Commencement 2009 Schedule
General Commencement Information
Guest Tickets to Morning Ceremony in Harvard Yard
Degree candidates will receive two tickets to the morning Commencement exercises in Harvard Yard. Parents and guests of degree candidates must have tickets, which they will be required to show at the gates in order to enter Tercentenary Theatre.
NOTE: A ticket allows admission into Tercentenary Theatre, but does not guarantee a seat. The sale of Commencement tickets is prohibited.
For more information regarding tickets for the 2009 University Commencement Morning Exercises, please visit the Harvard University Commencement Office.
Click here for the 2009 Ticket Request Form
Guests with Disabilities
Students who need to make special arrangements for guests with disabilities, please contact the University Disability Coordinator Marie Trotter. Please note, the deadline to make arrangements is FRIDAY, MAY 15TH, 2009.
Parking
Parking at Harvard University during Commencement Week is extremely limited. Please view updated information regarding Commencement Parking on the Commencement site.
Televised and Webcast Viewing
Services will be provided for both televised and webcast viewing of the Commencement Morning Exercises and the afternoon Annual Meeting of the Harvard Alumni Association for those guests who are unable to attend the events. For more info, visit the Commencement website. To purchase video of the morning Commencement exercises and the HAA meeting where the Commencement speaker will be feature, a link to the order form will be available at a later date. The Commencement morning exercise and the Harvard Alumni Assocation meeting will be broadcast in Piper auditorium.
For those who may be unable to attend any of the ceremonies in person, please note the following:
Harvard University events will be Webcast at http://livevideo.harvard.edu
GSD Commencement events, from inside Gund Hall, will be webcast at http://www.gsd.harvard.edu/events/webcasts/
Commencement Schedule
(updated May 27, 2009)
TUESDAY, JUNE 2ND
Graduation BBQ
To formally welcome you to the GSD Alumni Association, the office of Development and Alumni Relations invites you to a BBQ @ 4pm in the Portico rooms featuring Redbones and ICE CREAM! Remember, its all about YOU!
WEDNESDAY, JUNE 3RD
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Class Photos
Class graduation photographs will be held in Piper followed by a rehearsal of the GSD ceremony in the studio trays. Schedule as follows:
| 1:15 pm | Architecture |
| 2:00 pm | Landscape Architecture |
| 2:30 pm | Urban Planning and Design |
| 3:00 pm | Master in Design Studies/Doctor of Design |
Class Day Speaker
John Peterson, Founder of Public Architecture (www.publicarchitecture.org), 4:00 pm - 5:00 pm in Piper Auditorium
Reception honoring the Class of 2009
Gund Hall Porticos, porch and lobby. Graduating students, their families and friends, facutly and staff, alumni and guests are invited. Dress: Business Casual, 5:00 pm - 6:30 pm
THURSDAY, JUNE 4TH
For a detailed schedule of Class Day and Commencement Day, please click here.
GENERAL INFORMATION
All graduating students are strongly encouraged to complete the annual GSD Graduating Student Survey. Career Services gathers this data to assist fellow students and alumni. Your individual information is confidential. Salary data is always reported in aggregate form to protect student privacy. Please take a few moments and complete the survey by clicking on the image below.
Almost there! Congratulations!
We will update this site as time goes on, so please keep checking it. Please note that, if you do not have a cap and gown, you will not be able to participate in Commencement ceremonies.
2009 Graduation Information
Regalia: To receive your regalia in time for Commencement, place your order at the Harvard COOP, 3rd floor. Please see flyer.
Graduation Dates: There are three graduation dates each academic year where degrees are voted on that all schools within the University observe: November, March and June. That is the date that will appear on your diploma. Students who finish up over the summer do not register in the fall and have their degrees voted on in November; students who finish up during the fall semester have their degrees voted on in March; and, those who finish their studies in June are June degree candidates. Students who have had their degrees voted on during one of those times are eligible to participate in Commencement in June.
Meeting Degree Requirements: Degrees will not be voted on unless students have completed all of their academic requirements and owe the University less than $500. If their term bills exceed $500 their degrees are withheld and are voted on retroactively once their balance is clear. In other words, they will not be allowed to participate in Commencement. Questions about meeting degree requirements should be directed to your academic progr am director or coordinator; and questions about your term bill should be directed to the Registrar's Office in the Office of Student Services, Gund 422. Finally, be sure to return all of your library books and pay any overdue fines.
Health Insurance: If your graduation date is June, your health insurance will remain in effect until July 31st. If your graduation date is November or March, your insurance will extend until the end of January.
Application for Degree: At some point prior to completion of your studies, the Registrar's office will distribute an Application for Degree form. It is extremely important that you fill it out carefully because that is how we will know how to print your n ame on your diploma.
Invitation Letters: For international students who would like to invite relatives, extended family and friends to visit the US for the graduation exercises, they will most likely need to apply for a Visitor's Visa. The Graduate School of Design will provide a Commencement invitation. Please email the Commencement Coordinator, Carlos Reyes, with the following information:
- First Name, Last Name
- Home address of the invited guests (and their relation to the student)
- Program currently enrolled
A notification via email will be sent when the letter is ready.