Commencement FAQ

These graduates from 1911 may have had similar questions. Answers are up to date!

 

When and where will the Commencement ceremony be held?

Commencement will be held on Friday, May 31, 2013, outdoors on the Academic Quad. The ceremony will begin promptly at 10:30 am.  Guest seating will open at 8:00 am.

Are tickets required for Commencement? Is there a limit on the number of guests I can invite?

Commencement tickets are not required for the outdoor ceremony on the Academic Quad.  There will be adequate seating to accommodate your guests on the Academic Quad, or they may view the ceremony in air-conditioned venues on the college cable television network in Jewett Auditorium, Collins Cinema and Pendleton Hall.

Are umbrellas and raincoats permitted?

Students, faculty, staff, and guests may bring an umbrella and/or raincoats to Commencement. Please take into consideration the ever-changing nature of New England weather.

What about really severe weather?

The Extreme Weather Plan will only be used if conditions make it unsafe to hold Commencement outdoors on the Academic Quad. Rain alone does not constitute extreme weather. If the decision to declare and implement the Extreme Weather Plan and move the Commencement ceremony indoors is made, the College Marshal will post on "Official Announcements" via MyWellesley (on campus site for all students) by the end of the day on Wednesday, May 29.  You may also call the Commencement recorded line at 781.283.3950 or visit the Commencement home page. Accordingly, the venue for the Commencement ceremony at 10:30 am on Friday, May 31, will move to the Keohane Sports Center, with limited seating.

Every guest, regardless of age, must have an Extreme Weather ticket for admission to the Sports Center.  Graduates' Commencement packets contain four Extreme Weather guest tickets for the Sports Center.  Additional or replacement Extreme Weather tickets will not be available.  Guests are invited to view a live broadcast of the Commencement ceremony on large projection screens in the newly renovated, air-conditioned, and wheelchair accessible Diana Chapman Walsh Alumnae Hall Auditorium and Ballroom.  Tickets are not required and seating is on a first-come, first-served basis. Alumnae Hall is adjacent to the Sports Center, and the Lulu Chow Wang Campus Center, where a post-Commencement reception and light lunch will be held. Additional satellite viewing locations will be available in Jewett Auditorium, Collins Cinema, and Pendleton Hall.

Where do I park?

Commencement is held on the Academic Quad, in the vicinity of Jewett, Pendleton and Green Hall.  Parking for the general public is available at several locations around campus and will be marked.  Once you have arrived on campus via the Route 16 or Route 135 entrances and are on College Road, Parking Attendants will be available to help you find a parking space. There will be a designated parking area provided for guests who have mobility impairments and are driving themselves and have requested this in advance.  Please see information on Disability Services during Commencement.

How do I obtain information about disability services during graduation activities and Commencement 2013?

Students, faculty, staff, and guests requiring accommodations during graduation activities and Commencement should make requests as soon as possible and no later than Friday, May 3, 2013.  Please contact Jim Wice, director of Disability Services, at 781-283-2434 or by e-mail to jwice@wellesley.edu to request an access accommodation for you or a guest. Please feel free to call if you have questions about any other disability-related need.

An online map of campus shows ramps and accessible entrances (click on the wheelchair icon at upper right). You can also download a PDF of a Wellesley College map showing accessible entrance locations and the most level pathways across campus is located at.

Where do I purchase/reserve tickets for the Thursday, May 30 Picnic Lunch?

Reservations are required for the picnic lunch at Tower Courtyard overlooking Lake Waban.  There is no limit on the number of guest tickets.  Please remember to include your graduating senior in your ticket count when you place your order.  Tickets are $15.00 per person.  You may reserve/order your tickets by e-mailing wellesleyfresh@wellesley.edu or by calling 781-283-2297.  Payment can be made by credit card or check.  Reservations will not be accepted after Friday, May 24.  You may pick up your tickets at the Wellesley Fresh Offices in the Physical Plant, next door to the Lulu Chow Wang Campus Center between April 22-May 28.  If requested, we will send your tickets to your Wellesley College Unit mailbox address. 

Will there be food served after the Commencement ceremony?

Following Commencement, a complimentary light lunch/ reception will be held under the chapel lawn tent for the Class of 2013 families and guests.  No tickets are required in order to attend.

What if my family cannot travel to Wellesley College?

For family and friends who cannot travel to Wellesley, the ceremony will stream live online, viewable from any computer with Flash player (9 or higher) and a high-speed network connection, or an iPad.

How do I order my gowns and tams?

The Herff-Jones representatives will on campus at the Wang Campus Center, Room 415  for graduating seniors who need to *purchase gowns and tams.  Sale dates and times are:

Tuesday, May 7th, 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
Wednesday, May 29th, 8:30 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. (noon)
Friday,  May 31st (Commencement Morning),  8:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m.

*Please e-mail Mary Holliday at mhollida@wellesley.edu with any questions.

Do I need to attend the Commencement rehearsal and awards presentation on Wednesday, May 29?

All graduating seniors must attend the Commencement rehearsal and presentation of senior awards on the Academic Quad on Wednesday, May 29, beginning at 2:00 pm. Please do not invite guests.  Seniors must sit in their assigned seats.  Seat assignments will be posted on the Registrar's Office website by end of day on Tuesday, May 28.   Please look up your seat assignment before rehearsal. If you do not remember your seat assignment, go to the Registrar's table.  Attendance is required for the entire rehearsal. Requests for permission to be absent, for serious reasons only, should be submitted to your Senior Class Dean by Friday, May 24.  Reminder- Commencement attire is NOT worn at rehearsal.

How do I get my diploma?

Diplomas will be distributed immediately following the ceremony until 2:15pm in the Clapp Library, Main Reference Room.  Graduates only (no families) should come to pick up their diploma.  If you don't pick up your diploma on the day of Commencement, it will be mailed to you.

What if there is a Bursar's hold on my account?

You may be able to resolve the issue immediately.  Go to the Student Financial Services office on the first floor of Green Hall, and if you pay your outstanding charges, you can come back to the Clapp Library, Main Reference Room and get your diploma until 2:15pm. We encourage you to resolve any holds before Commencement day.

Where can I order Commencement announcements

You may purchase Commencement announcements through Jostens, an approved vendor, arranged by the College Bookstore. Please visit http://college.jostens.com/jostens/index.jsp

Can I purchase additional tickets for the Thursday, May 30, Baccalaureate Day service?

Each graduating senior will be issued one complimentary guest ticket provided in their Commencement packet for the Baccalaureate Day service at the Houghton Chapel on Thursday, May 30, at 2:00 pm, as seating is limited in the chapel.  No additional tickets may be purchased.  Only seniors and guests with a ticket will be seated inside the chapel. Additional seating will be available in the tent adjacent to the chapel with large projection screens in place for viewing the ceremony. Please note:  On Baccalaureate Day, if there are still seats available in the chapel, staff members will let guests seated under the tent know.  Additional guest seating will be available on a first-come basis.

What activities are occurring during Senior Week?

Senior Week is a week-long celebration held in the spring between the end of classes and before Commencement. For a listing of Senior Week events and/or if you have any questions, please contact the Class Council for the Class of 2013 at 2013-class-council@wellesley.edu.