Faculty Information

Moving to the DCU Center has many exciting benefits for our students and their families, all of which are new. Below are some basic information points for our 2024 Commencement Ceremonies.

 

May 2024

Faculty Commencement Week Events

Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday  Thursday Friday Saturday
     

1

End of D-Term Classes & Class of 2024 Send-Off

This is a new event to celebrate the Class of 2024

5:00 – 7:00 

On the Quad

 

Music, Lawn Games, Photos and a Presidential Toast to the Class of 2024

2

 

3

 

4

5

6

7

Earle Bridge Crossing & Convocation 

By 2:00: Line-up along Earle Bridge in regalia

2:00: Student Processional starts for Earle Bridge Crossing

2:30: Processional moves into Harrington for Convocation (formerly Baccalaureate) 

4:00: Ice Cream on the Quad

8

ROTC Commissioning Ceremony

3:00: Alden Memorial

 

9

Graduate Commencement Ceremony 

3:00 – 4:00: With your regalia, meet at Unity Hall Parking lot for bus travel to the DCU Center 

 

5:00 

Graduate Ceremony begins

 

10

Undergraduate Commencement Ceremony

12:00 – 1:00: With your regalia, meet at Unity Hall Parking lot for bus travel to the DCU Center 

 

2:00

Undergraduate Ceremony begins

 

6:00 – 9:00: Stop by Higgins House to socialize with members of the Class of 2024 and Alumni 

 

11

Reunion Weekend Activities

 

Join Lifetime Engagement for Reunion Activities

Information for Faculty about the Ceremonies

Date/Time of Ceremonies

Thursday, May 9: Graduate Ceremony @ 5:00 pm, DCU Center, Worcester, MA 

The ceremony will last approximately two hours. 

Friday, May 10: Undergraduate Student Ceremony @ 2:00 pm, DCU Center, Worcester, MA

The ceremony will last approximately three hours. 

Transportation

Faculty will be provided transportation from campus to the DCU Center, as well as a return after the ceremonies are over. 

Faculty board buses to the DCU Center at Unity Hall N. Boynton Lot as follows:

     On Thursday: at 3:00 PM 

     On Friday at 12:00 PM

Faculty will enter the DCU Center via Door 2 and will robe in the Press Room. WPI staff will be easily identifiable and will direct you to that room. Students will process past the faculty on the way to their seats. 

Faculty may travel to the DCU Center on their own, yet will be responsible for their own parking costs. 

Regalia
  • You will need to wear academic regalia for the Commencement Ceremony. If you do not own regalia, after the pre-order deadline of February 15, a rental may be available from the Bookstore on a first-come first served basis. Please contact the Bookstore directly to ask about regalia. 
DCU Entrances
  • All faculty will enter the DCU Center via Door 2 and will robe in the Press Room. WPI staff will be easily identifiable and will direct you to that room. Students will process past our faculty on the way to their chairs. 
Seating
  • Faculty will NOT be seated on-stage. Instead, they will be seated on the Arena floor in the front rows with our Trustees facing the stage. 
  • Ph.D. sponsors will line-up with their doctoral candidate(s) in the Exhibit Hall and will be seated next to them on the arena floor. 
2025 and 2026 Ceremony Information

For planning purposes: 

Tentative Commencement Dates for 2025 are May 15/16, 2025. 

Tentative dates for 2026 are May 14/15, 2026.