General Information

Guests with Disabilities

There is a reserved and accessible seating section available for individuals with disabilities in Tercentenary Theatre on Commencement Day.
Additional information can be found here.

Restrooms

Restrooms for the general public are located in the following buildings:

• Weld Hall
• Thayer Hall
• Sever Hall

These restrooms are wheelchair accessible.

First Aid Stations

First Aid stations on Commencement Day are situated in the following locations:

• Weld Hall - Room 11
• Thayer Hall - Room 106
• Sever Hall - Room 112

Water Stations

Water stations are located along the perimeter of Tercentenary Theatre and will be clearly marked. Their locations are:

• Widener Library steps
• Weld Hall - porch north
• Weld Hall - northeast entrance
• Thayer Hall - south steps
• Sever Hall - main entrance
• College Pump - near Hollis Hall

Parking and Shuttle Services

Parking at Harvard University during Commencement Week is extremely limited.  Please visit the transportation website for additional details.

Bus Service (Fully Accessible)

Download a Shuttle Bus Service Map (PDF)

Bus service will operate on Class Day from 8:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m., and Commencement Day from 6:30 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. Bus service will be on fixed routes for both days. Buses will operate approx. every 5 minutes from the Quad, down to the end of Garden Street (Harvard Square), around the rotary, and then back up Garden Street to the Quad.

• Designated Stops: Quad Area (Currier House), along Garden Street, Radcliffe Yard, and at the end of Garden Street (Harvard Square), back to the Quad Area.

Buses will operate approx. every 15 minutes from the Allston Campus: Soldiers Field Park Garage, down Western Avenue, onto North Harvard Street, into the Stadium Complex (Gate #8), over the Anderson Bridge, onto J.F.K. Street, into Harvard Square (CVS). After 3:00 p.m. buses will travel through the square, through the underpass and onto Quincy Street (Lamont Library Bus stop), down Bow Street to DeWolfe Street, onto Memorial Drive, over the Western Avenue Bridge and back to Soldiers Field Park.

• Designated Stops: Soldiers Field Park Garage, Along Western Avenue and North Harvard Street, Inside Stadium Complex (Gate 8), corner of J.F.K. & South Street, Harvard Square (Citizens Bank), Lamont Library (Quincy Street), along Bow & DeWolfe Streets.

Drivers will drop-off, and pick-up riders along the route whenever it is safe to do so.

The Transit Visualization System™ (ShuttleTracker) continuously displays the location of Harvard University shuttles and animates their motion against a detailed map of recognizable University buildings and landmarks.

• From your web browser: http://shuttle.harvard.edu
• Shuttle Tracker iPhone App available in the iTunes App Store

Daytime Van Service (Fully accessible)

Service will operate Monday through Saturday from 8:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m., and start at 6:00 a.m. on Commencement Day.

The Daytime Van Service is designed for persons who - because of mobility impairment or medical condition - find it extremely difficult or impossible to get around the University. Transportation is door to door within the Cambridge and Allston campuses. Rides in the van are by appointment only. All riders must be authorized in advance by University Disabilities Office, @ 617-495-1859.

Evening Van Service (Fully Accessible)

Service operates nightly between 7 p.m. to 3:00 a.m. with the last phone call at 2:30 a.m. The Evening Van Service is designed to provide safe transportation for Harvard Community members throughout the Cambridge and Allston campuses where our buses do not operate. Please visit here for more details. 

Motorist Assistance Program - M.A.P.

This service is available 24 hours a day, seven (7) days a week. Transportation Services provides free on-campus emergency road service for faculty, staff, students and visitors who need help charging a dead battery, changing a flat tire, or retrieving keys that have been locked inside a car. Please call 617-496-HELP (4357).

Fleet, Transit & Charter Operations Contacts for Commencement Week:

Transit Services Office
shuttle@harvard.edu
28 Travis Street
Allston, MA 02134

Fleet Management Services
617-495-5589

Public Transportation

Charter Requests:
Email: shuttle@harvard.edu

The Harvard Square stop on the MBTA's Red Line subway is directly across the street from Harvard Yard. The Harvard Commuter Choice Program website describes the various routes to Harvard Square using public transportation. Please note: Acrobat Reader is required to view and print this information.

Televised Viewing

The Commencement Morning Exercises are televised live for guests who are unable to attend these campus events.
The broadcast time is: 9:00 AM - Noon and can be seen on Comcast Cable (channel 283) in metro Boston.

Webcast Viewing

The live webcast may be viewed via computer or mobile device by visiting: www.harvard.edu

Radio Broadcast

The complete Thursday morning and afternoon exercises will be carried live on Harvard's radio station, WHRB (95.3 FM, streamed at www.whrb.org) beginning with coverage of the academic procession beginning a little before 9 am.

WHRB's Commencement broadcasts began over half a century ago, in 1957, adding in recent years the Phi Beta Kappa Literary Exercises and Baccalaureate service on Tuesday (11 am, c. 2 pm) and Class Day on Wednesday (2 pm). For more information on these broadcasts or WHRB, see their website, www.whrb.org, where there is a program guide and much more.

All degree candidates must wear academic regalia (caps and gowns) to the Commencement Morning Exercises. Regalia may be ordered through the Harvard Coop for distribution in May. Degree candidates will receive ordering instructions from their undergraduate House or Graduate/Professional School.

Ordering Regalia through the Harvard Coop: https://harvard.shopoakhalli.com/
Ordering Regalia through Balfour/University Cap and Gown