For Saturday's academic departments and programs receptions, please see the academic receptions tab.
8 a.m. | Meeting of Sophomore Push
Outside President’s House
7–9 a.m. | Breakfast for students
Served in Cutter/Ziskind, King/Scales, Chase and Tyler houses
Ivy Day Activities
In the event of rain, the Alumnae Parade, Alumnae Awards Presentation and Ivy Day Awards Convocation will be held in the Indoor Track and Tennis Facility (ITT). The signal for such a change in venue will be the ringing of the college bells at 8 a.m. The doors of the ITT will open at that time. Seniors should enter the main lobby of the ITT through the glass doors and will be instructed where to pick up their roses and line up. Junior Ushers should assemble in the ITT by the overhead door. Alumnae will march through the double line of seniors and past the reviewing stand before being seated. The senior class, led by the Junior Ushers, will then follow.
8:30 a.m. | Junior Ushers Assemble
Admission Office parking spaces
8:45 a.m. | Seniors Assemble
President’s House, front
Roses will be distributed to seniors. Seniors will then form two lines along the driveway, across Paradise Road and up to the Emerson House Archway in preparation for the Alumnae Parade and Ivy Day procession. Seniors should wear all-white attire and dark shoes. Please be on time.
8:45 a.m. | Alumnae Parade Assembly
Chapin Drive, between the Campus Center and College Lane
Ivy Day Livestream:
https://www.smith.edu/news-events/events/commencement/ivy-day-livestream
9:15 a.m. | Alumnae Parade & Senior Class Procession
Led by the Festival Band, alumnae march toward the President’s House and the quadrangle, through the double lines of the senior class. Following the route of the alumnae, the senior class will be led by the Junior Ushers carrying the ivy chain into the quadrangle, past the reviewing stand, and will then be seated.
11 a.m.–5 p.m. | Josten Library Open Hours
Josten Library, Mendenhall Center for the Performing Arts
Visit Smith’s performing arts library, which boasts inspiring architecture and an outstanding interdisciplinary collection of music, theater and dance books; playscripts; music scores; as well as audio, video and other resources.
11 a.m.–5 p.m. | Smith College Museum of Art Open Hours
Smith College Museum of Art
Drop by the Smith College Museum of Art to explore the galleries, talk with museum staff, and visit the exhibition A Beacon to the World: Art from Sylvia Smith Lewis ’74 and Byron E. Lewis Sr. Collection.
11:30 a.m.–12:30 p.m. | Athletics Open House
Ainsworth Gymnasium 151, Ainsworth level 1 entrance hallway
All ESS graduates and ESS minors, as well as current and past athletes, are invited to stop by to visit with ESS faculty and Athletics coaching and administrative staff.
11:30 a.m.–1 p.m. | Tote lunch for Seniors and remaining students on campus
Chapin Lawn
Parents and guests may purchase a lunch online. Check back soon for more details.
12–1:30 p.m. | POSSE Scholars Graduation Celebration
Skyline Reading Room, Neilson Library
A celebration for the POSSE Scholars and their families. Invite-only.
1:30–2:15 p.m. | President’s Reception
Seelye lawn (rain location: Julia McWilliams Child ’34 Campus Center)
For seniors and graduate students, their families, guests, faculty, alumnae and staff.
2 p.m. | Celebrations Dance Company’s Annual Commencement Concert
Scott Dance Studio
Performance by Celebrations, Smith’s oldest student-run dance company, showcasing student choreography and performance. Donations accepted.
2:15–3:15 p.m. | Jill Ker Conway Innovation and Entrepreneurship Center Open House
Conway Innovation and Entrepreneurship Center, Neilson 103
Come to the Conway Center to meet staff, learn about the dynamic and globally relevant financial education, innovation, and entrepreneurship initiatives offered, and browse student innovation project displays.
2:30–4 p.m. | Design Thinking Initiative Open House
Capen Annex, Henshaw Avenue
Come visit Capen Annex, home of the Design Thinking Initiative, before you leave campus! We’ll celebrate the Class of 2024 and share updates on all of the cool projects that have been happening in our cozy space on Henshaw Ave. Activities and light refreshments will be available.
2:30–4 p.m. | Hillyer Art Library Open House
Hillyer Art Library, Brown Fine Arts Center
Explore Smith’s remarkable art library and browse collections covering the history, theory, criticism and practice of the visual arts.
2:30–4 p.m. | Residence Life Reception
Clark Hall, conference room and porch
For student staff members, seniors, and their families, as well as alums who have served in these roles.
2:30–4:30 p.m. | Neilson Library Open House
Neilson Library
Welcome to Neilson Library! Take a self-guided tour of Neilson Library as designed by Maya Lin. Walk through the Neilson Library: Evolution exhibit in the 2nd floor gallery.
2:30–4:30 p.m. | Special Collections Open House
Special Collections Reading Room, Neilson Library, 3rd floor
Visit the home of Smith’s Special Collections. Meet curators and archivists, view unique materials and learn about the College Archives, the Mortimer Rare Book Collection and the Sophia Smith Collection of Women’s History.
2:30 p.m.–3 p.m. | Delta Phi Alpha, Lambda Rho Chapter
Hatfield Hall 204
German Studies department German Honor Society Initiation Ceremony. Families and alumnae welcome.
3–4:30 p.m. | Botanic Garden Open House
Lyman Plant House and Conservatory
Drop in to Lyman Plant House and Conservatory to explore the collections, meet staff, and experience the current exhibit The Bell Jars: Lyman Conservatory and Sylvia Plath’s Botanical Imagination, on display in The Church Exhibition Gallery. For more information, see: The Bell Jars: Lyman Conservatory and Sylvia Plath’s Botanical Imagination.
3–5 p.m. | Smith Crew Boathouse Open House and Reception
Connecticut River Boathouse, Sportsman’s Marina, 1 Russell St., Hadley, Mass.
All Smith crew alumnae, team members and families are welcome to attend. Light refreshments will be served. No shuttle service.
3–4:30 p.m. | Smith College Historic Clothing Collection Open House
Theatre T15, Mendenhall Center for the Performing Arts
Explore the college’s research archive of women’s clothing now in its 45th year. It is the subject of the new book Real Clothes, Real Lives: 200 Years of What Women Wore. The cabinets will be open, and examples of garments and accessories will be on view.
3:45–4:35 p.m. | Faculty Talk: Andrea Hairston ’74: “Archangels of Funk”z
Graham Hall, Brown Fine Arts Center
Afrofuturist Adventures—Andrea Hairston ’74 and Smith College Professor Emerita of Theatre and Africana Studies will do a performance reading from her new book Archangels of Funk with musicians. She’ll discuss going from drama queen to novelist, including questions of craft and her publishing escapades.
4–5 p.m. | 12-Step Recovery Program meeting, open to all.
Wright Hall 002
4–5 p.m.—Service of Remembrance
Helen Hills Hills Chapel
A multifaith memorial service for reflecting, remembering and celebrating the lives of those who have died, focusing on Smith alums who have passed on since the last reunion. All are welcome.
5–6 p.m. | Commencement Choral Concert
Sweeney Concert Hall, Sage Hall
The Glee Club and Chamber Singers present works chosen by members of the senior class.
7:45 p.m. | Junior Ushers meeting
Admission office parking spaces
8 p.m. | Senior Class Candle-Lighting Ceremony
Paradise Pond lawn, between the President’s House and Office of Admission
8:15 p.m. | Meeting of Sophomore Push
In front of Seelye Hall
8:30 p.m. | Sophomore Push/Senior Step Sing
Seelye Hall steps
8:30–10 p.m. | Ada Comstock Illumination Night Celebration
Boutelle-Day Poetry Center, Wright Hall 102, and Wright Hall upper lobby
8:30–10 p.m. | Illumination of Upper Campus
Rain location: Campus Center
Live Music by the Jay Messer Quintet
