T. H. Chan School of Medicine Graduates

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 2023 will be held May 30 – June 2, 2023. Students with outstanding fees or fines (i.e., 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 fee/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, June 2, 2023, 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 and 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 3, 2023. 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 (8) 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.

Accessible Seating

If any of your guests use a wheelchair or walker, need a signer, have an assistance animal or need other special consideration, reserved seating for handicapped guests and three companions is available. Please notify Michele DeSeve as soon as possible, and we will do our best to accommodate their needs. Accessible seating will be held until 11:35 a.m., at which time unoccupied seats will be released for open seating.

Regalia

Ordering  -

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

Distribution

Returns

Caps and gowns must be returned to the Drop Off Station in the Medical School Lobby ( Outside the old bookstore) no later than 6:00 pm 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, June 2, 2023 at 9:00 am in the Albert Sherman Center Multi-Purpose Room. Outstanding Medical Educator and student awards will be presented at this event.

Photos

Your class picture will be taken on Friday, June 2, 2023, on the Albert Sherman Center terrace (rain site: LRB lobby) following the SOM 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.