Dear 3Ls,

We hope your last semester is going well. We are excited to share that LGBTQIA+ Rights Leader John Ward ('76) will be BU Law's 2026 Commencement Speaker on May 17th! You can read more about John Ward and view the announcement here.

We wanted to reshare the Commencement Checklist as a new wave of April deadlines are approaching. Once again, we highly recommend taking the time to read through the email so you don't miss any deadlines and your Commencement goes smoothly.

• Graduation Application – Deadline: PAST DUE! 
• Verify Personal Data – ASAP! 
• Order Your Cap & Gown Online – Pickup Order Deadline: PAST DUE | Shipping Order Deadline: April 1 
• Option to request patches to cover University seal on regalia – Deadline May 1, 2026 
• Graduate Employment Survey – Deadline: April 24, 2026 
• Ensure your Name is read correctly at Commencement – Deadline: April 29, 2026 
• Federal Student Loan Exit Counseling & Loan Repayment - Deadline, April 30, 2026 
• Outstanding Balances – Deadline: April 30, 2026 

The BU Law Commencement ceremony will be held on Sunday, May 17 at 9am at the Track and Tennis Center (100 Ashford St, Boston, MA 02215). A reception for graduates and their guests will follow immediately after the ceremony. The All-University Commencement Ceremony will take place on Sunday, May 17 at 1pm on Nickerson Field. If you plan to attend the All-University Ceremony, please note that it will be ticketed, for more information on tickets please visit the Commencement webpage. The BU Law Commencement ceremony will not require tickets. While this date may seem far away, it will arrive very quickly. This memo outlines the things you need to do in order to participate in the ceremonies that day. 

Please visit this special section of the website to prepare for Commencement. If you have specific questions about the ceremony or Commencement-related events that you can’t find answers to on the website, you may email lawevent@bu.edu 

Please pay close attention to the requirements and deadlines. You must complete the requirements on time to participate in Commencement. 

Have a great rest of the semester! We look forward to congratulating you at Commencement. 

• To obtain your diploma after Commencement, you will need to complete all requirements. Once completed, return to the MyBU Student Portal, and provide a mailing address. Enter a mailing address before Commencement to ensure your diploma will be mailed on the earliest possible date. 
• The University will begin mailing diplomas to students who have met all requirements on June 21. 
• The University registrar will hold all diplomas for students from whom they have not heard. 

• You may pick up your cap & gown at Barnes & Noble at Boston University beginning May 4th if you choose campus pickup option. Be sure you have the right cap and gown for your degree when you pick them up at the bookstore. 
• Step-by-step ordering directions can be found on the regalia page of the BU Commencement website. 
• For further information regarding cap and gown orders, please contact Barnes & Noble regalia@bu.edu 
• Students who object to the crest on their regalia may request patches that will fully cover the existing patches. To ensure we have sufficient supplies, we request that you request these in advance. Patches will be available for pickup in office 1003 the week of May 11th while supplies last. To request a patch, please email lawevent@bu.edu by May 1st. 

• To report a job acceptance, click on the Profile tab on the left side menu. Then scroll down to the Timeline section and under the Post-JD field, click Add Experience or Status, and select Post JD. If you have secured a post graduate position, select Accepted Job or Judicial Clerkship and enter the required details. You will be prompted to fill in information about your employment. If you do not know the exact start date for your employment, then enter the first day of the month and year you plan to begin work. You can update your exact start date for employment in  CareerHub at any time. 
• If you are seeking employment, please indicate your status in the Post-JD tab. You will be prompted to enter your practice area and geographic preferences. Once you secure employment, you can update your status in  CareerHub at any time. If you are continuing your education, please select Enrolled in Graduate Studies.   
• If you have already entered your Post-JD status into CareerHub, then please double check before April 24, 2026 to confirm that all information is accurate as employment start-dates, locations, or other details may have changed. 

1. Please follow the steps below to record your name so your faculty name announcer may have a chance to learn it prior to Commencement.Visit https://learn.bu.edu and use your BU Kerberos account to login. Then click on your name on the left side of the page. 
2. Click the pencil icon next to Pronunciation or Pronouns (both options lead to the same editing window). 
3. In the new window you can edit the following areas: Written pronunciation, audio pronunciation (add a recording) and pronouns. 
4. When you finish, click Done to save your information 
5. That’s it – once you record your name, the faculty name announcer will practice the pronunciation prior to Commencement. 

Please email lawav@bu.edu with any questions regarding your Blackboard Profile Settings or adding your name pronunciation to your account.

• Detailed loan repayment information is available on the Federal Student Aid website.  Options for federal loans include income-driven repayment plans, which use your adjusted gross income to determine your monthly payment—and DO NOT require specific employment (such as public interest work). Keep in mind that, due to OBBBA, the federal loan repayment plans will change as of July 1, 2026. The Federal Student Aid website may not include the new information until that date. 
• You can find information about the loan repayment changes from AccessLex - Student Aid Policy and Action Center | AccessLex and the Federal Student Aid website - One Big Beautiful Bill Act Updates | Federal Student Aid.  
• If you plan a career in public interest,, you should become familiar with the federal Public Service Loan Forgiveness program and the BU Law Loan Repayment Assistance Program (LRAP).  When used with an income-driven repayment plan, these programs can provide a substantial benefit for students who pursue a career in public service. 
• The Law Financial Aid Office is available, now, and post-Commencement, to assist you with questions regarding your loan repayment. We are happy to meet with you individually to discuss your questions and concerns about loan repayment. We can help you make a plan that will work with your career goals. Contact us to schedule a meeting to discuss your specific questions and plans (617-353-3160, bulawaid@bu.edu).   

• SAVE THE DATE: 3L Farewell Dinner. We are excited to host our annual Farewell Pasta Dinner served by your faculty on May 12th from 6-9pm at the GSU Ballroom. RSVP invites to come! 
• Apply to sing the National Anthem at the 2026 Law Commencement Ceremony on Sunday, May 17, 2026. We would need you to arrive at 8:15am, but the singing would not be until just after 9, once the students file in. You would be accompanied by a band. Pay is $250. Deadline to apply is Wednesday, April 15, 2026. Please reach out to lawevent@bu.edu to indicate interest.
• Sometime in April, 3Ls will be invited to sign up for FitRec access through the summer – look for an announcement from Student Affairs via the weekly email, On the Docket.  
• All students, including graduating 3Ls, will need to clean out their lockers by Monday, May 18. 
• Student Government Association often plans “3L Week” events during the week between exams and Commencement. Look for communications from them later in the semester. 

• You will maintain WiFi access while studying for the bar exam.  
• Likewise, you will retain building and journal office access. If you encounter access issues, please email Student Affairs,  studaff@bu.edu 
• You may continue to use FitRec Access ONLY if you sign up when prompted in April. Look for sign up details in the weekly email, On the Docket.  
• As a graduate, you will continue to have access to your BU email indefinitely.  
• As noted above, following Commencement, you will no longer have access to lockers.  
• Likewise, your access to on-campus printing through MyPrint will end at Commencement.  
• Your Adobe Creative Cloud license expires on May 31.  You can email ithelp@bu.edu and request it be renewed until after the bar exam. However, when your status switches from student to alum the license is automatically revoked. Be sure to backup any files in Adobe cloud as those will be deleted. 

Office of Student Affairs

Jill Collins; Assistant Dean for Student Affairs; jcollin3@bu.edu; Calendly
Amber Woods; Associate Dir of Equity, Inclusion & Engagement; amberfw@bu.edu; Calendly
Quincy Gilbert; Assistant Director of Student Engagement; qgilbert@bu.edu; Calendly
Jenna Kim; Office Manager of Student Affairs; jkim15@bu.edu