tickets are $19 to $87 each.
Sunday, May 18
Housing Check-out, 7 a.m. to noon
All keys must be returned to the registration desk by noon.
Marsh Chapel Baccalaureate Service, 9 a.m.
No tickets are required, but space is limited at this interdenominational service. Honorary degree recipient William Hayling, a physician and the founder of a national minority mentoring program, will speak at the service.
All-University Commencement Exercises, 11 a.m., Nickerson Field
No registration is necessary. Graduating students should be at the entrance to Harry Agganis Way by 10:15 a.m. to ensure entering Nickerson Field and being seated with degree candidates from their school or college. Larry Lucchino, president and chief executive officer of the Boston Red Sox, will deliver the main address. For a map of the area, click here.
Diploma Convocations for Individual Schools and Colleges
Convocations will take place throughout the day at various locations. No registration is necessary. Click here for more information.
Graduate School of Arts and Sciences, 3:30 p.m.
(Ph.D. candidates only)
Alpert Mall, behind Marsh Chapel
College and Graduate School of Arts and Sciences
American and New England Studies, 2 p.m.
School of Hospitality Administration, Sopher Auditorium
928 Commonwealth Ave.
Anthropology, 2 p.m.
Shelton Hall Roof, 91 Bay State Rd.
(4 guests per student)
Archaeology, 2:30 p.m.
Photonics Center, Colloquium Room, 9th Floor
8 St. Mary’s St.
Speaker: Richard J. Elia, Chair, Archeology Department
Art History, 2 p.m.
Towers Residence Hall, Franklin Lounge
140 Bay State Rd.
(5 guests per student)
Astronomy, 3:30 p.m.
College of Arts and Sciences, Room 522
725 Commonwealth Ave.
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, 2 p.m.
College of Fine Arts Concert Hall
855 Commonwealth Ave.
Biology, 5:30 p.m.
Fuller Building
808 Commonwealth Ave.
(6 guests per student)
Chemistry, 2 p.m.
Metcalf Science Center, Room 107
590 Commonwealth Ave.
Classical Studies, 3 p.m.
George Sherman Union, Faculty Dining Room, 5th Floor
775 Commonwealth Ave.
Computer Science, 6 p.m.
College of Fine Arts Concert Hall
855 Commonwealth Ave.
Speaker: Rebecca Norlander (CAS’91), GM of system protection technologies at Microsoft
Earth Sciences, 2 p.m.
Photonics Center Auditorium, Room 206
8 St. Mary’s St.
Economics, 2 p.m.
Sargent Gymnasium, 1 University Rd.
Editorial Institute, 2 p.m.
143 Bay State Road
Speaker: Kevin Lang, Chair, Economics Department
English, 2 p.m.
Morse Auditorium
602 Commonwealth Ave.
Speaker: Rosanna Warren, Emma Ann MacLachlan Metcalf Professor of the Humanities; Professor of English and Modern Foreign Languages and Literatures
Geography and Environmental Studies, 2 p.m.
School of Management, Auditorium, Room 105
595 Commonwealth Ave.
History, 2 p.m.
College of General Studies, Jacob Sleeper Hall
871 Commonwealth Ave.
International Relations, Russian and Eastern European Studies, East Asian & Latin American Studies, 2 p.m.
Fitness & Recreation Center, 4-Court Gymnasium
915 Commonwealth Ave.
Mathematics and Statistics, 2 p.m.
The Tsai Performance Center
685 Commonwealth Ave.
(Guests are limited; please check with Commencement coordinator)
Medical Science, 6 p.m.
Shelton Hall Dining Room
91 Bay State Rd.
Speaker: Denise Gee, Surgeon, Boston Medical Center
Modern Foreign Languages and Literatures, 2 p.m.
Warren Towers Cinema Room
700 Commonwealth Ave.
Music, 4 p.m.
Boston University Theatre
264 Huntington Ave.
(4 guests per student)
Philosophy, 5:30 p.m.
School of Management, Auditorium, Room 105
595 Commonwealth Ave.
(4 guests per student)
Speaker: Jennifer Page, (UNI’06)
Physics, 2 p.m.
Stone Science Center, Room B-50
675 Commonwealth Ave.
Political Science, 2 p.m.
Fuller Building
808 Commonwealth Ave.
Psychology, (B.A. candidates), 6 p.m.
Case Athletic Center Gymnasium
285 Babcock St.
Psychology, (M.A. candidates), 4 p.m.
Metcalf Science Center, Auditorium, Room 107
590 Commonwealth Ave.
Religion, 2:30 p.m.
Sargent College, Room 101
635 Commonwealth Ave.
(4 guests per student)
Sociology, 2 p.m.
School of Law Alumni Auditorium
767 Commonwealth Ave.
Speaker: Michael Borer (GRS’01,’06), author, Faithful to Fenway, Professor at Furman University
College of Communication, 2 p.m.
Agganis Arena
925 Commonwealth Ave.
Kevin Merida, (COM’76) associate editor for the Washington Post
School of Education, 2:30 p.m.
George Sherman Union, Metcalf Hall, 2nd Floor
775 Commonwealth Ave.
(Guests are limited; please refer to the SED commencement website)
Charles Glenn (GRS’87), SED dean ad interim
College of Engineering, 2:30 p.m.
Track and Tennis Center
100 Ashford St.
John K. Hirschtick, CEO and co-founder of SolidWorks Corporation
College of Fine Arts, 4 p.m.
Boston University Theatre
264 Huntington Ave.
(4 guests per student)
Craig Lucas (CFA’73), associate artistic director at the Intiman Theatre in Seattle
Goldman School of Dental Medicine, 5 p.m.
Fitness and Recreation Center, 4-court Gymnasium
915 Commonwealth Ave.
(6 guests per student)
David R. Federick, adjunct clinical assistant professor in the Department of Restorative Sciences at BUGSDM
Division of Graduate Medical Sciences, 3 p.m.
(Ph.D. candidates only)
Boston Marriott Copley Place
110 Huntington Ave., Boston
(6 guests per student)
Dean Kamen, entreprenuer and creator of the Segway and other inventions
School of Hospitality Administration, 5:30 p.m.
The Tsai Performance Center
685 Commonwealth Ave.
(4 guests per student)
Edwin Fuller, President of Marriot International
School of Law, 6 p.m.
Agganis Arena
925 Commonwealth Ave.
Niki Tsongas, U.S. Representative (D-Mass.)
School of Management
Undergraduates, 2 p.m.
Walter Brown Arena
285 Babcock St.
Christine Poon (GSM’83), vice-chairman of Johnson & Johnson
Graduates, 5:30 p.m.
Walter Brown Arena
285 Babcock St.
Christine Poon (GSM’83), vice-chairman of Johnson & Johnson
School of Medicine, 3 p.m.
Boston Marriott, Copley Place
110 Huntington Ave., Boston
(6 guests per student)
Dean Kamen, Entreprenuer and creator of the Segway and other inventions
Metropolitan College, 6 p.m.
Track and Tennis Center
100 Ashford St.
S.D. Shibulal, co-founder and chief operating officer of Infosys Technologies Limited, one of India’s largest IT companies
School of Public Health, 3:30 p.m.
Sheraton Boston Hotel
39 Dalton St., Boston
(4 guests per student)
John Auerbach, commissioner, Massachusetts Department of Public Health
Sargent College of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences, 2:30 p.m.
CAS Parking Area, behind the Tsai Performance Center, 685 Commonwealth Ave.
(6 guests per student)
Lisa Iezzoni, professor of Medicine at Harvard Medical School and co-director of Research in the Division of General Medicine and Primary Care, Department of Medicine, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center in Boston
School of Social Work, 5:30 p.m.
George Sherman Union, Metcalf Hall, 2nd Floor
775 Commonwealth Ave.
Betsy McAlister-Groves, MSW, LICSW, founder, Child Witness to Violence Project
School of Theology, 3:30 p.m.
Marsh Chapel
735 Commonwealth Ave.
Roy L. Hart, dean ad interim, Boston University School of Theology and Professor of Philosophy of Religion and Theology
University Professors Program, 3:30 p.m.
Metcalf Trustee Center, 9th Floor
One Sherborn St.
John Silber (Hon.’95), President Emeritus, Boston University
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