Harvard University holds Commencement in Tercentenary Theater in Harvard Yard (an outdoor area)
http://www.boston.com/news/local/breaking_news/Harvard%20Commencement%204.jpg
http://ysfine.com/style/harvard94.jpg

Williams College holds Commencent in West College Lawn.
http://www.williams.edu/home/commencement/2007/images/recep_line.jpg

Yale holds it in Old Campus and Cornell in the football stadium.
http://www.sdkdirect.com/KennyMiller/myyalecommencement/1074.jpg
http://www.commencement.cornell.edu/images/photos/banner.jpg

As for reasons, I can only speak for Harvard (the 1st college of the United States). Harvard's first commencement ceremony was in 1642 and it was held outdoors in Harvard Yard. Harvard Commencement in particular is very tradition driven. Officials at Commencement that are not wearing academic regalia wear formal morning dress. "Today, the Sheriff of Middlesex County, Former Class Marshals, and other officials present at Commencement wear formal morning dress, including top hats, canes, and gloves. It is one of the few occasions in the United States where morning dress is consistently worn." (Wikipedia)

It is very important for the University to hold Commencement in Tercentenary Theater. Tercentenary Theater is a very special place, bordered by Memorial Church and Widener Library, two places that are emblematic for Harvard and Commencement has been held in the Yard for over 300 years. From the start, Commencement was intended to be a big party that everyone came to see so it's fitting that it occurs outdoors as opposed to indoors.

I am certain that Harvard does not hold Commencement in the Yard because of space reasons. Tickets are impossible to come by, there is a very limited amount of seats for students' friends and family, and the Yard is incredibly crowded that day. Events begin at 9am and if you're not there by 7, you lost any chance of getting a decent seat.

I also wouldn't be surprised that many colleges have copied Harvard in how they structure their ceremonies as Harvard copied Cambridge University in establishing its own traditions.

Charles A. Wagner in “Harvard: Four Centuries and Freedoms”:

The academic procession on that far distant September morning of 1642 counted the nine “commencers,” four juniorsophisters, and eight or ten freshmen, with a motley audience of visitors from Boston and all the settlements nearby; ministers, Indians, residents, parents, and gloating familiars. The people made it a holiday of annual joy in learning. And there were orations by the commencers in Hebrew, Greek, and Latin. Then, in the afternoon session, came the series of disputations in Latin between commencers on many of the age-old topics of the theses philosophicae and philologicae. (http://www.commencement.harvard.edu/background/spirit.html)
Source(s):
Attended some of these ceremonies myself.
http://www.commencement.harvard.edu/background/spirit.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Academic_dress_of_Harvard_University
http://harvardmagazine.com/1997/05/ner.rituals.html

Asker's Rating:

Permalink | Report