2019 Commencement events

Princeton University is celebrating the accomplishments of its undergraduate and graduate degree candidates at year-end events Sunday through Tuesday, June 2-4. 

Tickets are required to attend the following events. A campus map is available.

Key events are listed below.

• The Baccalaureate service will take place at 2 p.m. Sunday, June 2, in the University Chapel. Guests must be seated by 1:30 p.m. The speaker will be 1968 graduate alumnus George Will, a Pulitzer Prize-winning columnist and author.

 • The Class Day ceremony for seniors is set for 10:30 a.m. Monday, June 3, on Cannon Green. The speaker will be comedienne and author Ellie Kemper, a 2002 alumna.

• The Hooding ceremony for advanced degree candidates will begin at 4:30 p.m. Monday, June 3, on Cannon Green. Download the Hooding Program (.pdf)

• The University’s 272nd Commencement program will begin with the academic procession at 10:30 a.m. Tuesday, June 4, on the lawn in front of Nassau Hall. Guests must be seated by 10:20 a.m. Princeton President Christopher L. Eisgruber will preside and address the graduates.

Seniors receive their diplomas in their residential colleges. There are shuttle buses to the colleges, and from the colleges to the parking garage. Buses stop by Alexander Hall, next to front campus where Commencement takes place. 

Photos. Professional photos from University photographers will be posted to the University’s Commencement website in June and may be downloaded for free courtesy of the University.

Simulcast sites for the ceremonies are:

• Baccalaureate: McCosh Hall, Rooms 10 (not air-conditioned) and 50 (air-conditioned); McCormick Hall, Room 101 (air-conditioned and accessible); Betts Auditorium in the School of Architecture (air-conditioned and accessible); Richardson Auditorium in Alexander Hall (air-conditioned and accessible); and Dillon Gym.

• Class Day: McCosh Hall, Rooms 10 (not air-conditioned) and 50 (air-conditioned); McCormick Hall, Room 101 (air-conditioned and accessible); Betts Auditorium in the School of Architecture (air-conditioned and accessible); Richardson Auditorium in Alexander Hall (air-conditioned and accessible); and Dillon Gym. In the event of inclement weather, Class Day will be held in the University Chapel.

• Hooding: Betts Auditorium in the School of Architecture (air-conditioned and accessible) and Dillon Gym. In the event of inclement weather, the Hooding ceremony will be held in Jadwin Gym.

• Commencement: Richardson Auditorium in Alexander Hall (air-conditioned and accessible); McCormick Hall, Room 101 (air-conditioned and accessible); Betts Auditorium in the School of Architecture (air-conditioned and accessible); and Dillon Gym. No tickets will be required at the simulcast site. In the event of severe weather, Commencement will be held in Jadwin Gym.

In addition, Baccalaureate, Class Day and Hooding will be simulcast on two large screens on Cannon Green.

Baccalaureate, Hooding and Commencement ceremonies are scheduled to be broadcast live on TigerNet Channel 7 on campus and in Princeton on Channel 27 for Comcast subscribers and Channel 21 for Verizon FIOS subscribers. The events also are scheduled to be webcast live and archived online for later viewing on the University’s Media Central site.

Parking instructions for members of the University community and guests are available online.

Commencement activities overview provides general information.

To ease traffic congestion, some University employees are being asked to park in alternate lots on Tuesday. In addition, employees who do not perform essential services for Commencement will be permitted to leave work at 2 p.m. June 4 with supervisory approval.

Media representatives have been requested to register for credentials by 3 p.m. Tuesday, May 28.