We are pleased to host the in-person Commencement Ceremony for the Class of 2020 and the Class of 2021 Master's and Doctoral graduates! The Penn community looks forward to this long-awaited celebration on Sunday, May 22 from 10:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. at Franklin Field. Graduates will meet at College Green and process to Franklin Field. Graduates from the two classes will be seated on the field, and guests are welcome to join and will be seated in the stands in Franklin Field. Angela Duckworth, PhD, Penn Professor of Psychology and the Rosa Lee and Egbert Chang Professor, will be the morning’s keynote speaker. There will also be a live webcast of the ceremony for family members and guests who cannot travel to Philadelphia.
Family members and friends who are unable to attend Commencement may watch or listen to a live webcast of the ceremony. Coverage will begin at 9:30 a.m. on Sunday, May 22.
Members of the media, please click here for resources related to the Class of 2020 and Class of 2021 Master's and Doctoral Degree Commencement. Go to Flickr for Penn's official Commencement photography on May 22, 2022.
For questions, please reach out to alumni@dev.upenn.edu.
So that we can prepare accordingly, all graduates, family, and friends who plan to attend must register here. Please register ASAP!
Yes, you can not participate in Commencement if you don't have regalia. The official deadline to order regalia through the Penn Bookstore has passed. The Bookstore will have a limited supply to purchase during Commencement weekend.
Visitors to campus and to University-sponsored events and gatherings must complete the PennOpen Campus pre-screening on the day they visit. They must present their Green Pass on request. Please see the most up-to-date information about the University’s guidelines for visitors to campus. Before guests arrive on campus, they must complete PennOpen Campus pre-screening. Each day you visit campus or come to University-sponsored activities, all graduates and guests must present their Green Pass for entry. While masking is not required for outdoor activities, it is recommended in areas where physical distancing is difficult. Please review information about how PennOpen Campus works. Those living outside of the US should complete their PennOpen Campus pass upon arrival to campus, as its use may not be accessible in other countries. PennOpen Campus passes must be completed each day you are on campus. The University requests that visitors not come physically to campus if they feel ill or have been exposed to a case of COVID-19. For the University Public Health Guidance visit public health guidance. Public health guidance continues to evolve. *Visitor Policies listed above are as of May 12, 2022. Subject to change due to changes in public health guidance.
Commencement will be held rain or shine. However, for the safety of graduates and guests, severe weather conditions may require the cancellation of the student procession across campus or the delay of the ceremony.
In dangerous weather conditions, the ceremony may be relocated indoors to the Palestra, where seating would be limited to the academic procession and graduating students. In the case of this relocation, students should report to the Palestra no later than 9:30 a.m. Please know that the decision to move the Commencement ceremony indoors would be made in only extreme conditions.
If weather requires changes to the Commencement ceremony schedule, information will be found on:
Undergraduate Class of 2020 members are invited to kick-off Commencement Weekend at a party hosted by Penn Alumni! Join us on-campus Saturday, May 21 from 8:30 PM - Midnight for this free event (for you and guest). Come for your friends and stay for the food, open bar, music & more! RSVP Today!
Specific schools will reach out to their alumni directly if there are school events happening on Saturday, May 21 and/or Sunday, May 22.
Yes, a link is available at the top of this website for the livestream of the May 22 Commencement.
There will be a special section for guests who require special seating due to a wheelchair, limited physical mobility or other medical conditions.
Pre-registration is now closed, and tickets have been mailed via US Mail. If you requested tickets and have not received them, or you have not requested tickets in advance, please arrive at the Southwest gate of Franklin Field, 33rd & South Streets, between 8:00 - 9:00 a.m. on Sunday, May 22 and we will escort you to the appropriate seating section. Starting May 9, you can call (215) 898-7369 (voice) if you have any questions, or email seccoor@pobox.upenn.edu. If you require Commencement information materials in alternate formats, advance notice is required.