Please be prepared to show your wristband or access badge when entering the College Green, Front Green and Simmons Quad areas and at the door when entering buildings on and around these areas to access guest services.

For buildings located outside of the College Green area, guests should check in at the door, and may be asked to show ID as part of security screening.

For assistance with wristbands throughout the weekend, please visit a Guest Services station located outside of the College Green area.

Thank you to our guests for helping us create a safe and secure environment for everyone.

Entry Points

Guests and graduating students entering the College Green area on Saturday and Sunday will arrive at one of four entry points:

• Prospect and Waterman streets (closed Sunday from 9:15 a.m. until after the Procession)
• Prospect and George streets
• Thayer and Waterman streets
• Thayer and George streets

Commencement staff members will provide an initial check before directing you to join the queue to have your wristband scanned for entry. While you may use any of these entry points, certain intersections are recommended below to help with traffic flow. 

For the Master’s Ceremony on Saturday: Guests are encouraged to enter at either entry point on Prospect Street. Graduating master’s and professional students should arrive at the Thayer Street entry points to line up for the master’s procession preceding the ceremony. 

For the Procession and Commencement ceremonies on Sunday: Guests of graduating seniors and master’s and professional students are encouraged to enter at either entry point on Thayer Street, so they can find seating on the greens to watch the Procession via livestream. 

Please note: The Prospect and Waterman streets entry point will close at 9:15 a.m. to allow the Procession to pass; guests arriving between 9:15 a.m. and 10:15 a.m. should use the entry point at Prospect and George streets.

Graduating students will enter the queue at Angell Street to line up for the Procession.

Guests of graduating doctoral and medical students should go to those ceremony locations to watch the Procession via livestream.

Visit the Procession page for additional information.

Bags and Personal Items

To maintain the safety and security of all attendees, all bags and personal items are subject to inspection. Small bags and purse-sized backpacks are recommended, and larger items may require additional screening. 

The following items are not permitted inside the College Green, Front Green and Simmons Quad areas:

• umbrellas
• lawn chairs
• hard coolers
• suitcases or rolling bags
• large signs or banners
• any other item that may pose a safety risk

The free, on-call Brown Access Shuttle is available for guests with disabilities and/or medical conditions. Shuttles are wheelchair-accessible. Rides should be booked in advance, if possible, to avoid long wait times. Call 401-225-9572 to book a ride. Visit the Accessibility Accommodations page for additional information.

Refreshments are available to purchase at several locations around campus, as well as at businesses in the nearby area. If you are looking for a place to eat on campus, the following dining locations will be open:

Blue Room and Campus Market (Campus Center)

• Friday, May 22 through Sunday, May 24 | 8 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Concessions Tent (College Green)

• Sunday, May 24 | 8 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Food trucks (Pembroke Field, Cushing Street)

• Sunday, May 24 | 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

In case of an emergency, including a medical emergency, call the Brown University Department of Public Safety and Emergency Management (DPSEM) at 401-863-4111, and clearly describe the location and nature of the emergency.

For minor injuries, go to the Brown Emergency Medical Services tent, located between Friedman and Sayles Halls, or Student Health Services, 450 Brook St. (Hours listed on this page under Health Services.)

First Aid Tent

All community members can receive care from Brown EMS at the medical tent between Friedman and Sayles halls. The tent will be staffed from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday. Brown EMS can provide hygiene products, sunscreen, tissues, bandages, ice packs, safety pins, sports drinks, water and any first or immediate aid needed for a medical emergency. Please note: EMS staff cannot dispense medications unless providing patient care (and ambulance transportation).

Student Health Services 

While visitors and guests of Brown are not eligible for care at Student Health Services — located in the Center for Health and Wellness at 450 Brook St. — staff can provide first aid or an initial assessment of a person and refer out to a local urgent care center or emergency room if necessary.

Student Health Services is open:

• Friday, May 22 | 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.
• Saturday, May 23 | 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
• Sunday, May 24 | 9 a.m. to noon

Pull-down diaper changing stations are located in restrooms across campus. The following locations inside the College Green area are open during Commencement and Reunion Weekend:

• Faunce House, 75 Waterman St., Room 003 (003A)
• IBES, 85 Waterman St., all restrooms
• Salomon Center, 79 Waterman St., Room 12
• Sayles Hall, 81 Waterman St., Rooms 000C and 06 (006A)

For last-minute regalia items (cap and gown, hood, tam and stole), as well as University-branded gift items and memorabilia, visit the Brown University Bookstore during their extended Commencement and Reunion Weekend hours: 

• Friday, May 22, 9 a.m. to 8 p.m.
• Saturday, May 23, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.
• Sunday, May 24, 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.
• Monday, May 25, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
• Tuesday, May 26, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

The Brown University Bookstore is located at the corner of Thayer and Angell streets.

Visit the Bookstore

Trained Commencement staff members are available to assist guests at Guest Services stations on the greens and at other locations around campus. Stations located outside the College Green area can provide assistance with wristbands and access badges, while the Guest Services stations inside the College Green area are dedicated to wayfinding, schedule information and other guest support. 

Stations Outside the College Green Area

Staff members at these Guest Services stations can help you with smart wristbands and access badges (please be ready to show your Brown ID or another form of identification), and provide other information. Locations and hours are as follows.

Page-Robinson Hall, 69 Brown St. (ground floor)

• Saturday, May 23 | 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Sciences Library, 210 Thayer St. (tent)

• Saturday, May 23 | 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.
• Sunday, May 24 | 7 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Horace Mann, 47 George St. (tent)

• Sunday, May 24 | 7 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Ittleson Quad, 235 Hope St. (tent)

• Sunday, May 24 | 8 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Mencoff Hall, 68 Waterman St. (lobby)

• Sunday, May 24 | 7 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Stations Inside the College Green Area

Staff members at these Guest Services stations can provide information about the weekend schedule, locations for food, restrooms, water and more; however, they will not be able to print wristbands. Please visit a Guest Services station outside the greens for assistance with wristband or badge access.

College Green area Guest Services stations are open Saturday, May 23, noon to 6 p.m., and Sunday, May 24, 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Locations include:

• Faunce Arch (by the bear statue)
• Rhode Island Hall
• Sayles Hall
• Lyman Hall (on Simmons Quad)

The Sarah Doyle Center (26 Benevolent St.) lactation space is open to community members and visitors. Please note: The room is only accessible via stairs.

• Friday, May 22 | noon to 2 p.m.
• Saturday, May 23 | 3-5 p.m.

The Institute at Brown for Environment and Society (85 Waterman St.) has a lactation room (Room 228), on the second floor accessible by elevator, available to community members and visitors. 

• Friday, May 22 | 8:30 a.m. to 7 p.m.
• Saturday, May 23 | 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.
• Sunday, May 24 | 7 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Several events have limited capacity, and guests will be watching via livestream. Guests can view the livestreamed events from anywhere using a computer or mobile device. Visit the Livestream page for a schedule of livestreamed events and links to watch.

Additionally, guests are invited to watch the following livestreams at locations on campus:

Baccalaureate

The in-person Baccalaureate service on Saturday is meant for graduating seniors only, and, because of limited capacity, only students, performers and University leaders participating in the service are invited to the church grounds for the service. Visit the Baccalaureate page for a list of livestream viewing locations.

Procession, College and University Ceremonies

Guests will watch the Procession via livestream from seats on the College Green, Pembroke Field, First Unitarian Church or other livestream locations around campus. Viewing the Procession via livestream ensures that guests are seated in time for the ceremonies and have a clear view of the event, and that they don’t miss any important moments. Visit the Procession page for a list of livestream viewing locations.

Guests of graduating seniors will watch a livestream of the College Ceremony directly following the Procession, from their seats on the College Green. Due to limited capacity, only seniors are allowed on the church grounds. After the College Ceremony, students will return to the College Green for the University Ceremony, which is also livestreamed. 

Brown's Department of Public Safety and Emergency and Management (DPSEM) receives property that has been lost or found on campus. If you find an item, please bring it to public safety headquarters at 75 Charlesfield St. To inquire about lost property, call the non-emergency line at 401-863-3322.

The best opportunities for taking posed Commencement photos of your graduate are either at their departmental ceremony on Sunday or at the Van Wickle Gates on Sunday evening or Monday. Graduating students are encouraged to take photos at the gates before Friday, as the area around the greens will be very busy, with limited access at times.

Prospect Street (in front of the Van Wickle Gates) will be closed to vehicles on Saturday from 10:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. and to both vehicles and pedestrians on Sunday from 5 a.m. to 5 p.m. The gates will remain open until 6 p.m. on Monday to provide opportunities for student photos.

Restrooms are available in most campus buildings and in portable locations around campus. Some of the more central locations are listed below. All locations are available on both Saturday and Sunday unless otherwise noted.

Restrooms in the College Green Area

• Friedman Hall
• Lyman Hall
• 85 Waterman St.
• Sayles Hall
• Salomon Center
• Simmons Quad (by Soldiers Arch)
• Slater Hall
• Stephen Robert ’62 Campus Center

Restrooms Outside of the College Green Area

• Andrews House
• Ittleson Quad
• Meehan Auditorium
• Nelson Fitness Center
• Olney-Margolies Athletic Center (OMAC)
• Pembroke Field
• Pizzitola Sports Center
• The Walk, South

Please note: All campus buildings are closed during Campus Dance on Friday evening; restrooms are available in trailers located around the College Green.

Seating is available for guests of graduating students on a first-come, first-served basis. Saving seats without a family member present is not allowed, and items left behind may be removed. Wristbands are required to access all ceremony and livestream viewing locations. 

Accessible Seating

There is a limited section of accessible seating near the jumbotron for ceremonies held on the College Green. Guests may move chairs to accommodate a wheelchair or meet other needs, and ushers are available to assist.

Baccalaureate Seating

The in-person Baccalaureate service on Saturday is for graduating seniors only. Families are invited to watch the program via livestream at nearby viewing locations. Visit the Baccalaureate page for viewing locations and event details.

Master’s Ceremony Seating

Graduating master’s and professional students will process to their seats on the College Green for the Master’s Ceremony on Saturday. Guests are encouraged to enter at either gate on Prospect Street (at Waterman or George streets) to have their wristbands scanned. They should find seats on the College Green by 3:30 p.m., when the procession steps off. Jumbotron screens will broadcast the procession and the ceremony.  

Seating for Sunday Events

Guests are asked to watch the University Procession on Sunday via livestream from seats on the College Green or at First Baptist Church or First Unitarian Church (depending on where their student’s ceremony is). Guests of master’s and professional graduates may choose to watch the Procession from the College Green or at other livestream viewing locations. All locations are wheelchair-accessible and many have assisted listening available. Details can be found on the Procession page.

The University Procession is only canceled in the case of severe storm conditions. If necessary, a storm plan will be announced on the brown.edu and Commencement homepages, via the BrownAlert System and by text to student phones. 

Additional Reminders

Graduating students and guests are not permitted to bring items to Commencement or Reunion events that would obstruct the view or create a safety hazard for others (e.g., large banners, posters, rigid sticks or poles, umbrellas, etc.), and also cannot affix signage, banners or similar displays to any buildings, poles or other structures.

It is not advised to bring pets to Commencement and Reunion events. Service animals will be permitted.

To reduce Brown's environmental footprint, disposable plastic water bottles will not be available during the Commencement ceremonies. Self-serve hydration stations, where you can get a cup of water or fill your own bottle, will be available around campus. Refreshments are available for purchase in the Blue Room in the Campus Center and in the dining tent located on the George Street side of College Green on Sunday.

Water refill stations will be at the following locations, in addition to places convenient for students and others participating in the Procession.

College Green area

• Sayles Hall (Friday through Sunday)
• Simmons Quad (Friday through Sunday)
• Salomon Center (Saturday and Sunday)
• John Carter Brown Library (Sunday)

Other areas

• Brown Stadium Parking Lot (Friday and Saturday)
• Ittleson Quad (Saturday and Sunday)
• Pembroke Field (Sunday)

Additional stations will be available on Angell Street on Sunday morning for students and faculty participating in the Procession.