Commencement Ceremony
The ceremony for Language Schools Master of Arts & Doctor of Modern Languages degree recipients will be held Friday, August 16, 2024 at 4:00 p.m. at the Mahaney Arts Center (MAC) Olin C. Robison Concert Hall in Middlebury, Vermont.
Students are expected to arrive at 3:30 p.m. in order to line up for the ceremony. We will have a photographer to take pictures of each graduate.
Commencement will be live-streamed for graduates, friends, and families who are unable to attend. Please see the live-stream link and order of ceremony. Information for 2024 will be updated closer to Commencement.
Each graduate can have up to two guests attend the ceremony. Please pick up tickets for your guests at any point August 13 to 15 (10:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.) on the 2nd floor of Sunderland in the Language Schools main office. An overflow room is available for extra guests in the MAC 232 (next to the Concert Hall).
A reception will be held outside on the 1st floor following the ceremony.
Regalia
All Language Schools MA and DML degree recipients attending in-person are required to wear traditional regalia (caps and gowns). Graduates without regalia will not be allowed to participate in the ceremony.
MA candidates may purchase regalia at the Middlebury College bookstore from Wednesday, August 14, through Friday, August 16, at 3:00 p.m. The cost to purchase MA regalia is $66.75 (plus tax of 7%). The bookstore is open from 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday.
DML candidates may purchase or rent doctoral regalia. The cost of a cap and gown rental is $37.50 (plus tax of 7%). DML candidates will be given a doctoral hood during the ceremony. To purchase (deadline is June 21), contact Sue Hebert. To rent (deadline is July 12), go to the Middlebury bookstore online and click “Graduation Items.” Select Item 2008630 and “PICKUP ORDER” (if attending in-person).
Frequently Asked Questions
Q I will have more than 2 guests. How do I get more tickets?
Since the Concert Hall is small, unfortunately we do limit the number of guests to two. However, you can ask your classmates for their tickets. Commencement will also be livestreamed.
Extra guests are welcome to come to Commencement to watch in an overflow room. If we do have extra space, we will let guests from the overflow room come into the Concert Hall as Commencement is starting. All guests are welcome to the reception directly following Commencement.
Q I can't pick up my tickets during the time - is there another time?
Please do your best to pick up tickets during the scheduled time. Your classmates can also pick up your tickets. If this doesn’t work, we should have someone in the Sunderland office on Friday morning. We will also have some extra tickets at the door of the Concert hall.