Faculty Information
Moving to the DCU Center has many exciting benefits for our students and their families, all of which are new. Below are some basic information points for our 2024 Commencement Ceremonies.
Save the Dates: Commencement 2024
Please note the locations of all of these activities. Undergraduate and Graduate Commencement Ceremonies will be held at the DCU Center in Worcester, MA.
Friday, April 19: 4:30 – 6:30 – GRADFEST Campus Center Odeum — This is a great chance to socialize and connect with your students!
Wednesday, May 1: 5:00 - 7:00 - Class of 2024 send-off on the Quad. The graduating class receives a wonderful send-off from fellow underclass students, and a toast to success from the President of WPI. Faculty welcome and invited to this new event!
Tuesday, May 7: 2:00: Earle Bridge Crossing. Rendezvous at Earle Bridge after the Faculty Meeting in Regalia. Faculty line Earle Bridge in regalia, with students processing across Earle Bridge (in regalia) to Harrington for Convocation.
Tuesday, May 7: 3:00 - 4:00: Convocation (Harrington Auditorium) Formerly known as Baccalaureate, this memorable event is followed by an ice cream social for faculty to connect and take photos with students.
Wednesday, May 8: 3:00 - 4:00: ROTC Commissioning (Alden Memorial). Join us as our ROTC students receive their military commissions. No regalia needed.
Thursday, May 9: 5:00 - 7:00 — The Graduate Commencement Ceremony @ the DCU Center. Faculty rendezvous with regalia at Unity Hall - Lower Level at 3:00 for transportation to the DCU Center.
Friday, May 10: 2:00 - 5:00 — The Undergraduate Commencement Ceremony @ the DCU Center. Faculty rendezvous with regalia at Unity Hall - Lower Level at 12:00 for transportation to the DCU Center.
Faculty Commencement Week Events
| Sunday | Monday | Tuesday | Wednesday | Thursday | Friday | Saturday |
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1 End of D-Term Classes & Class of 2024 Send-Off This is a new event to celebrate the Class of 2024 5:00 – 7:00 On the Quad
Music, Lawn Games, Photos and a Presidential Toast to the Class of 2024 |
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7 Earle Bridge Crossing & Convocation By 2:00: Line-up along Earle Bridge in regalia 2:00: Student Processional starts for Earle Bridge Crossing 2:30: Processional moves into Harrington for Convocation (formerly Baccalaureate) 4:00: Ice Cream on the Quad |
8 ROTC Commissioning Ceremony 3:00: Alden Memorial
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9 Graduate Commencement Ceremony 3:00 – 4:00: With your regalia, meet at Unity Hall Parking lot for bus travel to the DCU Center
5:00 Graduate Ceremony begins
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10 Undergraduate Commencement Ceremony 12:00 – 1:00: With your regalia, meet at Unity Hall Parking lot for bus travel to the DCU Center
2:00 Undergraduate Ceremony begins
6:00 – 9:00: Stop by Higgins House to socialize with members of the Class of 2024 and Alumni
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11 Reunion Weekend Activities
Join Lifetime Engagement for Reunion Activities |
Information for Faculty about the Ceremonies
Date/Time of Ceremonies
Thursday, May 9: Graduate Ceremony @ 5:00 pm, DCU Center, Worcester, MA
The ceremony will last approximately two hours.
Friday, May 10: Undergraduate Student Ceremony @ 2:00 pm, DCU Center, Worcester, MA
The ceremony will last approximately three hours.
Transportation
Faculty will be provided transportation from campus to the DCU Center, as well as a return after the ceremonies are over.
Faculty board buses to the DCU Center at Unity Hall N. Boynton Lot as follows:
On Thursday: at 3:00 PM
On Friday at 12:00 PM
Faculty will enter the DCU Center via Door 2 and will robe in the Press Room. WPI staff will be easily identifiable and will direct you to that room. Students will process past the faculty on the way to their seats.
Faculty may travel to the DCU Center on their own, yet will be responsible for their own parking costs.
Regalia
- You will need to wear academic regalia for the Commencement Ceremony. If you do not own regalia, after the pre-order deadline of February 15, a rental may be available from the Bookstore on a first-come first served basis. Please contact the Bookstore directly to ask about regalia.
DCU Entrances
- All faculty will enter the DCU Center via Door 2 and will robe in the Press Room. WPI staff will be easily identifiable and will direct you to that room. Students will process past our faculty on the way to their chairs.
Seating
- Faculty will NOT be seated on-stage. Instead, they will be seated on the Arena floor in the front rows with our Trustees facing the stage.
- Ph.D. sponsors will line-up with their doctoral candidate(s) in the Exhibit Hall and will be seated next to them on the arena floor.
2025 and 2026 Ceremony Information
For planning purposes:
Tentative Commencement Dates for 2025 are May 15/16, 2025.
Tentative dates for 2026 are May 14/15, 2026.