BUSSW Commencement 2025
The 2025 BUSSW Commencement Ceremony will take place Thursday, May 15 at 4pm at BU’s Walter Brown Arena (285 Babcock St, Boston – map) and will be live streamed as well. Details will be shared with all graduating students via their BU email and posted on this webpage as they are determined. Tickets are not required and there is no guest limit. The ceremony will last approximately 2 hours followed by a reception for all.
- For event questions: Please email Tess Greenwood at tgreenwo@bu.edu.
- For graduation requirement questions: Please contact your program’s student services administrator.
Requests for accessible seating and individual services are managed by BU Disability & Access Services. All requests need to be submitted between April 1 and May 9. Once submitted and and reviewed by the Disability Office, BUSSW staff will connect with the parties directly. Handicapped parking is available in all parking lots throughout the Charles River Campus on a first-come, first-served basis (no parking permit needed or reservations allowed). The event will be live streamed with closed captioning for those who cannot attend. For the in-person ceremony, CART services (live captioning) will be accessible on your mobile device. Details will be shared closer the ceremony.Accessibility
Please enter Walter Brown Arena from the 285 Babcock Street entrance unless you have discussed an alternate accessible entry plan with the BUSSW planning team. BUSSW staff will be present to guide you to your destination. Please note that bag size will be limited to 12″ x 12″ x 6″ for all guests, graduating students, faculty and staff, and all bags will be physically inspected prior to entry. Review additional information about BU security protocols at bu.edu/commencement/security. Additional details will be sent to graduating students, faculty, and staff via email in the spring.Arrival & Schedule
Will I receive my actual diploma at Commencement? On May 15 you’ll receive a diploma folder. The actual completed diploma will be mailed to you in July once balances are paid and exit counseling has been completed, When will the transcript show that I graduated? When can I request a certificate of completion? How do I request a certificate of completion? When can I request a certificate of graduation? I have questions regarding ordering my transcript and/or my diploma. Who should I contact? When will my diploma be mailed?Diplomas & Transcripts
Diplomas & Transcripts FAQ
For those graduating in January, it will appear on your transcript around 1/25, for those graduating in May it will appear around 5/20 and for those graduating in August, it will appear around 8/25 of the year you graduate. View the graduation calendar here.
Once you are designated an official graduate by the Registrar’s Office, you can request a certificate of completion which states that you have completed all the requirements for the degree and your official graduation date. Once the graduation date has passed, your graduation information will appear on your transcript and you’ll be able to order a certificate of graduation.
A certificate of completion can be ordered by emailing or calling the BU Office of the Registrar at registrar@bu.edu or 617-353-3612. As soon as you see all your grades posted on the Student Link under transcript preview, contact the School of Social Work Registrar at swreg@bu.edu to ensure that your degree requirements have been met. Then the SSW Registrar can approve your request for a certificate of completion to the University Registrar.
A certificate of graduation can only be obtained after the graduation date has passed. More information on how to order a certificate of graduation can be found here: bu.edu/reg/graduation/certificates-of-graduation/
Questions regarding ordering transcripts should be directed to the Office of the University Registrar at registrar@bu.edu or 617-353-3612. Transcripts can also be ordered on the Student Link. Those with questions regarding diplomas should email diploma@bu.edu or call 617-353-3604 or diploma@bu.edu. For more information, visit the University Registrar’s Diplomas & Graduation webpage and the Ordering a Transcript webpage.
For information on when your diploma will be mailed or when you can pick it up, please check the University Registrar’s Office for their Diploma Ordering/Mailing Schedule.
The Walter Brown Arena is a large venue, so no tickets are needed for your guests. If you and/or your guests need hotel accommodations, visit BU’s Accommodations webpage here.Guests
Photos taken of graduates as they cross the stage are managed by GradImages, a company hired by the University. They will be available for purchase. Learn more here. To find, view and purchase custom photo products such as prints, plaques, specialty gifts, and more, please visit www.GradImages.com. If you have any questions or concerns regarding these photos, please contact the GradImages Customer Service Department at (800) 261-2576, online at www.gradimages.com, or email ecc.giservice@gradimages.net. Please note: Images taken by the BUSSW photographer are used for the website and social media and are cannot be made available to students or guests, per the photography contract. By entering the event premisses, you consent to photography and video/audio recording and its/their release. Please contact your student services administrator if you have questions or concerns. Guests and graduates are more than welcome to take their own photos throughout all commencement activities. If you’re sharing your photos on social media, use the hashtag #BUSSWGrad2025 and tag us! We will be sharing photos on our Instagram story (@busocialwork) throughout the day.Photography
Student regalia is handled by the University. A selection of items will be available for purchase (or rental, if doctoral) through BU. Go to the University regalia webpage, bu.edu/commencement/for-students/caps-gowns, to order your cap and gown and find the most up-to-date information on deadlines, prices, pickup, and more. MARCH 24: On-Campus Pickup | Order your Cap & Gown by March 24 for the on-campus pickup option. Campus pickup orders will be available beginning May 5 at the BU Campus Store at 910 Commonwealth Ave. APRIL 1: Doctoral Final Deadline | Cap & Gown orders must be placed by April 1, including rental. APRIL 15: Master (MSW) Final Deadline | Cap & Gown orders must be placed by April 15 to receive them for Commencement Weekend. They will not be available to order after this date. Please stay tuned for email communications with further information, and contact regalia@bu.edu with any questions.Regalia
Deadlines (as posted on BU Regalia webpage, 2/13/25)
All BU parking from Thursday through Sunday, May 15-18 will be free and available on a first come, first served basis. This link shows BU parking lots and locations. The best option near the Walter Brown Arena is Agganis Arena Garage. This link includes additional lots around campus. Handicapped parking is also available in all parking lots throughout the Charles River Campus on a first-come, first-served basis (no parking permit needed or reservations allowed). For public transportation, please visit BU’s transportation page here.Transportation & Parking
If you and/or your guests need hotel accommodations, please go to BU’s Accommodations webpage here for a list of recommendations. Please be sure to book your stay as soon as possible – overnight accommodations in Boston and surrounding areas fill up quickly due to high demand. Questions about where to stay? Contact commencement@bu.edu.Where to Stay (Overnight Accommodations)
2025 BU All-University Commencement
Please visit the BU Commencement webpage (bu.edu/commencement) or email commencement@bu.edu for information about the 2025 BU All-University Commencement.