General:
- When is Harvard Commencement for the Class of 2025 and Harvard Alumni Day?
- What is Harvard Alumni Day?
- What are the duties of Alumni Marshals on Commencement?
- What are the duties of Alumni Aids and Marshals on Harvard Alumni Day?
- When do I receive my Alumni Marshal assignment?
- What do I need to access Harvard Yard if I am volunteering as an Alumni Marshal?
- Where do I check in upon my arrival in Harvard Yard?
Regalia:
- What is regalia and what are the costs associated with renting or purchasing regalia?
- How do I place my regalia rental or purchase order?
- How do I place my rosette order?
- Where and when do I pick up my regalia, rosette or top hat?
- Is there a place to leave my “street clothes” and bags?
- Where do I drop off my rented regalia at the end of the day?
Miscellaneous:
- I would like to serve as an Alumni Marshal, but I can only serve for one program. May I still participate?
- What are the available transportation and parking options?
- What is the Happy Committee?
- My child is graduating. Can I marshal?
- Where can I find information on College reunions??
- Is there housing available for marshals?
General:
1. When is Harvard Commencement for the Class of 2025 and Harvard Alumni Day?
Commencement for the Class of 2025
- Thursday, May 29, 2025 in Harvard Yard
- If you are volunteering, your arrival time is 6:30 – 7:30 a.m. depending on your assignment
- Commencement exercises begin at 9:30 a.m. and end around Noon and will be followed by a lunch spread for volunteers
- If you accept the invitation to volunteer by registering online, you will be assigned to a group led by members of the Happy Committee and more detailed instructions about your assignment will be emailed in mid-May
- Friday, June 6, 2025 in Harvard Yard
- Alumni Marshals will gather alumni together to join in the Alumni Parade
- Alumni Parade begins in Harvard Yard at 11:00 a.m. and the Speaking Program begins at 11:45 p.m.
- The Alumni Lunch in Harvard Yard will begin at 1:00 p.m.
- If you accept the invitation to volunteer by registering online, you will be assigned to a group led by members of the Happy Committee and more detailed instructions about your assignment will be emailed in mid-May
2. What is Harvard Alumni Day?
Harvard Alumni Day is a University-wide, global event honoring alumni impact, citizenship, and community.
This alumni celebration, in its third year, will be held on Harvard’s campus and simultaneously live streamed for those who cannot attend in person. The day will start with the traditional Alumni Parade, followed by a speaking program. After, there will be luncheon spreads for alumni in Harvard Yard, including the alumni Tree Spread, College class reunion luncheons, and the Chief Marshal Spread.
The time-honored and festive Alumni Parade led by the eldest alumni into Tercentenary Theatre will kick off the day's festivities. Following the speaking program, which will feature the Harvard Alumni Day keynote speaker, a report from Harvard's President, celebration of the 2025 Harvard Medalists, recognition of the Chief Marshal of Alumni, and more.
3. What are the duties of Alumni Marshals on Commencement?
The tasks of Alumni Marshals include welcoming guests at the Harvard Yard gates, directing families and guests to their seats and clearing the pathways for the academic processions. If you accept the invitation and register online, you will be assigned to a group led by members of Harvard’s Committee on the Observance of Commencement (traditional known as "the Happy Committee") and more detailed instructions about your assignment will be emailed in mid-May. You will receive a special pass to enter Harvard Yard on the morning of the festivities.
4. What are the duties of Alumni Aids and Marshals on Harvard Alumni Day?
The tasks of Alumni Aids and Marshals on Harvard Alumni Day include gathering alumni to line up for the Alumni Parade. Alumni Aids and Marshals from a reunion, or any of the graduate schools will be asked to lead their groups in the Alumni Parade into Tercentenary Theatre to their reserved seats. If you accept the invitation and register online, you will be assigned to a group led by members of Harvard’s Committee on the Observance of Commencement (a.k.a. the Happy Committee) and more detailed instructions about your assignment will be emailed in late-May. You will receive a special pass to enter Harvard Yard.
5. When do I receive my Alumni Marshal assignment?
Once you accept the invitation via the online registration form, you will be assigned to a group led by members of the Happy Committee and more detailed instructions about your assignment will be emailed in mid-May.
6. What do I need to access Harvard Yard if I am volunteering as an Alumni Marshal?
You will receive a “Yard Pass” in the mail in May. This will serve as your ticket for the day and will grant you access to Harvard Yard.
7. Where do I check in upon my arrival in Harvard Yard?
Please check in at the Harvard Alumni Association headquarters in Harvard Hall, next to Johnston Gate, before you report to duty. There you will receive your materials and instructions for the day, as well as coffee, water and breakfast treats.
Regalia:
8. What is regalia and what are the costs associated with renting or purchasing regalia?
Traditionally worn by men in years past, anyone is welcome to rent regalia. The regalia attire is a dark cutaway coat, weskit, silk top hat and white tie which can be rented through the HAA. Partial or full rentals are available through this online form. Please note that white shirts are not included in rentals.
Another option is to wear an all-black outfit (example: pants/skirt and shirt or a dress) and purchase a crimson rosette which also serves as an alumni marshal identifier. Traditionally worn by women in years past, fascinators and other fashionable hats have often been seen on alumni marshals.
|
Full Regalia - cutaway coat, weskit, striped trousers, silk top hat, white tie |
$110 |
|
Partial Regalia - cutaway coat, weskit, striped trousers |
$85 |
|
Regalia rental for an additional day (if you are marshaling on multiple days) |
$50 |
|
Top hat rental per day |
$25 |
|
White tie (purchase, not rental) |
$20 |
|
Rosette (purchase, not rental) |
$25 |
You can also purchase regalia through our regalia vendor. Tentative prices below:
|
Full Regalia - New |
$795 |
|
Full Regalia - Gently used |
$595 |
|
New top hat |
$345 |
9. How do I submit my regalia rental or purchase order?
You may rent regalia or purchase a top hat, white tie or rosette through this online form.
Should you wish to purchase regalia, you may contact FormalWear Ltd. in Waltham, Massachusetts directly at 781-899-5727. Ask for Jim McElroy.
10. How do I place my rosette order?
You may place your rosette order through this online form.
11. Where and when do I pick up my regalia, rosette or top hat?
You may pick up your rented regalia, top hat and rosette at Harvard Hall in the Old Yard during the following dates and times:
Commencement Regalia and rosette pick-up:
First floor of Harvard Hall at the following times:
• Wednesday, May 28: 11:00am-6:00pm
• Thursday, May 29 - Commencement: Beginning at 6:00 a.m.
Harvard Alumni Day Regalia and rosette pick-up:
First floor of Harvard Hall at the following times:
• Thursday, June 5: 4:00-7:00pm
• Friday, June 6 - Harvard Alumni Day: beginning at 9:00am
12. Is there a place to leave my “street clothes” and bags?
You may leave your clothes and personal items in Harvard Hall when you check in for your marshaling duties. Please note that we do not have a coat check and there is no secure room. The HAA is not responsible for any lost or stolen items. Please be aware that all persons, bags, and personal items are subject to inspection before entering Harvard Yard. No backpacks of any type will be admitted. No bag or item larger than 12” x 12”x 12” will be permitted inside the Yard.
13. Where do I drop off my rented regalia at the end of the day?
Commencement Regalia rental returns:
First floor of Harvard Hall before 3:00 p.m. on May 29 unless you have rented it to marshal on Harvard Alumni Day on June 6.
Harvard Alumni Day Regalia rental return:
First floor of Harvard Hall before 3:00 p.m. on Friday, June 6.
Miscellaneous:
14. I would like to serve as an Alumni Marshal, but I can only serve for one program. May I still participate?
Yes. Please share your availability via the online registration form.
15. What are the available transportation and parking options?
While we strongly encourage taking public transportation, there is parking for those who choose to drive to campus. For more information, please visit the Commencement parking website.
16. What is the Happy Committee?
Established in 1869, The Happy Observance of Commencement Committee, also known as the Happy Committee, consists of enthusiastic alumni who lend their institutional knowledge and celebratory spirit to help organize and direct alumni volunteers primarily on Commencement and Harvard Alumni Day each spring, in addition to welcoming College freshman during Convocation in the fall.
In collaboration with the HAA Volunteer Leadership team, the Happy Committee is responsible for a variety of activities during Commencement and Harvard Alumni Day, including path-clearing during the procession and parades, seating in Tercentenary Theatre, providing general direction and information-sharing in the Yard, as well as assisting at luncheons and warmly welcoming guests at the gates.
The dedicated support, experience, and leadership of the Happy Committee plays a vital role in the success of these celebratory occasions. The Happy Committee is unique in that it relies heavily on institutional memory of a complex process which occurs annually.
17. My child is graduating. Can I marshal?
We celebrate your interest in serving as an alumni marshal for Commencement and congratulations to your child! Based off feedback from prior years, we hear that many parents would rather partake in Commencement festivities as a spectator in full parent mode since marshaling duties are based on where we need the most help around or outside of the Yard. Understanding that you will be expected to carry out these assignments during the morning exercises, please let us know if you are still interested in participating. However, if you would like to be included in the following year's marshal invitations instead, we would be happy to add you.
18. Where can I find information on College Reunions?
Registration for reunions opens in late March and further information can be found at: https://alumni.harvard.edu/reunions/register.
19. Is there housing available for marshals?
Unfortunately, at this time we cannot accommodate housing for marshals.