Commencement at Harvard is comprised of three components: the ceremonial Morning Exercises, during which University degrees are conferred; the mid-day luncheons and diploma-awarding ceremonies at the undergraduate Houses, Graduate and Professional Schools; and the afternoon Annual Meeting of the Harvard Alumni Association, during which Harvard’s president and the featured Commencement speaker deliver their addresses.
The Morning Exercises, which convene in the outdoor Tercentenary Theatre, are attended by approximately 32,000 degree candidates, family members, faculty, alumni/ae, and guests. For more information about the Morning Exercises, please go to commencement.harvard.edu.
Commencement Events Across Harvard's Professional and Graduate Schools
Commencement Week Reunion Events for Shared Interest Groups
Harvard Alumni Association (HAA) Shared Interest Groups (SIGs) connect thousands of alumni with shared interests, including particular student activities, identity groups, specific professions and cultural pursuits. In addition to a variety of local programming throughout the year, many of the 53 HAA approved SIGs host events during Commencement week. See the full list of HAA SIGs here with the list of events updated each May.