Undergraduate Commencement
Saturday, May 11, 2024
Ceremony at 11:00 a.m.
Undergraduate Reception - immediately following Commencement
We look forward to celebrating your achievements with you! Please check back often as we will continue to update this section as more information becomes available.
Undergraduate Student Check-In & Line-Up
- Graduates are asked to report to the Glow Lounge for check-in and line-up 2 hours prior to the ceremony.
- Check-in will start at 9:00 a.m. on Saturday, May 11, 2024, and graduates should be in the building no later than 10:00 a.m. to ensure a prompt start to the ceremony.
The ceremony traditionally runs 2 to 2 1/2 hours.
Undergraduate Reception
Please join Lasell University staff, faculty, and your fellow graduates to celebrate the class of 2024.
- The reception will be immediately following the conclusion of the commencement ceremony.
- Light refreshments will be served and the event is family friendly!
Location: Athletic Center Gym
Guests
- There is no limit to the number of guests that may accompany a graduate to the ceremony. There will be open seating on the field which is available on a first-come, first-serve basis.
Weather Protocol
- Ceremonies will take place outside, come rain or shine. Please monitor the weather forecast in the lead-up to the ceremony and prepare accordingly. In the event of extreme weather which makes it unsafe to hold proceedings on Taylor Field, an indoor ceremony will take place with a limited number of guests.
Undergraduate Commencement Checklist
Information about regalia and other pre-commencement requirements will be posted at a later date.
- If you have not already done so, please fill out the Intent to Graduate form. This will notify us whether or not you plan to walk at commencement.
- Please fill out the form regardless of whether you plan to attend the ceremony or not.
- In addition, we cannot guarantee your name will be included in the Commencement program if this form is not received by Thursday, March 7, 2024.
- If you do not plan to graduate in May 2024, please email the Registrar's Office at registrar@lasell.edu and you will be removed from further email communications for the 2024 Commencement.
- If you have questions about your eligibility to graduate in May 2024, please reach out to your advisor directly.
- If you plan on walking at commencement, you must order your regalia, which you can order online now at https://lasell.shopoakhalli.com/.
- You may also purchase in person at Donahue’s Gear Shop. See deadlines below.
- If you have any questions, please contact the Donahue's Gear Shop at 617-243-2182 or by email at gearshop@lasell.edu.
Important Dates
- Last day to order online to ship your regalia home: April 17, 2024
- Deadline for drop-in, in-person purchases at Donahue’s Gear Shop: April 25, 2024
- Online orders placed for pick-up at Donahue’s Gear Shop can be collected from the Shop from April 25, 2024
Additional Regalia notes
Special cords and medallions are granted to students who have achieved academic success.
Honors program cords and Latin Honor medallions will be distributed in person on ceremony days. (Cords and medallions will be mailed in June to students who do not attend their respective ceremonies.)
Please note that the deadline for receiving email information on how to pronounce your name is Thursday, May 2, 2024.
If you believe that either your first or last name has a unique pronunciation, or is pronounced differently than it is spelled, please send an email to the Nancy Anderson at nanderson@lasell.edu with the following information:
- Which ceremony you are participating in - Undergraduate or GPS/Graduate
- How to pronounce your name phonetically
- Specify whether we should announce your middle name, middle initial, or not announce it at all. (If you do not do so, we will default to what appears in your record.)
- The best number at which you may be contacted if there are any questions
The name on your diploma will appear as your official name on file with the Registrar's office. Please be advised official documentation pertaining to any legal name changes must be submitted to the Registrar's Office at registrar@lasell.edu as soon as possible. The deadline is noon on Friday, May 5th.
Additional Information
Parking
Parking map for Undergraduate ceremony
Shuttle from Riverside Station
Due to the large number of people attending the Lasell University Commencement Ceremony there will be a shortage of parking on campus. As a result, parking for families and their guests will be located at the Riverside Office Park, 275 Grove Street, Newton.
Shuttle transportation between Riverside Office Park and the College campus will be provided throughout the day, starting at 7:30 A.M. and continuing until 3:00 P.M.
We encourage guests to allow ample time to reach the Riverside Office Park, get your vehicle to the designated lot, and then make your way to Taylor Field when you arrive on campus. In order to be in your seat by the start of the academic procession at 11:00 A.M., we recommend that you arrive at the Riverside Office Park no later than 10:00 A.M. Please make sure to share this parking information with your guests.
Hotels & Dining
There are many hotel and dining options in the Newton/Boston area. View Hotel & Dining Resources.
The Undergraduate Commencement will be livestreamed live on the day of the ceremony.
For graduates or guests who require accessibility accommodations, please e-mail commencement@lasell.edu to make arrangements as soon as possible.
Special cords and medallions are granted to students who have achieved academic success. Honors program cords and Latin Honor medallions will be distributed in person on ceremony days. (Cords and medallions will be mailed in June to students who do not attend their respective ceremonies.)
In recognition of these achievements, students are given the option to wear distinctive regalia at Commencement, as listed below:
- Alpha Phi Sigma — Royal blue and gold cord
- Co-Curricular Excellence — Navy and gray cord
- Delta Mu Delta — Purple and gold cord with pin
- Honors Program — Gold cord
- Psi Chi — Silver and navy cord
- Leadership Development Program — White cord
Co-Curricular Excellence Regalia
Upcoming graduates who have demonstrated leadership qualities and fulfilled organizational commitments in one the following co-curricular campus organizations are welcome to apply for approval to purchase a special item of regalia to be worn at Commencement. This regalia recognizes your commitment and skills outside of the classroom.
An email will be sent out to all graduating seniors in March where graduates interested can apply.
Graduates that meet the organization/department-specific requirements of the following campus organizations are welcome to apply:
- Orientation Coordinators/Leaders
- Club and Organization Executive Officers recognized by the Office of Student Activities and Orientation
- Resident Assistants
- Alternative Break Leaders
- PACES Student Leaders
- CCBL Student Ambassadors
- Peer Mentors
- Donahue Institute Student Leaders
If a graduate is approved, they will be responsible for the cost of the regalia. All students applying must be in good academic and conduct standing at the time of application and remain in good standing through the time of Commencement. Graduates will receive a final decision and additional information on where to pick up their co-curricular excellence regalia in the weeks immediately preceding the Commencement ceremony. Questions can be directed to Thomas Morgan, Director of Student Activities and Orientation at tmorgan@lasell.edu
At the end of each academic year, Academic Departments select graduating Seniors to be honored with an Academic Book Award. These awards (a gift of a book within each student's major) are given in recognition of a demonstrated commitment to excellence at Lasell University. The recipients are judged to be models for their fellow students in professional demeanor, academic achievement, maturity, perseverance, and collegiality.
Academic Book Award recipients, and their families, will be notified in mid-April and the awards are then presented at a special ceremony held Commencement weekend.
- Service animals - as defined by the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) - are allowed at commencement ceremonies for graduates and guests.
- All other animals are prohibited from commencement ceremonies.
