Location
Agganis Arena at Boston University
925 Commonwealth Ave.
Boston, MA 02215
Graduating students should report to Commonwealth Ave. and Buick St., and enter the FitRec Center through the first door on the left on Buick St. as you look toward the Charles River. There will be a sign.
Schedule
Sunday, May 12, 2024
Undergraduate students arrive at 8:15 a.m.
Graduate students arrive at 9:00 a.m.
Center doors open to guests wishing special accommodation at 8:30 a.m. (Guests who arrive early will need to wait outside.)
Corner doors open to all guests at 9:00 a.m. (Guests who arrive early will need to wait outside. There are 2 corners and each corner has 3 doors, for 6 doors in total. Please form 6 lines, one for each door. All 6 doors will open simultaneously.)
Commencement ceremony 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.
Directions
Directions for student lineup are available now.
If you are a guest, please visit the Agganis Arena site for directions.
Transportation
Buses for graduating students will be running between 150 Boylston St. (Piano Row/ Campus Center) and the Agganis Arena from 7:30am to 1:30 pm on Commencement day. Please be prepared to show your Emerson ID to the driver.
Graduating students should report to Commonwealth Ave. and Buick St., and enter the FitRec Center through the first door on the left on Buick St. as you look toward the Charles River. There will be a sign.
Guests must arrange for their own transportation. The Agganis Arena is on the subway (called the T) Green Line "B" Branch, and the closest stop is Babcock Street.
Parking
There is a parking lot under the arena, and others nearby, where guests may park for a fee (in 2023 it was $15). There is limited on-street parking, but meters are free on Sunday. Please visit the Agganis Arena site for information about parking.
Security
To help ensure the highest level of safety and security, all graduates and guests will be subject to security searches with metal detection devices and no food or beverages will be permitted.
Graduates will need their hands free and should only bring a bag large enough for their ID, phone, and keys—one that will fit under their gown. Because you will be returning to a different seat, you will need to carry your belongings with you when you go on stage to receive your diploma cover.
All guest bags will be searched and must be smaller than 12 inches x 12 inches x 6 inches (30cm x 30cm x 15cm), with the exception of diaper bags. If you can forgo a bag, please do as it will speed entry.
Please do not bring items that will block the view or disturb the enjoyment of others such as helium balloons, large signs, or noisemakers.
Hotels
Please see the College's accommodations webpage to view exclusive discounts for Emerson guests at campus area hotels. We recommend that guests book hotels or B&Bs well in advance as there are many graduation ceremonies in Boston in May.
The Agganis Arena, where Commencement is held, is a convenient 30 minute subway ride west of campus. For hotels closer to the Agganis Arena we recommend looking in the Kenmore Square neighborhood of Boston, or in Cambridge along the Charles River.
Visa Letters
If your family requires a visa support letter to attend your graduation ceremony, please contact the oisa [at] emerson.edu (Office of International Student Affairs (OISA)).
