Boston College James A. Woods, S.J. College of Advancing Studies

Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts

Commencement Commencement 2012 Bulletin May 2012 Commencement clearly marks new beginnings. It provides an excellent opportunity to gather as a member of the Boston College community and participate in a ceremony steeped in tradition. Inside: We enthusiastically invite you to celebrate the realization of a long awaited goal in a ceremony especially designed for just that Commencement 2 purpose. Day

The following pages detail the ceremony and the tradition of Boston College A Great and 3-4 which you are now a part. Whether you graduate in May, August Commencement Proud Tradition or December, your commencement is in May; a day to be fully May 21, 2012 enjoyed by family, friends, relatives and especially you, The Seal of 4 THE GRADUATE. Boston College Seniors may invite as many guests to attend the Baccalaureate and Graduation ceremonies Graduation 5 as they wish. No tickets are needed. Participants 5 Formal Graduation Announcements Attire 6

Formal graduation announcements are offered on-line only. A link to the announcement was emailed to you. They are not tickets; they merely announce the general commence- Degrees and 7 ment ceremony. They may serve as an announcement of graduation to relatives or friends Honors who will not be attending. The Boston College Bookstore offers personalized announce- ments for purchase. Contact the Bookstore at 617-552-3520 or www.bc.edu/bookstore Special points of Baccalaureate Ceremony interest: Baccalaureate The Baccalaureate Ceremony will be held Sunday, May 20, 2012, at 12:00 noon in Conte Ceremony Forum. Seniors, family and friends are encouraged to participate in this Mass and Sunday, May 20. religious observance. It is a memorable ceremony of thanksgiving and jubilation. Commencement I strongly encourage you and those close to you to attend. Commencement robes Exercises Monday, (no hood) may be worn by those graduating. Immediately following the ceremony there May 21. will be light refreshments available on the O’Neill Library Plaza. Congratulations to the Class of 2012!

Commencement Day

The following details concerning your In the event of heavy rain, the formal WRKO (650 AM) from 6:30 to 8:30 Commencement on Monday, May 21, Commencement exercises will be held a.m. It will also be recorded on the 2012, at 9:30 a.m. will be helpful to in Conte Forum and will begin at 9:30 Boston College Information Line, you and your guests. The enclosed a.m. Graduates and two of their guests 617-552-INFO. booklet provides additional infor- go directly to Conte Forum; two rain College of Advancing Studies seniors mation. tickets will be included with your com- assemble by 8:15 a.m. in the North Candidates and their guests may use mencement gown for these two guests. side of Conte Forum, Gate C, attired in the parking area on lower campus. Everyone else may watch the general cap and gown, carrying your hood Allow adequate time to access campus exercises over closed circuit television over your left arm. It seems advisable and parking. Upon arrival, guests in the Flynn Recreation Complex. As to note that male candidates will find should go immediately to Alumni at Alumni Stadium, no tickets are nec- the best appearance is effected if a dress Stadium, the scene of the Commence- essary for entrance to Flynn Recreation shirt and dark tie are worn. Women ment exercises. Even in a light rain or Complex. The announcement, if nec- graduates should be aware that decora- drizzle the ceremony will be held there. essary, will be broadcast on the radio tive jewelry or flowers should not be No tickets are required. on stations WBZ (1030 AM) and worn on the academic gown.

Procedure to be followed during the exercises

Following the academic procession and the graduate student capping. When hood. Males then replace caps when upon reaching your place at Alumni the representative of the College of the recipient does. Turn your tassel Stadium you should be seated until the Advancing Studies goes to the platform when the representative does. All Cardinal’s entrance is announced. You to receive the degree you should stand. should sit when the representative has should then stand. Males should re- As the degree recipient reaches the top returned and is seated. move their caps. You should remain step, all males of the College of Advanc- At the conclusion of the exercises, you standing for the National Anthem and ing Studies should remove their caps should stand for the Benediction and Invocation. Males should replace their and place them on the seat behind males remove their caps. After the caps when the Invocation is concluded. them. Benediction, all should remain stand- You sit after the Cardinal sits. The un- When, after having received the degree, ing for the singing of the Alma Mater. dergraduates capping ceremony is fol- the representative is hooded by the At the end of the Alma Mater, males lowed immediately by the graduate President, you should put on your should replace their caps. representative being called forward for

College of Advancing Studies Presentation of Degrees

Presentation of degrees to individual Church. There will be a professional the rental company will collect caps and candidates of the College of Advancing photography service available at St. gowns at St. Ignatius; hood and tassel Studies will take place in St. Ignatius Ignatius Church capturing the moment may be retained. Church immediately after the general you receive your degree. You will be university exercises: this will be about contacted by Commencement Photos 11:45 a.m. (In the event of extreme with the opportunity to purchase weather, the College of Advancing prints. The Dean will also be happy to BC Studies’ ceremony will begin at approxi- pose with any graduate immediately 2012! mately 11:30 a.m. in St. Ignatius following the ceremony. Light refresh- Church.) Candidates should arrange to ments will be available to the graduates accompany their guests to St. Ignatius and their guests. A representative from

Page 2 Boston College A Great and Proud Tradition

As a graduate of the Woods College of second Bishop of Boston. and an admirer of Oxford University, Advancing Studies, you are now a part In the early years of our republic the Father Gasson dreamed of combining of a great and proud tradition. It Roman Catholic population was rela- the excellence of the Jesuit academic should be a source of pride to you for tively small. This changed dramatically tradition with the style of Oxford. It the rest of your life. in the first half of the last was he who selected the Chestnut Hill land that had formerly This tradition dates back to the mid- century, when the potatoes been the Lawrence fami- 1500s in Europe, when the Society of rotted in the ground in ly's farm, enabling Bos- Jesus was founded and began its work Ireland. A horrendous fam- ton College to move to of education. It was not long at all ine devastated the popula- the stunning landscape before the Jesuit's students included tion. Many who were some- now known as the some of the brightest and most promis- how able to survive sailed Heights. The beautiful ing young people of the time. Long across the Atlantic to the Gothic towers of the before the Pilgrims landed at Plymouth, United States and Canada. original three buildings -- for example, the Jesuits were operating This was no mere trickle, Gasson Hall, the Bapst academic institutions all over Europe but a flood of the dispos- Library, and Saint Mary's and in Latin America as well. Among sessed. By the mid-1880’s Commencement 2012 Hall -- are due mainly to the students were members of royalty Boston had become a prin- Father Gasson's desire to and the clergy, and also young men ciple gateway into America create a new Oxford in from more ordinary backgrounds, for the Irish. Father John McElroy, America. There is hardly a visitor to many of whom were to become intellec- S.J., who had as the first official Catho- our campus who does not come away tual and social leaders. But the Jesuits lic chaplain of the United States Army, impressed and inspired by the physical were not only excellent teachers and determined that success for these new beauty of Boston College, which is only pioneering scientists; many of them immigrants depended on access to further enhanced by our newer campus became missionaries who courageously higher education of the finest quality. construction. entered, explored, charted, and won to Father McElroy raised money and Christ previously unknown parts of bought land for a new college in the The roots of the Woods College of Africa, the New World, and the Orient. South End of Boston. Boston College Advancing Studies go back to the 19th was chartered by the Commonwealth of century, to what was known as the The first Jesuits to come to this part of Massachusetts in 1863. Young Men's Catholic Association of North America were French. Their Boston College. Father Robert Fulton, task was to educate both the white set- The first president of the new college S.J., realized attending college full-time tlers and the Indians of New France, or was Father John Bapst, S.J., a native of was an unaffordable luxury for most what we now know as Canada. Much Switzerland and a person who had pre- immigrant children. Evening courses of the West was opened and mapped viously shown uncommon courage in represented the best opportunity for for the first time by Jesuits, who were missionary work among the Indians ambitious individuals to prepare for also the first white persons to travel the and white settlers of rural Maine. In civil service examinations or enter the Mississippi River. Today you can see the earliest days of Boston College, a professions and executive ranks. The some of this history depicted in the Mr. Andrew Carney kept the fledgling Irish and other ethnic groups improved colorful murals in the rotunda of Gas- Jesuit institution alive during hard their economic situation son Hall. The Jesuits established their financial times with and established their posi- first university in the United States in numerous large financial tion in the community Washington, D.C., during the admin- grants. quickly because of the fine istration of our first president, George With the elevation of education they worked so Washington. They called it Father Thomas Gasson, hard to attain evenings. Georgetown University. The College S.J., to the presidency in Their courage to persevere of the Holy Cross, in Worcester, was College of Advancing Studies the early years of this and succeed against very the first Jesuit school in New England; Boston College century, Boston College difficult odds is a proud its founder was Benedict Joseph Fen- gained a person of part of Boston College's wick, a Jesuit who later became the unique vision. A native of England illustrious tradition. And so is yours!

May 2012 Page 3 A Great and Proud Tradition

In 1935, the James A. Woods, S.J., Since its founding in 1863, Boston of our programs and our ecumenical College of Advancing Studies moved College has grown magnificently in spirit attract outstanding students from from Beacon Street to Newbury Street faculty, students, alumni programs, and many other religious and ethnic back- in the Back Bay, and became known as properties. We were once known as grounds. This pluralism of intellectual Boston College Intown. Its programs that local Catholic college of the chil- exploration and experience is, no less were expanded, and thousands were dren of immigrants. We will always be than the majestic architecture of Bapst able to receive a high quality education proud of that part of our history. To- Library, part of what we think of as our at times convenient for them. In the day, because of the occupational promi- heritage at Boston College. early 1960s, the Woods College of Ad- nence and financial generosity of these Throughout the history of Boston Col- vancing Studies moved to the Heights. sons and daughters of immigrants and lege, excellence has been our overarch- One reason for the move was the desire their succeeding generations, Boston ing standard. Excellence was the stand- to give the Advancing Studies students College has prestige throughout North ard the first Jesuits adopted over four access to the faculty and facilities availa- America and in many foreign coun- hundred years ago and the one they ble on the Heights and make them feel tries. Graduates from all the colleges of carried to so many lands around the an integral part of the total Boston the university have become distin- world. This standard of excellence and College community. It was felt that if guished leaders in politics, the profes- the Jesuit heritage make Boston College the academic environment of the sions, the military, the Church, the arts and its tradition unique. As of com- Heights inspired excellence, then Ad- and sciences, in industry, and in many mencement day, you are a part and a vancing Studies students should be other walks of life. Boston College permanent member of this great and able to take advantage of that atmos- started its life as a Catholic school and proud tradition. phere and have the same learning expe- although this link with our ancient rience as full-time students. faith is as strong as ever, the excellence

Seal of Boston College

The Presidential Medallion, a symbol open book in the center of the shield Jesuit patron, Our Lady, Seat of Wis- of authority which originated in medie- above the three hills of Boston. The dom. On the lower portion of the me- val times, is worn by the President of open book, symbolic of a college, is a dallion is the Lamp of Knowledge in- the University on ceremonial occasions frequent emblem on academic shields. scribed with the word tuterlarius, Protec- such as commencement. The medal- On the black band at the top, the sable, tor of Wisdom. Each link of the chain lion bears the official seal. are two crowns separated by the badge holding the medallion is inscribed with The colorful and symbolic seal of Bos- of the Society of Jesus. The chief is the name of a past president of Boston ton College contains the University derived from the original arms of old College and his term in office. Holding Boston, Lincolnshire, England, on together these links and supporting the motto in Greek, Ever to Excel. The seal which three crowns were depicted, the is circular with a maroon border bear- medallion is the Boston College golden third being taken by the badge of the ing the University's formal Latin name, eagle -- encrusted with a ruby in its Jesuit Order. The trinctures on the breast. Collegium Bostoniense, and the year of shields, red and gold, are the heraldic founding, 1863. Encircling the inside equivalents of the College colors, ma- base of the shield on a background of roon and gold. silver is a scroll heralding the College device traced in black: Religioni Et Bonis At the top of the Presidential Medal- Artibus -- Dedicated to Religion and the lion is the badge of the Society of Jesus. Fine Arts. The shield itself contains On the left side of the sunburst is the "trimount" from Tremont, the old Christ the Teacher, showing the elders name for Boston; and the motto of the clustering around Christ in the Tem- University inscribed in Greek on the ple; on the right is the figure of the

Page 4 Boston College Attire

Until well after World War I, it was which may be black or may be colored Since the hood no longer serves as a customary for many American college indicating the general field of learning head covering, the mortarboard, which students to wear gowns while in class or of the wearer such as golden yellow for originated at the British universities, is at meals. The practice has ceased, and science. used. A long black tassel or other ap- except for some of the British and Eu- The most colorful and distinctive item propriate color is fastened to the mid- ropean schools, few colleges request of the academic costume is the hood dle of the top of the cap and hangs students wear gowns except at com- which passes around the neck and ex- down the right side. A doctor of mencement exercises. tends down the back. The length of philosophy's cap frequently hosts a tas- Most of the early gowns varied widely the hood varies from three feet (the sel of gold thread, while lawyers often in design and color. In 1893 the Amer- bachelor's) to four feet (the doctor's). wear purple tassels. In recent years, soft ican Intercollegiate Commission stand- The colors of the silk which line the velvet tams instead of the traditional ardized the style of gowns for the major center of the hood are those of the mortarboards have become popular for degree ranks recognized in America. school which confers the degree. The holders of advanced graduate degrees. All Boston College graduates partici- color of the velvet on the hood denotes Boston College Colors pate in the ceremony attired in the the academic discipline in which the How and why the maroon and gold standard black gown, but with varying degree is earned. For instance: became the colors of Boston College is styles and hoods depending on the a matter of speculation. The colors degree which they have earned and the Arts, Letters, White were adopted in the infancy of the col- school from which they are graduating. Humanities lege after a lively contest between stu- Each of the three academic degrees -- Business and Nugget dents and faculty. After much delibera- bachelor, master and doctor -- has its Management tion, maroon and gold, the papal colors own unique gown and hood. The were adopted. Education Light Blue bachelor's gown is distinguished by its The first written mention of these col- Law Purple long pointed sleeve. The master's gown ors occurred in 1894 when an appeal has a longer, closed sleeve, extending Nursing Apricot was made for a song to credit the ma- below the knee, the arm passes through roon and gold. Another reference indi- Philosophy Dark Blue a slit at the elbow. The doctor's gown cated that the ladies of the New Eng- has a full bell-shaped sleeve with three Science Golden Yellow land Conservatory of Music sewed a bars of velvet. The opening of all the Social Work Citron maroon and gold banner to honor the gowns is faced with wide velvet bands baseball team.

Congratulations to The Class of 2012

Page 5 Boston College Graduation

Graduation activities consist of two The annual commencement exercise Although Boston College holds formal ceremonies, baccalaureate and com- on Monday, May 21 is the high point graduation exercises in the spring of mencement. The baccalaureate is of the academic year, a recognition of each academic year, students who com- traditionally a religious ceremony of success for both the institution and its plete the requirements for their degree thanksgiving and jubilation. At Bos- students. The French word during the summer are eligible and wel- ton College this memorable ritual is "commencement" was the name given come to participate in these exercises. highlighted by a concelebrated Mass to the initiation ceremony reserved for These students receive blank diplomas on Sunday, May 20. university teachers in medieval Europe at the May ceremony. An authentic as they entered upon their career or diploma is mailed when degree require- office. Much of what we see in today's ments are fulfilled. ceremony reflects those times.

Participants

While those graduating are the Immediately preceding the entry of the were given at all levels, but in recent principal participants in the com- undergraduate candidates is the Uni- years the doctorate has become the mencement exercises, there are other versity Mace Bearer who presides as the most commonly awarded. individuals who perform a variety of Grand Marshal of the commencement These degrees are not awarded indis- roles during the exercises. A brief exercises. The Office of Mace Bearer is criminately. Boston College wishes to description of their various roles may purely ceremonial and derives from preserve the status of earned degrees be helpful. medieval times in England when an and enhance the significance of its hon- Leading the procession are the silver official taking office or opening court orary degrees. Thus candidates are Jubilarian Marshals formally attired needed a bodyguard. In those days, the carefully selected. At previous com- with top hats and tuxedos. These mace, a formidable weapon, was held mencements, the university awarded Boston College graduates are followed ready to protect the important person- honorary degrees to Secretary of State, by marshals who are members of the age. It has now become a symbol of Condoleezza Rice; David McCullough, teaching or professional staff attired office and authority and is carried in author & Medal of Freedom recipient; in their own academic gowns. They the procession to dignify the ceremony. former Boston Celtic, Bill Russell; Car- assume various responsibilities during It is marked at the head by a sphere dinal Roger Etchegaray, president of the ceremony. Many are responsible representing the world, at the top of the Pontifical Council of Justice and for assembling the candidates and which rests the symbol of the cross. Peace; political analyst, Tim Russert; leading them to and from the field, After the over twenty-five hundred de- humanitarian Dr. Paul Farmer; Boston while others serve as field marshals gree candidates have taken their places, businessman and philanthropist Jack and assure that the 2,500 degree recip- the Honorary Degree Recipients are Connors and documentary filmmaker, ients are guided to the correct section. escorted to the platform. Although not Ken Burns. Other marshals are responsible for necessarily part of the commencement The Dais Group, or platform party, is seating the faculty and the student exercise, they are an important part of the last to enter and the first to leave representing each college who receives the ceremony at Boston College. The the ceremony. It consists of the honor- the degree for the class. award of an Honorary Degree from an ary degree recipients escorted by univer- American college or university dates sity officials, the Deans who present the back to colonial times, when in 1692 degree candidates, the Trustees, the Harvard granted the first such degree. Cardinal of Boston, and the President. It has since been customary for some The entire group is distinguished by universities to honor those men and their colorful garb, interspersed with women who have distinguished them- the distinctive doctoral gowns of ma- selves in the fields of business, social Congratulations, Class of 2012! roon and gold worn by the University science, law, the humanities, and edu- Trustees. cation. In the past, honorary degrees

May 2012 Page 6 Degrees and Honors

A degree is awarded for the successful Latin honors accompanying the degrees of Special awards are presented at the indi- completion of a program of study. The Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Science vidual college’s graduation. Before the first known academic degree, the doctor- are awarded in three grades according to degrees are individually conferred, recog- ate (from the Latin “docere”: to teach), the cumulative average attained by the suc- nition is given to the graduates who have was granted by the University of Bologna cessful completion of the degree curricu- excelled in specific areas. Recipients are in the mid-twelfth century. Originally the lum, as long as at least half of the courses selected on the basis of academic perfor- doctor’s and master’s degrees were virtual- were taken at Boston College. Summa mance and individual excellence. ly synonymous, while the title “bachelor” Cum Laude, with Highest Honors, is award- indicated entrance into a course of study ed to the top 4.5 percent of the graduating Honors printed in the Commencement rather than its completion. The first class; Magna Cum Laude, with High Hon- program are based on averages at the end bachelor’s degree awarded in America ors, to the next 9.5 percent; and Cum of the second semester, 2011-2012. The was at Harvard in 1642. Laude, with Honors, to the next 15 percent. degree summa cum laude is awarded to The appropriate Latin script is embossed on the top 4.5% of the undergraduate gradu- Today, the most popular degrees in the diploma in recognition of the achieve- ating class, magna cum laude to the next America are the Bachelor of Arts and the ment. Academic precedent directs that only 9.5% and cum laude to the next 15%. Bachelor of Science. The original diplo- graduation honors are to be noted on a mas for these academic degrees were elab- diploma. Most other honors and distinc- The following grade point averages were orately hand lettered in Latin script and tions are usually indicated on the official the actual honors for the Class of 2011: parchment. Boston College continues to transcript. summa 4.0-3.943; magna 3.942-3.793; uphold this fine tradition. Although cum 3.792-3.628. some institutions add a special designa- Academic awards, such as those given by Remember, this provides only a guideline tion to the degree, i.e., Bachelor of Sci- the professional societies earned by the as the ranges change slightly each year. ence in Biology, Boston College awards members of the graduating class, are tradi- undesignated degrees, such as Bachelor of tionally recognized and formally presented Arts or Master of Science. during the individual college ceremony.

Alma Mater

Hail! Alma Mater! Thy praise we sing. Fondly thy mem’ries round our heart still cling. Guide of our youth, thro’ thee we shall prevail! Hail! Alma Mater! Hail! All Hail! Hail! Alma Mater! Lo, on the height. Proudly thy tow’rs are raised for the Right God is thy Master, His law thy sole avail!

May 2012 Boston College