Graduate & Guest Information
May Commencement 2024The May Commencement ceremonies will be held on Thursday, May 9, 2024, at the Leader Bank Pavilion in Boston, Massachusetts. There will be a morning and an afternoon ceremony to accommodate all candidates.
The Commencement ceremonies will honor undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral candidates from the following graduation/conferral dates from all (including online) campuses:
- December 2023
- May 2024
- September 2024*
*Please note: Prospective candidates whose degree is expected to be conferred in September 2024 are encouraged to connect with their academic dean or program director to verify their eligibility to participate in Commencement.
Commencement Logistics
Please review our Frequently Asked Questions to learn more about ceremony logistics.
Regalia/Ticket Distribution
- Regalia distribution days will be hosted on the following dates and times
- Candidates must pick up at the location selected when registering, location changes cannot be accommodated
- If you are unable to pick up on the dates noted, you will be able to pick up regalia prior to Commencement at the venue
- Alternatively, you can have another person (proxy) pick up for you
- Commencement Day tickets will also be distributed at this time
- Academic Honor cords will be distributed at this time to eligible candidates per the Student Handbook
Times and Locations
| BOSTON | MANCHESTER | WORCESTER | |
| Date Time Location | Thursday, May 2, 2024 10 a.m. - 2 p.m. 101 Palace Road Atrium | Thursday, May 2, 2024 10 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. 22 Fir Street Hub 105 | Thursday, May 2, 2024 10 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. 19 Foster Street DBEN 021 |
| Date Time Location | Friday, May 3, 2024 10 a.m. - 2 p.m. 101 Palace Road Atrium | Friday, May 3, 2024 10 a.m. - 2 p.m. 22 Fir Street Hub 105 | Friday, May 3, 2024 10 a.m. - 2 p.m. 19 Foster Street DBEN 021 |
| Date Time Location | Monday, May 6, 2024 9 a.m. - 12 p.m. 101 Palace Road Atrium | Monday, May 6, 2024 9 a.m.- 12 p.m. 22 Fir Street Hub 105 | Monday, May 6, 2024 9 - 9:12 a.m. 19 Foster Street DBEN 021 |
| Date Times Location | Thursday, May 9, 2024 7:15 - 8 a.m. 1:30 - 2:15 p.m. Graduate Check-In Leader Bank Pavilion | ||
The Morning Ceremony will include candidates from the following Academic Schools:
- School of Professional Studies
- School of Pharmacy – Boston
- School of Arts & Sciences
- School of Medical Imaging and Therapeutics
- Forsyth School of Dental Hygiene
Schedule
| 7:15 a.m. | Gates open for Candidates, Faculty and Dignitaries |
| 7:15 a.m. | Gates open for ticketed guests |
| 8:45 a.m. | Morning ceremony begins |
The Afternoon Ceremony will include candidates from the following Academic Schools:
- School of Nursing
- School of Pharmacy – W/M
- School of Occupational Therapy
- School of Physical Therapy
- School of Optometry
- School of Physician Assistant Studies – Boston
- School of Healthcare Business and Technology
- New England School of Acupuncture
Schedule
| 1:30 p.m. | Gates open for Candidates, Faculty and Dignitaries |
| 1:30 p.m. | Gates open for ticketed guests |
| 2:45 p.m. | Afternoon ceremony begins |
If you are unsure of which academic school your academic program is affiliated with, please view the Academic Programs by School PDF.
- Candidates must display their MCPHS ID or an ID card with a photo.
- Tickets will not be distributed to candidates who did not register to physically attend the ceremony
- If a proxy is picking up tickets and regalia on a candidate's behalf, the proxy picking up will need to display an email from the MCPHS account to the proxy detailing this information.
- Do not copy the Commencement email in your communication.
Example: Dear (insert name of designee),
I, (type your full name and from your MCPHS student email account) give (type name of designee) permission to pick up my Commencement related items. Sincerely,
- We encourage candidates to try on their regalia before departing from campus, if possible.
- Our regalia vendor will be at the venue prior to the ceremony to assist with adjusting regalia items.
- If you’re not attending the ceremony and are missing an item, please contact the Commencement Team within 48 hours for further assistance.
Summa cum laude 3.86–4.00
Magna cum laude 3.70–3.85
Cum laude 3.50–3.69
- The determination of honors is based on the graduate’s final cumulative grade point average.
- Only students seeking a bachelor’s degree or Doctor of Pharmacy who have completed at least 60 credits at MCPHS, or such number of credits that is applicable for completion of a given degree program, are eligible for honors.
- Honors designations appear on the student’s final grade transcript but not on the diploma.
- First honor candidates are recognized during the Commencement ceremony.
- To be considered a first honor graduate, one must be a student in a full-time undergraduate or entry-level program with at least three years of residency (except accelerated and/or fast-track degree programs) and must not have earned any graduate or other advanced degree.
Please review the Student Handbook, page 40, regarding honor cords.
Can candidates wear stoles, regalia cords or decorate their regalia caps?
- Yes. Candidates are welcome to purchase cords and stoles and decorate their regalia cap.
- Jostens offers various commencement accessories that candidates can purchase by visiting the Jostens website.