Baccalaureate Ceremony

The Baccalaureate Ceremony, traditionally the opening ceremony of Commencement Weekend, will be held at 3 p.m. on Saturday, May 18, in front of Old West on the John Dickinson Campus. Participants in the procession will line up at 2:15 p.m. in front of the Waidner-Spahr Library and will begin to march at 2:45 p.m.  

Watch this year's Baccalaureate Ceremony Live 

Baccalaureate is a time for students to reflect on their years at Dickinson through speeches, music, prayers and other outlets. Students can articulate the value of their Dickinson education and recognize how it has challenged or transformed them. Last year, more than 2,000 family and friends attended to hear these reflections from the senior class.

Whether the Baccalaureate ceremony will be held outdoors or indoors will be decided several hours ahead of the occasion because of the intensive efforts which must be made to ensure that seating, audio equipment and all other arrangements are in place by the time the families and guests of graduating seniors begin to gather. Should severe weather conditions exist, the Baccalaureate ceremony will be held in the Kline Athletic Center, and seniors will line up on the mezzanine level. In that event, details will be available at the Office of Conferences & Special Events (717-245-1900) and on the Commencement Web site as soon as possible in advance of the ceremony.