Events Schedule

Events Schedule

Harvard University Commencement Week Schedule:

The college and each graduate/professional school hosts additional events unique to their community. Please visit the sites hyperlinked or visit the "students" tab above and scroll down to review the additional events hosted by each school.


CLASS OF 2024

Tuesday, May 21, 2024

11:00 AM

Phi Beta Kappa Literary Exercises, Memorial Hall

1:15 PM

College Baccalaureate Procession, Harvard Yard, Old Yard

2:00 PM

College Baccalaureate Service, Harvard Yard, Tercentenary Theatre

3:30 PM

College Class of 2024 Photo, Tercentenary Theatre

5:00 PM

College Class of 2024 Family Reception, Science Center Plaza

8:00 PM

Harvard University Band and Choruses Concert (open to all), Tercentenary Theatre

Wednesday, May 22, 2024

11:00 AM

ROTC Commissioning Ceremony, Tercentenary Theatre

Noon

College Class Day Picnic, Old Yard

2:00 PM

College Class Day Exercises with featured Class Day Speaker, Tercentenary Theatre

4:00 PM

Dudley Community Reception, TBD Location

5:00 PM

Faculty Deans’ Receptions, Undergraduate Houses

5:00 PM

Senior Letterwinners' Dinner, Bright-Landry Hockey Center

Thursday, May 23, 2024

7:45 AM

Procession of Advanced Degree Candidates begins, Harvard Yard, various locations

8:00 AM

Senior Valediction

~8:15 AM

Procession of Advanced Degree Candidates continues, Harvard Yard

8:15 AM

College Senior Chapel concludes, formation of Seniors begins, Old Yard

8:30 AM

President's Division begins processing through the open ranks of Seniors

8:55 AM

All guests should be seated

9:20 AM

President's Division concludes the procession into Tercentenary Theatre

~9:30 AM

Commencement Exercises called to order
After the meeting is called to order, the student orators deliver speeches. The Provost and Deans introduce the candidates and the president will confer the degrees. The Commencement Speaker delivers the Commencement Address. The meeting is adjourned following the benediction. The University Band and University Choir perform throughout the Exercises.

12:15 PM

The Commencement Exercises adjourn

~12:15 PM

Luncheons and diploma-awarding ceremonies at the undergraduate Houses, Graduate, and Professional Schools; additional luncheon "spreads" held at various locations

Friday, May 24, 2024

10 AM

Radcliffe Day:
Each year on Radcliffe Day, the Institute awards the Radcliffe Medal to an individual who embodies our commitment to excellence, inclusion, and social impact. First awarded to Lena Horne in 1987, recent honorees include Sherrilyn Ifill, Dolores Huerta, Hillary Rodham Clinton, and Melinda French Gates. For more details, visit here

Friday, May 31, 2024

Time TBD

All alumni/ae are cordially invited to attend the Annual Meeting of the Harvard Alumni Association. Details regarding that program are here.

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For degree candidates interested in Affinity Group Celebrations, please register via this link for the events listed below.

Monday – May 20, 2024

Disability Celebration - 9:00am – 11:00am

Indigenous Celebration - 12:00pm – 1:30pm

AAPI/APIDA Celebration - 2:00pm – 4:00pm

First Generation Celebration - 5:30pm – 7:30pm

Jewish Celebration - 7:30pm – 9:30pm
 

Tuesday - May 21, 2024

Latinx Celebration - 9:00am - 11:00am

Veteran Celebration - (tentative) - 11:00am - 1:30pm

Lavender Celebration - 1:00pm – 3:00pm

Black Celebration - 5:30pm – 7:30pm

 

TBD (as of 3/27/2024):

Arab Celebration

Veteran Celebration

* * * 

For students looking to register for any of these affinity celebrations, please visit here. Thank you.

* * * 

Harvard Commencement Dates through 2030
Family
Thursday, 5/29/2025*

Thursday, 5/28/2026*

Thursday, 5/27/2027

Thursday, 5/25/2028

Thursday, 5/24/2029

Thursday, 5/30/2030*

*Occurs during the same week of Memorial Day