Graduation
Welcome, graduates! The Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health and Harvard University look forward to celebrating and documenting your achievements.
Families and guests
For information on transit, tickets, and accommodations for the Harvard University Commencement Morning Exercises in Tercentenary Theatre, please visit the Harvard University Commencement website.
For travel guidance for Convocation and Commencement, visit the Harvard International Office website.
If you are interested in receiving emails about guest information for Convocation, please fill out this form.
Convocation, May 28, 2025
- 9:30 AM: Accesibility ticket seating opens
- 10:00 AM: Ticketed general admission guest seating opens at Agganis Arena
- 10:30 AM: Student procession begins
- 11:00 AM: Ceremony begins
- Around 1:30 PM: Reception begins
Arrival
The Agganis Arena at Boston University is located at 925 Commonwealth Ave, Boston, MA 02215. We strongly recommend that guests and graduates use public transportation.
Take the B train of the Green Line to either the Amory St. or Babcock St. stop, each just a block from Agganis Arena. Limited first-come, first-served parking is available. There is a parking lot under the arena, and others nearby, where guests may park for a fee. There is limited on-street parking. Please visit the Agganis Arena site for information about parking.
Below on the map, please note that the entrances are marked by the two stars. Corner doors open to all guests at 10:00 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.
Reception
We warmly invite you to join us for a celebratory reception immediately following the Convocation ceremony. The reception will take place at the BU FitRec Center, located at the corner of Commonwealth Avenue and Buick Street. Please enter through the first door on the left side of Buick Street as you face the Charles River. Signage will be provided to help guide you. We look forward to celebrating with you!
Tickets and Security
General admission guest seating opens at 10:00 AM. Please be advised that guests cannot enter the BU Agganis Arena before 10:00 AM, and any early arrivals must wait outside the arena. Graduating students have access to their electronic Convocation tickets and can either download or email them to guests. Guests can either present the QR code on their mobile device or print the tickets. All children over 5 years of age require their own ticket for Convocation at Agganis Arena.
To help ensure the highest level of safety and security, all guests will be subject to security searches with metal detection devices and no food or beverages will be permitted. BU will have concession stands available to purchase food and drinks
- All persons, bags, and personal items are subject to inspection
- 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.
- No luggage may be brought or stored at a ceremony location.
Please do not bring items that will block the view or disturb the enjoyment of others,
such as helium balloons, large signs, or noisemakers.
Please reach the Agganis Arena website for more building policies.
The Convocation ceremony will be livestreamed on YouTube and simulcast in the Kresge Building for friends and family members who do not have tickets to Convocation at the Agganis Arena. Please visit the Commencement website for information of the livestreaming of this ceremony.
In order to provide a comfortable guest experience while accounting for the anticipated number of graduating students and their guests and the capacity of the venue, we maintain a two-ticket policy for Commencement and a five-ticket policy for Convocation. We are not able to accommodate requests for additional tickets or increase the number allocated to students.
You can reach out to the Graduation Team anytime throughout the year at convocation@hsph.harvard.edu. You are also welcome to stop by the office in the Kresge G-4 suite.
Accommodations for guests with disabilities
If you have questions about accessibility, please contact convocation@hsph.harvard.edu.
Accessible Seating
The Agganis Arena offers accessible and companion seating located on the concourse and event levels for all events (accessible seating locations are subject to change based on the seating configuration for various events).
Drop-Off Location/Main Lobby Entrance
The accessible drop-off location is located on the corner of Harry Agganis Way and Commonwealth Avenue. The main lobby entrance is accessible to guests with disabilities as are all arena entrances, hallways, and pathways.
Parking
Accessible parking spaces are available in all parking lots associated with the arena. A parking map is available for your assistance.
Elevators
Guests with disabilities receive preferential access to elevators during all arena events. The Agganis Arena has four passenger elevators: two in the southeast corner of the arena serving Lot A and one each in the southwest and northwest corners of the arena providing access from the arena lobby to the concourse level.
Restrooms
All public restrooms are equipped with accessible sinks, stalls, and amenities. There are 15 public restrooms located throughout the arena. Nine public restrooms are located on the concourse level, four are located on the entry level, and two are located on the event level. All public restrooms are equipped with baby-changing stations and are accessible to guests in wheelchairs.
Service Dogs
Service dogs that assist guests with disabilities are welcome in the arena. Service dogs must remain on a leash or in a harness at all times.
Overflow and Live Stream
Overflow seating is available at Harvard Chan in Sebastian’s Café and Kresge ground floor classrooms. Convocation will be live-streamed on the Harvard Chan website. The live stream will begin at 10:15 AM.
Commencement, May 29, 2025
- 6:45am Guest seating open
- 7:00am Graduate arrival on Quincy Street, gather inside Sever Quad
- 7:20am Harvard Chan procession begins
- 9:30am-12:15pm Morning Exercises
Arrival
Visit the Harvard University Commencement Parking and Transportation website for information on traveling to Commencement. Use of public transportation is encouraged. Please plan your visit accordingly, as traffic in Cambridge will be extremely busy, with significant delays going to and from Harvard Square.
Ticketing and Security
A ticket will be required to enter Tercentenary Theatre, the site of the Commencement Morning Exercises. Please note that while a ticket grants you access into Harvard Yard, it does not guarantee a seat. General Admission seats are often claimed early, shortly after gates open at approximately 6:45 AM. We encourage all guests desiring a seat in the Theatre to arrive early. All persons, bags, and personal items are subject to inspection before entering Harvard Yard.
Accessibility
For detailed information on accessibility, visit the Commencement Guest with Disabilities website. Accessible seating is available for guests whose student requested accommodations in advance.
Weather
The Morning Exercises will be held rain or shine in Tercentenary Theatre. Tercentenary Theatre is an outdoor venue and guests are not protected from rain or sun. If extreme weather is expected, an announcement will be posted on the Commencement website.
Overflow and Live Stream
Abundant overflow seating is available in the Yard (near Lamont Library or Weld Hall) and just outside of the Yard in the Plaza Tent, Smith Campus Center, and Science Center. Viewing will also be available via live web streaming on www.harvard.edu.
Guest Advice
A guest ticket for the Commencement Morning Exercises (Thursday, May 29th, 2025) guarantees access to the Yard but does not reserve an actual seat. If guests want to secure a seat, they must arrive at Harvard Yard early. Many guests line up well in advance of the gates opening in order to get a seat for the Commencement Morning Exercises.
The Commencement Morning Exercises in Tercentenary Theatre are festive and fun but not for the faint of heart: seats, bathrooms, food, and water are very limited. All persons, bags, and personal items are subject to inspection before entering Harvard Yard. No backpacks of any type will be admitted. No bag or item larger than 12 x 12”x 12” will be permitted inside the Yard. Strollers are permitted only in the Old Yard and not in Tercentenary Theatre.
Where to stay
Please visit the University Commencement website to see a compiled list of hotels in the area.