Commencement Information

Schedule for Jackson MA/MPP/MAS Graduates
Monday, May 20, 2024

8:45am: Graduates Assemble at Horchow Hall
Faculty and degree candidates should wear academic attire (cap, hood and gown), either rented or purchased. Coffee will be provided.

9:00am: Formal group photo of graduates

9:15am: Procession to Cross Campus
Faculty and student procession to Cross Campus at 9:15am. Guests should proceed immediately to Old Campus for seating.

9:45am: Cross Campus Assembly
Degree candidates assemble under signs indicating their degree. Due to space limitations, guests are not encouraged to stand on Cross Campus, but should proceed immediately to Old Campus for seating and Ceremony viewing.

10:30am: University Commencement exercises, Old Campus, corner of High St. and Elm St.
All University ceremony with symbolic awarding of degrees by school and presentations of honorary degree recipients.

Old Campus will open at 8:00am Monday for guests.  Each graduating student will receive 2 tickets for family member/guests. Note that bags larger than 12×12 will not be allowed, and all bags will be inspected at Old Campus. Security may ask a guest with a large bag to return it to their car or room. On Monday, when many of our guests have large bags with them after checking out of their rooms, guests will be able to check their bags at no cost in a truck outside of Phelps Gate prior to entering Old Campus. Unfortunately, large bags cannot be stored for other ceremonies.

12:00pm: Old Campus ceremony concludes. Jackson graduates should return to Horchow Hall

12:15pm: Graduates and faculty line up for procession

12:30pm: Jackson Diploma Ceremony begins

1:30pm: Lunch for graduates and their guests (Horchow Hall)

Diplomas

You will receive your official Latin diploma at the Jackson School ceremony.

For other Diploma FAQs, please visit Yale’s Diploma website.

Photography

The Jackson School has hired a professional photographer for coverage of Jackson’s Diploma Ceremony.

A selection of the images, including a diploma shot for every graduate, will be provided to Jackson students free of charge. Photos will be uploaded to a photo sharing platform within a week after the ceremony.

Other Event Details
Livestream

Jackson’s Diploma Ceremony will be live-streamed and the recorded video will be posted to the website.

The University will also live-stream the ceremony on Old Campus at locations around campus as well as on the YouTube channel. Details at commencement.yale.edu.

Please note the the Yale 2024 website (yale2024.yale.edu) goes live on Saturday, May 18, and will include program information, Old Campus ceremony livestreams, and a listing of graduates.

The Jackson School will live-stream the Old Campus ceremony at 46 Hillhouse. This viewing location is only for the guests of Jackson School graduates and seating is limited.

Hotels

If you haven’t booked your accommodations for Commencement weekend it is recommended to do so as soon as possible. More than 15,000 guests attend Yale Commencement every year, and hotel reservations are usually difficult to secure unless you book early. For a listing of local hotels and accommodations, please see the Yale University Commencement website.

Transportation and Parking

Visit this page on the University’s Commencement website for details on getting to and around campus, where to park, and more. Please note that the Jackson School is located along the Purple Line of the Yale Shuttle (55 Hillhouse Avenue).

Vaccination/Public Health Policies

All guests for Commencement activities will be required to follow the current visitor policy.

Tickets

Each student receiving a degree from the Jackson School of Global Affairs will receive two (2) guest tickets for the University Commencement Ceremony on Old Campus on Monday morning. Guests without tickets for Old Campus can watch the live-streamed ceremony on screens and in viewing rooms on campus or the Yale YouTube channel.

Graduating students who plan to participate in Commencement this year will receive an email from the university with a link to register for tickets. These digital tickets will be delivered via email directly to students or to their guest if the guest’s email address is provided.

General information from the University about tickets and live-stream viewing locations for the Old Campus ceremony https://commencement.yale.edu/ticket-information

While tickets are not issued for the Jackson School Diploma Ceremony, please note that seating is limited.

Caps and Gowns

All participants in the academic processions to and from the university ceremony are required to wear regalia.

Regalia will be distributed on the following dates/times at the Payne Whitney Gym, 80 Tower Parkway (please bring your Yale ID):

Wednesday, May 15 – 11:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Thursday, May 16 – 11:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
Friday, May 17 – 12:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Saturday, May 18 – 12:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Sunday, May 19 – 8:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m.
Monday, May 20 – 8:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m. (cutting it a little close!)

Information about regalia: https://commencement.yale.edu/regalia

Place your order here: https://asa.yale.edu/agencies/caps-gowns

Custom Yale Gowns, Caps and Hoods

If you plan to purchase “Yale blue” custom regalia, and velvet tams, please contact Yale-licensed provider Oak Hall well in advance.

For more cap and gown information, please visit: https://asa.yale.edu/agencies/caps-gowns

Have Questions?

If you have questions on the Jackson School Diploma Ceremony, please contact margaret.katz@yale.edu

For general information about Yale Commencement, go to https://commencement.yale.edu