185th Commencement Ceremony

All are welcome to attend Wesleyan’s 185th Commencement Ceremony on Sunday, May 28 at 11 a.m. Faculty and Undergraduates assemble on the top of Foss Hill at 10 a.m. The ceremony will take place on Andrus Field in the center of campus, rain or shine, and will last approximately 2½ hours. The ceremony may also be viewed online. Download a copy of the procession map here.

Registration

Online registration is available through Friday, May 12 at midnight (EST). 

Who should register?

All alumni should register for the weekend, parents and families of graduating seniors should register if they’re planning to attend any fee-based events, or if they’d like to have a welcome packet of information (including nametags for all registrants) when they arrive on campus for the weekend. You do not have to register to attend the Commencement Ceremony.

Parents and Grandparents who work in the field of education are invited to participate in the commencement ceremony

We warmly invite parents and grandparents who work in the field of education to march as a division in the ceremony. Educators are then welcome to sit as a division, along with a guest, or may choose to sit in general seating following the procession. If needed regalia may be rented through Broad Street Bookstore by contacting Erin Ricker at 860-685-7323 no later than April 18. The regalia rental fee is $70.00.
Please respond to Dana Coffin at dcoffin@wesleyan.edu in the Office of Alumni and Parent Relations if you would like to participate.

Outdoor Commencement Ceremony on Andrus Field

Andrus Field is nestled in the center of campus. The ceremony takes place on Denison Terrace, which is parallel to the back of Olin Memorial Library and seating is available on Andrus Field.
Indoor (Simulcast) Commencement Ceremony locations

The ceremony is broadcast live (rain or shine) inside air-conditioned, accessible buildings on campus and on the web at wescast.wesleyan.edu. The simulcast locations are the Memorial Chapel, Patricelli '92 Theater, Center for the Arts Hall, and Tishler Lecture Hall (Room 150) at the Exley Science Center. The ceremony takes place rain or shine, and will last approximately 2–2½ hours. The ceremony may also be viewed online.

Tickets

All are welcome to attend Wesleyan's 185th Commencement Ceremony. Tickets are not required to attend the ceremony. The 5,000 chairs on Andrus Field (some are outside, some under the large tent with full view of the podium) are available on a first-come, first-served basis. There is additional room for seating on Foss Hill (bring a blanket or folding chairs). 

Water

Wesleyan is bottled water-free. Reusable bottles (for purchase) and water stations are available to keep guests hydrated. If you purchase a reusable bottle and do not wish to take it home with you, please leave it under your chair or place in one of the clear recycling containers located on Andrus Field or at the President’s Commencement Celebration so that we can reuse bottles for future occasions.

Inclement Weather Plan

The Commencement Ceremony is held outdoors, rain or shine. Under certain weather conditions, the ceremony may be shifted from the open field, where seating is unlimited, into the large tent on Andrus Field. Although the tent accommodates numerous spectators, seating is limited. In this scenario, we respectfully request that each graduate limit his/her guests to 3 seats under the tent. Please come prepared with raincoats, umbrellas, and appropriate footwear. Information will be posted on the Wesleyan homepage and the Reunion & Commencement website, and graduating seniors will be notified via email. Details will also be available at Registration (Usdan University Center). The ceremony will be simulcast in the Memorial Chapel, Patricelli ’92 Theater,Ring Family Performing Arts Hall, and Tishler Lecture Hall (Room 150) at Exley Science Center, rain or shine. The ceremony may also be viewed online. Please check the Reunion landing page or the WesCast (webcast) page for details the week of May 22, 2017. To view real time captioning of the ceremony please follow this link: http://www.streamtext.net/player?event=IT-WU.

Following the ceremony

President’s Commencement Celebration: A reception celebrating the Class of 2017 will take place immediately following the Commencement ceremony. Due to the size of the gathering, families and students who wish to meet during the reception are encouraged to identify a “meeting place” in advance (e.g., one of the buildings on College Row). Light refreshments will be available.

Visitors with Disabilities

The University is committed to full access and reasonable accommodations for all people. Please find more information on the Reunion & Commencement Weekend Accessibility page.