2012 Commencement

May 19-20, 2012

Commencement News

See all commencement news stories...

Commencement Schedules and Forms

• 2011 Weekend Schedule (revised 05/10/11)
• 2011 Special Requests for Tickets/Seating
  *We are leaving these as a reference to activities
    held on Commencement weekend.

Frequently Asked Questions

• Frequently Asked Questions About Commencement Week

Baccalaureate

Saturday, May 19, 2012, 9:00 pm
Abbey Chapel

Seniors will need to line up in cap and gown (no hood) on the driveway outside of Mary Lyon Hall (in front of Porter Hall). In case of rain, seniors will line up on the ground floor of Mary Lyon Hall. Faculty do not process at this ceremony. The Baccalaureate speakers this year will be announced prior to ceremony. Each senior will receive two tickets for Baccalaureate. The purpose of these tickets is to assure that only seniors' guests are offered access to the chapel, but there is really not enough space for everyone's two guests. Please explain to your guests in advance that holding a ticket does not guarantee chapel seating. Chapel seating is on a first-come, first-seated basis. The ceremony is also telecast in Hooker Auditorium. No tickets are needed at this location.

Commencement

Sunday, May 20, 2012, 10:30 am
Richard Glenn Gettell Amphitheater
Rain Site: Kendall Field House

Members of the senior class, graduate students, and certificate candidates should line up in Howard Gymnasium in Kendall (basketball gymnasium) at 9:30 am. Seating for guests will begin at 9:00 am. The faculty will need to line up at 10:00 am along the walkway outside of Hooker Auditorium. Also at 10:00 am, the president, honorary degree recipients, escorts, trustees, chaplains, and other members of the platform party should come to Eliot House for robing and line up for the procession. The procession will begin promptly at 10:00 am.

The decision to move to the rain plan will be made by 8:00 am. Please call the College Operator or extension 2330 to learn if the rain plan will be used. In this case, seniors should line up at 9:30 am in Howard Gymnasium in Kendall (basketball gymnasium). Seating for guests will begin at 9:00 am. Faculty should line up at 10:00 am in the hallway outside of the dance studios. Also at 10:00 am, robing and line-up for the president, honorary degree recipients, escorts, trustees, chaplains, and other members of the platform party will take place. The procession would then begin promptly at 10:00 am. If the rain plan is used, the faculty do not sit on stage as they would in the amphitheater, but rather in the front sections of the two far sides of the Field House seating.

Ticket Information for Graduating Seniors

Each senior attending graduation is allotted tickets for four (4) contiguous reserved seats for Commencement and two (2) unreserved seats for Baccalaureate. Envelopes containing all tickets will be distributed by a committee of juniors during Commencement Week. To ensure fairness to all in location of seats, you will get your tickets by draw.

Commencement/Baccalaureate Ticket Pickup Hours

Pick up tickets at Blanchard Campus Center:

Day	Date	Time
Thursday	May 17	3:00–4:30 pm
Friday	May 18	1:00–2:30 pm 4:00–5:00 pm
Saturday	May 19	1:00–3:00 pm

Meal Ticket Pickup Hours

Pick up tickets at Blanchard Campus Center:

Day	Date	Time
Thursday	May 17	3:30 pm–5:00 pm
Friday	May 18	1:00 pm–2:30 pm
Saturday	May 19	10:00 am–3:00 pm

These are the only times for ticket distribution. You will need your Mount Holyoke picture ID to pick up your tickets. Seniors are only allowed to pick up their own tickets. Students who have requested handicapped or specially arranged seating will receive their tickets in envelopes with their names on them; all others will draw random envelopes with sets of tickets. Each envelope will contain four Commencement tickets and two Baccalaureate tickets.

If you have any questions about Commencement Weekend, please contact Penny Lebel at 413-538-2663.