Information for Graduates
The Hampshire College commencement ceremony is about celebrating you. Take an active role and make it as successful as you are.
Commencement Plans and Diploma Names
Commencement Information and Diploma Form
All graduating students should have received a qualtrics form sent by Yaniris Fernandez to your Hampshire email address. Please make sure to fill this out. If you have questions please email ymfPR@hamsphire.edu.
Graduate Names
In order for us to ensure that we pronounce your name correctly during Commencement activities, all graduating students will receive an email from NameCoach with a unique link that will allow you to log in and record your name. It is important that you do this in advance to assist us in reading names correctly during the ceremony. If you need technical assistance with NameCoach, please send an email to support@name-coach.com. If you have further questions please contact the Office of the Dean of Faculty at 413.559.5378 or dof@hampshire.edu.
Order of Events
Diplomas
Diplomas will be digital this year and will be handled by the Office of the Dean of Faculty. To receive a diploma, you must not have any holds on your account (e.g., overdue library materials, unpaid balance on your student account, etc.). You should check your student account on TheHub to confirm if you have a balance due, and, if possible, be sure to settle your student account by Friday, May 20, at noon. After Commencement, you will receive an email from Parchment asking you to claim your digital diploma as well as verify the address you want your actual diploma mailed to.
If you have a question about a library hold, please contact Suzanne Karanakis (413.559.5762 or smkLO@hampshire.edu). Questions about holds from the business office should be directed to the Student Accounts Office. Please note that diploma holds cannot be cleared on the date of Commencement.
Registration
Registration begins on Saturday morning in the Franklin Patterson Hall lobby at 9 a.m.
Graduate Names
You will receive a name card at registration to present to the dean when crossing the stage. DO NOT change or exchange your card. If you have a concern about the pronunciation of your name, someone will be at the registration table to assist you. Make sure you have your name card with you at all times.
Line-up
Line-up for the commencement procession begins at 10:15 a.m. at the Franklin Patterson Hall courtyard. Participants line up in the following order: Pipers, staff convener, President and trustee chair, dean of faculty and keynote speaker, student moderators, deans, trustees, faculty, alumni, students. There is no alphabetical order in the line-up, so you may process with your friends. The procession begins 10:45 a.m. sharp. You cannot join the procession after it begins.
Seating
Please take your seats as quickly as possible. You must fill in all the rows as you process into the tent, which means it might not be possible to sit with all your friends.
Order of events
Reading the Graduate Names
An usher will indicate when each row is to go up to the stage. Make sure you have your name card with you. You will be guided to the entering side of the stage. Staff will give your name card to the dean of faculty, who will read your name and prompt you to cross the stage. Stand on the marked spot on the stage (an "X") to meet the President. After the President congratulates you, you will leave the stage on the other side and go directly back to your seat. Graduating students must be in their seats after all the names are read, so degrees can be conferred by the President. The commencement ceremony is over at this point, and you may leave to meet your families and friends.
Livestream and Video
Commencement will be livestreamed on Facebook and YouTube. A full video will be posted on Hampshire's YouTube channel.
Important Pre-Commencement Events:
Mandatory Graduate Meeting
All graduating students are required to attend this informational session for commencement.
Thursday, May 18 from 3-4:30 p.m. in the Main Lecture Hall, Franklin Patterson Hall
Division III showcase
Friday, May 19, Time 9am - 3 pm, in Franklin Patterson Hall
Community Bell Ringing
Friday, May 19 from 3:15-4:00 p.m. in Harold F. Johnson Library
Immediately following the Division III Showcase, we ask everyone to join us at the Division-Free Bell at the Harold Johnson Library. We will first get our graduates together and take a class photo, then proceed to hear the history of the bell, and celebrate graduating students as they ring it to mark the successful culmination of their Hampshire education.
Community Commencement Reception
Friday, May 19 from 4-5:00 p.m. under the Charles and Polly Longsworth Solar Canopy
Join the graduating students, their friends, and families in celebrating their commencement with light hors d'oeuvres, refreshments.
Commencement Ceremony
Saturday, May 20 at 11 a.m. on the Library Lawn
Tickets are not required for the commencement ceremony; however, families are advised to arrive on campus early to allow ample time to park and insure seating under the tent. Additional seating will be available in the Franklin Patterson Hall Main Lecture Hall, where a live webcast of the ceremony will be screened.
Residences Closing
All residents must be completely moved out of campus housing, have returned their keys to the Housing Operations Office, and have left the campus by noon on Sunday, May 21. Graduating residents will be permitted to move out on Monday, May 22 if they need the extra day. Residents who return keys late will be billed a $100 per day late-stay charge.
Division III Title Changes
Students can change their Division III titles directly on TheHub without having to revise their entire contracts. From the evaluation menu, there is a new link under "Division III" called "Change My Division III Title." Students can complete this form anytime until their Division IIIs are evaluated by their chairs.
IMPORTANT NOTE: Due to publication deadlines, the title listed on the May commencement program is the title on the Division III contract on the pass date. The titles will be shared with the school offices and Central Records. It is therefore strongly recommended that students consult with their Division III chairpersons and confirm that the title on the contract is consistent with the title submitted to the committee and the one they want listed on the commencement program.
Cap and Gown Ordering Information
Those graduates wishing to order a cap and gown for the commencement ceremony should order through the recommended vendor Economy Cap and Gown here.
First Generation College Student Information
First generation students are invited to request a first generation cord to wear at commencement by emailing firstgen@hampshire.edu.