Commencement Information for the College Class of 2014
Events involving family members of the College Class of 2014 graduates begin on Tuesday, May 27. You should plan to participate in all the activities and be in Cambridge from May 27–29, 2014, with Thursday, May 29 (Commencement) being the most important day to attend.
GRADUATION WEEK SCHEDULE FOR STUDENTS AND FAMILY/GUESTS
Tuesday, May 27
11:00 AM
Phi Beta Kappa Literary Exercises
Sanders Theatre
2:00 PM
Baccalaureate Service
Memorial Church (service for students only)
Tercentenary Theatre (audio for families and guests)
6:00 PM
Class of 2014 Family Dinner and Party
Soldiers Field Athletic Area
Wednesday, May 28
11:30 AM
ROTC Commissioning Ceremony
Tercentenary Theatre
12:00 PM
Class Day Picnic
Old Yard
2:00 PM
Class Day Exercises
Tercentenary Theatre, with featured Class Day Speaker
5:00 PM
The Masters’ Receptions
Undergraduate Houses
8:00 PM
Band, Choral, and Glee Club Concert
Tercentenary Theatre
Thursday, May 29
9:45 AM
363rd Commencement: The Morning Exercises
Tercentenary Theatre
12:00 PM
Luncheon and Diploma Presentation
Undergraduate Houses
2:30 PM
Annual Meeting of the Harvard Alumni Association: The
Afternoon Program
Tercentenary Theatre, with featured Commencement Speaker
Tuesday, May 27
11:00 AM
Phi Beta Kappa Literary Exercises
Sanders Theatre
Sanders Theatre
2:00 PM
Baccalaureate Service
Memorial Church (service for students only)
Tercentenary Theatre (audio for families and guests)
Memorial Church (service for students only)
Tercentenary Theatre (audio for families and guests)
6:00 PM
Class of 2014 Family Dinner and Party
Soldiers Field Athletic Area
Soldiers Field Athletic Area
Wednesday, May 28
11:30 AM
ROTC Commissioning Ceremony
Tercentenary Theatre
Tercentenary Theatre
12:00 PM
Class Day Picnic
Old Yard
Old Yard
2:00 PM
Class Day Exercises
Tercentenary Theatre, with featured Class Day Speaker
Tercentenary Theatre, with featured Class Day Speaker
5:00 PM
The Masters’ Receptions
Undergraduate Houses
Undergraduate Houses
8:00 PM
Band, Choral, and Glee Club Concert
Tercentenary Theatre
Tercentenary Theatre
Thursday, May 29
9:45 AM
363rd Commencement: The Morning Exercises
Tercentenary Theatre
Tercentenary Theatre
12:00 PM
Luncheon and Diploma Presentation
Undergraduate Houses
Undergraduate Houses
2:30 PM
Annual Meeting of the Harvard Alumni Association: The
Afternoon Program
Tercentenary Theatre, with featured Commencement Speaker
Tercentenary Theatre, with featured Commencement Speaker
Ticket Information
Senior Desk: Beginning Tuesday, May 6, 2014 between the hours of 11:00 AM and 3:00 PM, Monday through Friday, seniors are invited to come to the Senior Desk at the Harvard Alumni Association Office, on the 6th floor at 124 Mount Auburn Street in Cambridge, to pick up all of the tickets to which they are entitled and to purchase additional tickets. This is the only way for students to pick up all tickets.
When students arrive at the Senior Desk, they can purchase additional tickets with cash, check, or credit card and/or pick up tickets that their parents have requested and purchased in advance.
Advanced ticket purchasing for parents and guests can be done securely online beginning April 1, 2014 and until May 2, 2014. Additional ticket purchases starting May 6 (and until May 28) must be done by students at the Senior Desk.
TICKET SUMMARY
Time/Event
|
Total
Tickets Given
|
Senior
Ticket
|
Additional
Tickets
|
Tuesday, May 27
|
|||
Phi Beta Kappa
|
Not Required
|
Not Required
|
Not Required
|
Baccalaureate
|
Not Required
|
Not Required
|
Not Required
|
Class Picture
|
Not Required
|
Not Required
|
Not Required
|
1 (incl. senior
ticket)
|
Required
|
$20 Each
|
|
Wednesday, May 28
|
|||
ROTC Commissioning
Ceremony
|
Not Required
|
Not Required
|
Not Required
|
3 (incl. senior
ticket)
|
Required
|
$10 Each
|
|
5 (incl. senior
ticket)
|
Required
|
Check at Senior Desk
|
|
House Masters'
Receptions
|
Not Required
|
Not Required
|
Not Required
|
Band & Glee Club
Concert
|
Not Required
|
Not Required
|
Not Required
|
Thursday, May 29
|
|||
4
|
Regalia/ID is ticket
|
No (limited space)
|
|
3 (incl. senior
ticket)
|
Required
|
~$15 Each
|
|
Not Required
|
Not Required
|
Not Required
|
|
5 (incl. senior
ticket)
|
Required
|
Check at Senior Desk
|
|
TICKETED EVENTS
Senior Class Family Dinner & PartyTuesday, May 27 at 6:00 PM
Enjoy dinner and drinks with your senior, as well as other families and guests. Tickets are complimentary for the graduating senior and $20 per each additional person (children under 5 are free). All additional reservations must be made in advance, either online or at the Senior Desk. Seniors are encouraged to check with their parents first before purchasing tickets on campus. If parents have ordered tickets online, seniors may pick them up at the Senior Desk.
Enjoy dinner and drinks with your senior, as well as other families and guests. Tickets are complimentary for the graduating senior and $20 per each additional person (children under 5 are free). All additional reservations must be made in advance, either online or at the Senior Desk. Seniors are encouraged to check with their parents first before purchasing tickets on campus. If parents have ordered tickets online, seniors may pick them up at the Senior Desk.
Class Day Picnic Wednesday, May 28 at 12:00 PM
Enjoy a casual lunch in the Old Yard before the start of the Class Day Exercises. Tickets are complimentary for the graduating senior and two guests, and tickets are $10 per each additional person. All additional reservations must be made in advance, either online or at the Senior Desk. Seniors are encouraged to check with their parents first before purchasing tickets on campus. If parents have ordered tickets online, seniors may pick them up at the Senior Desk.
Enjoy a casual lunch in the Old Yard before the start of the Class Day Exercises. Tickets are complimentary for the graduating senior and two guests, and tickets are $10 per each additional person. All additional reservations must be made in advance, either online or at the Senior Desk. Seniors are encouraged to check with their parents first before purchasing tickets on campus. If parents have ordered tickets online, seniors may pick them up at the Senior Desk.
Class Day Exercises
Wednesday, May 28 at 2:00 PM
For seniors and guests, featuring the presentation of the Ames Awards, the Harvard and Ivy Orations, and the Class Ode, sung to the tune of "Fair Harvard." A remarkable display of eloquence and entertainment by fellow classmates, complemented by the 2014 Class Day speaker. Each senior is entitled to five complimentary tickets. Graduating seniors will require one of these tickets for entry. Additional tickets may also be available at the Senior Desk.
Wednesday, May 28 at 2:00 PM
For seniors and guests, featuring the presentation of the Ames Awards, the Harvard and Ivy Orations, and the Class Ode, sung to the tune of "Fair Harvard." A remarkable display of eloquence and entertainment by fellow classmates, complemented by the 2014 Class Day speaker. Each senior is entitled to five complimentary tickets. Graduating seniors will require one of these tickets for entry. Additional tickets may also be available at the Senior Desk.
Commencement—The Morning Exercises
Thursday, May 29 at 9:45 AM (gates open at 6:45 AM)For the Morning Exercises, seniors in academic regalia (cap and gown) do not need tickets for the Commencement Morning Exercises in Tercentenary Theatre (security lanyards and regalia are required for entry). Family members and guests will require tickets for the Commencement Morning Exercises. The Commencement Morning Exercises are extremely crowded (over 32,000 people attend) and, consequently, tickets are limited to a maximum of four per graduating senior (no exceptions). Please note that a ticket does not guarantee a seat. The sale of Commencement tickets is also strictly prohibited. For more information about the schedule for the Morning Exercises please visit the University Commencement website. To learn more about the history of the Spirit & Spectacle of Harvard Commencement, please visitthis page.
Thursday, May 29 at 9:45 AM (gates open at 6:45 AM)For the Morning Exercises, seniors in academic regalia (cap and gown) do not need tickets for the Commencement Morning Exercises in Tercentenary Theatre (security lanyards and regalia are required for entry). Family members and guests will require tickets for the Commencement Morning Exercises. The Commencement Morning Exercises are extremely crowded (over 32,000 people attend) and, consequently, tickets are limited to a maximum of four per graduating senior (no exceptions). Please note that a ticket does not guarantee a seat. The sale of Commencement tickets is also strictly prohibited. For more information about the schedule for the Morning Exercises please visit the University Commencement website. To learn more about the history of the Spirit & Spectacle of Harvard Commencement, please visitthis page.
Commencement—Luncheon and Diploma Presentation
Thursday, May 29 at 12:00 PM
Between the Commencement Morning Exercises and Afternoon Program, in each House, there is a diploma presentation ceremony and luncheon. This is the ceremony where the graduate actually receives his/her diploma. Tickets are not required for the ceremony but are required for the luncheon. Tickets are complimentary for the graduating senior and two guests. Additional guest tickets can be purchasedbeginning in May of 2014 or during the lunch from the checker for ~$15 each (cash only on the day of Commencement). For all information about the luncheon and tickets, please contact your senior’s House Office. Contact information for each House can be found here.
Thursday, May 29 at 12:00 PM
Between the Commencement Morning Exercises and Afternoon Program, in each House, there is a diploma presentation ceremony and luncheon. This is the ceremony where the graduate actually receives his/her diploma. Tickets are not required for the ceremony but are required for the luncheon. Tickets are complimentary for the graduating senior and two guests. Additional guest tickets can be purchasedbeginning in May of 2014 or during the lunch from the checker for ~$15 each (cash only on the day of Commencement). For all information about the luncheon and tickets, please contact your senior’s House Office. Contact information for each House can be found here.
Commencement—The Afternoon ProgramThursday, May 29 at 2:30 PM
Students will receive five Afternoon Program tickets (one for the graduate and four for guests), where addresses by the Harvard President and the Commencement Speaker are scheduled. Additional Afternoon Program tickets may become available at the Senior Desk. For more information about the schedule for the Afternoon Program please visit the University Commencement website or the Harvard Alumni Association's Annual Meeting website.
Students will receive five Afternoon Program tickets (one for the graduate and four for guests), where addresses by the Harvard President and the Commencement Speaker are scheduled. Additional Afternoon Program tickets may become available at the Senior Desk. For more information about the schedule for the Afternoon Program please visit the University Commencement website or the Harvard Alumni Association's Annual Meeting website.
Frequently Asked Questions: Questions about Commencement Week
1. Where can I purchase graduation announcements?
2. How can I obtain academic regalia (cap and gown)?
3. How can I purchase Class of 2014 merchandise?
4. When must seniors vacate their rooms?
5. Are recordings of the Commencement Week activities available for purchase?
6. Are there special arrangements for persons with disabilities?
7. Is there parking available during Commencement Week?.
8. How do I purchase a copy of the Harvard College Yearbook?
9. How do I get added to the Social Senior Class List to receive information about Senior Events?
10. How can I find out if I am officially considered a senior?
9. How do I get added to the Social Senior Class List to receive information about Senior Events?
10. How can I find out if I am officially considered a senior?
