Guidelines for Harvard’s 364th Commencement

March 26, 2015 2 min read

Ticket information and what to expect throughout the day

A special notice regarding Harvard’s 364th Commencement Exercises, which will be held May 28.

Morning Exercises

To accommodate the increasing number of people wishing to attend Harvard’s Commencement Exercises, the following guidelines are provided to facilitate admission into Tercentenary Theatre on Commencement morning:

Degree candidates will receive a limited number of tickets to Commencement. Their parents and guests need tickets, which must be shown at the gates in order to enter Tercentenary Theatre. Seating capacity is limited, however, there is standing room on the Widener Library steps and at the rear and sides of the Tercentenary Theatre for viewing the exercises.

Note: A ticket allows admission, but does not guarantee a seat. Seats are on a first-come, first-served basis and cannot be reserved. The sale of Commencement tickets is prohibited.

A very limited supply of alumni tickets is available, with one ticket per alumni and alumnae on a first-come, first-served basis through the Harvard Alumni Association (HAA). Alumni and alumnae and guests may view the Morning Exercises over large-screen televisions in the Science Center and at most of the undergraduate Houses and graduate and professional Schools. These locations provide ample seating, and tickets are not required.

Alumni and alumnae attending their College reunions (25th, 35th, and 50th) will receive tickets at their reunions.

Afternoon program

The Harvard Alumni Association’s Annual Meeting convenes in Tercentenary Theatre on the afternoon of Commencement. All alumni and alumnae, faculty, students, parents, and guests are invited to attend and hear Harvard’s president and the Commencement speaker deliver their addresses. The program also includes remarks from the HAA president, with results from the Overseer and HAA election, and the presentation of the Harvard Medals. Tickets for the afternoon ceremony will be available through the Harvard Alumni Association, or by calling 617.496.7001.

For more information, visit the Commencement Office website.