Commencement

Save the Date

Reed’s 2024 Commencement ceremony will be held on campus, in person, on Monday, May 13.

Commencement Ceremony

Rehearsal

Graduates are required to attend the mandatory commencement rehearsal on Saturday, May 11, at 2 p.m. in Kaul Auditorium. 

Date, Time & Location

  • Monday, May 13, 2024
  • 11 a.m.
  • Great Lawn (south side of campus)

Reed holds a reception in the Quad following the ceremony.

See the Complete Schedule

Guests

There is no limit for the number of guests you can invite to the Commencement ceremony. The event is not ticketed. Seats are available on a first-come, first-served basis.

Participation

All seniors need to fill out the Intent to Graduate form by Monday, April 8 at noon. Students should use this form to indicate whether they are participating in the Commencement ceremony, request their robes, share the name they want on their diploma, and more. 

Intent to Graduate form

The college holds one Commencement ceremony per year. Spring-Fall graduates are invited to return to campus in May to participate in Commencement.

Accessibility

Reed's Commencement ceremony will take place outside under a tent. For accessibility, there is a paved sidewalk and temporary flooring for the aisles. If you or a member of your party need any type of accommodation, please fill out our accommodations form or contact the conference & events planning office if you have specific questions. The ceremony will have ASL interpreters.

Recording of the Ceremony

The ceremony will not be live streamed, but it will be recorded and available online.

Graduation Photos

Grad Images photographs each graduate during the Commencement ceremony. You may view proofs on its website or by mail. To order, call 800-261-2576. Photos should be available by late May or early June.

Caps & Gowns

Caps and gowns for the ceremony are provided by Reed to graduates. The deadline to request a cap and gown is Monday, April 8, at noon. Orders should be submitted via the Intent to Graduate form. All orders include a cap and tassel, which are the student's own to keep. The robe is returned after the ceremony.

MALS degree graduates receive the degree hood at the Commencement ceremony, which is the student's own to keep. Caps are one-size-fits-all. Gowns are generically sized and additional options are available in plus size. Please contact conference & events planning for more information.

Ordering Announcements

Graduation announcements can be ordered online at Herff Jones or call 360-254-7870. Information about ordering will be available from Herff Jones starting in February 2024. 

Graduation Gifts

The Reed bookstore, a nonprofit organization dedicated to serving the academic needs of the Reed community, has class rings and other Reed-specific graduation items for sale online.

Diplomas

Actual diplomas are conferred at the ceremony. Graduates who do not attend can make arrangements to have diplomas picked up at the registrar's office or mailed. Seniors should share the name they want printed on their diplomas via the Intent to Graduate form

Other Graduation Events

Individual departments may plan their own celebrations. Events are listed on our campus calendar, events.reed.edu.