Sponsored by the Center for Student Engagement, Leaving the Den is a pathway program for graduating seniors to help you reflect on your time at Bridgewater State University and prepare for your next steps in life. The pathway aims to do this by celebrating your accomplishments and providing space for you to prepare for the transition to the next chapter of your story.
As part of this program, you will be receiving regular newsletters from the Center for Student Engagement which are tailored with good to knows for seniors and other valuable information designed with you in mind! Check out past program newsletters here.
The program finishes with a pathway program checklist to complete during your spring semester. There are three main areas of this checklist which are outlined below. As you attend events and complete other items, be sure to log into EngageBSU and check them off your checklist.
Complete the checklist & get a special Commencement pin!
Savor these moments! Join your peers and participate in your last Kick-Off season and Bristaco's Bucket List. Attend one or more of these signature events to complete this section of the Leaving the Den pathway.
What comes next? To complete this section of the Leaving the Den pathway, complete one or more of these items which are focused on preparing you for life after BSU.
You're almost there! Take time to celebrate all you have accomplished. Check off one or more of these items to complete this section of the Leaving the Den pathway.
Attend one or more of the Spring 2024 Kick-Off Events
Start your final semester off right by attending one of our kick-off events. Click here to view all events!
Bristaco's Birthday Bash
More information to come!
Drag Show
More information to come!
Music and Arts Festival
More information to come!
Spring Carnival
More information to come!
Big A$$ Bingo
More information to come!
Duck Day
More information to come!
Program Council's Commencement Ball
More information to come!
Attend the Senior Resource Fair.
Sponsored by the Center for Student Engagement's Leaving the Den program, the Senior Resource Fair was an information fair opportunity for our graduating seniors to hear from a variety of resources about upcoming opportunities and ask questions about their next steps. .
Attend Bristaco's Grad Party.
Bristaco's Grad Party will be held on Tuesday March 12th 11am to 1pm in the RSU Lower Level and Fountain Lounge. Click here for more information and to RSVP!
Participate in the Job Search Bootcamp with the Career Services and Internship Office.
Graduating seniors are invited to participate in a for a 4-part workshop series held by the Career Services and Internship Office. This series aims to support graduating seniors, graduate students, and recent graduates seeking professional positions.
By participating in these workshops, you will:
Please be sure to RSVP for each of the four-part series on Handshake to access the Zoom link.
If you are an international student, be sure to be in touch with International Student and Scholar Services.
You can learn more about how to get in touch with International Student and Scholar Services here.
If you are interested in post-grad options abroad, be sure to get in touch with our Study Abroad Office.
If you are interested in post-grad options abroad, be sure to get in touch with our Study Abroad office. Ask them about post-graduation travel courses, graduate school abroad, working or volunteering abroad, and more. You can learn more about the Study Abroad office and how to get in touch with them here. You can learn more about the Study Abroad office and how to get in touch with them here.
Attend one or more Graduate Studies information sessions.
You can learn more about Graduate Admissions and see when their information sessions are here.
Attend one or more of the spring events sponsored by the Martin Institute for Social Justice.
Learn more about the Martin Richard Institute for Social Justice here. To view their upcoming events, click here.
Confirm you are registered to vote!
Visit BSUVotes to help you navigate how to update or change your voter information (address, voting status, or other voter registration details) after graduating to keep your voter registration accurate and up to date! .
Attend one or more wellness coaching sessions.
Wellness Coaching provides one-on-one sessions for you to work with a non-clinical Wellness Center staff member to determine your motivation to change, address stressors, learn new coping strategies and set goals. Click here to sign up today!
Meet with a Career Counselor for an appointment or attend on of Career Services' signature spring events.
To learn more about Career Services, visit their website. Call 508-531-1328 or email careerservices@bridgew.edu set up an appointment.
Signature Spring 2024 Events offered by Career Services will be posted soon!
Pick up your cap and gown.
For information regarding picking up your cap and gown, please visit Graduation Central.
Pick up any special cords, stoles, or pins you qualify to wear at Commencement.
Be sure to contact your department or organization's lead to inquire about any special cords, stoles, or pins for Commencement.
For more information regarding these items, please visit Graduation Central.
Register for your Commencement tickets.
For information regarding tickets for Undergraduate Commencement, please visit Graduation Central.
Attend one or more of the StARS Symposium Sessions
The Student Arts and Research Symposium (StARS) is BSU's largest academic event. Posters, talks, art exhibits and performances in-person in the RSU grand ballroom and meeting rooms, and/or online in the ForagerOne Symposium platform. More information to come!
Attend the Honors Graduation Celebration.
The Honors Program will recognize seniors graduating with Honors in the Core, Departmental Honors, or Commonwealth Honors distinctions at our Honors Graduation Celebration.
A save-the-date will be sent via email in February and an invitation with additional details in March. Graduating honors students who have questions can contact us at HonorsProgram@bridgew.edu or 508-531-1378. (Please note that Latin Honors graduation distinctions are separate from those given by the BSU Honors Program.)
Attend the Kente Clothe Celebration.
Kente cloth is a traditional cloth of the Ashanti people of Ghana, West Africa. The Ashanti people wear stoles made from Kente cloth at formal celebrations; much like Western culture wear tuxedos and evening gowns. The Kente cloth stole has become a symbol representing both diversity and unity among students of color at universities across the nation. In keeping with themes of diversity and inclusivity, we decided to capture all of the ethnicities, and the multiple identities that constitute our student body, in one stole.
The Lewis and Gaines Center for Inclusion and Equity is offering stoles that reflect the following ethnicities: African American, Latino, Asian, Native American, and a Multicultural stole. All stoles represent the Bridgewater State University and are adorned with a crest signifying Knowledge, Lifelong Education and continued Quest for Knowledge. More specific information to come!
Attend the Lavender Graduation Ceremony.
Lavender Graduation is BSU's annual ceremony celebrating the academic achievements of our LGBTQIA+ students graduating with either an undergraduate or a graduate degree.
Each graduating student who participates in Lavender Graduation will receive a rainbow stole from members of our LGBTQIA+ Alumnx Council, and those who graduate with a GPA of 3.5 or higher will also receive a Certificate of Academic Achievement signed by President Clark.
Family and friends of graduating students are encouraged to attend! If you have any questions, please reach out to the Pride Center via email at GLBTA@bridgew.edu or via phone at 508-531-1408. More specific information to come!
Take your photo with President Clark on Boyden's Steps!
More information to come!
Attend the Commencement Toast sponsored by the President's Office.
More information to come!
Attend the annual Impact Awards Ceremony.
SAVE THE DATE: The Impact Awards will be held on Monday April 22, 2024. Click here for more information and to RSVP.
Attend Commencement.
This year, Undergraduate Commencement will take place on Saturday May 11, 2024 at Gillette Stadium. You can always visit Graduation Central for more information about this event!