Student Life Resources

Commencement 2025

Commencement 2025 was held on Wednesday, May 28 (Class Day) and Thursday, May 29 (Commencement Ceremonies). We took pride in celebrating our graduating students along with family and friends. Please find information about our Commencement celebrations and helpful logistics below.

Related Links

• Commencement Information Main Page
• Resources for New Graduates
• University-wide Commencement Site

Overview

Wednesday, May 28, Class Day:

• Class Photos and ceremony rehearsals (for graduates)
• GSD Awards Ceremony and Class Day Address
• Reception for GSD graduates and guests

Thursday, May 29, Commencement Day:

• Harvard Yard university-wide ceremony
• Lunch for GSD graduates and guests
• GSD Diploma Ceremony

Information for Guests

Guest tickets

Tickets are required for commencement ceremonies and must be reserved in advance. This process helps ensure that all graduates can include loved ones in celebrating their achievements. Information about ticket registration is shared with graduating students via the email newsletter, typically in late March or early April.

Events requiring tickets

Wednesday, May 28 (Class Day):

• GSD Awards Ceremony and Class Day Address
  • Each graduate is eligible to receive up to two guest tickets. Graduates themselves will be provided with a Graduate Credential for access to the ceremony and do not require a guest ticket.
  • Please note that, on Class Day, graduates sit with their families in the audience; as a result, ticket availability for this event is more limited than for the Diploma Ceremony.

Thursday, May 29 (Commencement Day):

• Morning Exercises in Harvard Yard
  • Each graduate is eligible to receive up to two guest tickets. Graduates themselves will be provided with a Graduate Credential for access to the ceremony and do not require a guest ticket.
• GSD Lunch – Advance registration is required.
• GSD Diploma Ceremony
  • Each graduate is eligible to receive up to three guest tickets. Graduates themselves will be provided with a Graduate Credential for access to the ceremony and do not require a guest ticket.

Additional ticketing options

• Standby Tickets

  • Standby Tickets will be available for GSD ceremonies to help accommodate additional guests. Guests with Standby Tickets will wait in a separate line until all guests with regular Guest Tickets have entered. While Standby Ticket holders are not guaranteed a seat or a spot under the tent, they are welcome to sit if seats remain available. Standby Tickets are offered only for the GSD Diploma Ceremony, as well as the GSD Awards Ceremony and Class Day Address.

• Wait List

  • We maintain waitlists for Class Day and Commencement Day ceremonies held on the GSD campus, which may provide an opportunity to upgrade a Standby Ticket to a full Guest Ticket. However, additional Guest Tickets cannot be guaranteed. Please note that waitlist tickets are rarely available for the University ceremony in Harvard Yard.

What is guaranteed with a ticket

• Harvard Yard University-wide ceremony:
  • A Guest Ticket guarantees entry to Harvard Yard but does not ensure a seat. Please note there are no tented guest seating or standing areas in Harvard Yard.
• GSD Class Day and Diploma ceremonies on Wednesday and Thursday afternoons:
  • A standard Guest Ticket guarantees a seat under the tent for guests who arrive before Standby Ticket holders are admitted.
  • A Standby Ticket does not guarantee seating or space under the tent.

Piper Auditorium webcast viewing

The GSD ceremonies on Class Day and Commencement, as well as the Harvard Yard ceremony on Commencement Day, will be live webcast and can be viewed from Piper Auditorium in Gund Hall. Guests should bring their ticket (either a standard Guest Ticket or a Standby Ticket) when attending the viewing in Piper Auditorium, as they may be asked to present it. A ticket for that day’s GSD ceremony will also serve as admission to Piper Auditorium.

Live webcasts and language options

Key events, including the GSD’s Diploma Ceremony, the GSD’s Awards Ceremony and Class Day Address, and the Harvard Yard university-wide ceremony, will also be available by live public webcast for anyone unable to attend in person.

The GSD’s webcasts will include live English captions. Simultaneous automated translated captions will be available on separate links in multiple languages. These can be viewed on cell phones by those attending in person, as well as being available for remote viewers of the livestreams. Languages typically include Chinese – Traditional, Chinese – Simplified, Hindi, Korean, and Spanish. With advanced notice, additional languages may be available on request.

Guest access to the Harvard wireless internet network can be accessed at the guest wifi information page.

Guest Policy and Guidelines

Policies for GSD ceremonies and events during Commencement Week:

• All guests are required to present a ticket for entry.
• For the safety and security of all attendees, all individuals and their belongings (including bags) are subject to inspection prior to entry at Commencement Week events. Please note: banners, posters, and luggage are not permitted.
• In compliance with Massachusetts state law, weapons of any kind are strictly prohibited.
• To ensure a safe and comfortable experience for all, aisles must remain clear at all times.
• Guests are welcome to take photographs from their seats, provided they do not obstruct the view of others. Professional photographers will capture each award recipient and graduating student as they cross the stage.

Harvard University policies for Morning Exercises in Harvard Yard can be viewed on the University’s Important Guest Information page. Choose the tab labeled Yard Policies.

Accessibility

The GSD’s Class Day and Commencement ceremonies will take place in the Gund Hall backyard (Gund Garden).

• Both ceremonies are held outdoors, primarily on grassy terrain, and will be covered by a tent.
• Guest seating is general admission, except for a designated section reserved for individuals with accessibility needs and their companions.
• Standard Guest Tickets guarantee a seat under the GSD tent. However, Standby Tickets do not guarantee seating or space under the tent.
• Ceremony speakers will address the audience from a podium using microphones.
• Live webcasts—including captioning and translation—will be available for viewing on personal devices.
• Restrooms are located inside Gund Hall prior to entry into the tented area. Portable restrooms, including a wheelchair-accessible unit, will be available within the ticketed tent area.  

Graduates may request modified arrangements for guests who are elderly, have disabilities, are attending with babies, or have other specific access needs to ensure full participation in the events. Guests with such needs should communicate them to their graduate, and we encourage graduates to request modified arrangements when registering for guest tickets.

The GSD Commencement team also coordinates accessibility arrangements for graduates or their guests attending the Harvard Yard ceremony on the morning of May 29.

With sufficient advance notice, the following accessibility options may be arranged for GSD events:

• Reserved accessible seating for graduates or guests
• Accessible parking
• American Sign Language interpreters
• Assisted Listening Devices (ALDs)
• Modified format programs (such as large print or pdf)
• Sighted guide or escort to reserved accessible seating

If you have any questions about accessibility or want to request specific arrangements, please reach out as early as possible so we can help ensure a smooth experience.

 

Service Animals

Whether you are a graduating student or a guest, service animals—as defined by the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)—are allowed at Commencement ceremonies. Pet dogs and all other animals are prohibited from University and GSD Commencement ceremonies. 

Lodging options

Hotels and bed-and-breakfasts in the Cambridge area typically fill up well in advance of Commencement. With many other colleges and universities in Greater Boston holding their own graduation ceremonies around the same time, finding accommodations can become increasingly difficult as the date approaches. To ensure the best options for guest lodging, we strongly recommend making reservations as early as possible. If you book early, try to choose accommodations with flexible cancellation policies whenever possible.

In addition to checking hotels in Harvard Square—which may already have limited availability or higher prices due to high demand—we encourage you to explore nearby areas. Hotels located along the MBTA public transit system greatly expand your options, making it easy to access Harvard from various neighborhoods in Boston and surrounding communities such as Somerville, Medford, Arlington, and Watertown. Harvard is easily reached via the MBTA Red Line and several major bus routes, as well as taxicab and ride-share services.

The University Commencement Office has compiled a list of nearby hotels to assist with your planning.

Information for Graduates

Detailed schedule

The anticipated detailed schedule for Class Day and Commencement is below. Please note that these specifics are subject to potential change.

Please note that many of these events are restricted to ticketed or pre-registered guests. Information about ticketing is at the top of this page.

Wednesday, May 28, Class Day:

• Class Photos and ceremony rehearsals (for graduates)
  • 9:00 am – 2:00 pm: Class photos and ceremony rehearsal for graduates
    • 9:00 am: MArch photo
    • 9:30 am: MLA photo
    • 10:00 am: MDes photos (all MDes, each domain)
    • 10:30 am: DDes photo
    • 11:00 am: MDE photo
    • 11:30 am – 1:00 pm: Ceremony rehearsal, ALL PROGRAMS
    • 1:00 pm: UPD photos (all UPD, MAUD/MLAUD, MUP, MRE)
• GSD Awards Ceremony and Class Day Address
  • 3:00 pm: Gund Hall back yard tent opens to guests with Guest Tickets
  • 3:25 pm: Gund Hall back yard opens to guests with Standby Tickets
  • 3:30 pm: GSD Awards Ceremony and Class Day Address; Gund Hall back yard tent
• Reception for graduates and guests
  • 5:00 pm: Reception for graduates and their guests; Gund Hall

Thursday, May 29, Commencement Day:

• Harvard Yard university-wide ceremony
  • 6:45 am: Harvard Yard gates open to ticketed guests
    • Guests are requested to be seated by 8:15 am
    • Guests should plan time to stand on line and to have all bags searched
    • Please review the Harvard University Important Guest Information page before heading to the Yard on Thursday morning
      • Check the Yard Policies tab to learn what bags and other items you can or cannot bring into the Yard
      • In accordance with Massachusetts state law, weapons are not permitted
      • All persons, bags, and personal items are subject to inspection before entering
    • Strollers are not allowed into Tercentenary Theatre proper but are allowed in video-screen viewing location in Old Yard
  • 7:30 am: Continental breakfast available at Gund Hall for GSD graduates and guests
  • 7:50 am: GSD Graduates receive Harvard Yard credentials and line up for procession to morning ceremony
  • 8:10 am: GSD Graduates process to Harvard Yard
  • 9:30 am: Commencement Morning Ceremony begins
  • Approximately 12:00 noon: Commencement Morning Ceremony ends
• Lunch for graduates and guests
  • Approximately 12:15 pm: Lunch is distributed to pre-registered graduates and guests; Gund Hall
• GSD Diploma Ceremony
  • 1:15 pm: Gund Hall back yard opens to guests with Guest Tickets
  • 1:45 pm: Gund Hall back yard opens to guests with Standby Tickets
  • 2:00 pm: GSD Diploma Ceremony; Gund Hall back yard tent
  • Approximately 3:30 pm: GSD Diploma Ceremony ends

Visa support letters for international guests

If your guest(s) require a visa support letter in order to travel to Cambridge to participate in Commencement, please use our visa support letter request form (HarvardKey login required). The GSD can provide an official letter to the US consulate in your guest’s home country, officially supporting the visa application.

You and your guests may want to review the Harvard International Office page on inviting guests to visit the US for additional information that may be helpful in preparing for the visa application. Your guests may also wish to check the relevant US consulate’s website and begin the process of requesting a visa appointment early, as some consulates have significant average wait times. If your guests are assigned an appointment that is too late for their Commencement travel timeline, they should keep that appointment in case any chance arises for them to move the appointment timing sooner.

Please note that a visa support letter from the GSD is not an official letter of invitation, and it does not guarantee a guest a ticket to attend any specific ceremonies or events. The GSD cannot provide formal graduation announcement letters or invitations.

Regalia

Harvard requires all graduates to wear official regalia (cap and gown) in order to participate in Commencement ceremonies.

Regalia Rental

Graduates may order rental regalia through the Harvard COOP and partner vendor Herff Jones. The firm deadline to order regalia for Harvard COOP pickup was Thursday, April 10. Graduates will be able to pick up their regalia from the Harvard Square Coop during regalia distribution in May.

If you are no longer graduating or attending Commencement this year, regalia order cancellations will receive a full refund up until the day before Commencement. Please order regalia if there is any chance at all that you will be participating in Commencement, and you can cancel the order later once you become certain you will not be attending.

For specific regalia rental questions please directly contact [email protected].

Regalia Accessories

Only regalia accessories provided by Harvard University such as pins, tassels, and cords are approved for use during Commencement Exercises. Graduates are not permitted to bring signs, flags, or other large items into Harvard Yard on Commencement Day. Please note that graduates wearing regalia accessories not issued by the University may be asked to remove them before participating in any official Commencement events.

Student Orations Competition

One of the oldest traditions of the Morning Exercises of Commencement is the Orations Competition in which three students chosen by a panel of judges deliver an address from memory. Each year, one of these three students is a representative of one of Harvard’s graduate and professional schools.

For 2025, an information session was held on March 3, with speech submission deadline of March 28. Graduating students interested in applying to deliver the graduate student address will find further information on the university Commencement website.

Public Health

Public Health

By registering to participate in Commencement, graduates and their guests agree to abide by all state, local, Harvard University, and Harvard GSD public health guidelines and protocols that may be in place at the time you come to campus, including those potentially related to COVID-19.

The University does not expect to implement any public health restrictions for Commencement 2025. Should any such policies become necessary, they will be communicated in advance to graduates.

Questions?

For further questions about Commencement, please contact [email protected].

Academic Coaching

Students work with an Academic Coach to develop executive functioning skills, adopting a growth mindset, achieving goals, managing academic anxiety, self-regulation, self-efficacy, time management, and organization. Additionally, Academic Coaches can support an individual to achieve balance in their lives.

Book an appointment

Explore This Page

• Introduction
• Focus Areas
• FAQs
• Resources
• Contact Us

Useful Links

• Student Affairs
• Frances Loeb Library Writing Services
• Counseling and Mental Health Services (CAMHS)

Introduction

Academic Coaching is not new but in recent years has become more specialized and widely used by universities, businesses and individuals to offer support improving skills and maximizing performance. Most coaches are trained educators who further their knowledge to understand how people learn and process information. This data is used to help a student become more efficient in their work, improve executive function skills, manage their academic anxiety, prioritize their work, and set realistic short and long-term goals. Academic Coaches continue to check in with the student for accountability and make sure they remain on track.

Meetings can be one-on-one and in small groups, either in person or via zoom. Students can schedule an appointment with Sara Morrison M.S., GSD Academic Coach, through her Bookings link.

Focus Areas

Academic Coaching FAQs

Resources

Have Questions?

If you need more information about academic coaching, contact us today!

Olivia Zimra-Turley

Sara Morrison

Contact Us

Student Life

Are you a student facing academic or personal difficulties and in need of support? Please contact [email protected].

Resources for New Graduates

Alumni Directory

Alumni are encouraged to register in the Harvard Alumni Directory to maintain their connections with classmates and professional contacts in the global network of alumni from all of Harvard’s schools.

Library

The Harvard Library alumni access page provides information on accessing all Harvard libraries, including the GSD’s Frances Loeb Library. There are many electronic library resources which alumni can access. The page also includes information on in-person access, including the option to apply for a Library Borrowing Card.

Health Insurance

Your Harvard University Student Health Program (HUSHP) coverage, including the Student Health Fee and Student Health Insurance Plan, cannot be extended after your last day of eligible coverage. It may take several weeks to complete the enrollment process for new coverage, so you will want to begin preparing for other coverage as soon as possible and make the choice that best meets your needs.

Your eligibility at Harvard University Health Services (HUHS) ends on your last day of Student Health Fee coverage.

Please see the HUSHP page for those leaving Harvard for more information , including specific dates your coverage expires based on your graduation date, and information on securing alternative coverage with a different provider.

Harvard Email

Your Microsoft 365 Account, which includes Outlook email, OneDrive file sharing, and Teams, will enter a grace period of one year, 365 days, from your last day as an active student. For May graduates, this is generally Commencement Day. November and March graduates, please note that your last day as an active student will be your last day as an actively enrolled student, generally the end of your final exam period (rather than the date your diploma is officially issued). If you are uncertain what date applies to you, please consult with the Registrar.

After your 365 day grace period, your accounts held while you were an active student will be permanently deactivated and deleted. We will not be able to reactivate or recover any data from these accounts once they are decommissioned.  Please use this grace period to transition from these platforms and update any contacts with your preferred contact information. We recommend setting an Away Message indicating that the GSD email address will be retired and supplying your new contact.

The Harvard Alumni Association offers an email forwarding service, allowing you to create an alumni email address that will be forwarded to your personal email account.

Systems & Software

Access to systems and applications that require VPN and HarvardKey verification, such as Adobe Creative Cloud and Zoom, end as soon as your active student status at Harvard has ended (see above section on Harvard Email for more information on the end of active student status).

If you need to transfer any assets or files from a Harvard Adobe account, please note that Adobe’s ‘Student Migration Tool’ is not compatible with Harvard Adobe accounts. Instead, you can refer to Adobe’s manual asset transfer guides . You should make these transfers before the end of your active student status.

Limited Canvas access will continue through HarvardKey, but graduates will only be able to view courses they were enrolled in as a student. You may want to ensure you have materials you may need from Canvas or my.Harvard in advance of graduating.

This guide on preparing to leave Harvard is helpful in checking which online systems you will have access to as an alum and when access ends for those that do not continue for alumni. The page also has some helpful tips for how to manage your Harvard accounts to best facilitate your transition from student to alum.

 

To learn more, see the GSD Alumni Resources page, and the Harvard Alumni Association website.

Title IX

What is Title IX?

Title IX is a federal civil rights law passed as part of the Education Amendments of 1972. This law protects people from discrimination based on sex in education programs or activities that receive Federal financial assistance. Title IX states that:

“No person in the United States shall, on the basis of sex, be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any education program or activity receiving Federal financial assistance.”

Title IX applies to any institution receiving federal financial assistance from the Department of Education, including state and local educational agencies. Educational programs and activities that receive federal funds from the Department of Education must operate in a nondiscriminatory manner. Also, a recipient may not retaliate against any person for opposing an unlawful educational practice or policy, or because a person made charges, testified or participated in any complaint action under Title IX.

You can find more information regarding Title IX at Harvard, including policies, procedures, and resources on the Office for Community Support, Non-Discrimination, Rights and Responsibilities (CSNDR) website . 

The University’s Anonymous Disclosure Form  provides an additional point of access for students, staff, and faculty.

Title IX Resource Coordinators

Title IX Resource Coordinators serve in a neutral role and support all members of the GSD community. Resource Coordinators have specialized experience in responding to disclosures of sexual and gender-based harassment in the Harvard community. They are also aware that your concerns may be of a sensitive nature and can offer supports to help you continue with your work or studies while maintaining appropriate discretion.

Contacting your Title IX Resource Coordinator is not the same as filing a formal complaint with the Office for Dispute Resolution. When you reach out to a Title IX  Resource Coordinator, you are free to share as much or as little information as you feel comfortable.

Title IX Resource Coordinators for GSD Students

Kelly Wisnaskas
Gund Hall 420
48 Quincy Street
Cambridge, MA 02138
[email protected]
(617) 496-8306

Olivia Zimra-Turley
Gund Hall 420
48 Quincy Street
Cambridge, MA 02138
[email protected]
(617) 495-1166

Title IX Resource Coordinators for GSD Staff

Sara Wilkinson
7 Sumner Road, Room 203
Cambridge, MA 02138
[email protected]
(617) 495-4322

Title IX Resource Coordinator for GSD Faculty

Pamela Baldwin
Gund Hall 414a
48 Quincy Street
Cambridge, MA 02138
[email protected]
(617) 495-5409

Caroline P. Newton
Gund Hall 414
48 Quincy Street
Cambridge, MA 02138
[email protected]
(617)-496-4871

Sexual Harassment/Assault Resources & Education (SHARE) Counselors

SHARE Counselors are a branch of the Office of Gender Equity who provide a range of confidential and privileged services to support individual and community healing from harm, as well as prevention education initiatives designed for Harvard students, faculty, staff, and post-doctoral students. Examples of confidential services provided by SHARE Counselors include:

• Crisis response and support to individuals impacted by harm, including interpersonal violence and abuse, including sexual harassment, sexual assault, dating violence, and stalking
• Short-term counseling
• 24-hour confidential hotline (617) 495-9100 (note: this line connects to BARCC during the summer)
• Psychoeducational support groups
• Restorative practices and education for individuals who have caused harm

To learn more about SHARE services or to book an appointment, you may contact SHARE at:

SHARE Counselors

Smith Campus Center, Suite 624
1350 Massachusetts Avenue
Cambridge, MA 02138
office phone: (617) 496-5636
24/7 confidential hotline: (617) 495-9100
email: Community [email protected]

web: csndr.harvard.edu/share

Counseling and Mental Health Services

Counseling and Mental Health Services (CAMHS) is a no-cost support service that works collaboratively across the University to support registered students who are experiencing some measure of distress in their lives.

For more information, please call (617) 495-2042, or (617) 495-5711 after hours.

Mirah Model