College Graduation Events

Event Schedule
Entry Requirements
Frequently Asked Questions
Alumni Life Information
 

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Commencement Week Schedule for Students and Families/Guests

A schedule for the College Class of 2024 for May 2024 is below. See the Frequently Asked Questions section below for information about how seniors will obtain tickets to Commencement Week events at Senior Desk. 

Following the end of final exams, graduating seniors will participate in two weeks of events. The first week is Senior Week (May 13–18), full of social and reflective programming just for seniors. The 2024 Class Committee is planning the programming and will share more with seniors later in the spring semester. The second week is Commencement Week, which will feature various graduation events for seniors, their family, and guests. Commencement Week events for graduating students and families begin on Tuesday, May 21, and run through Commencement Day, Thursday, May 23. Family and guests are welcome and encouraged to attend all three days, with Thursday being the most important. Please note that graduating students can only participate in Senior Week and Commencement Week one time, and together in the same year. 

Tuesday, May 21

Wednesday, May 22

Thursday, May 23

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Commencement Week Entry Requirements

All Commencement Week events are held rain or shine. In the case of extreme or dangerous inclement weather, alternate plans will be communicated to the students. 

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, so please plan accordingly.

Strollers are not permitted inside Tercentenary Theatre (the space between Widener Library and Memorial Church) on Commencement Day. Strollers are permitted into Harvard Yard but must remain in the Old Yard within the overflow viewing area only, without exception.

Tickets to the College Class Day Exercises and Commencement Exercises allow admission into Harvard Yard 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 and Commencement Exercises is strictly prohibited. Students who attempt to sell tickets may be referred to the Office of Academic Integrity and Student Conduct.

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Frequently Asked Questions and More Commencement Week Information

How and when can tickets be obtained?

Tickets for the Family Reception, Class Day Picnic, Class Day Exercises, Commencement, and House Luncheon are obtained by graduating seniors only at Senior Desk. 

Graduating seniors must first complete the online senior exit survey, titled “Senior Survey,” before they pick up their Commencement Week tickets at Senior Desk. Graduating seniors will receive an email containing a URL to access the survey, which opens on May 3. The survey may take up to 24 hours to process, so please wait until the next business day before picking up tickets.

Each senior must pick up their own tickets in person (no pickups for others) and will need to bring their Harvard ID with them. No tickets (allotted, free, or purchased) will be available onsite at Commencement Week events. Seniors will be able to pick up their standard ticket packet, request any additional free tickets, and purchase any additional tickets that have a cost. Credit or debit card payments are accepted. 

Senior Desk is located at the Harvard Alumni Association at 124 Mount Auburn Street, 6th Floor. It will be open weekdays from May 6–May 22 from 11:00 a.m.–3:00 p.m. The first four days are for specific Houses to avoid crowding. Note that tickets will not run out. 

• May 6: Adams, Lowell, and Quincy
• May 7: Cabot, Currier, Dudley, and Pforzheimer
• May 8: Dunster, Leverett, and Mather
• May 9: Eliot, Kirkland, and Winthrop
• May 10–22 (weekdays): Students from all Houses can come to any of the remaining days.

What is the attire for Commencement Week activities?

Business casual attire is appropriate for all Commencement Week activities.

Are accommodations 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. Please visit the University Commencement website for more information.

At which events is regalia (cap and gown) required?

Regalia is required for the Phi Beta Kappa (PBK) Literary Exercises (for PBK seniors), Baccalaureate Procession and Service, and the Class of 2024 photograph on Tuesday, May 21, and for the Commencement Exercises and the Diploma Presentation ceremonies on Thursday, May 23.

How can seniors purchase regalia?

Regalia for Harvard College Seniors is available for pickup May 14 to May 23 at The Harvard Coop, Harvard Square location. No reservations are needed for the Harvard College senior regalia. Seniors should go to The Coop May 14 to May 23 to purchase their regalia. Distribution will take place on the third floor at 1400 Massachusetts Avenue. Visit www.thecoop.com for store hours. Hours are 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. The Coop is also open early on Commencement Day (beginning at 6:45 a.m. on Thursday, May 23).

The regalia fee is $55 for seniors; dual AB/AM candidates will have an additional fee for the master hood (cash and credit card are accepted). Please email customerservice@thecoop.com if you have regalia questions or request special sizing accommodation.

Where can I find information about accessibility for guests with disabilities?

Harvard University welcomes all guests on Commencement Day!

In Tercentenary Theatre, accommodations for individuals with disabilities may include, but are not limited to, accessible seating, wheelchair loan, Assistive Listening Devices, American Sign Language, and alternate program formats, including Braille, large font, and accessible digital files. Accommodations are available by request; see below for more information.

Guests are encouraged to arrive early (gates open at 6:45 a.m.), and there will be staff at the entry gates to Harvard Yard providing courtesy wheelchair transportation for all guests from the gate to guest seating in Tercentenary Theatre. First aid stations and wheelchair-accessible restrooms are located in Sever, Weld, and Thayer Halls in Harvard Yard. If you have questions about accommodations and the physical access provided for other commencement activities, please call the Harvard Alumni Association (HAA) at 617-496-7001 or email haa_collegealumniprograms@harvard.edu. For information about accessible parking and transportation, please visit commencement.harvard.edu/ guests-disabilities.

Commencement Accessible Seating Details: The accessible seating section during the Thursday morning Commencement program in Tercentenary Theatre is located adjacent to University Hall and will be clearly marked with the International Symbol of Access (a figure in a wheelchair). Graduating seniors will be able to exchange a certain number of their general admission guest tickets for accessible seating tickets at Senior Desk in May. One companion accessible seating ticket is available to each guest in the accessible section (also as a replacement for a general admission ticket; the total number of guest tickets will still be four); however, when space is available, best efforts will be made to seat a limited number of additional guests (with general admission tickets and not accessible seating tickets) with the understanding that they may need to relocate if an accessible seating ticket holder needs the space.

For the Class Day Exercises on Wednesday, there will not be an accessible seating section due to ample seating. Additional accommodations are available by request.

For additional requests for accommodations, please email the University Disability Resources office at disabilityresources@harvard.edu or call 617-495-1859. 

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 to apply for a visitor visa may vary widely by region and country. This process could take a long time to complete. We advise that you start the application process as early as possible.

For general information, you can 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 this page.

Is parking available during Commencement Week?

For the Class of 2024 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, a ticket is required for each bagged lunch.

How do seniors and families get a copy of the 2024 Harvard College Yearbook?

To order the Class of 2024 Harvard Yearbook, visit harvardyearbook.com/purchase. If there are any questions about the Yearbook, please email inquiries@harvardyearbook.com. The last day to place a parent ad is December 18, 2023 and the Yearbook preorder deadline is March 17, 2024.

How do seniors and families 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 $150 framed, plus shipping and tax (where applicable). Discounted pricing is available until May 31 for orders placed online.  

Where can seniors and families order graduation-related merchandise?

The Coop offers personalized graduation announcements and the largest selection of Harvard Seal and Graduate diploma frames, class rings, and Class of 2024 apparel and 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 at thecoop.com in early 2024 for the Grad Fair dates, store events, and new merchandise arrivals.

The Harvard Shop provides class rings and personalized graduation announcements. For more information, visit balfour.com/harvard or call 800-225-3687. To purchase official Harvard merchandise and to support a student-run business, visit The Harvard Shop website or at their store at 1380 Massachusetts Avenue. The 65 Mount Auburn Street location will be hosting monthly class ring try-ons until Commencement. Specific dates and times will be sent to the students' college email addresses in the days leading up to the event. Balfour representatives will be on hand to help order rings and to offer free sizing services. 

How can families place congratulatory advertisements in The Harvard Crimson?

The Harvard Crimson produces a special-edition print issue distributed to graduates and families at Commencement. Families can place congratulatory advertisements in the Commencement edition to honor and celebrate their graduating seniors. The special-edition issue will feature four different options for layout, including eighth, quarter, half, and full-page congratulatory advertisements with prices starting at $250. If you are interested you can fill out this form and if you have any questions please reach out to the Crimson’s business manager at businessmanager@thecrimson.com.  

When do seniors have to vacate their rooms?

All seniors must move out of their rooms by 5:00 p.m. on Friday, May 24.

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Alumni Life Information for the Class of 2024

Harvard Alumni Association

The Harvard Alumni Association (HAA) is the official association of all alumni of Harvard University including more than 400,000 alumni. The HAA maintains and enhances a highly engaged, vibrant community of alumni and friends worldwide. The purpose of the HAA is to promote the welfare of Harvard University and to establish a mutually beneficial relationship between Harvard University and its alumni. All Harvard undergraduates and graduates are members of the HAA, a dues-free organization. The HAA offers a wealth of opportunities to stay connected to Harvard and its alumni community, as well as excellent alumni benefits, including social, educational, and networking events; online learning; volunteer opportunities; and travel-study trips. 

The HAA Board of Directors is an advisory board that guides the fostering of alumni community building and creating University citizens of alumni and alumni volunteers. The main work of the Board of Directors focuses on developing volunteer leadership, increasing and deepening alumni engagement through an array of programs that support alumni communities worldwide.

College Alumni Programs Office

The College Alumni Programs office of the HAA serves more than 100,000 Harvard and Radcliffe College alumni. The office oversees and develops programming to preserve and maintain Harvard traditions and to create new opportunities to connect members of the Harvard community with one another and with the University. Visit alumni.harvard.edu/college for details.

Harvard College Fund

For nearly 100 years, the Harvard College Fund (HCF) has supported so many things you love about Harvard: House life, Classroom to Table, financial aid, career services, and more. The HCF, working together with volunteers in the Harvard Alumni Association, provides one of the most meaningful and influential opportunities for you to stay connected to Harvard. More than 30,000 students, alumni, parents, and friends contribute to the HCF each year, but did you know there are multiple ways to give back by getting involved? Build an engaged and supportive recent graduate community by joining the Recent Graduate Leadership Committee; rally your classmates and serve as a class reunion volunteer; make connections by attending HCF regional events in your area. To learn more about how you can get involved, contact us at hcf_inquiry@harvard.edu!

Class of 2024 and Class Volunteer Opportunities

Class of 2024, your class is the heart of your alumni activity. After graduation, your class will have a Reunion every five years. Between Reunion years, your Class or others may sponsor social events in Cambridge, around the world, and online. We encourage you to participate and take advantage of these resources. Remember to visit the class website at harvardclassof2024.com for updated information specific to your Class.

The 2024 Class Committee will continue to guide and support your Class in alumni life. You can support their efforts by volunteering to be an activities chair! Activities chairs are College alumni volunteers who support their Class Committees and bring classmates and alumni from surrounding classes together in their post-grad cities and regions, serving as key players in keeping College alumni connected to each other. In a Reunion year (every five years), you can volunteer on your Reunion Program and Gift Committees.

Reunions and Class Reports

You will have a reunion every five years (currently 5th-70th Reunions). Your reunion year provides opportunities to attend virtual and in-person programming, including programming on the Harvard campus the week after Commencement, to make a gift to the Harvard College Fund as part of a class-wide fundraising campaign, and to submit your Class Report entry. Every five years, the Class Report, or “Red Book,” is assembled from classmates’ submissions. This is an enduring Harvard tradition that began in the mid-1800s and an opportunity to update and share your story in your own voice with your Class and to reflect on life since graduation. Everyone in the Class gets a copy of the Report regardless of if they submitted an entry or not.

All are encouraged and welcome to join the Reunion Committee! Reunion Committees (and your reunion year programming) are strongest when new voices from a variety of backgrounds participate. Serving on your 5th Reunion Committee doesn’t mean that you’re required to volunteer every reunion after this, and if you aren’t able to volunteer one year, you are always welcome to volunteer at a future reunion. The Reunion Program Committee is supported by the HAA and oversees all aspects of reunion programming, including on-campus events, regional events, virtual events, a merch store, a class survey, communications, and more. The Reunion Gift Committee is supported by the HCF. Committee members set an example of giving and service and ask their classmates to join them with a gift to the Harvard College Fund in honor of the 5th Reunion. Both committees work closely with each other, and you can volunteer for one or both!

Harvard Alumni Community

Log in to the HAA Alumni Directory with your HarvardKey and update your profile to connect with fellow alumni. Your HarvardKey does not change after you graduate. Through community.alumni.harvard.edu/person, you can update your address and other biographical information and connect with alumni from across the College and University. It is important to keep your information current to receive news, events, programs, and special announcements specific to where you live.

If you requested a FERPA block through the Registrar’s Office, your experience in the Alumni Community and the HAA Alumni Directory will be different than your peers. Please review the information on this page to learn more.

Alumni Programs & Events

Learning opportunities at Harvard don’t end just because you have a degree. We invite you to take part in a variety of learning and social experiences designed to keep alumni connected with the intellectual life of the University—and to one another. These include career networking opportunities, tours at Harvard’s world-renowned museums, conversations with University leaders and administrators, and faculty lectures on everything from health care to space exploration to public service. Programs led by the HAA are in addition to the thousands of programs led by our extensive Club and Shared Interest Group networks. Alumni events are held online, on campus, and all over the world. For information on current programs, visit alumni.harvard.edu/programs-events.

There are a number of events just for recent graduates, including Welcome to Your City in your local area, the Harvard-Yale Recent Grad Tailgate on the Harvard campus, and Real World for Recent Grads, a virtual event series featuring fellow recent grads. You can also continue to attend the Global Networking Night events. 

Harvard Clubs

Stretching from South Africa to Norway, Argentina to Japan, and in every state in the United States, there are nearly 200 Harvard Clubs and regional alumni communities eager to welcome recent graduates. Harvard Clubs provide great opportunities to meet new friends, expand your Harvard network across years and Schools, and stay connected to the University. Clubs often create recent grad events amongst broad slates of alumni offerings including social, cultural, and community service activities. Many clubs are dues-free, and many more offer free or reduced dues for recent graduates. Please note that the Harvard Clubs of Boston and New York City have unique membership processes.

For a full list of Harvard Clubs and regional alumni communities, including contact information, visit alumni.harvard.edu/clubs-directory.

Harvard Alumni Association Shared Interest Groups

Are you interested in connecting with fellow recent graduates and other Harvard alumni around a shared identity, avocation, or professional interest? Would you like to find other alumni who share your interests or cultural pursuits? Are you looking to build community? HAA Shared Interest Groups connect thousands of alumni around the world to one another and to the University through a wide range of programs, events, communications, and service projects. Examples include First Generation Harvard Alumni, Harvard Alumni in Tech, Harvard Black Alumni Society, and Harvard Alumni for Global Women’s Empowerment.

For a full list of HAA Shared Interest Groups, including contact information, visit alumni.harvard.edu/sigs-directory.

Elections for Overseers and Directors

Each spring, Harvard alumni can vote in the annual elections for members of the University’s Board of Overseers and the Harvard Alumni Association Elected Directors. The Board of Overseers is one of Harvard’s two governing boards, along with the President and Fellows, also known as the Corporation. The HAA Board of Directors, under the leadership of the Executive Committee and executive director, empowers volunteers to strengthen the Harvard alumni community.

Alumni Travel

Travel with Harvard Alumni Travels to learn about and explore destinations across every continent. With options for all experience and activity levels, travel in the company of Harvard faculty, expert local guides, and fellow alumni from across the University. Look out for Spring Break Adventures for students and alumni with lower rates for students and recent College graduates. For more information, visit alumni.harvard.edu/travel.

Career Resources

As a recent graduate of Harvard College, you continue to have access to the Mignone Center for Career Success, including Crimson Careers and Firsthand Advisors. We also encourage you to use these platforms to post opportunities for and mentor students in the future. Visit https://careerservices.fas.harvard.edu/resources/connect-with-students/.

The HAA also has a collection of career-related resources, including webinars led by alumni. To learn more, please visit alumni.harvard.edu/community/careers-networking.

Email Newsletters

Stay informed on news and events across Harvard through the various alumni newsletters. Read Harvard Alumni News for a snapshot of the latest University-wide updates or take a peek at what the College and fellow alumni are up to in College Alumni News. If you’re looking to further connect with the University community or local alumni, get a glimpse of the different events and programs being held by alumni for alumni in Harvard this Week.

Harvard Gazette

The Harvard Gazette is the official news website for Harvard University. It covers important campus community updates; University announcements; innovations in research across science, medicine, politics, global affairs, and more; and it is also a hub for stories from University affiliates. We encourage you to sign up to receive emails from the Harvard Gazette with the latest news. You can dive in further by visiting news.harvard.edu/gazette.

Harvard Magazine

Harvard Magazine is published six times a year. Submit a personal update via harvardmagazine.com/classnotes/submit to see your news published in the Class Notes section of the magazine. To receive the July–August 2024 issue of Harvard Magazine, which will include coverage of your Commencement, please be sure your address is up to date by visiting community.alumni.harvard.edu/person. Class of 2024 copies will be mailed in the last week of June. For more information about Harvard Magazine, visit harvardmagazine.com.

Admissions Interviewing

Help Harvard College recruit prospective students, interview applicants, and welcome accepted students by volunteering for the Schools & Scholarships Committee, the alumni interviewing program! Interviewing is an important part of the application process and helps bring the applicant to life. Each alumni interviewer meets with a handful of prospective students between September and March. Alumni may interview in the city or geographic region in which they live or virtually for their hometowns. Learn more and sign up to volunteer.

Harvard Library 

Harvard University alumni are welcome to visit Harvard's libraries. All Harvard alumni can apply for a Library Borrowing Card, which comes with on-site access, at no charge. As a student you probably used HOLLIS to access most library resources. As an alum, you will use the special links on How to Use Harvard Library as an Alum to access licensed resources like paywalled articles and ebooks. Alums use HOLLIS primarily to borrow books and find Open Access materials. You can learn more information on the detailed guide, Using Libraries as a Harvard Alum.

 

For additional questions, please contact the HAA College Alumni Programs Office at haa_collegealumniprograms@harvard.edu or 617-496-7001 between 9:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. (ET), Monday through Friday.

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