FAQs

Before Commencement Day

Students who graduate from a degree program in May 2024, December 2023, or August 2023 as well as students expected to complete their degree requirements in August 2024 are eligible to participate in Commencement 2024.

Please contact the Registrar’s Office or your academic advisor to confirm that you have met all of the requirements to be eligible to participate.

You are eligible to participate if you:

  1. are registered for your remaining degree requirements by the deadline sent to you by the Registrar’s Office,
  2. are on track to complete your degree requirements during the summer 2024 semester and graduate in August 2024,
  3. have a minimum 2.0 (undergraduate) or 2.8 (graduate) cumulative GPA,
  4. complete and submit an Application for Degree for August 2024, and
  5. complete the Commencement Clearance Process once it opens in the spring.

Guidance on invitation letters and a template letter can be found on the International Student & Scholar Services (ISSS) home page under the heading General Requests & Submissions. Email the ISSS for more information. 

The Commencement Clearance Process (CCP), has a designated portlet on the Hub which opens on April 8, 2024. It will then close on May 8, 2024.

All students who plan on participating in commencement must complete the requirements of the CCP such as fulfilling financial obligations, remaining in good standing with community standards, completing surveys, etc. The CCP will be available to all commencement participants.

Students who graduate from a degree program in May 2024, December 2023, or August 2023 as well as students expected to complete their degree requirements in August 2024 are eligible to participate in CCP. 

For any questions about the CCP process, please call 781.239.4433 or email ccpquestions@babson.edu.

Each undergraduate student gets six (6) tickets for the ceremony. You may reach out to your classmates and see if anyone would be willing to give you more, but that would be your only option for additional tickets. There is seating available in the Sorenson theater where guests can watch the commencement live, and these seats do not require tickets.

The graduate ceremony does not require tickets to sit under the tent, and each student is welcome to bring as many guests as they would like.

These items can only be picked up by the graduate. If you require an exception, and are unable to pick up items within the dates and times specified due to extraordinary circumstances, please contact the Campus & Community Events office at 781-239-5265.

Please find out what special accommodation is required and contact the Campus & Community Events office. There are special accommodation seating sections on either side of the tent. It is important to know that only one other person is allowed to sit with the individual that requires the accommodation. When you contact the Campus & Community Events Office please provide the following information:

  1. Ceremony information: undergraduate or graduate.
  2. The graduate’s name.
  3. The name of the guest who needs the special accommodation.
  4. What accommodation the individual will need; Please note, we are not able to provide wheelchairs.
  5. The name of the person that will be seated with the guest who requires the accommodation.

All requests must be submitted to the Campus & Community Events office no later than April 15, 2024. We will try our best, but may not be able to accommodate requests that come in past the deadline.

On Commencement Day

Undergraduate Ceremony

Check-in will start at 7:45 a.m., and the class photo will be at 9 a.m. You should be in your robes for the class photo. After the class photo, procession lines will begin on the track. You need to be in LGRAC to line up by 8:45 a.m.

Graduate Ceremony

Check-in will start at 12:45 p.m., and the class photo will be at 2 p.m. You should be in your robes for the class photo. After the class photo, procession lines will begin on the track. You need to be in LGRAC to line up by 1:45 p.m.

Personal items cannot be stored in the LGRAC or the Webster Building. There is no safe place to store personal items and other people will be in the building throughout the day.

Undergraduate ceremony guests should go straight to the tent and should be seated by 9:30 a.m. to ensure they get a seat. The tent will open for seating at 8:15 a.m. After the ceremony please have your family and guests meet you at Park Manor Quad Tent.

Graduate ceremony guests should go straight to the tent and should be seated by 2:30 p.m. to ensure they get a seat. The tent will open for seating at 1:45 p.m. After the ceremony please instruct your family and guests to meet you at Park Manor Quad Tent.

Yes, a professionally-produced LIVE video of the undergraduate and graduate Commencement ceremonies will go live on these specific pages:

Undergrad Live Stream

Graduate Live Stream

Both videos will be available within a week after commencement day to watch and download. Please look for the download graphic once the recap site is live (download times will vary based on your internet connection).

Please try to arrive early. Your tickets, cap and gown will be held for you at check-in. It is important that you arrive early to pick up your tickets so that you can get them to your guests and still make it back for the class photo.

Honors tassels will be given out at the check in tables, located at the Len Green Recreation Athletic Complex (LGRAC). Please bring your student ID with you.

If you are a May 2024 graduate, you should expect to receive your diploma at the Commencement ceremony unless you have an outstanding obligation due to the College, such as an outstanding balance due or a laptop to return. May 2024 graduates who do not attend the Commencement ceremony will have their diploma mailed to them between the end of May and middle of June.

If you graduated in August or December of last year, you should have already received your diploma. If you are completing your degree requirements over the summer and graduating this August, your diploma will be mailed to you in September upon successful completion of your degree. If you have an outstanding obligation due to the College, such as an outstanding balance due or a laptop to return, you will not receive your diploma until these obligations are cleared.

For additional Commencement information please contact the relevant department:

Accessibility Accommodations and General Questions 781-239-5265
campusevents@babson.edu
Campus Store 781-239-4375
Center for Career Development – Graduate 781-239-4210
Center for Career Development – Undergraduate 781-239-4215
Glavin Office of Multicultural & International Education 781-239-4565
glavinoffice@babson.edu
Graduate Student Services 781-239-4474
Grad Week Activities – Graduate gradll@babson.edu
Registrar – F.W. Olin Graduate School
Donna Dubrawski
ddubrawski@babson.edu
Registrar – Undergraduate
Abby Power
apower@babson.edu
Senior Week Activities – Undergraduate 781-239-4500
ose@babson.edu
Student Financial Services 781-239-4219