Celebration Dates and Descriptions

All dates and times are subject to change.

Thursday, April 25

Alumni Opportunities Fair
11:30 a.m. - 4 p.m.
Gutman Conference Center

Learn more about the many services, benefits, and programs available to you as an HGSE alum at the Alumni Opportunities Fair! Offices from across HGSE and Harvard will participate to share their resources with you. Refreshments will be served and music will be playing! We hope you will join us for this day of celebration, which is just one of many events for YOU, our soon-to-be graduates! Questions? Email alumserv@gse.harvard.edu.

Monday, May 20

Harvard University Affinity Celebration Honoring Graduates with Disabilities
9:00 -11:00 a.m.

Harvard University Affinity Celebration Honoring Indigenous Graduates
12:00 - 1:30 p.m.

Harvard University Affinity Celebration Honoring Asian, Asian-American, Pacific Islander, Desi-American Graduates
2:00 - 4:00 p.m.

Harvard University Affinity Celebration Honoring First Generation-Low Income Graduates
5:30 - 7:30 p.m.

Harvard University Affinity Celebration Honoring Jewish Graduates
7:30 - 9:30 p.m.

Tuesday, May 21

Harvard University Affinity Celebration Honoring Latinx Graduates
9:00 - 11:00 a.m.

Harvard Univeristy Affinity Celebration Honoring Veteran Graduates
11:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.

Luncheon for Graduating Part-Time Residential Students
11:30 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.
Gutman Conference Center, Event Spaces 4 and 5

Harvard University Lavender Celebration Honoring LGBTQIA+ Graduates
1:00 - 3:00 p.m.

Reception for Graduating HGSE International Students
3:00 - 5:00 p.m.
Gutman Conference Center

Harvard University Affinity Celebration Honoring Black Graduates
5:30 - 7:30 p.m.

Harvard University Affinity Celebration Honoring Arab Graduates
Date/Time TBD

Wednesday, May 22

HGSE Ph.D. Robing Ceremony
9:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.
Askwith Hall

This ceremony will feature faculty advisors providing remarks about each individual graduating student.

HGSE Graduating PhD Student Lunch
12:00 - 1:30 p.m.
Gutman Library, First Floor Reading Area

An opportunity for all graduating Ph.D. students to celebrate their accomplishments with friends and family.

Certificate of Advanced Study (CAS) Cording Ceremony
1:00 - 3:00 p.m.
Eliot Lyman Room, Longfellow Hall, 2nd Floor

An opportunity for all graduating Certificate of Advanced Study students to be individually recognized.

Dean Bridget Long welcomes all graduates and guests and introduces the afternoon's speakers. Remarks are provided by the HGSE Student Speaker, the HGSE Faculty Speaker, and the HGSE Guest Speaker. Recipients of the HGSE Intellectual Contribution Awards are recognized along with the Commencement Marshals, and the recipient of the Phyllis Strimling Award. The Morningstar Family Teaching Award will be presented. All HGSE graduates and invited guests are welcome to attend. (Tickets are not required for this event)

HGSE Block Party
5:00 - 7:00 p.m.
Appian Way

An HGSE community celebration featuring music, food, and more!  All HGSE graduates are welcome to invite family members and guests.

Thursday, May 23

University Morning Exercises
9:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. ET
Tercentenary Theater, Harvard Yard
*This is a ticketed event*

The deans of each school introduce their graduates as a class and President Garber confers degrees upon the class as a whole. *Please note: graduates will not be awarded their diplomas here. Exercises include the traditional commencement speeches and orations. Harvard University honorary degrees are awarded. This event will include remarks from the principal Commencement speaker.

HGSE Presentation of Diplomas and Certificates
1:00 - 3:30 p.m. ET
Radcliffe Yard
*This is a ticketed event*

HGSE diplomas and certificates are awarded to all graduates (both doctoral and masters) on stage in Radcliffe Yard. Dean Long will speak; graduates will be individually presented with degrees and will walk across the stage.