Register to participate in Commencement 2022

March 14, 2022

Cynthia Barnhart, Provost | Leslie A. Kolodziejski, Commencement Faculty Marshal and Professor of Electrical Engineering | James Poterba, Chair, Commencement Committee and Mitsui Professor of Economics | Lily L. Tsai, Chair of the Faculty, 2021–2023 |

Dear Colleagues,

With Commencement season nearly here, we write to update you on this year’s plans and invite you to participate in the festivities.

We would appreciate your telling us of your plans to attend the Commencement ceremonies by completing the online form, which you can use to request rental regalia. If you are ordering regalia, please process your form by 9 a.m. on Monday, April 11. The registration form will remain open after that point, but regalia orders must be in earlier than in the past due to supply chain pressures.

A new celebration format

As announced in December, the 2022 season brings a new format for celebrating Commencement at MIT. The OneMIT Ceremony on Killian Court (Friday, May 27) will comprise several familiar elements, including the Academic Procession, speeches, and turning of the Brass Rat. However, no diplomas will be presented on stage and individual graduate recognition will be moved to a series of events that take place mostly Thursday and Friday. Undergraduates will cross the stage on the afternoon of Friday, May 27, and school/college ceremonies for advanced degree candidates, including doctoral hood investiture, will take place mainly on Thursday, May 26. The full schedule is below.

Welcoming the Classes of 2020 and 2021

On the morning of Saturday, May 28, the MIT Classes of 2020 and 2021 – who were not able to celebrate Commencement on campus and in person due to the pandemic – will be honored in a single ceremony on Killian Court.

Participation

MIT Commencement is a time when faculty and lecturers celebrate the accomplishments of their students and you are encouraged to participate in the graduation ceremonies. We understand that the celebration period leads up to and includes Memorial Day weekend and that attending all events would require a significant time commitment. For this year’s celebration of three classes (2020, 2021, and 2022), please consult with your department head and colleagues to ensure representation from your area. Register here for all ceremonies that fit your schedule.

Tickets and logistics

Faculty and lecturers who are participating in Commencement ceremonies do not require a ticket, but their guests do. To request a guest ticket, please send a note with the pertinent details to James Poterba, Mitsui Professor of Economics and chair of the Commencement Committee.

Logistics for the new celebration are still in development, so we invite you to visit the faculty pages in the Commencement website in May when more information about all the festivities will be available (faculty FAQ). Details will be emailed directly to participants as the dates approach. In the meantime, if you have any questions, please contact Ted Johnson, Executive Officer for Commencement.

Thank you

These ceremonies are extraordinary milestone events for our graduates. Your participation is not only essential to the success of the events, but a key part of what makes them so memorable. Whether this is your first MIT Commencement or your twentieth, we invite you to gather with the MIT community – in person, together – to participate in these capstones to our educational mission.

Sincerely,

Cynthia Barnhart, Provost

Leslie A. Kolodziejski, Commencement Faculty Marshal and Professor of Electrical Engineering

James Poterba, Chair, Commencement Committee and Mitsui Professor of Economics

Lily L. Tsai, Chair of the Faculty and Ford Professor of Political Science

Commencement 2022 celebration schedule

Faculty and lecturers are welcome to participate in all events.

Thursday, May 26, 2022

Advanced Degree Ceremonies

These ceremonies are for master’s and doctoral candidates. Ceremonies will include graduate name recognition, as well as hood investiture for doctoral candidates. Details on assembly and participation are forthcoming from school/college organizers.

School of Science Advanced Degree Ceremony

Ceremony: 11 a.m.–12:30 p.m., Swraj Paul Theater at Kresge Auditorium
Reception: 12:30–2 p.m., Johnson Athletics Center Ice Rink

School of Engineering and Schwarzman College of Computing Advanced Degree Ceremony

Ceremony: 1–3 p.m., Briggs Field Tent
Individual department, lab, and center receptions to follow; details forthcoming

School of Humanities, Arts, and Social Sciences Advanced Degree Ceremony

Ceremony: 1:30–3 p.m., Media Lab Complex, E14 6th Floor
Reception: 3–4 p.m., Media Lab Complex, E14 6th Floor

School of Architecture and Planning Advanced Degree Ceremony

Ceremony: 2:30–4 p.m., Swraj Paul Theater at Kresge Auditorium
Reception: 4–5:30 p.m., Johnson Athletics Center Ice Rink

Faculty and lecturers in the Sloan School of Management are encouraged to contact their program officers for specifics about Sloan ceremonies; the full schedule is listed below.

Friday, May 27, 2022

OneMIT Commencement Ceremony

Members of the Class of 2022, and their guests, are invited to the OneMIT Commencement Ceremony. This event is for graduates of all degree programs in all schools and the college.

Faculty and lecturers assemble at Kresge Oval: 9:15 a.m.
Ceremony in Killian Court: 10 a.m.–12 noon
Reception: 12 noon–1:30 p.m.; venues to be announced

Undergraduate Ceremony

This ceremony, comprising individual name recognition, is for anyone receiving a bachelor’s degree.

Faculty and lecturers assemble at Briggs Field: 1:30 p.m.
Ceremony at Briggs Field: 2–4 p.m.

Saturday, May 28, 2022

Special ceremony for the Classes of 2020 and 2021

This event includes an Academic Procession, welcome from President Reif, and individual name recognition for those alums in attendance.

Faculty and lecturers assemble in tent on Building 14 lawn: 9:15 a.m.
Ceremony in Killian Court: 10 a.m.–12:30 p.m.
Reception to follow; venue to be announced

Sloan School of Management Advanced Degree Program Ceremony schedule

Ceremonies will include individual name recognition.

Tuesday, May 24

Sloan Fellows Program: 6 p.m.

Wednesday, May 25

Master of Science in Management Studies Program: 6 p.m.

Thursday, May 26

Master of Finance Program: 10 a.m.
Doctoral Program in Management (comprising hood investiture): 11 a.m.
Executive MBA Program: 2 p.m.

Friday, May 27

MBA Program: 3 p.m.