Why
is Bryn Mawr College’s Commencement two days long?
Bryn Mawr College divides the Commencement festivities
into two parts: Convocation and Commencement. Convocation
occurs on Friday and features remarks from
the senior class president(s) and representatives from
both the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences and the
Graduate School of Social Work and Social Research.
During Commencement on Saturday, President Jane McAuliffe confers the degrees of Bachelors, Masters and Doctors onto the assembled candidates. The Bachelors or Masters candidate receives a Bryn Mawr College diploma, while the Doctoral candidate is “hooded” by the Chair of the General Faculty. Degrees are conferred in reverse order beginning with the Ph.D. and ending with the A.B. Bachelors degrees which are awarded in alphabetical order by academic department and alphabetical order by last name within a department.
Should
we attend both Convocation and Commencement?
While it is not required that guests attend both Convocation
and Commencement, the ceremonies serve different functions
and offer family and friends a unique view into the
Bryn Mawr College experience.
Where
are Convocation and Commencement held?
The ceremonies are held outside under a tent on Merion
Green, rain or shine. Spring in the Philadelphia area
can range from hot and humid to cold and wet, therefore
we recommend that guests dress in layers.
Do
we need tickets for Commencement?
Tickets are not required for Convocation or Commencement
or for any receptions on campus throughout the
weekend. Hosting the Commencement Weekend ceremonies
out-of-doors allows us to accommodate all of our graduates’
families, friends and guests.
What is an announcement? How do I order announcements?Announcements are not a requirement but are a method of alerting family and friends who might not be able to attend the weekend that your child is graduating.
Typically, families choose to order announcements from Balfour as the College has a history with the company. Bryn Mawr awards an 'A.B.' degree to undergraduate candidates, which is merely 'B.A.' in Latin.
What is the difference between tickets and invitations?
Bryn Mawr College does not issue tickets for Commencement weekend.
Invitations are similar to a save-the-date announcement. One is distributed by the College to family or friends as indicated by the degree candidate. Up to two additional invitations are available, upon request, from the Conferences and Events Office beginning the second week in April.
Neither tickets nor invitations are required to attend either Convocation or Commencement. Please be advised that seating is not reserved and therefore is available on a first-come, first-serve basis.
How
do we reserve seats?
All seating is first-come, first-serve. Chairs
may not be reserved with signage, balloons, coats, umbrellas,
etc. in advance of either ceremony. However, you may
hold sufficient seating to accommodate your family as
long as a family member is continually present.
To accommodate family members and guests with special needs, i.e. wheelchair seating, sign language interpreters, etc., each degree candidate will be mailed a Request for Accommodations form to be completed and returned to the Conferences and Events office no later than the second week of May.
What
time do the ceremonies begin?
Convocation will begin promptly at 4:30pm on Friday. Commencement will begin promptly at
2:00 p.m.on Saturday with a processional of the graduates, faculty
and administration. To ensure that the procession runs
smoothly and to allow everyone a view, we ask that you
vacate the aisles by 1:45 p.m.
How
long is the ceremony?
Convocation on Friday is usually 60 minutes long
and has an abbreviated academic procession with degree candidates and those speaking. .Commencement on Saturday is typically 2 hours in length
and is immediately followed by Garden Party for AB degree recipients and their guests and a separate reception for all Masters and Ph.D. recipients
and their guests.
What
is Garden Party?
Garden Party is a traditional tea party that gives the
Bachelors recipient an opportunity to introduce her
family, friends and guests to her Bryn Mawr College
friends and faculty. Light refreshments are provided
by Bryn Mawr College Dining Services for this event.
Garden Party begins at the conclusion of Commencement
(approximately 4:00 p.m.) and ends at 6:00 p.m.
Where
should we park?
Parking is available in all Bryn Mawr College lots.
In the event that a lot is full, a uniformed Public
Safety Officer or a sign will direct you to the next
nearest available lot.
Our neighbors, the Shipley School and the Baldwin School, have graciously agreed to permit parking in their lots during Commencement Weekend. These lots are located within easy walking distance of the Commencement activities. In addition, Bryn Mawr campus shuttles will drive a continuous loop between the parking areas and campus.
The Shipley School parking lot is located off of Wyndon Avenue between Roberts Road and Merion Avenue.
The Baldwin School parking lot is accessible via the black gate located on the corner of Morris and Montgomery Avenues.
May
we take photographs of the speakers and graduates during
the ceremonies?
Yes, you may take photographs from your seat; however,
to avoid obstructing the view of others, you are asked
not to approach the stage area. Bryn Mawr has contracted
with Legacy Photographics (www.legacyphoto.com)
to take a photograph of each graduate receiving his/her
diploma from President Jane Dammen McAuliffe. Legacy Photographics
will mail information about purchasing these photographs
to the parents of Bachelors candidates and directly
to the advanced degree candidates.
The College does not benefit financially from this arrangement; it is provided as a service to graduates and their families. You are under no obligation to purchase these pictures.
A
member of our family has a mobility impairment and requires
special access. How should we arrange for this?
There is a designated drop-off point in the Merion parking
lot close to the tent on Merion Green. In addition,
reserved parking and reserved seating are available
for guests with special needs.
In order for us to arrange for your needs, please have the degree candidate complete and return the Request for Accommodations form no later than the second week in May. For both days, parking placard(s) and/or Special Access seating tickets are required. The parking placard will be checked when you enter the parking lot and an usher will be stationed at the Special Access entrance to the tent to collect your tickets.
A map indicating these areas will be included with the parking placard(s) and/or Special Access seating tickets. Degree candidates must pick up this information packet from Conferences and Events, lower level of the Campus Center, during the week of Commencement