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Northeastern is expecting up to 5,000 students to attend in Boston, 1,209 in London and 900 students in Oakland. In addition, the audience will include 1,624 N.U.in students.
Northeastern University is treating new undergraduate students and undergraduate transfer students to the full, thrilling convocation experience on its Boston, London and Oakland campuses on Tuesday, Sept. 3.
Students can expect live entertainment, light shows and greetings to officially mark the start of the 2024-2025 academic year.
“This year, convocation is really expanding,” says Chelsea Kryspin, assistant director of academic ceremonies at Northeastern.
“We are committed to having the full Northeastern experience for all of our incoming students at each global location,” she says.
There will be student entertainment, LED lights and other visual displays during the pre-show and grand finales, Kryspin says.
“It’s going to be really spectacular,” she says. “It’s going to be a moment that people will talk about for a long time.”
Here is everything you need to know about convocation.
Convocation is an event held at the beginning of every academic year to introduce new undergraduate students on all campuses to the university.
President Joseph E. Aoun will address students on the Boston campus during an 11 a.m. ceremony at Matthews Arena.
In London, convocation takes place at 11:30 a.m. BST at music venue Indigo at the 02, where Ken Henderson, the chancellor and senior vice president for learning, is scheduled to welcome students.
In Oakland, Provost and Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs David Madigan will welcome students during a ceremony at 7:30 p.m. PDT on Holmgren Meadow.
“Speakers will inspire our students to dream big and take advantage of all Northeastern has to offer both locally and globally,” says Julie Norton, Northeastern director of academic ceremonies.
“We are celebrating across three locations, Boston, Oakland and London in similar ceremonies, and our NUin sites will be welcomed at their site specific orientations,” she says.
Northeastern is expecting up to 5,000 students to attend in Boston, 1,209 in London and 900 students in Oakland. In addition, the audience will include 1,624 N.U.in students across 10 locations: Czech Republic, France, Germany, Ireland, Greece, Italy, Northern Ireland, Portugal, Scotland and Spain.
“Convocation is ready to introduce the students to the ethos of Northeastern and what they can expect for the next four or five years during their academic journey,” she says.
Students will meet leaders of student government and be introduced to deans and other senior leadership, Kryspin says.
Students’ Husky ID cards are their tickets to the ceremonies on all three campuses.
“The ticket is their Husky ID, so they need to bring it to the event,” Kryspin says. “They’ll be scanned in and it will verify that they’re a first-year student or transfer student.”
Husky cards are also required to pick up convocation T-shirts on the Boston campus.
T-shirt pickup time is noon to 5 p.m., Saturday, Aug. 31; and 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., Sunday, Sept. 1, and Monday, Sept. 2, at 300 Massachusetts Ave.
Students on the Boston campus will receive emails about staggered arrival times to the pre-show at Matthews Arena, Kryspin says.
“It will generally be between 9:30 and 10:15 a.m., depending on their residence hall or where they’re living,” she says.
After the Boston convocation ends at noon, students can go directly to fall fest activities, Kryspin says. She says convocation and fall fest are the capstone to Welcome Week. Undergraduate classes begin Wednesday, Sept. 4.
Students will not be allowed to bring backpacks into convocation, Kryspin says.
“No backpacks at all and no bags larger than 12-by-12-by-12,” she says. All bags are subject to search.
Flashing and/or strobe lighting will be used during the events.