Signups are now open for faculty and staff to pitch in during graduation ceremonies at Boston’s Fenway Park and across the global network. Veteran volunteers look forward to it every year.
It’s the biggest day on the Northeastern University calendar — and it isn’t possible without faculty and staff across the global network who pitch in every year.
Signups are now open for volunteers at the university’s 123rd annual commencement ceremonies in Boston that will take place on Sunday, May 11, at Fenway Park for more than 10,000 graduates and 50,000 guests. The morning ceremony for graduate students starts at 10 a.m.; the undergraduate ceremony begins at 4 p.m.
“To create this extraordinary experience, we rely on the energy, enthusiasm and commitment of over 175 volunteers,” David Madigan, provost and senior vice president for academic affairs, and Ken Henderson, chancellor and senior vice president for learning, wrote in a letter to university employees. “Join us in creating an unforgettable celebration that our graduates will cherish forever. Your enthusiasm and support make all the difference!”
Volunteers are also needed for commencements and convocation ceremonies outside Boston; faculty and staff across the global network should contact their respective campus operations team for more details. Ceremony dates are as follows: Oakland on April 27; Charlotte on May 2; Silicon Valley on May 18; Seattle on May 20; Toronto on May 27; Vancouver on May 29; ; London on June 6; Arlington on June 11 (its first ceremony) and Portland on June 13.
Details for Boston-based faculty and staff volunteers are below:
Faculty volunteers in Boston can don their academic regalia and participate in either the graduate or undergraduate ceremony as a field marshal, faculty procession member or both.
Marshals help with the student lineup before the ceremony, then join those in the faculty procession; all faculty watch the ceremony from a reserved section on the field.
Registration and information for renting regalia, if needed, can be found here. The deadline to sign up is March 14.
Northeastern staff are encouraged to sign up for a full-day volunteering shift to ensure smooth coordination between the two ceremonies, but half-day shifts are available if needed. Register here by March 21. The form also collects sign-ups to volunteer at the university-wide Ph.D. and School of Law ceremonies held at Matthews Arena on April 28 and May 2, respectively.
Additionally, all Northeastern staff volunteers will automatically be entered into a raffle for four pairs of Red Sox tickets, including a pair of seats on the Green Monster.
Participants pitch in all over Fenway Park. Peter Latvis, a Salesforce and marketing cloud administrator on the Boston campus, has volunteered since 2022, helping with student lineup, greeting faculty and getting fellow volunteers outfitted with their Northeastern shirts, jackets, fanny packs and walkie talkies.
“I would highly recommend volunteering,” says Latvis, who joined the university in 2021. “Most faculty and staff are passionate about working in higher education because we believe in the transformation that it creates for so many students. There is no other singular event that personifies our mission and its impact. Personally, this experience grounds me, validates the work I do, and keeps me connected to our shared purpose at Northeastern.”
Breakfast and lunch will be served at Fenway, and there is free on-campus parking and shuttle service to Fenway Park. The Commencement Office will send out further details on specific roles and schedules in mid-April.
Swag abounds, and since the ceremonies fall on Mother’s Day this year, the Commencement office has a few related surprises planned.
For further information, contact commencement@northeastern.edu or visit the Faculty & Staff Commencement page.