Dean’s Reception
The afternoon before Commencement, Dean Emma Dench hosts an informal reception for degree candidates and their guests.
Commencement Morning Exercises
Degree Candidates Arrive
All degree candidates gather at the Lawns at Richards Hall to pick up flags, say hello, and take photos with fellow graduates and deans. Light breakfast items (pastries, tea, and coffee) will be available. Harvard Yard opens for all guests at 6:45 a.m. Guests who wish to secure a seat should head directly to the Yard before/at this time and should not come to the Lawns at Richards Hall.
Harvard Griffin GSAS Parade and Procession Formation
The streets are closed for a parade of Harvard Griffin GSAS graduating students led by bagpipers down Oxford Street, an event not to be missed. (Guests with tickets for the Commencement Morning Exercises may enter the Yard beginning at 6:45 a.m. if they wish to secure a seat.)
If you do not join the parade, please proceed directly to Tercentenary Theatre no later than 8:45 a.m. and find a seat for the Commencement Morning Exercises in the Harvard Griffin GSAS section. Seating may not be available in the Harvard Griffin GSAS section after the procession into Tercentenary Theatre.
Academic Procession
This is Harvard’s big pomp and circumstance moment. Over 32,000 people fill Tercentenary Theatre in Harvard Yard, and it’s the one time all the University’s Schools are together. It’s a delight to watch in person, with commentary via simulcast in Maxwell Dworkin, or via live stream at www.harvard.edu/live.
Commencement Morning Exercises
After the procession is complete and graduating students, faculty, and guests are seated, the deans of each School introduce their candidates for degrees and the Harvard President confers each degree to all graduates collectively.
PhD recipients are called first and are responsible for setting the tone for the entire Commencement. When the Provost asks you to stand, leap up, cheer, and wave your flags. When the President finishes the conferral of the degree and says congratulations, yell, cheer, and wave your flags. Be the loudest, most enthusiastic School in the Yard! The Provost then calls the Harvard Griffin GSAS and SEAS master’s recipients; please follow the lead of the PhDs with similar enthusiasm.
Please note: You do not receive your diploma at this time. Diplomas are distributed during the Diploma Awarding Ceremony in Sanders Theatre later in the afternoon, unless you have already picked up your diploma (November/March graduates) or elected to have it mailed.
Commencement Morning Exercises include student orations, the conferral of degrees, the Commencement Speaker address, and the presentation of honorary degrees.
Once Commencement Morning Exercises conclude, PhD and terminal master’s degree recipients who registered for the first Diploma Awarding Ceremony should make their way as quickly as possible to Sanders Theatre (en route master’s graduates and those attending the second Diploma Awarding Ceremony may proceed directly to the Champagne Reception and Luncheon). Meet up with your guests after, not before; it will be too hard to find them in the crowds leaving Tercentenary Theatre.
Diploma Awarding Ceremonies
There will be two complete Diploma Awarding Ceremonies (DACs) this year. Once Commencement Morning Exercises conclude, PhD and terminal master’s degree recipients who registered for the DACs should make their way as quickly as possible either to Sanders Theatre or the Champagne Reception and Luncheon, depending on whether their program is assigned to the first or second DAC. (Graduates can confirm their ceremony assignment on their tickets.) Graduates should meet up with their guests after, not before; it will be too hard to find them in the crowds leaving Tercentenary Theatre.
Those graduates and guests assigned to the first DAC will proceed to Sanders immediately following the University-wide Commencement Morning Exercises and then to the Lawns at Richards Hall for the Champagne Reception and Luncheon after their ceremony. Those assigned to the second DAC will head to the Champagne Reception and Luncheon immediately following the Commencement Morning Exercises then proceed to Annenberg by 2:15 p.m. for the second ceremony.
Graduate Seating for the DACs
The Commencement lanyard supplied when graduates pick up their Commencement information contains a colored ticket, which designates which ceremony they will attend and their seating location in Sanders Theatre. Harvard Griffin GSAS staff will be on hand to direct graduates to their sections. For both ceremonies, all graduates must be seated in the lower level of Sanders Theatre before the ceremony begins.
Guest Seating for the DACs
First ceremony guests will receive crimson tickets and second ceremony guests will receive white tickets. Tickets provide information about access points for the ceremonies. Guests should follow the signs either to the left door of the Sanders Theatre or the balcony to be seated for the ceremony. Staff will be available on site to assist with guest seating. A professional photographer will take photos as degree recipients cross the stage—guests may not stand in the aisles to take photographs.
Champagne Reception and Luncheon
The Harvard Griffin GSAS Champagne Reception and Luncheon provides graduates and their guests with a festive meal on campus. Graduates and their guests must register for this event during the Commencement event registration period. Tickets are free for graduates and must be purchased for guests. Guests and graduates assigned to the second DAC who plan to attend the Champagne Reception and Luncheon should head to the reception at the Lawns at Richards Hall immediately following the Commencement Morning Exercises. Those assigned to the first DAC will proceed to the reception following the ceremony. Champagne and a gourmet boxed lunch will be served.
Graduate PhD Hooding Ceremonies
Engineering and Applied Sciences (SEAS)
The Harvard John A. Paulson School of Engineering and Applied Sciences (SEAS) hosts a PhD hooding ceremony following the Luncheon. This ceremony begins at 4:00 p.m. at the Science and Engineering Complex in Allston.
Division of Medical Sciences (DMS)
The Division of Medical Sciences (DMS) hosts a graduate hooding ceremony for graduates following the Luncheon. This ceremony begins at 5:00 p.m. at the New Research Building in Longwood.
