Harvard Commencement week 2012: events for Tuesday, May 22

Phi Beta Kappa exercises; Baccalaureate address

Wet chairs in Harvard Yard Tuesday morning. Rain is forecast for Tuesday, thunderstorms for Wednesday, and sun on Thursday.

Wet chairs in Harvard Yard Tuesday morning. Rain is forecast for Tuesday, thunderstorms for Wednesday, and sun on Thursday. | Harvard Magazine / MF

Events for Tuesday, May 22, include the Phi Beta Kappa Literary Exercises, with poet Kay Ryan and orator Derek Bok, and the Baccalaureate Service for the College class of 2012. For those not able to attend, both ceremonies will be broadcast live on WHRB.

The Phi Beta Kappa ceremony begins at 11 a.m. in Sanders Theatre. View a list of Phi Beta Kappa members of the Class of 2012 and earlier classes, dating back to the 1960s.

The Baccalaureate Service begins at 2 p.m. at Memorial Church; afterward, seniors will gather for their class picture on the Widener steps. The service will be broadcast live in Tercentenary Theatre; admission to the church is limited strictly to degree candidates. 

You might also like

Harvard will rename the building following a $100 million gift from Stuart Zimmer ’91.

Pritzker Hall, designed for collaboration, should be complete in 2027.

With a grade inflation vote and in the courts, the University argued that it’s taking steps to change.

Most popular

An animal’s journey from grief to love shows how much humans need each other, too.

Harvard's budget balances, benefits cuts divisive

A University financial surplus, but tensions over reductions in employee health benefits

Meet Harvard’s 2026 Student Commencement Speakers

Two undergraduates and a Ph.D. candidate will address the graduating class on May 28.

Explore More From Current Issue

Harvey Mansfield seated in a bright yellow chair, surrounded by bookshelves and cozy decor.

The retired government professor has been a rare conservative voice on campus for decades.

Label showing the anatomy of a worker bee, featuring a detailed illustration.

Science and art capture the microscopic natural world.

Aerial view of modern high-rise buildings surrounded by greenery and city skyline.

In a sea of red brick, the Science Center and Peabody Terrace make their mark.