Commencement 2024

2024 Commencement Ceremonies are scheduled to be held on Friday, May 10, 2024 at the Boston Convention and Exhibition Center and will recognize all students graduating in 2024.

SCHEDULES FOR 2024:

  • Ceremony for the School of Nursing
    begins at 10:00 a.m. (procession and live broadcast begins at 9:45 a.m.)  
    Doors open to guests at 9:00 a.m.
  • Ceremony for the School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences and School of Healthcare Leadership
    begins at 2:00 p.m. (procession and live broadcast begins at 1:45 p.m.)
    Doors open to guests at 1:00 p.m.

2024 Commencement Graduating Student Information Booklet

2024 Commencement Trustee/Administration/Faculty/Staff Information Booklet


The dates represented below are the officially published graduation dates for each graduation period.

For students completing all course requirements in:Official Graduation DateCommencement Ceremony
December (Fall) 2023January 5, 2024Friday, May 10, 2024
April (Spring 2024)May 10, 2024Friday, May 10, 2024
August (Summer 2024)September 6, 2024Friday, May 10, 2024
October (Fall 2024)
PA Students Only
October 18, 2024Friday, May 10, 2024

 

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Have questions about Commencement?

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Logistics for both Ceremonies

The 2024 Commencement Ceremonies will be broadcast through a live feed.

Links will become available as we get closer to the 2024 ceremony date.

For historical broadcasts, see "Historical Commencement Broadcasts" below.

Event

Time

Location/Event Notes

Graduates Report

8:30 am

North Lobby - Level 1
Graduates report to the Convention Center and check in at the North Lobby- Level 1.  You will be directed to your preparation and line-up area from there.

Line-up and Preparation 9 - 9:40 am

Room 205ABC
Program Staff will prepare all School of Nursing graduates for the lineup in room 205ABC.   Please make sure that you have your Grad Pass from the Marching Order system available as that QR code will trigger the system to read your name as you cross the stage.  Your program staff will review the seating and stage instructions with you.  Please follow the directions of your program staff member.

Procession Begins

9:45 am

Level 2
The academic procession begins, moving from Level 2 up to the Ballroom East/West on Level 3.  Please follow the directions of your Program Staff and Faculty Marshals.

Ceremony Start

10:00 am sharp

Ballroom East/West - 3rd Floor
Commencement Ceremony begins.

Ceremony End Approximately
12:00 Noon

Ballroom East/West - 3rd Floor
Commencement Ceremony ends.  After the stage party, directors, and faculty have recessed, graduates will recess from the ballroom, at the direction of the Faculty Marshals, and return to the preparation rooms on Level 2 to pick up personal belongings.  Please remove any personal items left in room 205ABC and clear the space by no later than 12:15 pm.

Event

Time

Location/Event Notes

Graduates Report

12:30 PM

North Lobby - Level 1
Graduates report to the Convention Center and check in at the North Lobby- Level 1.  You will be directed to your preparation and line-up area from there.

Line-up and Preparation 1 - 1:40 pm

Room 205ABC
Program Staff will prepare all School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences and School of Healthcare Leadership graduates for the lineup in room 205ABC.   Please make sure that you have your Grad Pass from the Marching Order system available as that QR code will trigger the system to read your name as you cross the stage.  Your program staff will review the seating and stage instructions with you.  Please follow the directions of your program staff.

Procession Begins

1:45 pm

Level 2
The academic procession begins, moving from Level 2 up to the Ballroom East/West on Level 3.  Please follow the directions of your Program Staff and Faculty Marshals.

Ceremony Start

2:00 pm
sharp

Ballroom East/West - 3rd Floor
Commencement Ceremony begins.

Ceremony End Approximately
4:00 pm

Ballroom East/West - 3rd Floor
Commencement Ceremony ends.  After the stage party, directors, and faculty have recessed, graduates will recess from the ballroom, at the direction of the Faculty Marshals, and return to the preparation rooms on Level 2 to pick up personal belongings.  Please remove any personal items left in room 205ABC and clear the space by no later than 4:15 pm.

All parking for the event will be in the BCEC South Parking Lot (see map below):

If you are carpooling and want to drop folks off before parking, you will be able to make a quick stop at the North Lobby entrance and then proceed to the South Lot to park. The cost for parking in the South Lot for 2024 will be determined at a later date.

To self-park in the BCEC South Lot, from Summer Street, turn onto East Side Drive and continue straight along the side of the building. At the end of the building, make a right and go down the ramp. At the bottom of the ramp, turn left and you will see the entrance to the South Parking lot in front of you.

Regular shuttles will transport all guests from the South Lot to the North Lobby entrance.

Note:  If you choose to walk from the parking area, the entrance to the BCEC on the Southeast side of the building will be open.  (See floor plans above)

 

Commencement Student Speakers

2024 Commencement ceremonies will be held on Friday, May 10, and will feature two student speakers. The morning ceremony will include a graduate from the School of Nursing. The afternoon ceremony will include a graduate from the School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences or School of Healthcare Leadership.

All students interested in serving as a student speaker are encouraged to apply here

Applications for the ceremony opportunities, which must include a nearly final draft of your speech, are due by February 29.

If you are interested in reviewing the 2023 speeches, please visit these links:

Contact Ronan Campbell (rcampbell [at] mghihp.edu (rcampbell[at]mghihp[dot]edu)) if you have questions about this exciting opportunity.

alina has a big smile and wavy dark blonde hair. she wears a sleeveless maroon bodycon dress

Alina Shirley
Doctor of Physical Therapy, Class of 2023

Alina Shirley attended Brandeis University for her undergraduate education, where she received her Bachelor of Science in Biology with minors in Psychology and Health, Science, Society, and Policy (HSSP). She is from Somers, Connecticut, and is proud to be the first person in her family to earn a doctoral degree.

She was drawn to pursue a career in physical therapy due to the profession’s intersection of mental, emotional, and physical health in its approach to wellness. She is devoted to mental health and bridging the space between science and the arts to help improve peoples’ lives. She spends her free time as a musician, poet, and writer.

During her time at the IHP, she has held positions as president of the Physical Therapy Club and as a Graduate assistant in the Admissions department. She has engaged in efforts to serve her community through student mental health initiatives and participating as a student member on the IHP Wellness Council.

Alina looks forward to a career working with patients with neurological injuries and disorders in the inpatient rehabilitation setting. As a clinician, she hopes to aid others through moments of hardship and enhance the quality of life of those in her community

isabelle has long dark blond hair and wears a white collared work shirt - she is pictured in front of the skyline of boston

Isabelle Rae Girard
Direct-Entry Master of Science in Nursing, Class of 2023

Isabelle Girard has been dedicated to the field of psychology for nearly a decade and has grown a passion for spreading awareness around the importance of psychiatric and mental health care.

After earning her Bachelor of Arts and Sciences at Boston University in Psychological and Brain Sciences, she then pursued Psychiatric Mental Health Nursing (PMHNP) at MGH Institute of Health Professions, earning her MS and becoming a Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner.

Having developed an interest in pediatric psychiatry, Isabelle strengthened her skills with this population during her time at the Institute working for the Impact Practice Center.

Isabelle looks forward to practicing as a PMHNP in the outpatient setting, working with children and adolescents requiring psychotherapy and psychopharmacological treatments. She hopes to continue contributing toward developing a community that acknowledges mental health care and help provide children and young adults with the support and resources they need to thrive.

Academic Regalia

All 2024 graduates should order regalia when you apply for graduation for 2024. We value the centuries-old decorum and proud traditions associated with academia regalia. The cap, gown, and hood are international symbols of learning and accomplishment. With their unique heraldry and degree-specific designs, these regalia are long-standing emblems of our higher education culture.

Regalia will be delivered directly to you based on the information provided at the time of your order when you applied for graduation. If you have not ordered, please do so by visiting University Caps and Gown, INC. Orders attempted after posted deadlines will need to be done directly through our //steve.erickson [at] balfour-rep.com (Balfour - University Cap and Gown representative). Please indicate that you missed the order deadline when contacting our representative.

We recognize, while promoting an inclusive, welcoming Commencement experience for all, that there are traditional regalia and ceremonial garments of similar importance associated with other cultures. Students who wish to substitute the regalia of their family heritage in place of the IHP regalia, should request an exemption from the IHP specifications by emailing commencement [at] mghihp.edu.

Honor cords for the School of Nursing Sigma/Upsilon Lambda Chapter can be obtained by contacting //cdonati [at] mghihp.edu (Carla Donati) in the School of Nursing.

Note, the Institute will review and make a decision on all such requests in order to ensure the formal nature of Commencement. Requests must be submitted by April 1 in any given calendar year to be considered for the May ceremony.

Important note: Caps, Gowns, and Hoods (If applicable) are yours to keep after the Commencement Ceremonies.

  1. Adjust the gown so that is sits comfortably on your shoulders. It should fall below your knee, but not so low that it is a tripping hazard.

  2. Put the hood on over your head with the velvet side up and the small tapered end in front. Be sure to drape your hood around your neck with the largest portion of the hood hanging down your back.

  3. Let your colors show! Turn the IHP colors out on your hood and roll the velvet edge out to show the teal and silver inside colors. When you're done, the end of the hood will look somewhat like a fin.

  4. For four-sided mortarboards (caps), place the cap on your head so the point is lined up with the middle of your forehead. Adjust the mortarboard so that it's parallel to the ground. Don't wear it to the side or back. You may need some bobby pins or clips to keep it securely on your head.

  5. For soft tams (Doctoral Students), place the tam on your head with the adjustment tab in the back. Do not wear it to the side or back. You may need bobby pins or clips to keep it securely on your head.

  6. Fasten your tassel to the button on the top of your mortarboard or tam. Put the tassel on the left side to show that your degree has been conferred.

commencement photo examples

For faculty who will be hooding students at Commencement, this video provides a great view of how hooding should be done.

Authentic IHP Doctoral Regalia - Ordering Process

The MGH Institute offers an option for PhD and other Doctoral Faculty and Students to purchase authentic IHP Doctoral Regalia to own.  Authentic IHP Doctoral Regalia is a great option for those IHP faculty or Alumni who received a Doctoral degree from the IHP and may require regalia for future academic events.

Authentic IHP regalia can be ordered directly through Balfour, University Cap and Gown by downloading the order form.

Contact our representative at Balfour with any questions:  steve.erickson [at] balfour-rep.com (steve[dot]erickson[at]balfour-rep[dot]com).  You can also call 603-491-4944.

2023 – None Awarded
2022 – Peter L. Slavin (Doctor of Humane Letters)
2021 – Ann W. Caldwell (Doctor of Humane Letters)
2020 – Bette Ann Harris (Doctor of Humane Letters)
2019 – George E. Thibault (Doctor of Humane Letters)
2018 – E. Lorraine Baugh (Doctor of Humane Letters)
2017 – Charles A. Sanders (Doctor of Science)

2016 – Matina S. Horner (Doctor of Humane Letters)