Guest Seating

Every seat on the Green has a great view of the ceremony. Here’s what to expect on the morning of Commencement:

• All seats have good sightlines of the Jumbotron, so you can view the ceremony from every spot on the Green.
• No need to save seats. There is ample seating for everyone who wants to sit during the ceremony. Some guests find the best spot under a tree for shade or on the bleachers with a higher view of the scene.
• If you arrive at 7:30 a.m., you’ll have your pick of the seating. By 8 a.m., about 50% of the seats are available, and by 8:30 a.m., about 15% of the seats are available. Guests are asked to find their seats at 8:45 a.m., and the academic procession begins at 9 a.m.
• At 9 a.m. all walkways are closed to allow for the procession to come through the Green.
• Families and guests are seated behind the graduates, as shown on the seating chart. (PDF)
• Indoor seating is available in nearby Dartmouth Hall, Reed Hall, Thornton Hall, and Collis Common Ground. These are comfortable options for accessibility or in case of rain or very warm weather; restrooms are also available in these buildings, which are located right next to the Green.
• There’s opportunity to move around and change seats. The ceremony runs for about four and a half hours, and some seats are vacated after the Honorary degrees and graduate and professional degrees are conferred (see Order of Exercises). 

See the seating chart. (PDF)