Commencement participation from employees

Dear Colleagues,

Commencement week is a time when we celebrate an important academic and research milestone for our graduating students. While these festivities recognize their hard work and determination, it is also a moment to recognize the steadfast support of the entire community in helping them to achieve their goals. At this year’s ceremonies, more than any other time in recent memory, Commencement serves as a recognition of the spirit of the Institute as a whole.

It is in this spirit that we write today to encourage all staff to take an active role in this year’s Commencement festivities. As we announced to students in December, the new format for MIT Commencement encompasses multiple ceremonies across several days, including:

• the OneMIT Commencement Ceremony for all graduates and their guests in Killian Court;
• the Undergraduate Degree Ceremony at Briggs Field;
• the School/College Advanced Degree Ceremonies, comprising doctoral hooding; and
• this year only, a special ceremony in Killian Court for the Classes of 2020 and 2021, who did not have their own in-person Commencement events.

We are fortunate every year to find friendly and resourceful MIT community members to help make celebrating Commencement a memorable experience for our guests and graduates. We hope that many of you will participate in staffing the events this year; we invite you to indicate your interest and general hours of availability on May 26, 27, and 28 through this online form.

Staff support will be vital to the success of MIT Commencement. Among the staffing roles needed are those related to assembly and procession of graduates and faculty, plus guest services, which includes ushering, translation, campus information, disability services, and in general, ensuring that our guests enjoy these special days.

We encourage managers and supervisors to allow employees to arrange their schedules to accommodate taking part in these important events — and to join in! Over the years, many departments have chosen to work together at Commencement and teams of colleagues are very welcome. If your area would like to work as a team, you can include that note when you sign up.

Thank you for looking at your Commencement week schedule and giving some thought to helping at this year's ceremonies. If you have specific questions, please contact MIT Institute Events.

Sincerely,

Ramona Allen
Vice President for Human Resources

Cynthia Barnhart
Provost

Glen Shor
Executive Vice President and Treasurer

Maria T. Zuber
Vice President for Research