View of Harvard’s 2010 Commencement.

File photo by Kris Snibbe/Harvard Staff Photographer

Campus & Community

What you need to know

2 min read

Useful information for attending Harvard’s Commencement

Restrooms
Restrooms for the general public are located in the following buildings:

  • Weld Hall
  • Thayer Hall
  • Sever Hall

Restrooms are wheelchair accessible.

First aid stations
First aid stations on Commencement Day are situated in the following locations:

  • Weld Hall — Room 11
  • Thayer Hall — Room 106
  • Sever Hall — Room 112

Water stations
Water stations are located along the perimeter of Tercentenary Theatre and will be clearly marked.  Their locations are:

  • Widener Library steps
  • Weld Hall, north porch
  • Weld Hall, northeast entrance
  • Thayer Hall, south steps
  • Sever Hall, main entrance
  • College Pump, near Hollis Hall

Parking services
Parking at Harvard during Commencement week is extremely limited. Please view updated information regarding Commencement parking.

Public transportation
The Harvard Square stop on the MBTA’s Red Line subway is directly across the street from Harvard Yard. The Harvard Commuter Choice Program website describes the various routes to Harvard Square using public transportation. Please note: Acrobat Reader is required to view and print this information.

Televised viewing
The Commencement Morning Exercises and the afternoon Annual Meeting of the Harvard Alumni Association are televised live for guests who are unable to attend these campus events.

The broadcast times are 9-11:30 a.m. and 1:45-4:30 p.m., and the events can be seen on Comcast Cable (channel 283) in Boston/Brookline and Cambridge/Greater Boston.

Webcast viewing
The live webcast may be viewed via computer from the following Harvard websites:

Video services
Broadcast-quality, multiple-camera DVD recordings are available of the Commencement Morning Exercises and the afternoon Annual Meeting of the Harvard Alumni Association held in Tercentenary Theatre. Class Day Exercises (Wednesday afternoon) are also available on DVD. The morning and afternoon Commencement Day recordings include commentary during the processions. Single-camera recordings are made of the diploma ceremonies at all of the Houses and some of the graduate/professional Schools.

For purchase of or information about videos, contact Commencement Video at 617.884.6000; for audio only, call the Media Production Center at 617.495.9440.