UMass Boston

Please RSVP by Wednesday, May 14, 2025 to our on-campus Commencement ceremonies.

RSVP Here

There will be a total of three Commencement ceremonies this year:

Doctoral Hooding

Wednesday, May 28, 2025 at 10:00 a.m.

This ceremony is for students receiving a doctoral degree. Only faculty who are hooding doctoral candidates will take part in the formal ceremony. Other faculty members who are not hooding may march in the academic procession and sit in a reserved section. All faculty must RSVP for this event.

Graduate Commencement

Wednesday, May 28, 2025 at 3:00 p.m.
UMass Boston, Campus Center Lawn

This ceremony is for students receiving doctoral and master’s degrees, certificates of advanced graduate study (CAGS and EDS), and post-master’s certificates. Faculty are encouraged to wear regalia and participate in the academic procession. Faculty participating in the academic procession will be seated on stage. All faculty must RSVP for this event.

Undergraduate Ceremony

Thursday, May 29, 2025 at 10:00 a.m.
UMass Boston, Campus Center Lawn

This ceremony is for students receiving bachelor's degrees. Faculty are encouraged to wear academic regalia and participate in the academic procession. Faculty participating in the academic procession will be seated on stage. All faculty must RSVP for this event. 

Registering to Attend

Please RSVP by May 14, 2025 so that we may plan on-stage faculty seating accordingly.

RSVP Here

The academic procession is one of the oldest university traditions and is widely viewed as a symbol of our collective dedication to the development of knowledge and academic inquiry. In accordance with article 15.9 of the FSU collective bargaining agreement, Faculty are all expected to be a part of our academic procession. 

Regalia

If you plan to march in the academic procession, and you do not have your own academic regalia, you may rent regalia for the day from Balfour. Please note that the university does not pay for the purchase or rental of regalia for faculty members. 

Please keep the box your order is delivered in, as you will need the box and the accompanying return shipping label inside to return your rental to Balfour.

Place your rental order online through Balfour's Online Order form. The deadline for placing rental orders is Sunday, April 13, 2025.

Retired Faculty Members

If you are a retired faculty member, you are invited to participate in or attend the commencement ceremonies. You must complete a registration form to indicate your attendance plans so that we can ensure seating for you. Retired faculty who plan to attend, must RSVP here. 

If you have any questions regarding the commencement ceremony, please contact University Events & Ceremonies at events@umb.edu or 617-287-5313.