Commencement
Congratulations are in order! Commencement Weekend is our chance to honor your accomplishments and celebrate you. We look forward to seeing you, your families, loved ones, and friends gather together to take part in Smith’s time-honored traditions of Ivy Day, Illumination Night, and our Commencement Ceremony. We’re excited about sending graduates off to new adventures with the knowledge that your connection to Smith will always remain.
Save the Dates!
Ivy Day begins at 9 a.m. on Saturday, May 16. Commencement begins at 10 a.m. on Sunday, May 17.
Check back for additional details and schedules soon.
Schedule of Events
The following is an initial schedule for Commencement Weekend. Check back for more events and details to be added throughout the spring semester.
9–10:30 a.m. | Commencement Rehearsal, seniors only
Indoor Track & Tennis Facility
Attendance is mandatory for all seniors, junior ushers, sophomore push, and candidates for advanced degrees.
Ivy Day Activities
Guests should be seated by 9 a.m. if they wish to view the Alumnae Parade. Any guests that arrive after the beginning of the parade will be held at the door until the parade has finished.
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.
8:45 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 p.m. | Senior Class Candle-Lighting Ceremony
Paradise Pond lawn, between the President’s House and Office of Admission
8:30–10 p.m. | Illumination of Upper Campus
Rain location: Julia McWilliams Child ’34 Campus Center
Live music by the Jay Messer Quintet.
Commencement Activities
In the event of rain, the signal for indoor Commencement at the Indoor Track and Tennis Facility will be the ringing of the college bells beginning at 8 a.m. For indoor Commencement, the ITT doors will open at 8 a.m. Graduates will line up at 9:15 a.m. in Ainsworth Gymnasium, and faculty members will assemble in the Ainsworth main hallway (glass-door entrance).
9:15 a.m. | Assembling for Commencement
All graduates must line up on Mandelle Road in front of Comstock and Wilder houses. Seniors should arrive wearing full regalia.
The faculty will assemble in the courtyard behind Laura Scales House (King/Scales courtyard).
Seating Policy
Audience members should be seated by 9:45 a.m. Seats cannot be saved for those arriving later. Tape, signs, and other items places on chairs to save seats will be removed by college personnel.
10 a.m. | Commencement Exercises
The Quadrangle
