Commencement Ceremony
Rehearsal
Graduates are required to attend the mandatory Commencement rehearsal on Saturday, May 16, at 2 p.m. in Kaul Auditorium.
Date, Time & Location
- Monday, May 18, 2026
- 11 a.m.
- Great Lawn (south side of campus)
Reed holds a reception in the Quad following the ceremony.
See the Complete Schedule
Guests
There is no limit for the number of guests you can invite to the Commencement ceremony. The event is not ticketed. Seats are available on a first-come, first-served basis.
Participation
All seniors need to fill out the Intent to Graduate form by Wednesday, April 8 at noon. Students should use this form to indicate whether they are participating in the Commencement ceremony, request their robes, share the name they want on their diploma, and more.
Commencement Eligibility
The college holds one Commencement ceremony per year. All graduates from the current academic year are invited to participate, including those who completed their degrees the preceding Fall.
If you are a senior with outstanding requirements, you must complete the Intent to Graduate form and may participate in the Commencement ceremony if you meet either of the following criteria:
- Remaining Credits: You have finished your thesis and have no more than 1 unit of coursework and/or 2 quarters of PE left to complete.
- Thesis Extension: You have an approved thesis extension and have completed all other degree requirements.
Accessibility
Reed's Commencement ceremony will take place outside under a tent. For accessibility, there is a paved sidewalk and temporary flooring for the aisles. If you or a member of your party need any type of accommodation, please fill out our accommodations form or contact the conference & events planning office if you have specific questions.
Recording of the Ceremony
The ceremony will not be live streamed, but it will be recorded and available online by Friday, May 22, 2026.
Graduation Photos
Grad Images photographs each graduate during the Commencement ceremony. You may view proofs on its website or by mail. To order, call 800-261-2576. Photos should be available by late May or early June.
Caps & Gowns
Caps and gowns for the ceremony are provided by Reed to graduates. The deadline to request a cap and gown is Wednesday, April 8, at noon. Orders should be submitted via the Intent to Graduate form. All orders include a cap and tassel, which are the student's own to keep. The robe is returned after the ceremony.
MALS degree graduates receive the degree hood at the Commencement ceremony, which is the student's own to keep. Caps are one-size-fits-all. Gowns are generically sized and additional options are available in plus size. Please contact conference & events planning for more information.
Ordering Announcements
Graduation announcements can be ordered online at Herff Jones. Information about ordering will be available from Herff Jones starting in March 2026.
Graduation Gifts
The Reed bookstore, a nonprofit organization dedicated to serving the academic needs of the Reed community, has class rings and other Reed-specific graduation items for sale online.
Diplomas
Actual diplomas are conferred at the ceremony. Graduates who do not attend can make arrangements to have diplomas picked up at the registrar's office or mailed. Seniors should share the name they want printed on their diplomas via the Intent to Graduate form
Other Graduation Events
Individual departments may plan their own celebrations. Events will be added and listed on our campus calendar, events.reed.edu.