Commencement 2023
Commencement and Alumni Reunion Weekend: May 19-21, 2023
The Fletcher School celebrated Commencement and Alumni Reunion on May 19-21, 2023.
Congratulations to the class of 2023!
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Time(EDT): Information: 4:30 p.m. - 5:45 p.m.
___________________________Deglobalization, Decarbonization & Trade panel
Engage with Fletcher faculty on a pressing international issue of the day.Panelists:
- Pekka Haavisto: Minister of Foreign Affairs, Republic of Finland
- Mihaela Papa, F03, F10: Adjunct Assistant Professor in Sustainable Development and Global Governance at The Fletcher School; Co-Investigator on the Rising Power Alliances research project
- Joel Trachtman: Professor of International Law at The Fletcher School
- Andres Valenciano, F12: Former Costa Rican Trade Minister
ASEAN Auditorium
5:45 p.m. - 10:00 p.m.
___________________________Welcome Reception and Fletcher Celebration
Celebrate with classmates, friends, faculty, staff, alumni, students and The Fletcher School’s newest alumni – the Class of 2023. There will be a farm-to-table dinner and an open bar (beer and wine), followed by Reunion Giving Awards, dancing and live music from The Marsels. There will be a separate quiet tent available for socializing. This is a ticketed event.Reception Tent on Fletcher Field and Blakeley Courtyard.
Ticket prices for faculty, staff, and students are $75.00 and are available via the Fletcher registration page here. -
Time(EDT): Information: 10:00 a.m. - 11:25 a.m.
___________________________Class of 2023 Brunch and Send Off Meeting and Rehearsal
Brunch for all graduates of the Class of 2023
Ceremony Tent - Fletcher FieldSend Off Meeting for Graduating Students and Rehearsal (10:30 am)
Mandatory Meeting.
11:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.
___________________________Business & Sustainability in a Competitive World panel
Panelists:
- Bhaskar Chakravorti: Dean of Global Business at The Fletcher School
- Alnoor Ebrahim: Associate Dean for Curriculum at The Fletcher School; Professor of Management at The Fletcher School and the Tisch College of Civic Life, at Tufts University
- Jette Knudsen: Shelby Cullom Davis Professor of International Business at The Fletcher School
- Ken Pucker: Senior Lecturer at The Fletcher School
- Quyen Tran: Professor of the Practice at The Fletcher School
ASEAN Auditorium
1:45 p.m. - 2:35 p.m.
___________________________Dean’s Welcome and State of the School Address
Dean Rachel Kyte, F02, welcomes alumni to a day filled with compelling faculty conversations and fun opportunities to catch up with friends. Dean Kyte will also speak about The Fletcher School’s highlights over the past year, the 90th Anniversary celebration, and the school’s future direction.
ASEAN Auditorium2:45 p.m. - 3:45 p.m.
___________________________“Current Issues in International Affairs”
Engage with faculty on pressing international issues of the day.Globalization & Technology
Panelists:
- Dan Drezner: Professor of International Politics at The Fletcher School
- Francesca Giovannini: Adjunct Assistant Professor of International Security at The Fletcher School
- Adam Segal, F93: Senior Fellow, Director of the Digital and Cyberspace Policy Program of the Council on Foreign Relations
- Josephine Wolff: Associate Professor of Cyber Security and Policy at The Fletcher School
ASEAN Auditorium
Causes & Consequences of Global MigrationPanelists:
- Katrina Burgess: Associate Professor of Political Economy at The Fletcher School
- Karen Jacobsen: Henry J. Leir Professor in Global Migration at The Fletcher School
- Devon Cone, F08: Senior Advocate for Women and Girls at Refugees International
Mugar 200
4:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m.
___________________________Fletcher Women’s Leadership Award
Join Dean Rachel Kyte, F02, for the 2023 Fletcher Women’s Leadership Award ceremony. Recipients will be announced soon.ASEAN Auditorium
5 p.m. to 6 p.m.
___________________________Closing Reunion Reception
End Reunion Weekend with toasts to the FWLA awardees, to your Fletcher classmates, to those celebrating their 50th and 25th Reunions, and to the newest group of alumni - the Class of 2023.
Hall of Flags -
Time(EDT): Information: 7:30 a.m.
___________________________Class of 2023 Check-In for University Commencement Ceremony
Blakeley Courtyard
All members of the Class of 2023 who will be marching are asked to check in at this time.8:00 a.m.
___________________________Class of 2023 Champagne Breakfast and Toasts
All members of the Class of 2023 who will be marching are invited to a Continental Breakfast and Champagne Toasts offered by four members of the Class of 2023.
Blakeley Courtyard8:30 a.m.
___________________________Assembly of Class of 2023 for University Academic Procession
All members of the Class of 2023 who will be marching are asked to assemble in Blakely Courtyard.University Academic Procession
9:00 a.m.
___________________________167th All-University Commencement Ceremony*
This ceremony includes the academic processional, the awarding of honorary degrees, the all-University Commencement address, the awarding of degrees by Schools, including the official award of the Fletcher degree by Dean Kyte. This event will be livestreamed in Asean Auditorium for family members and guests.
All members of the Fletcher Community and guests are invited to attend on the Tufts Academic Quad (the lawn between Ballou and Bendetson Halls).11:00 a.m.
___________________________Assembly of Class of 2023 for Fletcher Academic Procession
Class of 2023 Students line up in the Blakeley Courtyard.11:15 a.m.
___________________________Platform Party Assembly
11:20 a.m.
___________________________Fletcher Academic Procession
11:30 a.m.
___________________________90th Fletcher School Commencement Ceremony
The highlight of Fletcher’s Commencement Weekend is the individual presentation of degrees to students and hooding of Ph.D. recipients. This event will take place in the Ceremony tent on Fletcher Field and will be live-streamed.
All members of the Fletcher Community and guests are invited.Live stream of the ceremony can be viewed here.
1:30 p.m. (approx.)
___________________________Fletcher Commencement Reception
All members of the Fletcher Community and guests are invited to the Reception Tent on Fletcher Field for a reception following the conclusion of the Commencement Ceremony.*The Class of 2023 includes both graduating students who will march and receive degrees and those who are members of the class but who have not yet completed all degree requirements. Members of the Class of 2023 who will not receive degrees are still encouraged to participate in both ceremonies on Sunday. During the Fletcher School Commencement (11:30 am on Sunday), only those who will receive their degree or have permission will be able to march. Masters students on approved extension or continuation may have permission to march without completing all degree requirements.
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All degree recipients are expected to be attired in appropriate academic robes for both Sunday ceremonies (University and Fletcher). Members of religious orders may wear their customary habits instead of academic robes. The same principle applies to persons wearing military uniforms or clad in special attire required by a U.S. or foreign civil office.
What do Doctoral students need to know?
PhD. recipients should be attired in academic robes to receive their doctoral hoods. Complimentary PhD. hoods will be provided by the school and given to recipients during the Fletcher Commencement Day activities. If a PhD. recipient wishes to purchase a doctorate tam/gown/tassel package, it will be available for $108.98 from the Tufts Bookstore beginning April 5, 2023. A rental package (which is made of higher quality material than the in-store purchase) is available for $67.98 and must be ordered by April 10, 2023.
If a PhD. recipient wishes to purchase a custom Tufts blue and brown PhD. regalia, it will be available for purchase for $822.00 (for the gown only) and $108.45 (for the tam only). Again, the doctoral hood will be provided by the school. Orders for custom regalia were due by March 13, 2023, to guarantee arrival before graduation. If you have missed the deadline, please contact the Tufts University bookstore at bookstore@tufts.edu or 617-627-2060.
What do Master’s students need to know?
Graduates are required to wear a cap, gown, hood, and tassel. You can rent or buy these from the Tufts University Bookstore beginning April 5, 2023.
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To rent your regalia: A full rental package is available for $103.98 and must be ordered by April 10, 2023. The rental gowns are made of higher quality material than the purchased gowns.
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To buy your regalia: A full purchase package is available for $115.98. Students who already have a gown or hood but not the full package can order a partial package (cap/gown/tassel) for $67.98 or just the hood for $48.98. Orange/white Fletcher souvenir tassels will be available for purchase for $11.98.
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For GBA and GMAP programs, the rental option is not available. Regalia is available for purchase in the store up until the day of graduation. We recommend that you email the bookstore with your name and the program from which you will be graduating as well as your height. For questions, please contact the bookstore at bookstore@tufts.edu or +1 617-627-2060.
We understand that for some students purchasing graduation regalia can be cost prohibitive. Thanks to the generosity of former students, the Office of Student Affairs has a limited supply of caps, gowns, and hoods to loan for this graduation season. Student Affairs will send a note to the student body in early April with details on how to borrow regalia. The items will be offered on a first come, first served basis. Please use this link to sign up for Fletcher’s regalia borrowing program.
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If you have guests who will require special accommodations for the Fletcher Commencement Ceremony (e.g., use of wheelchairs), please contact yanina.hillion@tufts.edu. Information regarding special accommodations for the Tufts campus and for the University Commencement Ceremony may be found here.
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Because accommodation space in the area is at a premium this time of year, we urge you to make your reservations as soon as possible. A list of Tufts University area hotels is available here. Please inquire with the hotels to see if they offer special Tufts rates. The Fletcher Office of Development and Alumni Engagement also has secured limited room blocks at local hotels, listed here.
Additionally, the University’s Conference Bureau provides on-campus dormitory housing. On campus housing includes a complimentary full menu breakfast in the dining halls following each night of your stay. Please visit the On-campus Housing website for more details.
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Given the large number of visitors to campus on Commencement Day, please expect that parking will be scarce. Parking in all university lots will be on a first come, first serve basis so early arrival is recommended. Parking information is available on Tufts Commencement Parking website. Please also visit the Tufts Commencement Shuttle Map for information on shuttle service to Packard Avenue.
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If you have any questions about Commencement Weekend logistics, please do not hesitate to contact Yanina Hillion at Yanina.Hillion@tufts.edu. We look forward to seeing you and your family and guests during the weekend.