General Information

Directions

The Olin College campus is located at 1000 Olin Way in Needham, Massachusetts, approximately 14 miles west of Boston. Click here for more detailed directions.

Once on campus, guests are asked to park in Parking Lot A. (Olin College campus map).

Handicap Accessibility

There will be a designated seating section to accommodate handicapped guests. Requests for handicapped seating should be sent to the Commencement Operations Committee.

Commencement and Reception Announcement Cards

In early April, each graduating senior will be given six commencement announcement cards. The purpose of these announcements is to inform your guests of the date and time of Commencement. Seniors wishing to inform more than six family members about the ceremony should notify Dean of Student Life Rod Crafts. Please note that the announcements are not formal invitations, and no invitations or tickets are necessary for admittance to the ceremony.

All graduating seniors and their immediate families are invited to the Welcome to Commencement and Student Recognition Event beginning at 3:30 pm on Saturday, May 18, followed by the President's Reception from 4:00-6:00 pm. Seniors wishing to invite more than six family members to the reception should notify Dean of Student Life Rod Crafts. Current Olin College staff, faculty and their spouses are also invited to attend the reception.

Parking

Family and guests are encouraged to arrive early to better ensure a parking space. Guests are asked to park in Parking Lot A.

Photography and Videography

Graduates are responsible for scheduling their senior photo shoot with Olin photographer, Michael Maloney. Each graduate will be given a DVD of their own photos. They will also be made available to Olin friends and family through our Flickr group, OlinImages.

The Office of Communication is arranging for photographic coverage of the Olin Commencement exercises. A photographer will be on hand to take a picture of each graduate as the diplomas are distributed. These photographs will be available through Flickr following Commencement.

Additionally a DVD of 2013 Commencement is available for purchase now!  The cost of each DVD is $15.00 (shipping included).  All orders must be prepaid and may be placed through Olin Gear by May 31 by clicking here. To allow time for editing the video files and producing the DVDs, we expect to ship orders the week of June 6. Olin will be producing an exact number of Class of 2013 Commencement DVDs based on the number of prepaid orders received by May 31.  This will be your only opportunity to order a DVD. You will also be able to download the Commencement video from Olin’s YouTube channel (which will be linked to on the Commencement website).

Please note: Due to the large number of people attending Commencement, it is necessary to restrict access to the platform and the graduates' seating area. Guests will not be able to walk or stand in the aisles to take photographs or videotape.

Flowers

The Class of 2014 will be selling flowers at the 2013 Commencement Ceremony from 1:30-3:00 pm on Sunday, May 19. You will find a designated table outside of the ceremony tent. The flowers will come wrapped and tied with Olin color ribbons. Cash or check will be accepted. If you will be paying by check, please make it out to: "Olin College," with "Class of 2014" in the memo line. All proceeds will go toward funding senior class events next year. Please contact Larissa Little if you have further questions.

Rain Plan

Every attempt will be made to conduct the Commencement Ceremonies as planned. Only in the case of severe weather that might compromise the safety of guests and participants, would the ceremony be postponed or moved to a different location. Commencement will take place under a tent, however guests should arrive prepared for New England weather conditions.

First Aid Facilities

A first-aid station will be located in the lower lobby of the Campus Center (near the Wooden Waterfall) and an ambulance will be available nearby should anyone require medical assistance.

Pets/Animals

With the exception of service animals, Public Safety has requested that no animals be permitted in the Commencement tent or on College grounds during any of the planned events associated with Commencement.

Cell Phones

Please remember to turn cellular phones to the off or silent mode while in the Commencement tent.