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If I have questions about on-campus dining, where can I find more information? |
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What is Commencement? All University degrees are formally conferred during the Commencement ceremony on Old Campus. The name of every degree candidate has been submitted to the Yale Corporation earlier for approval; during the Old Campus ceremony, the Dean of Yale College and deans of the Graduate and professional schools formally present their approved candidates to the President. The President, in turn, confers the degrees and admits new graduates to all their degree’s “rights and responsibilities.” Student marshals from each residential college and school accept symbolic diplomas from the President on behalf of their colleagues. Candidates for honorary degrees are presented to the President by the Provost. By tradition, the identity of Yale honorands is kept a secret until the day of Commencement. Click here for information regarding Yale honorary degrees. |
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What is the date of Commencement?
Click
here for Yale
College calendars 2010 to 2013. |
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Where is Commencement held? Commencement takes place outdoors, regardless of weather, on Yale's historic Old Campus. Guests may enter Old Campus through gates on College Street and High Street. Gates on Elm Street and Chapel Street are closed to guests. |
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What time does Commencement start? End? Streets surrounding Old Campus are closed to traffic at 9:45 am, and students and faculty step off from Cross Campus promptly at 10 am. Seniors process through the New Haven Green and enter Old Campus through Phelps gate on College Street. Graduate and professional school degree candidates enter Old Campus through gates on Elm Street and High Street. The ceremony on Old Campus begins at 10:30 am and lasts until noon. Diploma ceremonies follow immediately in the residential colleges and the Graduate and professional schools and last until approximately 1:30 pm. See separate schedules for the Graduate School and professional schools. |
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Who participates? All degree candidates—undergraduates, as well as candidates from the Graduate School and the University's professional schools—participate in the ceremony on Old Campus on Monday. The ceremony is outdoors, rain or shine, in order to accommodate the more than 15,000 friends and family members who wish to attend. A more intimate atmosphere—under cover if the weather is bad—exists in the separate diploma ceremonies for each residential college, the Graduate School, and the professional schools. These ceremonies follow the Old Campus ceremony. |
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What is the difference between Commencement
and the diploma ceremonies? Degrees are conferred upon all candidates during the Commencement ceremony, but students do not receive individual diplomas. Instead, symbolic diplomas are presented to student marshals, who accept on behalf of fellow degree candidates. Individual diplomas are distributed at a separate ceremony in each residential college and professional school. Diplomas for the Graduate School are presented in Woolsey Hall and Luce Hall. Diploma ceremonies in some colleges and schools may last until 1:45 pm, so lunch could be later than usual for many guests. A packed snack might be prudent, especially for younger or older family members. |
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Suggested guest attire? It can be mild and sunny or cold and rainy in Connecticut in late May. Recent Commencement weekends have had both weather extremes, so flexibility and practicality are good planning principles. Dress with an eye for the weather and comfort. Low heels or flats are appropriate for navigating the grass and mulched pathways of Old Campus. Rain gear, including water-impervious footwear, is important. Sunglasses and hats may also be useful. Woolsey Hall, site of Baccalaureate services for undergraduates and the Graduate School's diploma ceremony, is not air-conditioned. Layers of clothing is a suggested strategy. |
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How many tickets will each student receive? No tickets are required for Commencement, Baccalaureate, or Class Day. |
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Who is the Commencement speaker? By tradition, Yale does not have a Commencement speaker, although an exception is made when a sitting president is awarded an honorary degree, as was the case in 2001. Class Day, which takes place the Sunday before Commencement, features a notable speaker chosen with suggestions from the senior class. Recent Class Day speakers have included Tony Blair, Fareed Zakaria, Anderson Cooper, Ken Burns, Tom Friedman, George Pataki, and Hillary Rodham Clinton. |
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What happens if it rains? Rain, unfortunately, is not an infrequent occurrence in Connecticut in May. Unless weather conditions are dangerous or severe, Commencement and Class Day will take place outside on Old Campus, although processions and programs may be shortened. Diploma ceremonies in some residential colleges and schools may be moved to alternative locations listed in the section "Rain"; other diploma ceremonies will take place under courtyard tents or in previously announced interior locations. Ponchos are the raingear of choice, both for unimpeded sightlines and for the comfort of guests who would otherwise be on the receiving end of umbrella runoff. The Commencement ceremony and Class Day exercises are carried live on Yale cable television, as well as the local Comcast channel. Many residential colleges and schools have arranged for their guests to watch the Old Campus ceremony in classrooms or common rooms. Guests are advised to check with the master's office in the residential colleges or dean's office in the professional schools for viewing locations. Battell Chapel is available for simulcast viewing of Class Day and Commencement ceremonies. Guests in wheelchairs and all accompanying family members may view Class Day and Commencement simulcasts in Linsly Chittenden Hall, 61 High Street. For additional information, contact Lauralee Field, 203 432-2317. |
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Should I reserve rooms from Friday, Saturday,
and Sunday or Saturday, Sunday, and Monday? Commencement events for seniors begin Saturday afternoon, with the first of three Baccalaureate services (click here for college assignments). This is followed by a reception for all seniors and their guests hosted by President and Mrs. Levin. Sunday's events include back-to-back Baccalaureate services in the morning, Class Day in the afternoon, and the Commencement Ball Sunday evening. Monday's ceremonies end at approximately 1:30 pm, although seniors are permitted to stay in their rooms until noon Tuesday. Guests reserving rooms in dormitories on campus may stay Saturday, Sunday, and Monday evenings. |
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Where may I park? University lots will be open to the public from 4:00 pm Friday through Monday (Memorial Day). Satellite parking with wheelchair-accessible shuttle service to Old Campus will be available on Monday beginning at 7:30 am from the parking garage behind Ingalls Rink hockey arena, 200 Prospect Street. Please note that, while this parking lot will be open to the public during Commencement weekend, shuttle service will be offered on Monday only. Cars with handicapped tags or license plates will be accommodated throughout Commencement weekend in Yale Lot 51, located behind the Yale Visitor Center. For directions to Lot 51, click here. |
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What happens at Baccalaureate? This repeated service, at 2:30 pm Saturday and at 9:30 and 11:00 am Sunday, features an address by President Levin and remarks by the Dean of Yale College. Seniors and their guests are assigned to one of three services (see below), depending on residential college affiliation. Students wear academic regalia and process from Cross Campus to Woolsey Hall, which is located on the corner of Grove and College Streets. The wheelchair-accessible entrance to Woolsey Hall is via Wall Street and Beinecke Plaza. Following are Baccalaureate assignments for 2010: 2:30 pm Saturday, May 22, 2010 Timothy Dwight, Morse, Pierson, Saybrook 9:30 am Sunday, May 23, 2009 Berkeley, Calhoun, Davenport, Ezra Stiles 11 am Sunday, May 23, 2010 Branford, Jonathan Edwards, Silliman, Trumbull |
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What is Class Day? Class Day, which takes place on Old Campus on Sunday at 2 pm, includes the awarding of academic, artistic, and athletic prizes; the celebration of undergraduate traditions; and an address by a notable speaker. Seniors wear academic gowns with headgear of choice and process from Cross Campus to Old Campus. |
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Who attends the Commencement Ball? This traditional event, sponsored by the senior class, is enjoyed by family members and students alike. Cocktail or business attire is suggested. Although "Ball" is in its title, this is really more of a dance, with a live band combo, beverages, and hors d'oeuvres. |
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How do I obtain tickets for the Commencement
Ball, Whiffenpoof-Whim'n Rhythm concert, Glee Club concert, Dramat? Parents of seniors are mailed ticket information for the Ball, as well as for Commencement meals and performances by the Glee Club, the Yale Dramatic Association, and the Whiffenpoofs-Whim 'n Rhythm, in early March. Check the Yale College schedule for ordering details. |
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If I have questions about on-campus dining, where can I find more information? Yale Dining will offer brunch in Commons on Sunday and lunch in residential colleges following diploma ceremonies. Menus and ordering information will be sent to parents of seniors in March and may be found at website www.yale.edu/dining in February, 203 432-0420. Click here for answers to frequently asked questions. |
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If I have a question regarding my diploma,
whom should I contact? Click on the following link for information about diplomas and translations: http://www.yale.edu/secretary/programs/diplomas.html. You may also email Barbara Mongillo or call 203 436-9059.. |
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Whom may I contact for additional Commencement
information? Email Assistant Secretary Lauralee Field or call 203 432-2317. |
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