Commencement

All students attending commencement MUST arrive and check in for the graduate line-up by 9:45 a.m. SHARP to participate in the procession and seating.

*Please note that Commencement is a dignified, respectful event. We understand your guests are excited to witness you embark on new endeavors, but as a courtesy to other graduates, please encourage them to keep verbal cheering to a minimum. 

Noisemakers, horns, balloons, etc. are not allowed during the ceremony.

Doors open at 10:15 a.m. Guests should plan to be seated prior to the 11:00 a.m. start of the ceremony. Ceremony will last approximately 90 minutes.

The College would like to accommodate your guests with special needs in the most efficient and helpful way possible. If you have guests with special needs who will be attending Commencement, please complete the section on the Commencement Participation Form. If you have additional questions or concerns, you may contact Dr. Ferna L. Phillips, Director of Accessibility Services by email: FPhillips@Fisher.edu or by phone: (617) 670-4431. This will ensure all necessary arrangements will be made prior to Commencement. We kindly ask that all requests be made prior to May 5, 2023, to ensure proper planning time. 

Please ask your guests to arrive by 10:00 a.m. so they are seated before the Academic Procession, which begins at 11:00 a.m.

Parking for John Hancock Hall is conveniently located one block from the facility at the Garage located at 100 Clarendon Street. Visit www.100clarendon.com

For specific commuting directions, please see the Commencement 2023 handbook (this is a downloadable pdf) on the right side of this page.

*Fisher College will not be responsible for any parking validation.

Thursday, March 23, 12:00 p.m. – 2:00 p.m.

Senior Clearance is for seniors to learn about senior week activities and make sure they have met their requirements to graduate or participate in commencement. The departments listed below will be available in the Trustees Reading Room for ease of completion. If you cannot attend clearance day, please make arrangements to meet with each office on an individual basis. Any obligations not satisfied may result in ineligibility to graduate. 

Financial Aid: complete the mandatory exit interview if you receive financial aid. 

Bursar: satisfaction of any outstanding financial obligations 

Registrar: ensure all documentation is in order to attend commencement and/or to receive diploma.

Each student will receive FOUR guest tickets. Tickets may be picked up from the Registrar's Office at a later date that will be emailed to you. Tickets are required for admission to the Commencement ceremony. Every attendee of Commencement must have a ticket. Children under the age of 3 who will remain seated upon a lap will not require a ticket. Guests who show up to Commencement after the start of Commencement on May 13, 2023, may have delayed entrance to the event.

Academic attire is required for all students. Graduates are able to choose the mailing address for their regalia. Boston Campus students may opt to send their regalia to campus, free of charge, and pick up in the Registrar's Office May 2-13, 2023, between 9:00 a.m - 3:00 p.m.

All regalia (gown, cap, and tassel) must be ordered online by the student. Orders can be made beginning Friday, Feb, 3, 2023. All orders must be completed by Friday, March 24, 2023. Please log on to https://www.buildagrad.com/fisher/students to place your order. If you have any questions or concerns, please contact the Registrar's Office-Registrar@Fisher.edu

You will receive an email once your regalia registration is complete.

• The email will be from https://www.buildagrad.com/fisher/students. This email order confirmation contains all necessary details regarding your regalia order. Your order number will be on this confirmation.

• Please print this form or bring it on your mobile device if you are having your regalia shipped to Fisher College when picking up your regalia.

At the Commencement ceremony, Honor Cords/Academic Hoods are the only acceptable items to wear on the outside of the gown; no other ornamentation is permitted.

Academic Honor Cords will be distributed in the robing area only to students who have completed their degree. If you have not satisfied all requirements, you will be unable to wear Academic Honor Cords.

At Fisher College, our students are distinguished in the following manner:

• Black mortarboard tassel signifies a bachelor's degree
• Blue and white mortarboard tassel signifies an associate's degree or certificate.
• Gold cords signify a graduate's cum laude or honor status.
• Gold stole and royal blue & gold intertwined cord signify a member of the Golden Key Honor Society.
• Platinum stole and platinum & dark blue intertwined cord signify a member of the Psi Chi Honor Society.
• Gold & blue intertwined cord and medallion signify a member of the Alpha Phi Sigma Honor Society.
• Red, white, & blue cords signify current member of the U.S. Military or Veteran and/or member of SALUTE Honor Society.
• Gold mortarboard tassel signifies a member of the Fisher College Honors Program.
• Silver cord signifies Salutatorian.

*Remember the importance of this special day; please dress appropriately.

Graduates will receive their diploma while marching on the stage. The December 31, 2023 graduates will receive an empty diploma case, as formal diplomas were mailed to the address provided to the Registrar's Office. Students, who are considered "WALKERS" at Commencement, will receive an empty diploma case, but will receive their official diploma after the next degree conferral period upon completion of all requirements. Any student who has not cleared all obligations to the college will have their diploma held.

All financial obligations to the College, including outstanding tuition and fees, must be satisfied by Friday, May 12, 2023, in order to receive a diploma. Students who receive financial aid must complete a financial aid exit interview. Contact the Bursar's Office (617-236-5403) and Financial Aid (617-236-8821) if you have any questions.

Photography

The college has made arrangements for each graduate to be photographed while shaking hands with the President. These photographs are taken by an outside company. You will receive an envelope within a few weeks of commencement. This envelope will contain order instructions. To ensure you receive this packet, please make sure your address is up to date at Fisher College.

Videography

Commencement is professionally recorded and will be available on the College's official YouTube channel on Monday, May 15, 2023. 

You must be present for the staging at 5:00 p.m. in order to participate in the ceremony. 

*Please note that Commencement is a dignified, respectful event. We understand your guests are excited to witness you embark on new endeavors, but as a courtesy to other graduates, please encourage them to keep verbal cheering to a minimum. 

Noisemakers, horns, balloons, etc. are not allowed during the ceremony.

The College would like to accommodate your guests with special needs in the most efficient and helpful way possible. If you have guests with special needs who will be attending Commencement, please complete the related section on the Commencement Participation Form. If you have additional questions or concerns, you may contact Dr. Ferna Phillips, Director of Accessibility Services by email: FPhillips@Fisher.edu or call 617-670-4429. This will ensure that all necessary arrangements will be made prior to Commencement.

The Boston Common Parking Garage
Zero Charles Street
Boston, MA 02116
Phone: 617-954-2098
E-mail: bcg@massconvention.com
Please check Boston Common Garage website for additional details.

Directions

From the Mass Pike(I 90)

Take Mass Pike Eastbound to the Prudential Exit and stay right for Copley Place. Continue on Stuart Street and take left on Charles Street South, which will turn into Charles Street after the first traffic light. Enter the garage via the Charles Street entrance ramp.

From the Southeast Expressway (I 93/rt. 3 North)

Take exit 20 toward I-90, Airport & South Station. Then, take a left toward South Station. At the light Turn left (West) onto Kneeland St. Kneeland Street becomes Stuart Street from Stuart Street, take a right on Charles Street. Follow Charles Street for one block, then enter the garage via the ramp on your right.

From 93 South

Take exit 26 toward Storrow Drive-North Station, then follow Storrow Drive heading westbound. Take the Back Bay / Copley Square exit on your left. At the end of the exit, take a left. Then take your first right onto Arlington Street. At second light, take a left onto Boylston Street. At second light, take a left onto Charles Street. Enter the garage via the ramp on your right.

From Storrow Drive

If you're coming on Storrow Drive heading eastbound, take the Downtown / Boston exit. Turn left on Beacon Street, then take your first right onto Arlington Street. Turn left onto Boylston Street, then take a slight left onto Charles Street. Enter the garage via the ramp on your right.

Graduate students are not limited to a number of tickets at the ceremony. You will be asked to provide us with a number of attendees for planning purposes. 

All regalia(gown, cap, and tassel) must be ordered online by the student. Orders can be made beginning March 15, 2023. All orders must completed by May 5, 2023.

 

Please log on to https://wwww.buildagrad.com/fisher/students to place your order. Please email Registrar@Fisher.edu for any questions or concerns.

• Students may choose to have their regalia sent to the college for pickup in Dr.Trotta's Office free of charge (111 Beacon Street, 1st floor). Regalia may be picked up June 24-26 2023, between 9:00 a.m.-3:00 p.m.
• Graduates will have the opportunity to have regalia mailed directly to their preferred mailing addres for a $5 fee.
• If you do not pick-up your regalia, we will have it for pick-up at Commencement.

 

You will receive an email once your regalia registration is complete.

 

 

• The email will be from Build a Grad. This email order confirmation contains all the necessary details regarding your regalia order. Your order number will be on this confirmation.
• Please print the Build a Grad form or bring it on your mobile device if you are having your regalia shipped to and picking up at Fisher College.

 

Students who are currently enrolled in their final classes, or have two or less classes left, may walk at the ceremony but will receive an empty diploma case. Graduates who completed their program in the prior August or December will also receive an empty diploma case if their diploma was previously mailed to them. Any student who has not cleared all obligations to the college will have their diploma held.

A representative will be available in the Registrar's Office on campus, following the ceremony during the reception. Any questions, outstanding balances, incomplete obligations, etc. may be addressed and may be satisfied during this time.

All financial obligations to the College, including outstanding tuition, library fees, etc., must be satisfied by Thursday, June 1st. Fisher College will not issue your diploma or any transcripts until your account is settled. 

Please contact the Bursar's Office during their scheduled business hours to ensure your account is in good standing or to make arrangements for payment. You may reach the Bursar's Office by calling 617-236-5403