2019 COMMENCEMENT
A Guide for Graduates and Guests Friday, May 17 to Saturday, May 18
Congratulations to the Class of 2019!
SCHEDULE OF EVENTS
The university looks forward to welcoming you to Commencement 2019. It is a special time for graduates, guests and the Bentley community. This brochure provides general information to help plan for this milestone occasion.
FRIDAY, MAY 17
Contact the Commencement office directly with questions at 781.891.2400 or commencement@bentley.edu.
All ceremonies will take place in the Commencement tent on South Campus. The end times listed are approximate.
Baccalaureate Academic Procession: 2:45 p.m. Ceremony: 3:00 to 4:15 p.m. Undergraduate students should arrive at the Dana Center by 2:00 p.m.
Presidential Reception 4:15 to 5:30 p.m. The Bentley Arena
SATURDAY, MAY 18 Undergraduate Commencement Academic Procession: 9:30 a.m. Ceremony: 10:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Students should arrive at the Dana Center by 8:30 a.m.
Graduate and PhD Commencement Academic Procession: 2:30 p.m. Ceremony: 2:45 to 4:30 p.m. Students should arrive at the Dana Center by 1:30 p.m.
GENERAL INFORMATION ACCOMMODATIONS We strongly recommend making hotel room reservations as soon as possible. Many other Boston-area colleges and universities hold graduation ceremonies during the same time as Bentley. There is a limited block of rooms available at the Westin-Waltham Hotel, located on Third Avenue in Waltham. Rooms are $219 a night. The rate is available until April 26, 2019. To make reservations, contact the hotel at 844.209.6468. For more information, see the “Visiting Bentley” section on the website.
BOOKSTORE Located in Collins Hall, the bookstore is open during the days and times noted below. Stop by to purchase diploma frames, gifts, greeting cards, snacks and drinks. Flowers, Bentley apparel and gifts are also available at a location near the Commencement tent. For online purchases, visit bentley.bncollege.com. Bookstore Hours Friday, May 17, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Saturday, May 18, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Sunday, May 19, Closed Bookstore Tent Hours Saturday, May 18, 7:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
FOOD AND BEVERAGE There will be a tent offering food and beverage options for purchase which opens at 7:00 a.m. For dining recommendations off campus, visit bentley.edu/family-dines.
INVITATIONS Graduation invitations are available for purchase through the Bentley bookstore for those who are interested. To order, please contact the bookstore at 781.891.3107.
PARKING AND SHUTTLES Traffic will be heavy that weekend and it’s recommended you arrive early. Once on campus, University Police will direct guests to available parking on main campus. There will be limited parking available on South Campus. Shuttle service will begin at 7:00 a.m. and will transport guests from the main parking lots to the commencement site. To avoid traffic backup, please do not drop guests off at the site.
SAFETY AND SECURITY There will be visible security on campus. Please be prepared to have your bags checked upon entering campus. If you see something suspicious, contact a Bentley staff member or the University Police at 781.891.3131.
SEVERE WEATHER AND EMERGENCIES Ceremonies take place under a tent, rain or shine. Please dress accordingly. If it does rain heavily on the day of the ceremony, there will be an additional option to view the ceremonies on a screen in the Dana Center. However, if severe weather does occur, visit the Bentley website and follow our Twitter feed (@bentleyu) for updated information.
CEREMONY INFORMATION BACCALAUREATE Baccalaureate honors and celebrates the undergraduate class of 2019 and welcomes seniors into the ranks of educated men and women. During the ceremony, students, faculty, and staff come together to share their advice, experiences and memories of their time at Bentley. Scripture readings, reflections and songs are also shared as the community celebrates the achievements of the class of 2019. Families, friends and members of the community are welcome to attend. Presidential reception to follow.
CEREMONY TICKETS Tickets are not required to attend the ceremonies.
COMMENCEMENT SPEAKERS The 2019 Commencement speakers will be announced on the “Ceremonies” section on the website in the spring.
PHOTOGRAPHY The university hires a professional photographer who will take photos of the graduates. There is no obligation to purchase these photographs. The company hired by Bentley is Grad Images. To order photo samples, go online to gradimages.com, click on pre-event registration and search for Bentley University. Please pre-register your email address to receive photo samples soon after the event. Please remain seated during the ceremony. The professional photographer takes pictures during the ceremony; afterward there is ample time to take personal photos.
REGALIA Academic regalia — cap, tassel, hood and gown — is required for participation in the Commencement ceremonies. The cost of the cap, gown and tassel is $55 for undergraduate students and $60 for graduate students. Please note that undergraduate regalia differs from graduate regalia. Bentley University provides regalia to PhD candidates. There will be more information on how to place orders in the spring. For general regalia questions, contact the Registrar’s Office at 781.891.2177.
SEATING FOR GUESTS Seating is first-come, first-served. Saving seats prior to Commencement is not permitted. If your family or group would like to sit together at the ceremony, please arrive together. Ushers are instructed to remove signs, tape and other devices attached to seats. The tent opens at 7:00 a.m. Out of respect for graduates, all guests should remain seated until the ceremony ends.
SPECIAL ASSISTANCE Bentley is committed to improving accessibility and providing accommodations for those with mobility, visual or hearing impairments. The ceremonies are closedcaptioned on video monitors located throughout the tent. There is a signlanguage interpreter at the ceremony and reserved seating is available upon request. To reserve seating for the person in need and one guest, please complete the form posted online by Friday, May 3: bentley.edu/forms/assistance.
Please know the views from this section are no better than any other section. It is simply in an area that is convenient for golf carts and wheelchairs. The enclosed map displays the special assistance seating section. Golf Carts Visitors with limited mobility, who do not have a handicap plate or governmentissued placard, may request transport service from all lots on the main campus. Upon entering any parking lot, please inform the parking attendant and a golf cart will be summoned. Bentley kindly requests that visitors without mobility issues refrain from golf cart service, so those who truly need assistance may be accommodated. Handicap Parking Parking is available for visitors with a government-issued handicap placard or license plate; they may park in Lot 20 on the South Campus. Parking is first-come, first-served. Wheelchairs Wheelchairs are available to transport those in need from the parking lots to the seats. Those who require a wheelchair for the whole ceremony should bring their own. Rentals are available through: Belmont Medical Supply 185 Belmont Street Belmont, MA 02478 Phone: 617.484.3888
POSTCOMMENCEMENT DIPLOMA PICK UP Diplomas are not distributed on stage during the Commencement ceremony. Directly after the ceremony, they may be picked up at the Bentley Arena. Students who do not retrieve their diploma should contact the Registrar’s Office at 781.891.2177.
RECEPTION Following the Undergraduate and Graduate and PhD Commencement ceremonies, graduates and guests are welcome to attend a reception held at the Bentley Arena.
RESIDENCE HALLS MOVE OUT We are asking graduates to be moved out of the dorms by 2:00 p.m. on Saturday. Traffic and congestion is heavy on that day so it is encouraged to plan ahead and send items home in advance of Commencement day.
ALUMNI ASSOCIATION The Alumni Association welcomes the Class of 2019 into our Falcon family of professionals. For ways to stay involved, please call 781.891.2000 or email alumni@bentley.edu.
Lot 20 Handicapped Placard Parking
ACC
Limited Access
ESS
RO
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The Bentley Arena
= General = Reserved = Students = Class Cabinet = Special Assistance
ACCE
B E AV E R S T R E E T
Grad ceremony seating is similar
SS R OAD
Handicap Entrance
Copley South
LACROSSE FIELD
Main Entrance COPLEY CIRCLE
Copley North
MAIN
STAG
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Main Entrance Fenway
FIE
LD
Main Entrance RO
AD
SOUTH CAMPUS QUAD
Maintenance
Dana Center
VE ALUMNI DRI
B E AV E R S T R E E T
FA L C O
Limited Access FOREST ST.
Restricted Parking
Restricted Parking
FA L C O
A N W
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Restricted Parking
AY N W
COMMENCEMENT CAMPUS MAP
Undergraduate Commencement Tent Seating Chart
MAIN STAGE
IMPORTANT CONTACT INFORMATION For general questions, contact the Commencement Office at 781.891.2400 or commencement@bentley.edu. Other helpful contacts are listed below. Alumni Career Services If you are graduating or an alumnus/a of the university, and need career guidance, please contact Alumni Career Services at 781.891.2164.
= DIPLOMA PICK UP = RESTROOMS = INFORMATION/LOST & FOUND = BOOKSTORE/FLOWERS POP-UP TENT = AMBULANCE = STUDENT/FACULTY/TRUSTEE CHECK-IN = RECEPTION = REFRESHMENT TENTS = EMERGENCY PHONES = HANDICAP PARKING = VISITOR PARKING = SHUTTLE STOP = FOOD COURT = INDOOR OVERFLOW VIEWING = GOLF CART PICK UP/DROP OFF = WATER STATION
Commencement Week For more information about activities planned for undergraduates, visit bentley.edu/commencement-week. Registrar’s Office For questions regarding academic regalia or degree requirements, call 781.891.2177. Office of Alumni and Family Engagement For information about your regional alumni chapter and ways to stay involved with Bentley University, please contact the Office of Alumni and Family Engagement at 781.891.2000. University Police If you see something to report or otherwise need to contact University Police, the main line is 781.891.3131.
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Bookstore To purchase commemorative items such as diploma frames, rings and more, contact the store at 781.891.3107.
BENTLEY UNIVERSITY 175 Forest Street Waltham, Massachusetts 02452 USA