Commencement Information for the College Class of 2019

Event Schedule | Ticket Information | Frequently Asked Questions

TENTATIVE Event Schedule

Events involving family members of the College Class of 2019 graduates begin on Tuesday, May 28. Family members should plan to participate in all activities scheduled for Tuesday, May 28 through Thursday, May 30, 2019, with May 30 (Commencement) being the most important day to attend.

Commencement Week Schedule for Students and Families/Guests

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Ticket Information 

Details regarding tickets will be communicated to graduating seniors in the spring.

Ticket Summary

* Tickets to the Class Day Exercises, Morning Exercises, and Afternoon Program allow admission into Tercentenary Theatre, but do not guarantee seats. Seats cannot be reserved and are available on a first-come, first-served basis. The sale of tickets for the Class Day Exercises, Morning Exercises, and Afternoon Program is strictly prohibited. Students who attempt to sell tickets may be referred to the Office of Academic Integrity and Student Conduct.

Ticketed Events

Class of 2019 Family Reception
Tuesday, May 28 at 5:00 PM
Enjoy a reception and drinks with your senior, as well as other families and guests. Tickets are complimentary for the graduating senior and guests. 

Class Day Picnic 
Wednesday, May 29 at Noon
Enjoy a casual lunch in the Old Yard before the start of the Class Day Exercises. Tickets are complimentary for the graduating senior and two guests and $15 per each additional person. Seniors are encouraged to check with their family first before purchasing tickets as refunds are not accepted.

Class Day Exercises
Wednesday, May 29 at 2:00 PM
Where Commencement is a University-wide program, Class Day celebrates the graduating College Class of 2019, and includes the featured Class Day speaker invited by the Class. Each senior is entitled to three complimentary tickets. Graduating seniors will require one of these tickets for entry. Additional tickets are available on a first-come, first-served basis.

Commencement—The Morning Exercises
Thursday, May 30 at 9:45 AM (gates open at 6:45 AM)
Celebrating the achievements of all Harvard University graduates, this program features remarks from students, the presentation of honorary degrees, and the conferring of student degrees.The Commencement Morning Exercises are very crowded and, consequently, tickets are limited to a maximum of four per graduating senior (no exceptions). Please note that a ticket does not guarantee a seat. The sale of Commencement tickets is strictly prohibited.

Indoor viewing is available via feed in the Science Center, and the program will also be streamed online. For more information about the schedule for the Morning Exercises please visit the University Commencement website.

Commencement—Diploma Presentation and Luncheon
Thursday, May 30 at Noon
Between the Commencement Morning Exercises and Afternoon Program there is a diploma presentation ceremony and luncheon in each House. This is the ceremony where the graduate receives their diploma. Tickets are not required for the ceremony but are required for the luncheon. Tickets for the luncheon are complimentary for the graduating senior and two guests. Additional guest tickets can be purchased for $17 each.

Commencement—The Afternoon Program
Thursday, May 30 at 2:30 PM
This program officially welcomes the new graduates into the Harvard Alumni Association, and includes remarks from the featured Commencement speaker and Lawrence S. Bacow, president of Harvard University. Graduating seniors are allotted three free tickets and will require one of these tickets for themselves. Additional tickets will be available on a first-come, first-served basis.

For more information about the schedule for the Afternoon Program please visit the University Commencement website.

Commencement Week Entry Requirements

Tickets to the Class Day Exercises, Morning Exercises, and Afternoon Program allow admission into Tercentenary Theatre, but do not guarantee seats. Seats cannot be reserved and are available on a first-come, first-served basis. The sale of tickets for the Class Day Exercises, Morning Exercises, and Afternoon Program is strictly prohibited. Students who attempt to sell tickets may be referred to the Office of Academic Integrity and Student Conduct.

All persons, bags, and personal items are subject to inspection before entering Commencement Week events. Backpacks, luggage, and any bag or item larger than 12" x 12" x 12" will not be permitted inside Commencement Week events.

Strollers are not permitted inside Tercentenary Theatre on Commencement Day.

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Frequently Asked Questions: Questions and Answers about Commencement Week

WHAT IS THE ATTIRE FOR COMMENCEMENT WEEK ACTIVITIES?
Business casual attire is appropriate for all Commencement Week activities. 

HOW AND WHEN CAN TICKETS BE OBTAINED?
Details regarding tickets will be communicated to graduating seniors in the spring. 

ARE ACCOMODATIONS AVAILABLE?
There are a number of hotels in and around Harvard Square and the Cambridge area, including some accessible via the MBTA Red Line. Please plan to book early as hotels will quickly fill up. Unfortunately, courtesy rates at hotels are not available.

AT WHICH EVENTS IS REGALIA REQUIRED?
Academic regalia (cap and gown) is required for the Phi Beta Kappa (PBK) Literary Exercises (for PBK seniors), Baccalaureate Procession and Service, and the Class of 2019 photograph on Tuesday, May 28, and for the Commencement Morning Exercises and the Diploma Presentation ceremonies on Thursday, May 30.

WHERE DO GRADUATING SENIORS GET THEIR ACADEMIC REGALIA?
Cap and gown rentals are available for pickup May 23 to 30 in the textbook department on the third floor of the Coop, located on Palmer Street, during normal store hours (Monday to Saturday: 9:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m.; Sunday: 10:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.). The Coop is also open early on Commencement Day (beginning at 6:15 a.m. on Thursday, May 30).

The rental fee is $41.85 for seniors; dual AB/AM candidates will have an additional $36.90 rental fee for the master hood (cash, check, charge, and Crimson Cash are accepted). Please email customerservice@thecoop.com if you have regalia questions.

ARE THERE SPECIAL ARRANGEMENTS FOR INDIVIDUALS WITH DISABILITIES?

Harvard University encourages people with disabilities to participate in its programs and activities, including Senior Week and Commencement Week. If you anticipate needing accommodation or have questions about the physical access provided, please call the Harvard Alumni Association (HAA) at 617-496-7001 or email haa_collegealumniprograms@harvard.edu.

Accessible seating and other accommodations for individuals with disabilities are available in Tercentenary Theatre on Commencement Day. Accessible seating tickets are available on a first-come, first-served basis and will be distributed until all tickets are gone. In order to accommodate as many family members and friends with disabilities as possible in the reserved seating area, individuals with an accessible seating ticket will be permitted to have one companion accompany them into the accessible seating section. The companion must also have an accessible seating ticket. Harvard will make every effort to accommodate parents and guests without accessible seating tickets on Commencement Day; however, accessible seating is limited and advanced planning is strongly encouraged.

Graduating seniors should submit a request for accessible seating tickets as soon as possible. Requests should be submitted at alumni.harvard.edu/accessibleseating prior to Friday, April 26. Confirmation of requested tickets and instructions for claiming them will be emailed thereafter.

The accessible seating section is located adjacent to University Hall and will be clearly marked with the International Symbol of Access. Wheelchair runner assistance from the entrance gate to the guest’s seat in Tercentenary Theatre is provided as a courtesy on Commencement Day.

Guests are encouraged to arrive early on Commencement Day to avoid some of the crowding that usually takes place after 8:30 a.m. Gates open at 6:45 a.m. First aid stations and wheelchair-accessible restrooms will be located in Sever, Weld, and Thayer Halls. For information about accessible parking, transportation, or other resources, please visit commencement.harvard.edu/guests-disabilities.

WHAT IF FAMILY OR FRIENDS FROM OVERSEAS REQUIRE A VISA?
Family and friends visiting the U.S. will most likely need to apply for a visitor visa. The process may vary widely by region and country. This process could take a long time to complete, so please start working on this sooner rather than later. For more information about the specifics of this process, please visit hio.harvard.edu/b-visa. Individuals will need to contact the U.S. embassy or consulate in their home countries for specific instructions on the visa application process and processing times. If family members or friends require invitation letters for this process, students should reach out directly to their Allston Burr Resident Dean, whose contact information can be found at osl.fas.harvard.edu/house-deans.

IS PARKING AVAILABLE DURING COMMENCEMENT WEEK?
For the Class of 2019 Family Reception, complimentary parking is available at the 52 Oxford Street Garage on a first-come, first-served basis. On Class Day and Commencement Day, complimentary parking is available on campus in Allston on a first-come, first-served basis. For more information, visit the Harvard Transportation & Parking office at transportation.harvard.edu/parking.

DO CHILDREN NEED TICKETS TO EVENTS?
All children—except for infants under the age of one—require tickets for all events except for the Class Day Picnic. For the Class Day Picnic and House Luncheon, a ticket is required for each bagged lunch.

WILL COMMENCEMENT WEEK ACTIVITIES BE AVAILABLE FOR ONLINE VIEWING? 
The Class Day Exercises, Morning Exercises, and Afternoon Program will be streamed online at harvard.edu/live-stream.

HOW DO I GET A COPY OF THE 2019 HARVARD COLLEGE YEARBOOK?
To order a Class of 2019 yearbook or to order a parent congratulatory add, visit harvardyearbook.com/forms/yearbook . If there are questions about the yearbook, please email inquiries@harvardyearbook.com.

HOW DO SENIORS ORDER THE CLASS PHOTOGRAPH?
Orders can be placed online. Students can also pick up an order form at the time the photograph is taken. The cost is $35 for the color photograph, $40 for the laminated photograph, and $135 framed, plus shipping and tax (where applicable). Free shipping is available until May 28 for orders placed online.

WHERE CAN I GET GRADUATION-RELATED MERCHANDISE?
The Coop offers personalized graduation announcements and the largest selection of diploma frames with the Harvard Seal, class rings, and Class of 2019 gifts. The Coop hosts a Grad Fair in the spring that offers great discounts on diploma frames and class rings. Students are encouraged to stay connected and visit the Coop in person or online in early 2019 for Grad Fair dates and to view the selections. 

The Harvard Shop provides personalized graduation announcements. For more information and to order, visit balfour.com/harvard or call 800-433-0296. Contact Jenny Leight, managing director of The Harvard Shop, at jenny.leight@hsa.net with any questions. The Harvard Shop also offers rings. To view rings for sale, visit The Harvard Shop at 65 Mount Auburn Street from 11:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m. on Tuesday, May 29, through Friday, May 31. Balfour representatives will be on hand to help order rings and to offer free sizing services.

WHEN DO SENIORS HAVE TO VACATE THEIR ROOMS?
All seniors must be out of their rooms by 5:00 p.m. on Friday, May 31. No exceptions.

All other Commencement information can be found here: commencement.harvard.edu

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