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Commencement Information for Students
- Commencement Invitations
- Seating Availability
- Regalia
- Weather: Sunny Day Schedule v. Rainy Day Schedule
- Parking (and Requests for Accessible Parking)
- Other Important Details: Photography, Accessible Accommodations, Alumni Hooding
- Forms
Commencement Invitations
Printed invitations will be available starting Monday, March 23 for mailing to family and friends or to use as mementos. Note: Invitations are not required for admission to the Commencement tent.
Students may pick up their first set of four (4) invitations beginning Monday, March 23 through Friday, April 3 at the circulation desk in the library during regular library hours. When you pick up your invitations, place a check mark next to your name on the accompanying list. If you need fewer than four invitations, please leave any you do not need for use by other students. Students may take up to four (4) additional invitations in each successive two-week period on a first-come basis.
Beginning April 6 through April 17, students may pick up a second set of four (4) invitations. Between April 20 and May 1, students may pick up a third set of four (4) invitations. Between May 4 and May 15, a fourth set of invitations may be picked up for a total of 16 invitations. January graduates will receive four invitations via U.S. mail and may e-mail beginning April 6 to request additional invitations.
Seating Availability
Commencement will be held under a tent on the large soccer field, rain or shine. There will be seating for approximately 2,000 people. As with past classes, you may invite, within reason, as many guests as you like. However, please understand that seating will be on a first-come basis. Weather permitting, any overflow of guests may sit on the lawn outside the tent, provided they bring their own lawn chairs. However, in case of inclement weather, please use your best judgment as to the number of guests you invite, as we are not able to guarantee seating for everyone under the tent.
Regalia
Caps and gowns will be available for pick up at the Co-op Bookstore. Notices will be e-mailed to students and posted at the bookstore once regalia becomes available for pick-up.
Instructions for wearing caps and carrying hoods will be available when picking up regalia. Caps, gowns and hoods must be returned to staff before leaving campus following the Commencement Ceremony. Please be sure that your name is checked off the list before leaving campus to avoid replacement fees.
Weather
The weather on Commencement Day will determine the location and schedule of student robing, whether a class photo will be taken and the location of line-up for the processional. The decision about which schedule to follow on May 17 will be made by 7:30 AM on May 17. Please check the Law School website or call the Law School weather hotline at (860) 570-5145 for the latest information.
Schedule
| 9:00 AM | Candidate Robing: Library Student Lounge |
| 9:30 AM | Candidates assemble, in regalia, in front of the Library for a class photo |
| 10:00 AM | Candidates line up at posted markers between William F. Starr Hall and Library. Please pick up name cards at the nearby registration tables |
| Administration, Faculty and Distinguished Guest Procession forms | |
| 10:15 AM | All guests seated |
| 10:30 AM | Procession begins |
| 11:00 AM | Commencement Exercises |
| 1:00 PM | Reception immediately following commencement exercises |
| **Return caps & gowns to Library Student Lounge** | |
Rainy Day Schedule
| 9:00 AM | Candidate Robing: Janet M. Blumberg Hall (Hosmer) Note: In the event of rain, no class photo will be taken |
| 10:00 AM | Candidate line-up: After robing, candidates pick up name cards in Conference Room 2, and then line up alphabetically inside Hosmer Hall |
| Administration, Faculty and Distinguished Guest Procession forms | |
| 10:15 AM | All guests seated |
| 10:30 AM | Procession begins |
| 11:00 AM | Commencement Exercises |
| 1:00 PM | Reception immediately following commencement exercises |
| **Return caps & gowns to Janet M. Blumberg Hall.** | |
Parking
Parking will be available in the east parking lot of the Connecticut Historical Society (access from Elizabeth Street), in the Hartford College for Women parking lots (access from Elizabeth Street), and behind the Attorney General's Office (access from Sherman Street). Street parking is also available. Parking for people who require accessible parking will be available by Law School permit only. Please complete the Request for Accessible Parking or Seating and Assistive Listening Devices form.
Other Important Details
Line Up and Processional
Note: There will be no rehearsal. After students have robed and picked up their name cards they should proceed to the front of the library for a class photo. Once the photo is complete, candidates will line up alphabetically in the posted areas between William F. Starr Hall and the Library.
Rain Schedule: Students will robe in Janet M. Blumberg Hall, pick up their name cards in Hosmer Conference Room 2 and line up alphabetically inside Hosmer Hall as directed by Commencement staff. In the event of rain, no class photo will be taken.
The processional will form at the posted markers in the following order:
- Flag Bearers
- Mace Bearer
- Faculty Floor Marshals
- LL.M. Banner Bearer
- LL.M. Candidates (alphabetically)
- J.D. Banner Bearer - SBA President
- J.D. Candidates (alphabetically)
At the appointed time, candidates will follow the flag bearers toward the north side of the tent. Once inside the tent, candidates will proceed as directed to designated rows in the center section.
Commencement Ceremony
Upon instruction from the platform, candidates will come forward to the platform as directed by Faculty Marshals. Candidates will carry their name cards and hood, folded over the left forearm. Name cards will be presented to the Law Marshal. The Law Marshal will read the name of each candidate. The candidate will proceed across the platform to receive a diploma cover and be congratulated the dean and other dignitaries. Candidates will then be hooded by one of the Hooding Marshals. Once hooded, candidates will proceed as directed to have their portrait taken. After their portrait is taken, candidates will then return to their seats and be seated.
Recession
Upon completion of Commencement Exercises, the platform party will exit the tent followed by faculty, distinguished guests and graduates. Guests will be requested to remain in their seats until all of the above groups have filed out of the tent.
Student Reception
An informal reception will be immediately following the ceremony under the tent behind Chase Hall.
Photography
Commencement Specialists, Inc. has been hired to take photos of candidates with hood and diploma. This service enables each student to have a professional photo of his/her graduation. You will receive proofs via mail to your permanent address on file with the registrar and via email to the address indicated on an address card provided to you at commencement. Proofs will be delivered directly from Commencement Specialists, Inc. You will have the option of ordering from several enlargement packages via on-line access. There is no obligation to purchase photos.
Members of the audience using hand-held cameras may take photos during the ceremony from areas reserved for that purpose. In order to accommodate all guests, individuals are requested to move to the photo areas for a short interval and then return to their seats.
Due to safety regulations, family members and friends must remain in their seats once the procession begins and throughout the ceremony. Personal picture taking can ONLY be done prior to or after the ceremony. No tripods will be allowed under the tent and no guest will be permitted to stand in the aisles during the procession or ceremony. Members of the audience using hand-held cameras may take pictures or videos from their seat.
Accessible Accommodations
Request for accessible parking/seating and/or assistive listening devices must be made by May 1 by submitting the Request for Accessible Parking or Seating and Assistive Listening Devices form. An area under the tent will be designated for individuals needing accessible seating or space for a wheelchair plus one guest. If your family member or guest requires other accommodations, please contact Jane Thierfeld Brown by May 1.
Alumni Hooding
If a member of your family is a graduate of the Law School and you would like the graduate to participate in your hooding, please complete the Alumni Hooding Request Form by May 1.
Questions? Please send them to