Commencement

10–11 a.m. | Geothermal Project Tour

Julia McWilliams Child ’34 Campus Center, Elm Street entrance
Learn what all the construction around campus is about and what the college is doing to mitigate its carbon footprint during this student-run tour with Engineering major Dakota Law '24.

1–1:45 p.m. | Ivy Day Leadership Orientation

Julia McWilliams Child ’34 Campus Center front steps, Chapin lawn
A preview of weekend activities and leadership roles for Ivy Day for all members of Sophomore Push and Junior Ushers.

1:45–3 p.m. | Commencement Leadership Orientation

Comstock Courtyard
A preview of Commencement and leadership roles for all members of Sophomore Push and Junior Ushers, the co-president of the Ada Comstock Scholars, the president of the senior class and the president of the SGA.

3:30–4:30 p.m. | Baccalaureate, for seniors only

Helen Hills Hill Chapel
Baccalaureate gives seniors an opportunity to pause, reflect upon and rejoice in their accomplishments, challenges and friendships. President Sarah Willie-LeBreton will deliver remarks to the senior class. Per Smith tradition, students are invited to wear graduation gowns but not caps, and an accessory in your class color—something BLUE!

4–5 p.m. | 12-Step Recovery Program meeting, open to all

Wright Hall 002

5–7 p.m. | Senior Celebration Barbecue

5–7:30 p.m. | The Smith Bell Ringers’ Open Practice

Mendenhall Bell Tower
All alumnae and families are welcome. Come meet the bell ringers and visit the tower. Those new to change ringing can get an introductory lesson, and general practice will run from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m.

8 p.m. | Celebrations Dance Company’s Annual Commencement Concert

Scott Dance Studio
Performance by Celebrations, Smith’s oldest student-run dance company, showcasing student choreography and performance. Donations accepted.

8–8:45 p.m. | Faculty Talk: James Lowenthal: “How Smith College is Saving the World from Light Pollution: A Global Problem with a Local Solution”

McConnell Hall 103
Smith's beautiful and historic campus comes alive at night with activity: students studying or relaxing or partying, and eventually even sleeping; nocturnal animals foraging or migrating or pollinating; and astronomers studying the cosmos.  All of those are enhanced by careful, thoughtful lighting at night, and are threatened by careless or excessive lighting and light pollution.  Learn how and why Smith endorsed the Five Principles of Responsible Outdoor Lighting, and how Smith has joined the growing international movement to protect dark skies.

For Saturday's academic departments and programs receptions, please see the academic receptions tab.

8 a.m. | Meeting of Sophomore Push 

Indoor Track & Tennis Facility

7–9 a.m. | Breakfast for students

Served in Cutter/Ziskind, King/Scales, Chase and Tyler houses

Ivy Day Activities

Doors to the ITT open at 8 a.m. for Ivy Day. Seniors should enter the main lobby of the ITT through the glass doors and will be instructed where to pick up their roses and line up. Junior ushers should assemble in the ITT by the overhead door. Alumnae will march through the double line of seniors and past the reviewing stand before being seated. The senior class, led by the junior ushers, will then follow.

8:30 a.m. | Junior Ushers Assemble

Indoor Track & Tennis Facility

8:45 a.m. | Seniors Assemble

Indoor Track & Tennis Facility
Seniors should enter the main lobby of the ITT through the glass doors and will be instructed where to pick up their roses and line up. Seniors should wear all-white attire and dark shoes. Please be on time.
Ivy Day Livestream

9:15 a.m. | Alumnae Parade & Senior Class Procession

Led by the Festival Band, alumnae will march through the inside parade route and past the platform party. The senior class will then follow the route of the alumnae, and will be led by the junior ushers carrying the ivy chain past the platform party, and will then be seated.

11 a.m.–5 p.m. | Josten Library Open Hours

Josten Library, Mendenhall Center for the Performing Arts
Visit Smith’s performing arts library, which boasts inspiring architecture and an outstanding interdisciplinary collection of music, theater and dance books; playscripts; music scores; as well as audio, video and other resources.

11 a.m.–5 p.m. | Smith College Museum of Art Open Hours

Smith College Museum of Art
Drop by the Smith College Museum of Art to explore the galleries, talk with museum staff, and visit the exhibition A Beacon to the World: Art from Sylvia Smith Lewis ’74 and Byron E. Lewis Sr. Collection.

11:30 a.m.–12:30 p.m. | Athletics Open House

Ainsworth Gymnasium 151, Ainsworth level 1 entrance hallway
All ESS graduates and ESS minors, as well as current and past athletes, are invited to stop by to visit with ESS faculty and Athletics coaching and administrative staff.

11:30 a.m.–1 p.m. | Tote lunch for Seniors and remaining students on campus

Chapin Lawn
Parents and guests may purchase a lunch online. Check back soon for more details.

12–1:30 p.m. | POSSE Scholars Graduation Celebration

Skyline Reading Room, Neilson Library
A celebration for the POSSE Scholars and their families. Invite-only.

1:30–2:15 p.m. | President’s Reception

Seelye lawn (rain location: Julia McWilliams Child ’34 Campus Center)
For seniors and graduate students, their families, guests, faculty, alumnae and staff.

2 p.m. | Celebrations Dance Company’s Annual Commencement Concert

Scott Dance Studio
Performance by Celebrations, Smith’s oldest student-run dance company, showcasing student choreography and performance. Donations accepted.

2:15–3:15 p.m. | Jill Ker Conway Innovation and Entrepreneurship Center Open House

Conway Innovation and Entrepreneurship Center, Neilson 103
Come to the Conway Center to meet staff, learn about the dynamic and globally relevant financial education, innovation, and entrepreneurship initiatives offered, and browse student innovation project displays. 

2:30–4 p.m. | Design Thinking Initiative Open House

Capen Annex, Henshaw Avenue
Come visit Capen Annex, home of the Design Thinking Initiative, before you leave campus! We’ll celebrate the Class of 2024 and share updates on all of the cool projects that have been happening in our cozy space on Henshaw Ave. Activities and light refreshments will be available.

2:30–4 p.m. | Hillyer Art Library Open House

Hillyer Art Library, Brown Fine Arts Center
Explore Smith’s remarkable art library and browse collections covering the history, theory, criticism and practice of the visual arts.

2:30–4 p.m. | Residence Life Reception

Clark Hall, conference room and porch
For student staff members, seniors, and their families, as well as alums who have served in these roles.

2:30–4:30 p.m. | Neilson Library Open House

Neilson Library
Welcome to Neilson Library! Take a self-guided tour of Neilson Library as designed by Maya Lin. Walk through the Neilson Library: Evolution exhibit in the 2nd floor gallery.

2:30–4:30 p.m. | Special Collections Open House

Special Collections Reading Room, Neilson Library, 3rd floor
Visit the home of Smith’s Special Collections. Meet curators and archivists, view unique materials and learn about the College Archives, the Mortimer Rare Book Collection and the Sophia Smith Collection of Women’s History.

2:30 p.m.–3 p.m. | Delta Phi Alpha, Lambda Rho Chapter

Hatfield Hall 204
German Studies department German Honor Society Initiation Ceremony. Families and alumnae welcome.

3–4:30 p.m. | Botanic Garden Open House

Lyman Plant House and Conservatory
Drop in to Lyman Plant House and Conservatory to explore the collections, meet staff, and experience the current exhibit The Bell Jars: Lyman Conservatory and Sylvia Plath’s Botanical Imagination, on display in The Church Exhibition Gallery. For more information, see: The Bell Jars: Lyman Conservatory and Sylvia Plath’s Botanical Imagination.

3–5 p.m. | Smith Crew Boathouse Open House and Reception

Connecticut River Boathouse, Sportsman’s Marina, 1 Russell St., Hadley, Mass.
All Smith crew alumnae, team members and families are welcome to attend. Light refreshments will be served. No shuttle service.

3–4:30 p.m. | Smith College Historic Clothing Collection Open House

Theatre T15, Mendenhall Center for the Performing Arts
Explore the college’s research archive of women’s clothing now in its 45th year. It is the subject of the new book Real Clothes, Real Lives: 200 Years of What Women Wore. The cabinets will be open, and examples of garments and accessories will be on view. 

3:45–4:35 p.m. | Faculty Talk: Andrea Hairston ’74: “Archangels of Funk”z

Graham Hall, Brown Fine Arts Center
Afrofuturist Adventures—Andrea Hairston ’74 and Smith College Professor Emerita of Theatre and Africana Studies will do a performance reading from her new book Archangels of Funk with musicians. She’ll discuss going from drama queen to novelist, including questions of craft and her publishing escapades.

4–5 p.m. | 12-Step Recovery Program meeting, open to all.

Wright Hall 002

4–5 p.m.—Service of Remembrance

Helen Hills Hills Chapel
A multifaith memorial service for reflecting, remembering and celebrating the lives of those who have died, focusing on Smith alums who have passed on since the last reunion. All are welcome.

5–6 p.m. | Commencement Choral Concert

Sweeney Concert Hall, Sage Hall
The Glee Club and Chamber Singers present works chosen by members of the senior class.

7:45 p.m. | Junior Ushers meeting

Julia McWilliams Child ’34 Campus Center

8 p.m. | Senior Class Candle-Lighting Ceremony

Paradise Pond lawn

8:15 p.m. | Meeting of Sophomore Push

Seelye Hall steps

8:30 p.m. | Sophomore Push/Senior Step Sing

Seelye Hall steps

8:30–10 p.m. | Illumination of Upper Campus

Please join us for this tradition as you walk through campus to enjoy the display of colorful lanterns and light displays illuminating campus buildings
Live music by the Jay Messer Quintet on the Campus Center steps

A Cappella Performances

8:30–10 p.m. | Ada Comstock Illumination Night Celebration

Boutelle-Day Poetry Center, Wright Hall 102, and Wright Hall upper lobby

7–9 a.m. | Breakfast for Students

Served in Cutter/Ziskind, King/Scales, Cushing/Emerson, Chase and Tyler houses
The Campus Center Café is open for students, staff, families and faculty. Orders may be placed through the GrubHub app.

8 a.m. | Meeting of Junior Ushers

Indoor Track & Tennis Facility

8 a.m. | Meeting of Sophomore Push

Indoor Track & Tennis Facility

Commencement Activities

For Commencement, the ITT doors will open at 8 a.m. Graduates will line up at 9:15 a.m. in Ainsworth Gymnasium, and faculty members will assemble in the Ainsworth main hallway (glass-door entrance).

9:15 a.m. | Assembling for Commencement

All graduates must line up no later than 9:15 a.m. Seniors should arrive wearing full regalia.

Audience members should be seated by 9:45 a.m.

Seating Policy

Seats cannot be saved for those arriving later. Tape, signs, and other items placed on chairs to save seats will be removed by college personnel.

10 a.m. | Commencement Exercises

Indoor Track & Tennis Facility
Commencement Livestream

Immediately Following Commencement | Diploma Circle

Graduating students only. Graduates will be directed out of the ITT and into Ainsworth Gym. No family members or friends will be permitted at Diploma Circle. We ask that family and friends remain in the ITT to meet up with graduates after they return from the Diploma Circle.

12:30–2 p.m. | Commencement Brunch honoring seniors and graduate students

 (Immediately following Commencement Exercises) 
Served in the following Dining locations- Chapin,Chase/Duckett,Comstock/Haynes (formerly Wilder), Cutter/Ziskind(includes Kosher) Cushing/Emerson,CC Carroll Room 208, Dawes, Gillett/Northrop, King/Scales, Lamont, and Tyler houses. 
Families and friends are invited to this special celebratory meal honoring seniors and graduate students. To RSVP, register here.

11 a.m.–4 p.m. | Smith College Museum of Art Open Hours

Smith College Museum of Art
Drop by the Smith College Museum of Art to explore the galleries, talk with museum staff, and visit the exhibition A Beacon to the World: Art from Sylvia Smith Lewis ’74 and Byron E. Lewis Sr. Collection.