Yale University's 297th Commencement Events To Be Held on Old Campus May 24 and May 25

Yale University’s 297th Commencement events will be held Sunday, May 24, and Monday, May 25, on the Yale campus. For more details, see http://www.yale.edu/secretary/commencement.

All reporters and photographers must have Yale media credentials during Class Day and Commencement ceremonies on Old Campus for access to the news media platform. Fax credential requests on your organization’s letterhead to Cynthia Atwood in the Yale Office of Public Affairs at 203 432-1323. Reserved credentials may be picked up 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Thursday and Friday, May 21-22; or from noon to 2 p.m. Sunday or 9 to 10 a.m. Monday, May 24-25, at the Office of Public Affairs, 433 Temple St. near the corner of Temple and Trumbull streets. The two-day schedule of Commencement events follows:

SUNDAY, MAY 24

Baccalaureate Address: At 11:30 a.m. in Woolsey Hall northwest corner of Grove and College, Yale President Richard C. Levin will deliver the second of two Baccalaureate addresses to graduating Yale College seniors and their families. Members of the news media are urged to attend this second session. Reporters can cover the event from balcony seats to the immediate right of the stage. Copies of the President’s speech will be available at Woolsey and during Commencement ceremonies the following day.

Still photographers may move about the balcony area. Television camera crews are asked to shoot only from the positions assigned to them in the balcony news media area. TV camera crews should set up by 11:15 a.m. and are asked to refrain from breaking down their equipment until the service is over. A mult-box for audio feed will be provided.

Class Day, an event organized by Yale College seniors, begins at 2:30 p.m. Sunday on the Old Campus lawns. The Yale College Class Day speaker on Sunday will be NBC-TV “Nightly News” anchor and managing editor Tom Brokaw.

The Class Day program also includes traditional events such as planting the Class Ivy and reciting the Ivy Ode; awarding teaching prizes to faculty members and academic prizes to students; and singing Yale’s alma mater, “Bright College Years,” while waving the traditional white handkerchief.

Reporters may cover this event from the news media platform to the left of the stage, near the High Street entrance. There will be an audio mult-box for radio/television crews. A BNC video feed from Yale’s dedicated camera in front of the stage will provide a head-on camera angle.

MONDAY, MAY 25

University Commencement: Commencement exercises on Old Campus are scheduled to begin at 10:30 a.m., when all graduates have reached their seats.

Photographers and camera crews interested in covering the procession can do so from Cross Campus, which is bounded by Elm, High, Wall and College streets. Seniors and candidates for graduate and professional degrees will begin to assemble there at 9:30 a.m. At about 10 a.m., the procession will begin to move through Noah Porter Gate on Elm Street toward the New Haven Green.

Joining the procession on the Green will be honorary degree recipients and members of the Yale administration and governing board, who gather beforehand in front of Woodbridge Hall on Wall Street. Moving to the music of the Yale Band, the entire procession passes through the upper quadrant of the Green and enters the Old Campus through Phelps Gateway on College Street. Candidates for graduate and professional degrees enter Old Campus from Elm and High streets.

Please note that the University police will not allow anyone who is not an official member of the procession to enter Old Campus through Phelps Gateway on College Street until after the procession has passed. Enter through the next gate on College Street near the corner of Chapel Street, or the small High Street gate closest to Elm Street. Proceed to the news media platform left of the stage near the High Street entrance.

All reporters, photographers and camera crews must cover Commencement from the news media platform, where video and audio feeds will be available Access to the platform requires a Yale media credential. Information about the number of degrees being granted, the names of those receiving honorary degrees and other awards being presented will be provided. It is a Yale tradition to announce honorary degree recipients at Commencement, not before.

Individual College Ceremonies: Each of Yale’s 12 residential colleges holds a ceremony following the main Commencement exercises, and it is there that individual diplomas are awarded. These ceremonies are held in the courtyards of each college, unless otherwise noted.

Graduate and Professional School Ceremonies also are held at each respective school following University Commencement, beginning about noon. Most schools invite their deans to speak at these events. Schools of Art and Architecture: Joint ceremony in Weir courtyard the sculpture garden of the Yale University Art Gallery, 66 High St., followed by a reception for graduates and their guests at the same location. In case of rain, the ceremony will take place in the lecture hall of the Yale Art Gallery enter on High Street.

Divinity School: Sunday, May 24, at 4 p.m., Baccalaureate on the Sterling Divinity Quadrangle, 409 Prospect St. A reception will follow at approximately 5:30 p.m. on the lower quadrangle. On Monday, May 25, from 7:15-8:15 a.m., a Eucharist service will be held in Marquand Chapel. Awarding of degrees is at 12:45 p.m., with Dean Richard Wood speaking. In case of rain, the degree ceremony will be held in Marquand Chapel.

School of Drama: University Theatre, 222 York St., followed by a reception at the Yale Cabaret, 217 Park St.

Department of Epidemiology and Public Health: Laboratory of Epidemiology and Public Health lawn, 60 College St., followed by a reception.

School of Forestry and Environmental Studies: Marsh Hall lawn, 360 Prospect St., followed by a reception on the grounds.

Graduate School of Arts and Sciences: Ph.D. degrees will be awarded and Wilbur Cross medals conferred to distinguished alumni at a ceremony in Woolsey Hall. A reception will follow in the Hall of Graduate Studies courtyard, 320 York St.

Law School: Law School courtyard, 127 Wall St.

School of Management: Culkins Courtyard, 135 Prospect St., followed by a luncheon in Donaldson Commons, 15 Mansfield St. Speaking at the ceremony will be Richard A. Grasso, chairman and CEO of The New York Stock Exchange.

School of Medicine: Courtyard of Edward S. Harkness Hall, 367 Cedar St., with Dr. David A. Kessler, dean of the School of Medicine, speaking.

School of Music: Morse Recital Hall in Sprague Memorial Hall, 470 College St., followed by a reception at the Center Church Parish House, 311 Temple St.

School of Nursing: Prince Street Park, corner of Cedar and Prince streets, followed by a reception at the School of Nursing, 100 Church St. South.

Yale Center for International and Area Studies: Front lawn, Luce Hall, 34 Hillhouse Ave., followed by a reception in Luce Hall common room. In case of rain, the ceremony will be held in the auditorium.

Other Events of Interest:

Saturday May 23

4-6 p.m.: President’s Reception for members of the senior class and their guests, 43 Hillhouse Ave. In the event of inclement weather, the reception will be in Woolsey Hall Commons.

8 p.m.: The Commencement Musical, “Guys and Dolls,” presented by the Yale Dramatic Association. University Theatre, 222 York St. Tickets are $10-$18 at the box office.

8 p.m.: Yale Glee Club Concert. Woolsey Hall, College and Grove streets. Tickets are $8 and $12; available at the door, or call 432-4136.

Sunday, May 24

2 p.m.: The Commencement Musical, “Guys and Dolls,” see above.

4 p.m.: School of Music Commencement Concert, Morse Recital Hall in Sprague Memorial Hall, 470 College St. Free of charge.

7 p.m.: The Yale Concert Band will perform on Old Campus. Free.

8:30 p.m.: The Commencement Musical, “Guys and Dolls,” presented by the Yale Dramatic Association at University Theatre, 222 York.

8 p.m.: Concert by the Whiffenpoofs and Whim ‘n Rhythm, Woolsey.

10 p.m.: Commencement Ball, sponsored by the Senior Class, Beinecke Plaza, rain location in Commons, corner of Grove and College streets. Seniors and guests only, tickets $10.