Below are some frequently asked questions about Commencement. Click the plus symbol to read the answer for each question.
Commencement FAQ
Baccalaureate will take place in the Chapel at 4:00 p.m. on Saturday, May 18.
Approximately one and one half hour. For an idea of how the ceremony is organized, see the 2023 Commencement Program.
No. Trinity’s Commencement ceremony is held outdoors on the Main Quad rain or shine. Degree candidates can invite an unlimited number of guests; there are no tickets required and there is ample seating for general audiences.
If the ceremony is held inside at the Koeppel Community Sports Center (175 New Britain Avenue) due to extreme weather conditions each graduate is limited to two guests. Extreme weather tickets will be distributed to degree candidates at Grad Fest, Monday, May 13.
Several indoor locations will be open for additional guests to view a livestream of the ceremony.
Trinity’s Commencement ceremony is held outdoors on the Main Quad rain or shine. Degree candidates can invite an unlimited number of guests; there are no tickets required and there is ample seating for general audiences.
If the ceremony is held inside at the Koeppel Community Sports Center (175 New Britain Avenue) due to extreme weather conditions each graduate is limited to two guests. Extreme weather tickets will be distributed to degree candidates at Grad Fest, Monday, May 13.
Several indoor locations will be open for additional guests to view a livestream of the ceremony.
No. Tickets are not required if the Commencement ceremony is held outside, on the Main Quad, as planned.
If the ceremony is held inside at the Koeppel Community Sports Center (175 New Britain Avenue) due to extreme weather conditions each graduate is limited to two guests. Extreme weather tickets will be distributed to degree candidates at Grad Fest, Monday, May 13.
Yes. A live video of the Commencement ceremony will be available online beginning at 10:30 a.m.
Check our website or our website for the live broadcast.
Please send the following information to Katherine Clair, international student advisor, at [email protected]: names of family members, their relationship to the student, approximate dates of travel, home country, and where they will stay while in the United States.
Trinity’s Commencement ceremony is held outdoors on the Main Quad rain or shine. Graduates can invite an unlimited number of guests; there are no tickets required and there is ample seating for general audiences.
If the ceremony is held inside at the Koeppel Community Sports Center (175 New Britain Avenue) due to extreme weather conditions each graduate is limited to two guests. Extreme weather tickets will be distributed to degree candidates at Grad Fest, Monday, May 13.
Several indoor locations will be open for additional guests to view a livestream of the ceremony.
The Commencement ceremony will take place on the Main Quad. Because hydration is key, we encourage all guests to bring their own bottled water. The college will provide water stations available for use during and after the ceremony.
There will be additional indoor locations where guests can view a live-stream of the ceremony if they choose. Friends and relatives should check frequently on those who might be prone to heat sensitivities. First responders will be available and standing by should a need arise.
Indoor viewing locations are:
Boyer Auditorium, Jacob Life Sciences Center
Cinestudio, Clement Chemistry Building
Goodwin Theater, Austin Arts Center
McCook Auditorium, McCook Academic Building
Washington Room, Mather Hall
If changes are required due to extreme weather conditions, details will be communicated by 7:00 a.m. on Sunday. There will be a broadcast email to the campus community, and a notice on our website.
Yes. The following locations will be available for friends and family members who do not have extreme weather tickets to view the ceremony:
Boyer Auditorium, Jacob Life Sciences Center
Cinestudio, Clement Chemistry Building
Goodwin Theater, Austin Arts Center
McCook Auditorium, McCook Academic Building
Washington Room, Mather Hall
A live video of the Commencement ceremony will be available online beginning at 10:30 a.m. Check our website for a link to the live broadcast.
A limited number of accessible parking passes are available for guests with mobility impairments and are issued on a first-come, first-served basis.
Wheelchair seating will be available on the Main Quad.
To request handicapped accessible parking or wheelchair seating please fill out this online form.
There are a number of places in the Hartford area that offer wheelchair rentals, and you can find them using an Internet search engine or the Hartford Yellow Pages. In the past, people have been referred to Suburban Pharmacy on North 344 Main Street in West Hartford. You can contact them at 860-236-3564. Trinity College does not endorse or recommend the use of one rental place over another.
You will pick up your cap and gown at Grad Fest, Monday, May 13, 2024. A cap and gown fee will be added to your billing statement from the college.
If you are unable to attend Grad Fest you can stop by the Bookstore to pick up your cap & gown and extreme weather tickets beginning Tuesday, May 14. The bookstore will be open 10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m., Tuesday – Saturday and 8:30 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. on Commencement Day.
If you are unable to attend Grad Fest you can stop by the Bookstore to pick up your cap & gown and extreme weather tickets beginning Tuesday, May 14. The bookstore will be open 10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m., Tuesday – Saturday and 8:30 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. on Commencement Day.
Pro Pics has been retained by the college to photograph the graduates as they cross the stage and after they walk off the platform. Graduates will receive proofs via email and can purchase photos at that time.
A translation of the diploma can be found here.
Latin honors are determined after all grades have been submitted and finalized. Students can monitor their cumulative grade point average online. Degrees are conferred with honors based on the student’s final cumulative grade-point average. Honors are conferred as follows:
- summa cum laude—3.900 and higher
- magna cum laude—3.800 to 3.899
- cum laude—3.667 to 3.799
Yes. As in the past, the College will host a Post-Commencement Celebration following the ceremony. The College tent will offer refreshments, entertainment, and more. Graduates, their families, and guests are encouraged to attend and bid farewell to faculty and staff, friends, and classmates.
Yes.
In addition to the College reception on the practice soccer field, tent rentals are available for private parties hosted by graduates and their families.
To host an individual gathering, submit a 2024 Individual Post-Commencement Celebration Agreement and certificate of liability insurance no later than 4:30 p.m., Friday, April 19.
The bookstore will be open 10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m., Tuesday, May 14 – Saturday, May 18, and 8:30 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. on Commencement Day.
The residential communities will close promptly at 7:00 p.m. on Sunday, May 19. ID card access will be terminated from all buildings on campus at this time.
Requests from students to remain on campus beyond this date will not be approved. For more information, please contact [email protected].
If you did not find the answers to your questions here, please email [email protected].
