Campus Dance

9 P.M. | College Green | Ticketed

One of Brown’s best-loved Reunion Weekend traditions, Campus Dance brings together more than 10,000 Brown alumni, graduating students and guests to dance the night away under the stars for this outdoor ball on College Hill. The event is sponsored by the Brown Alumni Association, and tickets can be purchased through the Campus Dance registration website. As part of Brown’s commitment to safety and security, all Campus Dance attendees must have a ticket to enter and carry their access badges and wristbands.

Forums 

Various Times and Locations

Led by faculty, alumni and distinguished guests, these academic and topical colloquia are an integral part of Commencement and Reunion Weekend. Forum topics vary widely, covering the breadth of Brown scholarship, research and expertise. Some forums are recurring lectureships, held every year. Some highlight a single speaker while others bring in a panel of speakers to discuss a topic. The forum schedule is posted on the Commencement website. All members of the Brown community, including family members and guests, are welcome to attend.

Baccalaureate

1 P.M. | First Baptist Church in America

Held at First Baptist Church in America, Baccalaureate is a multifaith ceremony for undergraduates that incorporates the many spiritual and cultural traditions of the Brown community. Due to limited seating capacity, only seniors are allowed into the church. All guests and family members may watch the ceremony via livestream from designated locations.

Master’s Ceremony

3:30 P.M. | College Green

The Master’s Ceremony is hosted by the School of Professional Studies and the Division of Master’s and Professional Programs, with Dean of the School of Professional Studies Sandra Smith presiding. The Master’s Ceremony serves as the formal conferral of master’s and professional degrees. Master’s students process to College Green for the ceremony, which includes an invocation, a student address, the presentation of master’s awards and the reading of candidates’ names. A member of the Corporation of Brown University officially confers the degrees. The event concludes with a benediction and the singing of the Alma Mater. Master’s students are also encouraged to join the community-wide University Procession on Sunday. Wristbands are required for both graduating students and guests to access the College Green for the Master’s Ceremony on Saturday and the University Procession on Sunday.

University Procession

9:45 A.M. | Faunce Arch

The University Procession is a joyous celebration. Candidates for degrees march across College Green and through the Van Wickle Gates. It is tradition for students to walk through the gates only twice while at Brown — inward at the start of their education and outward at graduation. Undergraduate alumni who have returned for Reunion march with their classes. Once the last person is through the Van Wickle Gates, the Procession inverts and undergraduates continue down College Street with each participant applauding the others; doctoral students and medical students also process to their respective ceremony locations, with participants and spectators applauding the graduating students. 

Parents, relatives and friends of seniors are strongly advised to find seats on College Green during the Procession, where they can view a livestream of the event. The Procession is made up of approximately 7,000 participants who line the route, making photography and lines of sight challenging for guests. 

Medical School Ceremony

10 A.M. (Estimated) | First Unitarian Church

Presided over by Dean of Medicine and Biological Sciences Dr. Mukesh K. Jain, the Warren Alpert Medical School Ceremony is held at First Unitarian Church, 1 Benevolent St., and includes faculty and class addresses and the conferral of Brown medical degrees. The ceremony begins directly following the University Procession. Guests should watch a livestream of the Procession from their seats at the church. Each graduating student participating in the Medical School Ceremony receives four tickets, which are distributed on Saturday during the mandatory rehearsal. In addition, graduating medical students and guests must wear wristbands to attend the University Ceremony on Sunday, and to access the College Green area throughout the weekend.

Doctoral Ceremony

10:30 A.M. (Estimated) | Pembroke Field

Presided over by Dean of the Graduate School David Lindstrom at Pembroke Field, the Doctoral Ceremony serves as the formal conferral of Doctor of Philosophy degrees. The ceremony includes a student address, the presentation of the Horace Mann Medal and Joukowsky Family Foundation awards, and the reading of candidates' names. Deans perform the ceremonial hooding of graduates before a member of the Corporation officially confers the degrees. The event concludes with a benediction and the singing of the Alma Mater. Graduating doctoral students are invited to participate in the University Procession before the ceremony; guests may watch the Procession from their seats on Pembroke Field. Wristbands are required for both graduating students and guests to access the ceremony location and the College Green area on Sunday.

College Ceremony

12:15 P.M. (Estimated) | The First Baptist Church in America

The senior class assembles on the lawn of the First Baptist Church in America for the official conferral of undergraduate degrees at the College Ceremony. After the ceremony ends, the seniors walk up the hill and take seats on the College Green for the University Ceremony. Due to limited capacity, only seniors are allowed on the church grounds. Family and friends should remain on College Green during the College Ceremony, where large screens offer a continuous view of the proceedings. Wristbands are required for graduating students to participate in the University Procession to the church for the College Ceremony, and for guests to access the College Green to watch the ceremony via livestream.  

University Ceremony

1:15 P.M. (Estimated) | College Green

President Christina H. Paxson presides over this main event, where all graduates convene for the symbolic conferring of degrees. This ceremony begins with the senior orations followed by the conferring of honorary degrees. The president then bestows symbolic degrees on representatives of each category of degree. A benediction concludes the ceremony. The flags surrounding College Green during the University Ceremony represent the countries and tribal nations of this year’s graduates. Wristbands are required for all graduating students and guests to access the College Green for the University Ceremony on Sunday.

Departmental Ceremonies

2:30-4:45 P.M. (Estimated) | Various Locations

All degrees are symbolically conferred during the University Ceremony. Following the University Ceremony, academic departments and programs hold separate departmental ceremonies where graduating students’ names are read and graduating seniors cross the stage to receive their diplomas. Many departments also welcome master’s and doctoral students. Students should consult with their departments to learn what the ticketing requirements are for these events.