Guidelines for Harvard Commencement Day

An update from the Commencement Office

Thursday, May 29, 2014

Morning Exercises

Degree candidates will receive a set number of tickets. Parents and guests must have tickets to enter Tercentenary Theatre. Seating is limited, not guaranteed, and cannot be reserved; there is standing room on the Widener steps and at the rear and sides of the Theatre. The sale of Commencement tickets is prohibited. For details, visit https://commencement.harvard.edu.

  • A limited supply of tickets will be made available to all other alumni/ae on a first-come, first-served basis through the Harvard Alumni Association (HAA) at https://alumni.harvard.edu/annualmeeting.
  • Alumni/ae and guests are urged to view the Morning Exercises on large-screen televisions in the Science Center and at most of the undergraduate Houses and professional schools. These locations have ample seating, and tickets are not required.
  • Alumni/ae attending their College reunions (25th, 35th, 50th) will receive tickets at their reunions. Alumni/ae in classes beyond the 50th may obtain tickets from the HAA by calling 617-496-7001, or through the annual Tree Spread mailing sent out in March (RSVP by April 15).

Afternoon Program

The HAA’s Annual Meeting, which includes remarks by the president of the HAA, Overseer and HAA election results, the presentation of the Harvard Medals, and remarks by President Drew Gilpin Faust and the Commencement speaker, convenes in Tercentenary Theatre on Commencement afternoon at 2:30 p.m. For tickets (which are required, but free), visit https://alumni.harvard.edu/annualmeeting, or call 617-496-7001.

~The Commencement Office

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