The following message was sent to the families and guests of the Yale College Class of 2023 on Tuesday, April 11, 2023.
Dear Families and Guests of the Class of 2023,
We are less than 50 days away from Commencement! Here are some important reminders and updates to help you plan your weekend.
Commencement weekend includes three days of special events, including concerts, receptions, and shows. A schedule can be found on the Commencement website. We will continue to update the schedule and the website as events are confirmed, and we encourage you to use the site as your most up-to-date source for information.
The main events are:
Sunday, May 21
- 10:00 a.m. Baccalaureate ceremony on Old Campus
- 2:00 p.m. Class Day on Old Campus
Monday, May 22
- 10:30 a.m. (gates open at 8:00 a.m.) University Commencement on Old Campus
- 12:00 p.m. (approximately) Diploma ceremonies in residential colleges
The Baccalaureate ceremony, featuring an address by President Peter Salovey and remarks by Yale College Dean Pericles Lewis, takes place on Old Campus on Sunday, May 21, at 10:00 a.m. No tickets are required.
Class Day exercises take place at 2:00 p.m. on Sunday on Old Campus and include an address by the Class Day speaker, the awarding of several undergraduate prizes, and a celebration of Yale College traditions. No tickets are required.
During the Commencement ceremony on Old Campus on Monday morning at 10:30 a.m., President Salovey will present symbolic diplomas to student marshals from each residential college. Diplomas are also awarded to student marshals from the professional schools and the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences, and honorary doctoral degrees are conferred. The gates to Old Campus will open at 8:00 a.m. Tickets are required, except for students participating in the Commencement ceremony.
After the university ceremony, deans will lead students back to their residential colleges for the Diploma Ceremonies. No tickets are required.
Each student will receive four guest tickets to the university Commencement ceremony from their residential college. Tickets may be shared among students but not sold.
For guests without tickets, viewing locations with live-streams of the ceremony will be open in Sheffield-Sterling-Strathcona Hall, Room 114 (1 Prospect Street) and the Humanities Quadrangle, Room L02 (320 York Street).
Additional Notes:
• Cap and gowns should be ordered by your students by April 14.
• On-campus housing reservations for guests are open. Reservations must be made by April 31.
• Yale Hospitality hosts celebratory meals throughout the weekend. Visit their website to purchase a picnic lunch on Sunday to enjoy in between Baccalaureate and Class Day, and/or lunch in the residential colleges after the diploma ceremonies.
Best regards,
Yale Commencement Office