Commencement Exercises for the Class of 2023

Honors Convocation and Baccalaureate Mass
Friday, May 19, 2023 at 3 p.m.

Abbot Mark and the Benedictine monks will concelebrate the Baccalaureate Mass to thank God for his many blessings during your time at Saint Anselm College.

Saint Anselm College's 130th Commencement Exercises
Saturday, May 20, 2023 at 10 a.m.
College Quadrangle (weather permitting)

Saint Anselm College’s 130th commencement exercises will begin promptly at 10 a.m. on the college quadrangle. In the event of inclement weather, the ceremony will be held in the Thomas F. Sullivan Arena.

Students should check their email for a message from the Academic Dean sent on March 27 with detailed information regarding commencement.

Learn More

Find information about parking, weather plans, bookstore hours and much more.

Dear Parents and Families,  

As Saint Anselm College approaches its 130th Commencement on Saturday, May 20, 2023, it is my sincere hope that it will be a memorable time in your family. With this letter, I offer you a personal invitation to attend the Senior Honors Convocation, Baccalaureate Mass, the Commencement Exercises, and the events surrounding them.

On Friday, May 19th at 3:00 p.m. on the College Quadrangle, the Senior Honors Convocation will recognize the academic achievement of individual members of the undergraduate graduating class.  Immediately following the Honors Convocation, Abbot Mark and the Benedictine monks will concelebrate the Baccalaureate Mass. You are cordially invited to participate in this Mass with us to thank God for his many blessings during your student’s time at Saint Anselm College. In the event of inclement weather, the Senior Honors Convocation and Baccalaureate Mass will be held in the Thomas F. Sullivan Arena with admission of family members and guests by ticket only.  The College will also provide, on a first-come, first served basis, access to closed-circuit viewing of these events at several locations on campus.

On Saturday, May 20th, Commencement Exercises will begin promptly at 10:00 a.m.  Weather permitting, these Commencement Exercises will take place outside on the College Quadrangle.  In the event of inclement weather, the Exercises will be held in the Thomas F. Sullivan Arena with admission of family members and guests by ticket only. We ask that graduates go to the Registrar’s Office with their College ID starting on Monday, May 1st, to receive three tickets. The College will also provide, on a first-come, first-served basis, access to closed-circuit viewing of the Commencement Exercises at several locations on campus.  

You will find additional information on this webpage.  We look forward to celebrating these happy events with you.  

All the best,

Mark W. Cronin, Ph.D.
Academic Dean and Associate Vice President for Academic Affairs

Frequently Asked Questions

Here are some answers to frequently asked questions.

Senior Honors Convocation is an undergraduate student event in which graduating students, faculty, and members of the monastic community participate. Academic Awards are conferred and students inducted into honor societies are recognized. The President also announces the awards to the Summa Cum Laude graduates. Family and friends are welcome and encouraged to attend. Honors Convocation is typically just under an hour long.

Student Information

Friday - May 19, 2023

SENIOR HONORS CONVOCATION

3:00 P.M.  COLLEGE QUADRANGLE (weather permitting, rain location Thomas F. Sullivan Arena)

All members of the graduating class will assemble at 2:30 p.m. in the Carr Center.  If the weather is inclement, graduands will assemble in Thomas F. Sullivan Arena using the rear entrance that is located across from the Grappone Stadium.
The cap and gown are worn for the convocation.  The hood is not worn on this occasion. Honor society cords, medals, medallions or other paraphernalia are not to be worn.  The procession to the College Quadrangle (or within Thomas F. Sullivan Area) will begin at 2:50 p.m.

BACCALAUREATE MASS 

Immediately following the Honors Convocation, the Baccalaureate Mass will be celebrated on the College Quadrangle (weather permitting, rain location Thomas F. Sullivan Arena).  Parents and guests are cordially invited to attend both the Convocation and the Mass.

If inclement weather forces the College officials to decide on an indoor Honors Convocation and Baccalaureate Mass, three tickets for the Thomas F. Sullivan Arena will to be available to each member of the graduating class. These tickets will be released only to Undergraduate Seniors.  Please inform relatives and friends that admission to the Thomas F. Sullivan Arena will be by ticket only.  Simulcast of the ceremonies will be available on a first-come, first-serve basis at several locations on campus.

RECEPTION

IMMEDIATELY FOLLOWING THE BACCALAUREATE MASS –CARR CENTER    

Graduands, parents, guests, faculty and staff are invited to attend a reception.  Light refreshments will be served.

Saturday – May 20, 2023

COMMENCEMENT EXERCISES

SATURDAY MORNING

The list of names of graduands and their places in the line of march will be emailed to you and posted in the Carr Center.  It is the responsibility of the graduands to note their rows and their places in the rows.  Graduands wear cap, gown and hood.  Check out this video for a tutorial on how to put on your hood. Honor society cords, medals, medallions or other paraphernalia are not to be worn. 

9:00 a.m.

Graduands will assemble in the Carr Center.  The presentation of diplomas will require that the graduands be arranged in a strictly alphabetical order.  An administrator will be available to establish the order of march and to verify that everyone is properly attired in cap, gown and hood, and in the proper place.  If the weather is inclement, graduands will assemble in Sullivan Arena using the rear entrance that is located across from the Grappone Stadium.

9:50 a.m.

The Commencement Exercises will begin at 9:50 a.m. with the procession to the platform area.  Marshals will escort the graduands to the seats reserved near the front of the stage.  There are two moves that assure the success of the graduation ceremony:

  1. each graduand moves into the row designated by the marshal;
  2. each chair in each row is filled.

Following the Commencement Address, marshals will guide the graduands, row by row, to a station near the platform. As the Dean announces each name, the graduand comes forward be recognized by the President of the College and returns to the designated chair. Marshals will guide the graduands throughout the process

Post- Commencement Exercises

After the recessional, students may proceed to the Carr Center to pick up their physical diploma.