Free Expression, University Operations, and Safety
Yale is committed to free expression, which includes the ability to engage in peaceful dissent. University guidelines and policies, including specific guidelines for all university ceremonies on Old Campus, are in place to promote the exercise of free expression while maintaining university operations and the safety and security of all members of the university community.
Schedule of Events
________________________________________
- Baccalaureate - Sunday, May 18, 2025 - 10:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m., Old Campus
- This one-hour ceremony for Yale College features an address by President Maurie McInnis and remarks by Dean of Yale College Pericles Lewis.
- Class Day - Sunday, May 18, 2025 – 2:00 p.m., Old Campus
- Class Day, a Yale College tradition, includes the awarding of academic, artistic, and athletic prizes, the celebration of undergraduates, and an address by Right Honorable Dame Jacinda Ardern. Seniors wear academic gowns with headgear of choice.
- University Commencement Ceremony - Monday, May 19, 2025 – 10:30 a.m., Old Campus
- All university degrees are formally conferred during the commencement ceremony on Old Campus. During the ceremony, the dean of Yale College and deans of the Graduate School and professional schools formally present their approved candidates to the president. You can find more information on the commencement ceremony here.
- Diploma Ceremonies
- Shortly after the commencement ceremony, residential colleges, the Graduate School, and the professional schools hold ceremonies to celebrate their graduates and present diplomas. For more information on these ceremonies, please reach out to your respective residential college or school.
- Special Events and Concerts
- Many special events are scheduled during Commencement Weekend.
Baccalaureate & Class Day
The baccalaureate ceremony on Sunday morning, and the Class Day ceremony on Sunday afternoon are not ticketed.
University Commencement Ceremony Tickets
Tickets will be required for entry to Old Campus for Yale’s 324th Commencement Ceremony on Monday, May 19, 2025.
Graduating degree candidates do not need tickets to attend Commencement. Graduating students are required to wear academic regalia to participate.
Children ages 3 and under do not require a ticket. However, they cannot occupy a seat and must sit on the lap of a ticketed guest.
Guests must present their Barcode ticket to enter Old Campus. Tickets can be presented on mobile phones, as screenshots, or as printouts. Please note, it is one barcode per person. Tickets can only be scanned once.
Please ensure that you and your guests receive ticket confirmations and barcodes for each registered guest. If barcodes have not been received, please contact us at university.events@yale.edu for further assistance.
Information for Students:
- Students will enter Old Campus with their schools during the procession. Students will not be permitted to enter Old Campus before their procession arrives and must wear their academic regalia to enter Old Campus with their residential college. Find more information on Cap and Gown Distribution.
Information for Guests:
- The University Commencement Ceremony includes 20,000 participants. The focus is on tradition, music, and the official conferral of student degrees and honorary degrees. The first half of the Old Campus lawn is dedicated to graduate seating, and you will likely not see your student at this ceremony. We advise that you sit near a jumbo screen, where you will have a full view of the activity on the ceremony platform. You will see your student receive their diploma at a more intimate ceremony at their residential college following the university ceremony.
- Guests should go directly to Old Campus for the commencement ceremony.
- To access Old Campus, please enter via Whitman Gate or Dwight Gate on High Street; Cheney Ives Gate or Phelps Gate on College Street. Please note that beginning at 9:45 a.m. Phelps Gate will close to processions.
- Guests are not permitted in areas where graduates assemble for the ceremony procession. For directions to Old Campus, use this interactive campus map.
Live Streaming
Guests without tickets on Monday can watch the ceremony live stream at viewing in the following location:
- Humanities Quadrangle, Rooms L01 and L02 (320 York Street).
All university ceremonies are also streamed on the Yale 2025 website.
Weather
All ceremonies will take place rain or shine. If a ceremony is canceled in the event of severe weather, a notice will be posted to the commencement website. We encourage guests to have rain ponchos and avoid umbrellas. Ponchos can offer complete protection from rain and are lightweight and easy to carry.
Bag Policy and Prohibited Items
Bag Policy
All persons, bags, and personal items are subject to inspection before entering Old Campus.
- Clear bags, which can be sized 12” x 12” x 6” or smaller, will be permitted.
- One-gallon clear Ziploc bags are permissible and available if needed.
Backpacks, purses, camera bags, binocular cases, or diaper bags bigger than 6.5” x 4.5” are not permitted at major ceremonies, and Yale security staff cannot hold bags for guests. Guests with those size bags should enter Old Campus at College Street and Elm Street by Phelps Gate, where luggage can be checked until after the ceremonies.
The following are prohibited:
- Signs or flags larger than 8.5” x 11”
- Banners
- Balloons/inflatables
- Any objects larger than 12” x 12” x 12”
- Laser pointers or similar items
- Wireless speakers and sound amplification of any kind, including bullhorns
- Drones
- Noisemakers and compressed air devices
- Folding or camping chairs
Items not permitted will be confiscated. Graduates or guests may be asked to leave.
Animals
Accessibility
When your student registered for their guest tickets, they were asked to include information about their guests with accessibility needs. Students and their registered guests with accessibility needs will receive an email from the Commencement Office with information about how to enter the accessible seating area for all ceremonies.
For more information on accessibility services on Commencement Weekend, including accessibility parking, restrooms, and assistive listening devices, visit the commencement accessibility page.
Parking, Transportation, Shuttles
Parking lots and garages across campus are free and available to use on Commencement Weekend beginning at 5:00 p.m. on Friday, May 16, and ending on Tuesday, May 20, 12:00 p.m.
A full list of university parking lots can be found here.
Following the university ceremony on Monday, May 19, shuttle service will be available from Phelps Gate (College Street) to some residential colleges and school ceremonies. Each shuttle will have a color-coded feather flag placed by it to help guests find the bus that will transport them to their preferred location.
Please look for the appropriate colored flag for your shuttle.
- Green Line: Divinity School
- Yellow Line: School of the Environment
- Orange Line: Medical School
- Pink Line: School of Architecture, School of Art, David Geffen School of Drama, Pierson College, Davenport College, Ezra Stiles College, Morse College, Timothy Dwight College, and Silliman College
- Purple Line:Pauli Murray College, Benjamin Franklin College, Jackson School of Global Affairs, and School of Management
More information regarding parking, transportation, and getting around campus can be found here.
Lost and Found
Security will hold lost items on Old Campus at Phelps Gate until 4:00 p.m. each day. After 4:00 p.m., items will be moved to the security desk at the Law School, located at 127 Wall Street. Please call 203-785-5555 if you have lost an item.
Reunification
If you are separated from your party, or if a member of your party is missing, please go to the High Street Gate near the Reunification sign. Yale Police will be available to assist you.
Yale Alerts
Yale ALERT can reach students, faculty, staff, and members of the New Haven community with time-sensitive information during unforeseen events or emergencies using voice, email, and/or text messaging.
Parents are encouraged to provide their emergency contact information to receive these communications. To register or to update your information, please have your student add your contact information through Yale Hub.