Students

Certification  

The graduation certification process will be conducted virtually. To graduate, you must be certified by the Registrar's Office as having completed all of the necessary requirements for the awarding of the MD degree, including any outstanding administrative responsibilities. Certification for the graduating Class of 2024 will be held May 28–31, 2024. Students with outstanding fees or fines (e.g., tuition, loans, library books, parking fees or tickets) may not be certified to graduate. 

Please check your academic record to make sure it is correct. The Registrar’s Office will communicate with various administrative offices to ensure that you do not have any outstanding fees/fines. All financial obligations must be settled before you are cleared for graduation. 

Permission of the Associate Dean for Student Affairs is required for early certification for graduation. Students are responsible for completing all certification requirements and obtaining signatures. Students with early certification are still subject to university policies and procedures regarding graduation (e.g., diplomas may be held for non-payment of fines incurred after completing early certification). 

If you are not certified by Friday, May 31, 2024, you will not receive a diploma at Commencement. If you need further information, please contact the Registrar’s Office. 

Financial aid debt management and exit counseling 

All students who took the Learning Contract or any federal, state, or institutional student loans while at UMass Chan are required to attend a mandatory Debt Management and Exit Counseling session with staff in the Financial Aid Office. An email was sent out in the beginning of the spring semester to notify borrowers of the requirement to attend and an invite to schedule. If you did not receive an email and believe that you should have or have not scheduled your appointment, please contact the Financial Aid Office to schedule an appointment immediately. 

Lockers 

Please remember to clean out your locker by June 2, 2024. Anything left in the locker will be recycled. 

Invitations and tickets 

Tickets will be provided to all graduates in the spring. Each graduate will get up to eight tickets. However, if you need more than eight you will receive them. 

Any questions pertaining to tickets may be directed to the Office of University Events. 

Regalia ordering  

Regalia will be provided, free of charge, to all graduates. Your school will reach out to ask your height and hat size. 

Distribution 

Regalia will be distributed from the Office of Student Life suite (S1-400) on Tuesday, May 28, Wednesday, May 29, and Thursday, May 30 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. 

Returns 

Caps and gowns must be returned to the drop off station in the old Medical School Lobby (Outside the T.H. Chan School of Medicine Admissions Office) no later than 6 p.m. on Commencement day. The hood and tassel that will be provided for the ceremony is yours to keep.  

Awards Ceremony/Alumni Breakfast 

The Alumni Association is pleased to honor you at their annual Alumni Breakfast on Friday, May 31, 2024 at 9 a.m. in the Albert Sherman Center Multi-purpose room. Outstanding student awards as well as medical educator awards will be presented at this event. 

Photos 

Your class picture will be taken on Friday, May 31, 2024, on the Albert Sherman Center terrace (rain site: Aaron Lazare Medical Research Building lobby) following the T.H. Chan School of Medicine Alumni Awards Breakfast and Commencement rehearsal.  You must wear your regalia (cap, gown and hood) for the picture. House pictures will be taken immediately after the class picture. 

Hometown publicity 

If you wish to place a graduation announcement in your hometown newspaper, a suggested format is provided here. Amend it to convey all the appropriate personal information. 

Graduation information 

The thesis defense must be completed by April 1, 2024. 
All academic requirements must be completed by May 1, 2024. 
All administrative requirements must be completed by May 31, 2024, at noon.  

Regalia 

Jostens has been selected to provide your Commencement regalia. The gown and tam are rentals (no charge to students), the hood and tassel are for students to keep.  

Pick up: Regalia will be delivered to the Morningside Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences office and will be available for pick up during the last week of May.  

Drop off: Regalia must be dropped off following the Commencement Ceremony. 

Thesis advisors (mentors) are responsible for acquiring their own regalia.  

Celebration of Student Academic Achievement 

On Thursday, May 31, 2024 Dean Mary Ellen Lane will be hosting the annual Morningside Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences Student Academic Achievement Awards ceremony. This special event recognizes student achievements across all years. Presentation of awards will begin at 3 p.m. All Morningside Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences students and faculty are invited to this event; tickets are not required. 

Photos and video 

A group photo will be taken at approximately 10:30 a.m. on Sunday, June 2, 2024. Students should wear their regalia for this photo. A link to download the group photo will be mailed to all students following the Commencement. 

The Commencement Ceremony will be live streamed on the UMass Chan Facebook and YouTube accounts and the recording will remain available after the ceremony. 

For questions and support, please contact the Tan Chingfen Graduate School of Nursing Office of Student Affairs & Admissions gsnstudentaffairs@umassmed.edu or 774-455-6689

Invitations and registration

All graduates will be given printed tickets that can be shared with family and friends. These tickets will be required for admission into the Commencement Ceremony. More details on pick-up times and locations will be sent in April.

Regalia 

• On the intent to graduate form that will be sent to you, we will collect your regalia order details and supply the information to our regalia supplier on your behalf. This is why it is critical to complete the intent to graduate form no later than March 1.   
• The cap and gown are rentals, free of charge to students; The hood and tassel are keepsakes for students.  
• Return process:
  • Caps and gowns must be dropped off after the Commencement Ceremony– bins will be available! 

Regalia pick-up dates and times 

Location: Nursing Student Lounge, Albert Sherman Center, 3rd Floor (AS3- 2157)

Tuesday, May 28, 2024 – 9 a.m. – 4 p.m. 

Wednesday, May 29, 2024 - 9 a.m. – 4 p.m. 

Thursday, May 30, 2024 – 9 a.m. – 4 p.m. 

Friday, May 31, 2024 – During luncheon and rehearsal

The Tan Chingfen Graduate School of Nursing Awards & Scholarship Celebration

Thursday, May 30, 2024, 5 p.m.

The Tan Chingfen Graduate School of Nursing Graduation Reception will be held on May 30 in the Albert Sherman Center Auditorium at 5 p.m. An invitation and further information will be sent to you in late April.

Photos and video

Your class photo will be taken immediately prior to the Commencement Ceremony on Sunday, June 2, 2024.  Information about ordering class pictures will be sent to you. 

The Commencement Ceremony will be live streamed on the UMass Chan Facebook and YouTube accounts and the recording will remain available after the ceremony. 

Hometown publicity

If you wish to place a graduation announcement in your hometown newspaper, a suggested format is provided here. Amend it to convey all the appropriate personal information.

DNP Scholarly Project Presentations       

Tuesday, April 23 – 4 p.m. 

Nursing Graduation Awards Ceremony 

Thursday, May 30 – 5 p.m.  

Location: Albert Sherman Center Auditorium  

Graduation Lunch & Rehearsal  

Friday, May 31 – 12:30 p.m. – 3 p.m. 

Lunch for Nursing Graduates 
Location: Albert Sherman Center, West Multi-purpose room 

Rehearsal to follow 
Location: Tent on Campus Green