The Boston Conservatory
2008 Commencement 

Commencement Event Information
For Graduating Students
For Parents & Family

* * * *

Commencement

The ceremony will take place on
Saturday, May 17, 2008
2:30-4:30 p.m.

Northeastern University
Krentzman Quadrangle
Blackman Auditorium, Ell Hall
360 Huntington Avenue
Boston, MA

The reception will immediately follow at the
Northeastern University
West Addition
Curry Student Center
360 Huntington Avenue
Boston, MA
4:30-6:00 p.m.

Hot and Cold Hors D'Ouevres
Cash Bar

Click here for directions and parking information
for Northeastern University.

Honorary Degree Candidate: Susan Stroman, Broadway director and choreographer of Young Frankenstein and The Producers

Distinguished Alumni Award Recipient: James Orleans '81, B.M. Double Bass

Lifetime Achievement Award (posthumous): Thommie Walsh '72, B.F.A. Dance

Senior Speaker: Anna Robinson

* * * *

For Graduating Students

Commencement Tickets
Graduation Requirements!
Caps and Gowns
Ceremony Instructions
Class of 2008 Photo
Graduation Photo
New Alumni Welcome Reception
Residence Hall Information

Commencement Tickets

At the mandatory commencement meetings in March each student recieved 4 tickets. Each student may pick up 1 additional ticket at the Register's Office in 8 The Fenway for a total of 5 tickets per student.

Back to top of page

Graduation Requirements

Please read the items below that may prevent your diploma and transcripts from being released:

Do you have an outstanding balance with the Bursar's office?
Check with Roz Nazzaro, Bursar, to make sure your account is paid and up to date. Call (617) 912-9164.

Do you have outstanding library books or fines?
Check with Jenny Smilovitz, Public Services, Special Collections Librarian. Call (617) 912-9131 or email jsmilovitz@bostonconservatory.edu. All graduating students will also be receiving email and paper communication detailing any fines as well as the deadlines listed below.

Please be aware of the following due dates regarding library fines and loans:

All library fines have to be paid to the library by Friday May 2, 2008.

If you have not paid the library by this date, the total will be added to your tuition bill and a hold will be placed on your student account. At this point you must pay the Bursar directly and bring a receipt to the library so that we can record your payment and remove the hold. All fines must be paid to a library staff member (our student workers cannot accept fine payments).

All books have to be returned to the library by May 7, 2008 regardless of the original due date.

If you missed this deadline, your diploma and transcripts will be placed on hold until all materials are returned.

Please note : This includes all chamber reserve parts. If you are in a group that will be using their parts for a performance to take place beyond this due date please speak with a librarian.

If you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to speak with a librarian.

Have you received appropriate exit counseling from Financial Aid?
Students who have taken out Federal Stafford or GradPLUS student loans must go to www.mapping-your-future.org and go through the Exit Interview process. Once in the website, click on Student Loan Counseling Interview on the side tool bar, then click on either Stafford Exit or Grad PLUS Exit (if you've taken out both types of loans, then you must go through both Exit Interviews). Continue with the interview until you receive a confirmation number. An electronic confirmation will be sent to the Financial Aid Office when the Exit Interview has been completed. The Financial Aid Office is compiling lists of the amounts and types of loans that you have taken out while at The Boston Conservatory and will be mailing them out over the spring and summer .

If you have any questions, please drop by the Financial Aid Office or call Jessica Raine or Nicole Brennan at (617) 912-9147. Please note that you will be placed on Financial Aid Hold and will not receive transcripts or grades until the exit interview has been completed.  

Have you successfully completed all of your degree requirements?
If you have not already received an email from Gregory Karas, Registrar, regarding your diploma information, please be sure to contact him at (617) 912-9146. It is very important that your mailing address on file in the Registrar's Office is accurate. If you do not update your mailing address which causes you to not receive your diploma you will be assessed a $20 fee for a re-print of your diploma – NO EXCEPTIONS. If you have not received your diploma by 31 July 2008, please contact the Registrar's Office.

Are you an international student?
If you are an international student, please keep your eyes open for announcements from Gordon Homann regarding special F-1 visa procedures. Call (617) 912-9154.

You will not receive your diploma or transcripts if there are outstanding issues with any of the above offices.

Back to top of page

Caps & Gowns

Cap and gowns will be available for student pick up in the Student Affairs Resource Center at the beginning of May. Look out for emails and posters to let you know when they have arrived and are ready for pick up.

Instructions for the Ceremony

Date: Saturday, May 17
Location: Blackman Theater (Ell Hall)
Northeastern University
360 Huntington Ave.

Schedule for the day:
11:45: Class photo in front of 8 The Fenway
Photo will be taken directly at Noon.
12:30 p.m.: Student Marshals and Senior Speaker must be present.
1:30 p.m.: All students must be present.
TBD: All faculty in stage party must be present.
2:30 p.m.: Ceremony begins.
4:30 p.m.: Ceremony ends.

Upon arrival at the Blackman Theater, please have your family take all of your valuables and proceed to line-up wearing full regalia in the hallway to the right of the auditorium, where attendance will be taken. From here, everyone will process in as directed by the designated Marshals.

During the ceremony: as you face the stage, students will approach the stage from the left, walk up the stairs, and cross the front of the stage to the center, where President Ortner will hand you your diploma cover. It is during this time that a photographer will take a “handshake” picture of you and the President. (www.commencementphotos.com)

Your guest may only take pictures from their seats. Due to strict fire laws, they will not be permitted to approach the stage or step into the aisle to take pictures. A few weeks after the ceremony, you will receive instructions from the photographer for ordering prints of the “handshake” picture.

After you receive your diploma cover, your Division Director (who will be standing next to the President) will congratulate you. Continue across stage left, descend the stairs, and return to your seat. At the conclusion of the ceremony, all students will process out of the auditorium.

IMPORTANT CHANGE: Diplomas will be mailed out to the permanent address you supplied no later than July 1, 2008.

Back to top of page

Class of 2008 Photo

The Senior Class Photo 2008 is scheduled for:
Commencement Day
Date: Saturday, May 17
Arrival time: 11:45 a.m.
Photo will be taken at Noon.
**If your arrive late you will not be in the picture.
Location: Front of 8 The Fenway
Rain Location: Boston Conservatory Theater, 31 Hemenway St.
Appearance: No jeans. No caps and gowns in the picture.
Wear you graduation clothing so Student Marshals and the Senior Speaker can head directly to Northeastern.

Cost:
Order by May 17 (Graduation day): $25 (free shipping)
After May 17: $25 (plus shipping and handling)

To pre-order, please fill out the Class Photo Order Form (PDF) and follow the instructions.

A table will be set up on the day of Commencement to order prints. Orders on this day can only be made by cash or check (made out to The Boston Conservatory).

An online version of the Class Photo (with watermark) will be available online after graduation. All orders placed after graduation will need to be made through the panfoto.com website.

Individual Degree Photo

For the "handshake" photos, visit: commencementphotos.com.

New Alumni Welcome Reception

The Alumni Affairs Committee and the Office of Alumni and Parent Relations cordially invites graduating students and their families to the:

2008 Welcome to the Alumni Association! Event
Friday, May 16, 2008 from 5–7p.m.

Please join us in the Fenway Room at the Back Bay Hilton (two blocks down from Massachusetts Avenue at 40 Dalton Street, on the corner of Belvidere Street ) for food, drinks, and a festive opportunity to celebrate your new role as a full-fledged BoCo Alum (or Alumni Parent) with the Class of 2008. 

More information to come. Contact Angela Henstra at (617) 912-9204 or ahenstra@bostonconservatory.edu if you have questions now. We hope to see you there!

Residence Hall Information

Graduating students may stay in the residence halls until noon on Sunday, May 18; however, no food services will be available after Saturday, May 10.

Back to top of page

* * * * *

FOR PARENTS AND FAMILY:

Commencement Tickets
Accommodations
Class of 2008 Photo (Order now and save!)
New Alumni Welcome Reception (Families welcome!)
Graduation Gifts

Commencement Tickets:

Each graduating student will recieve five tickets for Commencement. Tickets will be handed out to the students at the mandatory student meetings on March 28 and 29.

Accommodations:

BostonVisit.com provides information about hotel packages, public transportation, maps and more. For information on what to do once you're here, visit BostonUSA.com.

Gifts for Graduates:

Order Boston Conservatory Merchandise online!
Visit www.co-store.com/boco to see what's available.

Please allow up to 6 weeks for shipping.

Back to top of page