Class of 2025
We do not anticipate the class of 2025 to require a ticket to attend the commencement ceremony. Below is information to help you plan your visit including accessibility accommodations, hotel accommodations, religious offerings, dining hours, parking, and more. Because sustainability is a campus value, we encourage visitors to bring their reusable water bottle with them. There is chilled water available at the commencement venue to refill your bottles. Please contact us with any questions we may not have addressed here. Contact us by email at commencement@wellesley.edu or phone us at 781-283-2974.
Especially for guests
The Office of Parent & Family Programs often reserves a room block at a group rate for the families at several area hotels. Rooms are based on availability. Please make sure to request the Wellesley College commencement room block.
- To reserve the Residence Inn, Natick, MA, click on the hotel name or call +1 508-651-5250.
- To reserve the Verve, Natick, MA, click on the hotel name or call +1 508-653-8800.
- To reserve the Hampton Inn, Natick, MA, click on the hotel name or call +1 508-653-5000.
We will update this list as more locations become available.
Need disability-related accommodations? Students or guests needing disability accommodations during commencement should make accommodation requests using the Disability Accommodation Request Form.
Questions? Email accessibility@wellesley.edu or call 781-283-1300 or 781-283-2589.
Manual wheelchair for use during commencement-related events on Thursday and Friday
To rent a wheelchair privately at the rate of $25.00 for the week, you may contact Byrne Home Health Center in Natick by calling 508-655-3656. The college does not provide wheelchairs for guests. Please make sure you have a vehicle that can hold the equipment you need to rent.
Accessible seating because of a mobility, hearing, seeing, or health-related disability or impairment
There is limited seating capacity in the accessible areas of the ceremony site, as well as auxiliary viewing areas. Registering early will help us to plan for any accommodations. To provide adequate seating during the ceremony, we ask that only one guest accompany each guest with limited mobility.
Accessible seating with aisle space for a guest using a wheelchair
Please make a request to ensure enough maneuvering and aisle space.
Accessible drop-off area
There will be a drop-off area at commencement for guests with disabilities who request this and are being driven to the ceremony.
Accessible parking area
A designated parking area will be provided for guests who have mobility impairments and are driving themselves and make this request.
Transportation between parking area, ceremony, and reception with lift-equipped Van
We will be operating a sedan service with a ramp to those who request this. Additionally, there is a drop off area at Severance Green that provides a short distance to the ceremony site.
Interpreters, transliterators, and captioning for individuals who are deaf or hard of hearing
Our commencement ceremony is live captioned. Requests may be made for other accommodations using the form.
Alternative-format programs for individuals who are blind or have low vision
Requests may be made for audio, large print, or braille commencement programs: Please make your request for a large print or braille commencement program early to allow for production time.
Wellesley College is offering simultaneous translation for attending family or friends in three languages. While we are unable to provide translation in all languages, we will use data from the graduating class to determine the top three languages spoken. Students interested in reserving headphones for themselves or family members will have access to a sign up form in the spring. This will help us to anticipate and plan for student and family needs.
Family and friends watching the ceremony remotely will be able to access translation for those same languages. There will be a link to this service on the Wellesley Live page during the ceremony. We will also be translating the written program into these three languages. Printed copies will be available at the tables where headsets can be picked up on the morning of commencement, and will be posted to the Wellesley website.
Thursday, May 15, 2025
Seniors and their guests may now purchase tickets here for pre-baccalaureate luncheon at Bates Hall Culinary Center.
Friday, May 16 2025
Collins Cafe is open for coffee and refreshments.
The Emporium is open for coffee and refreshments.
Baccalaureate day
The Access Van will be available on both Friday and Saturday. Call for the Access Van for transportation: 617-581-4197 . There is no other transportation available on this day so please plan accordingly. If you are attending any activities on campus, please only park in public parking areas. The Davis Garage and the Science Center Meadow may be used for all activities. Founders Lot parking will open for the public after 3:00pm.
Commencement day
Parking attendants will guide families to several locations around campus. 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. A designated parking area will be provided for guests who require accessible parking and have the appropriate tag.
There is a drop off loop if you wish to let your guests off at the nearest location to the celebration site. Please view the commencement map on these webpages. You can then park your vehicle and meet back up with your guests.
Please take note of the lot you are parked in. It is easy to forget which location you are parked in as many of the spaces are in fields.
There will be transportation, both shuttle service and golf car service, from the parking areas to the ceremony and back to the parking areas.
View the commencement map and print a copy to note where you have parked.
Please take into consideration the ever-changing nature of New England weather. Our commencement ceremony is planned for outdoors under a large tent and will continue rain or shine. In the event of rain, please be prepared to wear appropriate shoes and clothing as you will still be walking outdoors to the ceremony site and many of our parking areas will be in our fields. We encourage bringing your own reusable water bottle to help reduce the use of single use plastic bottles. This is particularly helpful in the case of a very warm day. There will be water stations set up at the ceremony site for refilling your reusable water bottle.
Thank you for helping us with our sustainability efforts on campus.
- You may download the commencement program to your device as well download a mobile friendly list of names. Those will be available on the main website.
- We encourage the community and visitors to bring their own reusable water bottle to the venue. You may refill at our outdoor chilled water stations or inside many of our buildings on campus. We will not have single use plastic water bottles for sale.
- Please dispose of all trash and recyclables in the marked bins outside of the ceremony tent.
- Students wishing to pay their gowns forward may drop these items off at Billings in the labeled boxes or in the labeled boxes at their residence hall bell desks.
Commencement flowers will be set up near the commencement ceremony early in the morning to offer beautiful bouquets of flowers for sale. You may also pre-order flowers if you prefer. Order flowers in advance or at the kiosk located near the ceremony.
The Wellesley College Bookstore has wonderful gift ideas. The Bookstore hours for commencement will be posted in the spring.
Safety and security are paramount at commencement.
Our safety precautions are intended to ensure commencement and related events run smoothly. We appreciate your assistance as we work to ensure that commencement is a joyous occasion for all.
Large bags and prohibited items
Commencement attendees are respectfully discouraged from bringing large bags, luggage, backpacks, and other large containers to any commencement activities. Please know that all such bags and containers are subject to search. Attendees are also asked not to leave personal property unattended while attending commencement.
The following items are prohibited:
Noisemakers, bullhorns, megaphones, or other sound amplifiers
Large signs, banners, flags, posters, or other items that may unreasonably obstruct the view of any participant or guest
Any other item which could potentially compromise safety or disrupt College operations or activities
Attendees are also asked not to leave personal property unattended at any time. In the event unattended property is discovered, it may be inspected in place, removed, and searched for ownership information by College officials. To recover property, visit the Wellesley College Police Department in the Davis Parking Facility or call (781) 283-2121 (ext. 2121 on campus) to inquire about specific removed or recovered property.
Obtaining a travel visa for family members to visit from other countries? If you would like to invite your immediate family members to visit the United States for your graduation ceremony, they may need to apply for a B-1/B-2 tourist visa at the American Embassy in their home country. The Registrar's Office will assist you by providing the letter authenticating that your student is a graduate at the commencement ceremony. Students should visit Inviting Family Abroad to Attend Commencement and submit the Google form to the Registrar's Office to begin the process. Questions? Contact registrar@wellesley.edu.
Videography
Wellesley College videotapes the full commencement exercises and posts this video on YouTube for students and families to enjoy.
Photography
The respective companies will contact graduating seniors directly to offer these items for sale. You are not under any obligation to purchase the photos.
Panoramic photos of senior graduating class on Severance Hill
Panfoto order form for the class of 2025 (from orientation).
Individual photos of graduates receiving diplomas
A professional photographer is hired to capture photographs of each student during the conferring of degrees. These photographs will be available for students and their families to order.
GradImages is the official Photographer at commencement. If you are interested in purchasing photos, please contact the Customer Service Department at (800) 261-2576, online at www.gradimages.com, or email ecc.giservice@gradimages.net. They have a large team of customer care representatives ready to help graduates and family members with anything they may need.
Additional photo opportunities with your student during a traditional spring semester and ceremony
Wellesley College campus is alive with beautiful plantings and gorgeous outdoor settings. Throughout the commencement activities, there will be many opportunities to take photographs. Here are some of our favorite photo opportunities:
Senior week activities
Senior class photo
Procession to the chapel for baccalaureate
Pre-ceremony and post-ceremony
During the commencement ceremony we recommend that families stay at their seat and snap a photo of the jumbo screen showing their student processing and more fun candid shots that will appear on the viewing screens in all locations.
Traditionally, the post ceremony light lunch is a beautiful setting for gathering everyone together for celebratory photos.