May 15, 2024

Dear Student,

Please join the Tufts University School of Arts and Sciences, SMFA at Tufts, and the Tufts University School of Engineering as we celebrate the Class of 2024 during Commencement Weekend. View full information on the Commencement website. Please note the access requirements below to Commencement venues for this year’s celebrations. 

Friday, May 17

4:00-5:00 p.m.: MFA Hooding Ceremony with remarks from SMFA Dean Scheri Fultineer and Program Director Laurel Nakadate. Balch Arena Theater 

5:00-8:00 p.m.: Exhibition Closing Receptions at Tufts University Art Galleries in Medford. SMFA at Tufts proudly presents Pulling Teeth and Jumping Rope, the 2024 MFA Thesis Program Exhibition. Tufts University Art Galleries, 40 Talbot Ave, Medford.

Saturday, May 18

9:00 a.m.: School of Engineering Ceremony for graduate programs with remarks from Deans Kyongbum Lee and Karen Panetta, and from Tufts alumnus Dr. Arul Jayaraman, executive associate dean of the Texas A&M University College of Engineering. Gantcher Family Sports and Convocation Center; livestream. 

1:00 p.m.: Graduate School of Arts and Sciences Doctoral Hooding Ceremony with remarks from Dean James M. Glaser, Provost and Senior Vice President Caroline Genco, Dean Ayanna K. Thomas, Professor Joshua A. Kritzer, and student speaker Francini Fonseca Lopez. Cohen Auditorium.

3:00 p.m.: Baccalaureate Ceremony for all graduating seniors and families with an address by Saffiyah Coker, A24, the 2024 Wendell Phillips Award Winner and an address by the President of the University Sunil Kumar. Gantcher Family Sports and Convocation Center. 

5:00-8:00 p.m.: Exhibition Closing Receptions at SMFA. SMFA at Tufts proudly presents Building Backwards, the 2024 Senior Thesis Program Exhibition. SMFA at Tufts, 230 The Fenway, Boston.

Sunday, May 19

9:00 a.m.: The 168th All-University Commencement Ceremony
This event will feature remarks by President Kumar, the presentation of degree candidates by school, and the conferral of degrees by the Tufts University Board of Trustees. The ceremony will also recognize those individuals from the faculty and administration who have been granted emeritus status and the University will award honorary degrees to distinguished individuals. Dr. Fiona Hill, foreign intelligence advisor and author, will deliver the Commencement address. On The Green between Ballou and Bendetson Halls.

11:30 a.m.: School of Engineering Phase II Ceremony with remarks from Deans Kyongbum Lee and Chris Swan, and from Dr. Reginald Brothers, principal at MIT Lincoln Laboratory and operating partner at AE Industrial. On The Green between Ballou and Bendetson Halls.

11:30 a.m., 1:30 p.m., or 3:30 p.m.: School of Arts and Sciences Phase II Ceremonies. See full list of times and locations.

 Guest Access Passes or Tufts IDs Are Required

To ensure every graduate’s family and loved ones can attend these events and have the best experience possible, we have put some important security precautions in place.

All graduates and their guests as well as faculty, staff, and vendors/contractors will be required to be credentialed and pass through security gates for events at the Gantcher Center, The Green, and for all events on Saturday and Sunday on the Academic Quad. This includes the School of Engineering graduate ceremony, Baccalaureate ceremony, the all-University Phase I ceremony, and any Phase II school or departmental ceremonies taking place at these venues.

Faculty, staff, students, and graduates must show a Tufts ID to access these venues. Graduates also have the option of showing their marching card. If you need to replace a lost ID, be sure to visit one of the university’s ID pick up locations before Commencement weekend. 

Guests of graduates must show a Guest Access Pass to gain access to events. Students may provide their guests an image of their Tufts ID and for them to show that on their phones or in print. As a last resort, Guest Access Passes can be requested at an information desk or booth near the event entrances. 

Additional security measures as well as general information, including directions and parking, can be found on our Commencement website.

Looking forward to celebrating the accomplishment of the Class of 2024!