The Baccalaureate incorporates the many spiritual and cultural traditions of the Brown community. This multifaith service for undergraduates opens with the Chinese lion dance, bearing blessing and congratulations to the graduates as they noisily cavort to expel all unworthiness. The service continues with rituals, readings and prayers from Islam, Judaism, Hinduism, Christianity, Buddhism and animist traditions, as well as choral and instrumental music, the Chinese lion dance, poetry, dance and Taiko and Senegalese drumming.

The service starts off on College Green with a procession that leads seniors from campus to the First Baptist Church of America. Only undergraduates will be allowed into the church as there is limited seating capacity inside. Brown IDs will be checked, and wristbands issued. Early-bird check-in will be available at 11:30 a.m. All guests and family members are invited to watch the service from Front Green, where the event will be simulcast. In addition, Salomon will be open to guests who wish to view a livestream of the service indoors.

One of the highlights of the Baccalaureate Service is the keynote address. The 2024 Baccalaureate speaker is Jessica Meir ’99, a marine biologist and NASA astronaut who made history as part of the first all-woman spacewalk.

View the Baccalaureate Service Program