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The Baccalaureate Ceremony

Baccalaureate Ceremony for the Class of 2025

Seniors should arrive in cap and gown for the Baccalaureate Ceremony on the Academic Green before 2:30pm

The University Chaplaincy is deeply glad to welcome the Class of 2025 and their families to the Baccalaureate Ceremony on the Academic Green on Saturday, May 17, 2025 at 3:00 p.m. The multifaith ceremony will include:

  • Words of Welcome and Greetings of Peace from University Chaplain Reverend Elyse Nelson Winger
  • Senior interviews by video
  • The Wendell Phillips Address by Ayomide Oloyede, A25
  • An instrumental music performance by Tufts musicians
  • President Sunil Kumar's address to the Class of 2025
  • Words of blessing and sending from Tufts University chaplains

Please use the entrance behind Ballou Hall. Open seating for families and guests will begin at 2:00 p.m. on the Academic Green.

Baccalaureate Q&A

The Baccalaureate Ceremony will be held in person on the Medford campus, and live-streamed. Please see the Q&A below for common inquiries, and reach out to Associate Director for Programs Nora Bond with questions or accessibility needs.

A Tufts Tradition

The Baccalaureate Ceremony for the senior class is a tradition that began in 1864. Baccalaureate is a cherished moment during Commencement Weekend. It is the last time for the senior class to be together as a class before graduation. One senior is selected to give the Wendell Phillips Address, and the Tufts University President offers parting words to the class. The Baccalaureate Ceremony is a multifaith and multicultural celebration honoring a diversity of spiritualities, philosophies, and cultures at Tufts in the form of music, readings, and blessings. All are welcome, and generally all members of the senior class and their families attend.

Two people smiling at each other on stage in academic regalia

05/20/2023 - Medford/Somerville, Mass. - Wendell Phillips speaker Isabelle Charles, A23, receives acknowledgement before addressing fellow members of the Class of 2023 and guests during the 159th annual Baccalaureate service on the eve of Commencement at Tufts University on May 20, 2023. The Baccalaureate tradition began at Tufts University in 1864. The Wendell Phillips Memorial Scholarship is given annually to a junior or senior, recommended by the Committee on Student Life, who has demonstrated a high sense of public responsibility on the campus. This is one of the two prize scholarships (the other being assigned to Harvard College) that were established in 1896 by the Wendell Phillips Memorial Fund Association in honor of Boston’s great preacher and orator. (Alonso Nichols/Tufts University)

 

Two students in cap and gowns clapping

05/20/2023 - Medford/Somerville, Mass. - Members of the Class of 2023 at Baccalaureate on Saturday, May 20, 2023 (Alonso Nichols/Tufts University)

 

Chaplains standing in a semi circle on stage around a podium, one chaplain speaking at podium

05/20/2023 - Medford/Somerville, Mass. - Reverend Elyse Nelson Winger at podium for Words of Blessing and Sending (Alonso Nichols/Tufts University)

 

Two students hugging

05/20/2023 - Medford/Somerville, Mass. - Members of the Class of 2023 at Baccalaureate on Saturday, May 20, 2023. (Alonso Nichols/Tufts University)

View recordings of previous Baccalaureate Ceremonies below:

2023

2022

2021 

2020 - The Wendell Phillips Speaker for the Class of 2020 spoke at the rescheduled Commencement Ceremony

2019

2018

2017

2016

2015

2014