For Graduating Students & Their Families

Commencement Weekend

Thursday, May 15–Sunday, May 18

Family at Commencement 2018
Family at Commencement 2018
Graduating student in their regalia holds a young child wearing their graduation cap

Seniors, get ready for the festivities and check out the to-do list for graduating students.

Frequently Asked Questions

To ensure an enjoyable, celebratory experience for all graduates, their families, and the college community, we have compiled the following information to help answer questions you may have about the weekend’s events.

Who may attend Commencement?
Event attendance is limited to graduating students and their guests, alums and their registered guests participating in Reunion Weekend, and faculty and staff. All others wishing to participate in these events may join us via livestream, which can be found on the Smith homepage the day of the event.

Will the indoor rain location limit the number of guests?
The ITT is often used as our indoor rain site for large college events. Although seating is generous, should we need to move inside due to inclement weather or other circumstances, we do have a smaller capacity indoors. Should capacity exceed the number of guests that can safely attend in accordance with our occupancy permits, we offer an additional overflow space in Sweeney Concert Hall for families and guests to comfortably watch the live stream of the events. Guests may arrive at 8 a.m. to secure seating; however, seats may not be saved. Items left on chairs to reserve them will be removed.

What kind of seating is available in the ITT?
Seats inside the ITT during Ivy Day and Commencement are folding chairs. These chairs are used for both events regardless of location.

Is there an accessible seating section?
Forms were sent to all graduating seniors to submit requests for guests and family members who need accessible seating at Ivy Day and Commencement. The deadline to submit this request form is April 11. If you have an unanticipated accessibility need, please contact event organizers as soon as possible; the college cannot guarantee that we will be able to meet late requests.

Can I save seats?
Unfortunately, seats may not be saved at Ivy Day or Commencement. Unattended items placed on seats will be removed to allow guests in attendance to sit.

Will masks be required?
Masking is currently optional and welcomed everywhere on campus but is not required. The college asks that visitors follow CDC guidance, which advises those experiencing symptoms or who have tested positive for an illness should mask following the onset of symptoms. More information is available on our Health & Wellness site.

Is the ITT air-conditioned?
Parts of the ITT are air-conditioned and will be available for anyone who needs them as a cooling station.

Where can I park on campus?
While parking during Commencement Weekend is open to families and their guests, there are areas which may be limited due to construction. We encourage you to review parking regulations and the campus map ahead of your arrival and leave additional time to park during events.

Logistics for Students

Name Pronunciation

To ensure that we pronounce your name correctly during Commencement activities, make sure that your recorded name pronunciation on your Workday profile is up to date by April 11. If you previously recorded your name differently than how it should be pronounced during Commencement activities, please re-record it. It is important that you do this in advance to assist us in reading names correctly during the ceremony. For instructions, see the Workday Help Article: Add/Change/View Name Pronunciation.

Yearbooks

The Madeleine is published in the fall and a copy will be mailed to graduates at their parent’s home address in mid-October. Additional copies of the book or past books may be purchased through the Office of Student Engagement for $50 each.

Academic Regalia

Following Smith College tradition, graduating students wear academic regalia for the first time at Rally Day, three months before Commencement. For Commencement, graduating seniors should come dressed in their full regalia.

Caps and gowns will be available for preorder online and can be picked up at the Smith College Bookstore.

Those receiving financial aid have the option of participating in the Regalia Loan Program lottery offered through the Student Government Association. All students will be invited to enter the lottery in January and will be notified in early February as to whether they can receive regalia through this program.

Only students who receive Smith aid and are verified through Student Financial Services are eligible to enter the lottery. Questions regarding this program should be directed to the SGA office at sga@smith.edu.

Photography & News Media

Commencement Photography

  • A photographer from GradImages will be at the Commencement ceremony to take photographs of each graduate. Graduates will receive a free passport-sized digital proof of this photo on an order card within 5-7 days following the ceremony.
  • Questions may be emailed to service@gradimages.com.
  • After the ceremony you may order online at www.gradimages.com or call 800-261-2576.
  • Prior to the ceremony: To pre-register your permanent email address, please visit www.gradimages.com and click on Pre-Event Registration. You may add contact information for up to six additional relatives and/or friends.
  • GradImages never has and never will sell or share the address/email information provided to us.

News Reporters & Photographers

Media representatives must have Smith-issued credentials, worn in full view, to enter the roped-off areas of the campus on Saturday and Sunday.

To-Do List for Graduating Students

  • Due April 11: Deadline for all J-grads to request Commencement housing via the online form.
  • Due April 11: Record commencement and diploma name pronunciation in Workday to be read at Commencement. 
  • Due April 11: Complete the commencement questionnaire in your Workday inbox, only available after your adviser has approved your 64 credits outside the major. If you do not complete the questionnaire, the College will assume you are attending commencement and will march with the last house you were assigned to in Workday.
  • Due April 11: Fill out translation needs form should my family need services at Commencement.
  • Due April 11: Fill out accommodation needs form for family members for Ivy Day and Commencement ceremonies.
  • Purchase all regalia needed to march in Commencement from the Smith Bookstore ($71 per set). As of February, the tassels are not yet available at the bookstore. Follow-up notice will be sent out when the tassels are available.
  • Make sure your personal contact information and address after graduation are updated on Workday.
  • Review house closing information for seniors from Residence Life. All houses close for seniors at noon on Monday, May 19.
  • Senior Ball will be held on Saturday, April 26. Tickets will be available for purchase on March 31. A full list of Senior Week events will be posted by April 28.
  • Read all email that has “Commencement” in the subject line and respond if needed.
  • Attend mandatory Commencement rehearsal on Friday, May 16 at 9 a.m. in the ITT.
  • Attend Ivy Day ceremony on Saturday, May 17 and wear white.
  • Attend Commencement on Sunday, May 18 and wear full regalia.

We understand that international students who hope to have family members attend graduation may need documentation about their travels. Please see the International Students & Scholars Office's travel page for more information about how to obtain a personal letter of invitation.

General Information & Guidelines

Lost & Found

Inquiries about articles lost on campus may be made Thursday through Sunday at the Campus Center information desk, 413-585-4801.

Men’s Restrooms

Men’s restrooms can be found in the Ainsworth/Scott Gymnasium complex, Alumnae House, the Campus Center, Mendenhall Center for the Performing Arts, the Museum of Art, Neilson Library, Seelye Hall and Wright Hall. Portable restrooms will be available at the Commencement ceremony.

No Pets

Please leave all pets at home. Animals and pets, with the exception of trained service animals assisting individuals with disabilities, are not allowed on campus.

Emergencies

Any emergency, including one that may require an ambulance or the Northampton Fire Department, should be reported to the campus safety, extension 5555 (for emergencies) or 413-585-5555 from a cell phone.

Anyone who is injured or becomes ill while on campus should seek medical attention at the Cooley Dickinson Hospital, 30 Locust Street, at 413-582-2000. If the illness or injury appears life threatening, call Smith extension 5555 (or 413-585-5555 from a cell phone) for ambulance service.

During Commencement, emergency medical personnel will be on site.

Smoking

Smoking is prohibited in all campus buildings, including campus houses, meeting rooms, auditoriums and students’ private rooms.

WiFi

Wireless internet access is available in all academic buildings. Visit the ITS website for instructions.

Dining Services

Families may order tote lunches on Saturday, May 17 and may also make reservations for Commencement Brunch in the houses on Sunday, May 18. Check back soon for a reservation form. The Café will also be open for retail business during the weekend. Please use the GrubHub app to order at the Café. For more information about the Café, please visit Café website.

Parties

No private parties may be held in any spaces or areas on campus.

Clothing

New England weather can be volatile and evenings may be quite cool; you may want to dress in layers and be prepared for rain.

Sustainability/Hydration Stations

Hydration stations will be available at Commencement for guests. We ask that you help Smith College in their sustainability efforts and encourage you to bring a reusable water bottle to fill at the stations.

Weather

The Senior Candle-Lighting Ceremony, Sophomore Push/Senior Step Sing and Illumination could be canceled in extreme weather conditions, such as lightning, hail or severe winds. For further information about rain on Commencement Day, call 413-585-4636 (the college information line) after 7:30 a.m. that day. The signal that Commencement or Ivy Day will be held indoors at the Track and Tennis Facility, will be the ringing of the college bells at 8 a.m.; the doors of the ITT will also open at that time. Ivy Day and the Commencement ceremonies will be streamed live to Facebook. No account is required to watch.

Accessibility Accommodations

Smith College is committed to providing an inclusive and accessible experience for all graduates and their guests during Commencement weekend. Should guests have any accommodation requests such as accessible seating, assistive listening devices, sign language interpreters, etc., please complete the Accommodations Request Form for each guest requesting accommodations.

Parking

Information on parking for those with physical disabilities can be found under Commencement Parking.

Transportation

On-campus shuttle service is wheelchair accessible and available by calling 413-585-2400. Campus shuttles will be running throughout the day during events on Sunday.

Building Accessibility

Please use the Interactive Campus Map for more information regarding building accessibility.

Service Animals

Trained Service dogs, who are tethered and under the control of their handler, are welcome at all commencement events.

Translation Devices

Check back soon to use the Translation Device Reservation Form if a guest or member of your family requires the Commencement exercises to be translated into Mandarin or Spanish.