Boston University’s 139th commencement ceremonies featured thousands of graduates, tens of thousands of guests, wisdom from the chairman of a billion-dollar corporation, one half-Vulcan — and, of course, hundreds of degree recipients who completed their studies entirely online through BU’s Office of Distance Education.
Representing colleges all across campus, and countries all across the globe, the online Class of 2012 signified our ninth group of graduates to participate in the May festivities. For an interactive, in-depth look at where Metropolitan College’s graduates have hailed from through the years, click the map below. And for a look at some of the numbers that tell the story of how BU welcomed a new set of alums, check them out below!
3,300 plus
Number of graduates who attended the ceremony at Nickerson Field
20,000
Estimated crowd packed into the stadium seats to salute the grads
2
Times Leonard Nimoy — who received an honorary doctorate of humane letters — flashed the Vulcan symbol from the stage, Dr. Spock encouraging graduates to “live long and prosper”
2,445
Words spoken by Google Chairman Eric Schmidt in delivering
his commencement address
1
Times Schmidt mentioned Google by name
65
Online Master of Criminal Justice graduates in May (among 89 since Summer 2011)
69
Online Master of Science in Computer Information Systems graduates who received diplomas
37
Online Art Education degree recipients from the College of Fine Arts
30
Online Master of Health Care Communication graduates
92
Recipients of Online Master of Management Science degrees
4
Students who completed their undergraduate degree this May through BU’s online program
66
Masters and Doctoral graduates of the online music program, bringing the total to 181 since September 2011
13
Number of students interviewed by our media team about their BU Online experience during Commencement Weekend
5,450
Approximate number of BU Online alumni as we approach our
10th anniversary!