Events Schedule

Events Schedule

Harvard has been closely monitoring the COVID-19 outbreak as well as guidance set forth by the CDC, and the University's recommendations have been evolving quickly as the situation unfolds. The Office of the President announced that our community will not host Commencement exercises in person this May. We recognize how disappointing this is - especially for our students and their family and friends. Understanding why we must move forward this way does not make it any less difficult, but the health and safety of our community is paramount.

If there are further updates to Commencement and related activities, the University will post updates here. Thank you for your patience and understanding during this time.

To stay up to date on Harvard's response to the outbreak, visit the University's COVID-19 website, which will be updated with information as it becomes available.

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

Tuesday 5/26/2020

11:00 AM	Phi Beta Kappa Literary Exercises, Memorial Hall
2:00 PM	Baccalaureate Service, Memorial Church (service for seniors only)
3:30 PM	College Class of 2020 Photo, Tercentenary Theatre
5:00 PM	College Class of 2020 Family Reception, Science Center Plaza

Wednesday 5/27/2020

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, Lehman Hall
5:00 PM	Faculty Deans’ Receptions, Undergraduate Houses
8:00 PM	Harvard University Band and Choruses Concert (open to all), Tercentenary Theatre

Thursday 5/28/2020

8:00 AM	College Senior Chapel, Memorial Church
8:00 AM	Formation of Advanced Degree Candidates, Sever Quadrangle
8:15 AM	College Senior Chapel ends, formation of Seniors begins, Old Yard
8:30 AM	Alumni Procession begins and President's Division begins processing through the open ranks of Seniors
8:35 AM	Procession of Advanced Degree Candidates begins
8:50 AM	Academic procession begins
9:25 AM	President's Division ends its procession into the Theatre
9:45 AM	The Commencement Morning Exercises begin 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 meeting is adjourned following the benediction. The University Band and University Choir perform throughout the Exercises.
11:30 AM	The Commencement Morning Exercises end
NOON	Luncheons and diploma-awarding ceremonies at the undergraduate Houses, Graduate, and Professional Schools; reunion and alumni luncheons at various locations
1:30 PM	Formation of the Alumni Procession in the Old Yard
1:45 PM	Alumni Procession begins
2:30 PM	The Annual Meeting of the Harvard Alumni Association in Tercentenary Theatre begins The Afternoon Program includes the Overseer and HAA director election results, the presentation of the Harvard Medals, and remarks by the Harvard President and the Commencement speaker.
4:15 PM	The Annual Meeting of the Harvard Alumni Association ends