{"id":6824,"date":"2025-07-24T10:38:06","date_gmt":"2025-07-24T14:38:06","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.bates.edu\/commencement\/?page_id=6824"},"modified":"2026-05-27T10:08:08","modified_gmt":"2026-05-27T14:08:08","slug":"commencement-2026","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.bates.edu\/commencement\/","title":{"rendered":"Commencement Weekend | May 29-31, 2026"},"content":{"rendered":"<ul class=\"wp-block-latest-posts__list is-grid columns-3 has-dates has-author wp-block-latest-posts\"><li><div class=\"wp-block-latest-posts__featured-image alignleft\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.bates.edu\/commencement\/2026\/04\/02\/celebrate-with-bobcat-lawn-signs-2026\/\" aria-label=\"Celebrate With Bobcat Lawn Signs\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"900\" height=\"675\" src=\"https:\/\/www.bates.edu\/commencement\/files\/2023\/02\/23-082-lawn-posters_2023_18x24-2-copy-900x675.webp\" class=\"attachment-large size-large wp-post-image\" alt=\"\" style=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.bates.edu\/commencement\/files\/2023\/02\/23-082-lawn-posters_2023_18x24-2-copy-900x675.webp 900w, https:\/\/www.bates.edu\/commencement\/files\/2023\/02\/23-082-lawn-posters_2023_18x24-2-copy-400x300.webp 400w, https:\/\/www.bates.edu\/commencement\/files\/2023\/02\/23-082-lawn-posters_2023_18x24-2-copy-768x576.webp 768w, https:\/\/www.bates.edu\/commencement\/files\/2023\/02\/23-082-lawn-posters_2023_18x24-2-copy-1536x1152.webp 1536w, https:\/\/www.bates.edu\/commencement\/files\/2023\/02\/23-082-lawn-posters_2023_18x24-2-copy-200x150.webp 200w, https:\/\/www.bates.edu\/commencement\/files\/2023\/02\/23-082-lawn-posters_2023_18x24-2-copy-837x628.jpg 837w, https:\/\/www.bates.edu\/commencement\/files\/2023\/02\/23-082-lawn-posters_2023_18x24-2-copy.webp 1919w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 900px) 100vw, 900px\" \/><\/a><\/div><a class=\"wp-block-latest-posts__post-title\" href=\"https:\/\/www.bates.edu\/commencement\/2026\/04\/02\/celebrate-with-bobcat-lawn-signs-2026\/\">Celebrate With Bobcat Lawn Signs<\/a><div class=\"wp-block-latest-posts__post-author\">by Gina Nordini<\/div><time datetime=\"2026-04-02T16:43:54-04:00\" class=\"wp-block-latest-posts__post-date\">April 2, 2026<\/time><div class=\"wp-block-latest-posts__post-excerpt\">Want to show your Bobcat pride? Download one of our printable PDFs.<\/div><\/li>\n<li><div class=\"wp-block-latest-posts__featured-image alignleft\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.bates.edu\/commencement\/2026\/01\/21\/schedule\/\" aria-label=\"Schedule\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"888\" height=\"900\" src=\"https:\/\/www.bates.edu\/commencement\/files\/2025\/01\/sq-240526_Commencement_5251-e1744142868474-888x900.webp\" class=\"attachment-large size-large wp-post-image\" alt=\"People taking a selfie during graduation\" style=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.bates.edu\/commencement\/files\/2025\/01\/sq-240526_Commencement_5251-e1744142868474-888x900.webp 888w, https:\/\/www.bates.edu\/commencement\/files\/2025\/01\/sq-240526_Commencement_5251-e1744142868474-296x300.webp 296w, https:\/\/www.bates.edu\/commencement\/files\/2025\/01\/sq-240526_Commencement_5251-e1744142868474-768x779.webp 768w, https:\/\/www.bates.edu\/commencement\/files\/2025\/01\/sq-240526_Commencement_5251-e1744142868474-620x628.jpg 620w, https:\/\/www.bates.edu\/commencement\/files\/2025\/01\/sq-240526_Commencement_5251-e1744142868474-197x200.webp 197w, https:\/\/www.bates.edu\/commencement\/files\/2025\/01\/sq-240526_Commencement_5251-e1744142868474.webp 1242w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 888px) 100vw, 888px\" \/><\/a><\/div><a class=\"wp-block-latest-posts__post-title\" href=\"https:\/\/www.bates.edu\/commencement\/2026\/01\/21\/schedule\/\">Schedule<\/a><div class=\"wp-block-latest-posts__post-author\">by Michelle Lewis<\/div><time datetime=\"2026-01-21T13:54:00-05:00\" class=\"wp-block-latest-posts__post-date\">January 21, 2026<\/time><div class=\"wp-block-latest-posts__post-excerpt\"><\/div><\/li>\n<li><div class=\"wp-block-latest-posts__featured-image alignleft\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.bates.edu\/commencement\/2026\/01\/16\/faqs-what-to-expect-for-commencement-2026\/\" aria-label=\"FAQs: What to expect for Commencement 2026\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"900\" height=\"600\" src=\"https:\/\/www.bates.edu\/commencement\/files\/2023\/06\/crop_230528_Commencement_2_1184-900x600.webp\" class=\"attachment-large size-large wp-post-image\" alt=\"\" style=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.bates.edu\/commencement\/files\/2023\/06\/crop_230528_Commencement_2_1184-900x600.webp 900w, https:\/\/www.bates.edu\/commencement\/files\/2023\/06\/crop_230528_Commencement_2_1184-400x267.webp 400w, https:\/\/www.bates.edu\/commencement\/files\/2023\/06\/crop_230528_Commencement_2_1184-768x512.webp 768w, https:\/\/www.bates.edu\/commencement\/files\/2023\/06\/crop_230528_Commencement_2_1184-1536x1024.webp 1536w, https:\/\/www.bates.edu\/commencement\/files\/2023\/06\/crop_230528_Commencement_2_1184-200x133.webp 200w, https:\/\/www.bates.edu\/commencement\/files\/2023\/06\/crop_230528_Commencement_2_1184-942x628.jpg 942w, https:\/\/www.bates.edu\/commencement\/files\/2023\/06\/crop_230528_Commencement_2_1184.jpg 1919w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 900px) 100vw, 900px\" \/><\/a><\/div><a class=\"wp-block-latest-posts__post-title\" href=\"https:\/\/www.bates.edu\/commencement\/2026\/01\/16\/faqs-what-to-expect-for-commencement-2026\/\">FAQs: What to expect for Commencement 2026<\/a><div class=\"wp-block-latest-posts__post-author\">by Michelle Lewis<\/div><time datetime=\"2026-01-16T13:56:00-05:00\" class=\"wp-block-latest-posts__post-date\">January 16, 2026<\/time><div class=\"wp-block-latest-posts__post-excerpt\"><\/div><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-cover alignfull\" style=\"min-height:563px;aspect-ratio:unset;\"><span aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-cover__background has-gray-light-background-color has-background-dim-100 has-background-dim\"><\/span><div class=\"wp-block-cover__inner-container is-layout-constrained wp-block-cover-is-layout-constrained\">\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center\"><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n<div class=\"fye-countdown\">\n  <p class=\"countdown-label\">Countdown to Commencement<\/p>\n  <div id=\"countdown-timer\">\n    <span><strong id=\"days\"><\/strong> days<\/span>\n    <span><strong id=\"hours\"><\/strong> hrs<\/span>\n    <span><strong id=\"minutes\"><\/strong> min<\/span>\n  <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n<script>\n  const targetDate = new Date(\"May 31, 2026 10:00:00\").getTime();\n\n  const timer = setInterval(function () {\n    const now = new Date().getTime();\n    const distance = targetDate - now;\n\n    if (distance < 0) {\n      clearInterval(timer);\n      document.getElementById(\"countdown-timer\").innerHTML = \"Commencement!\";\n      return;\n    }\n\n    document.getElementById(\"days\").innerHTML = Math.floor(distance \/ (1000 * 60 * 60 * 24));\n    document.getElementById(\"hours\").innerHTML = Math.floor((distance % (1000 * 60 * 60 * 24)) \/ (1000 * 60 * 60));\n    document.getElementById(\"minutes\").innerHTML = Math.floor((distance % (1000 * 60 * 60)) \/ (1000 * 60));\n  }, 1000);\n<\/script>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n\t\t\t<div class=\"aside-stories-wrap\" data-nosnippet>\n\t\t\t\t<h1>Commencement News & Updates<\/h1>\n\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"aside-stories news-updates is-style-grid\"><article class=\"aside-story\"><a class=\"aside-image\" href=\"https:\/\/www.bates.edu\/news\/2026\/04\/09\/bates-announces-2026-commencement-honorands-including-writer-deborah-harkness\/\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"400\" height=\"267\" src=\"https:\/\/www.bates.edu\/news\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/174\/files\/2026\/04\/250902_Convocation_0009_WP-400x267.webp\" class=\"attachment-medium size-medium\" alt=\"Opening Convocation at 11 a.m. Sept. 2, 2025, on the Historic Quad, followed by In Memoriam: Tree Planting Service. Processional Welcome by President Garry Jenkins Mace Bearer Mary T. Rice=DeFosse Greetings by Zach Richards \u201926 and Mohammad Zayd \u201927, Co-Presidents Convocation Address \u201cA College for Coming Times\u201d Rebecca Herzig, Professor of Gender and Sexuality Studies Benediction Raymond Clothier, Interim Multifaith Chaplain Memorial Tree Planting Alongside Gomes Chapel on College Street, in memory of those in the Bates community who died during the past year. The tree was designated with a yellow bow.\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.bates.edu\/news\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/174\/files\/2026\/04\/250902_Convocation_0009_WP-400x267.webp 400w, https:\/\/www.bates.edu\/news\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/174\/files\/2026\/04\/250902_Convocation_0009_WP-900x600.webp 900w, https:\/\/www.bates.edu\/news\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/174\/files\/2026\/04\/250902_Convocation_0009_WP-942x628.jpg 942w, https:\/\/www.bates.edu\/news\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/174\/files\/2026\/04\/250902_Convocation_0009_WP-1536x1024.webp 1536w, https:\/\/www.bates.edu\/news\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/174\/files\/2026\/04\/250902_Convocation_0009_WP-200x133.webp 200w, https:\/\/www.bates.edu\/news\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/174\/files\/2026\/04\/250902_Convocation_0009_WP.webp 1919w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 400px) 100vw, 400px\" \/><\/a><div class=\"aside-text-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"aside-date\">April 9, 2026<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"aside-title\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.bates.edu\/news\/2026\/04\/09\/bates-announces-2026-commencement-honorands-including-writer-deborah-harkness\/\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tBates announces 2026 Commencement honorands, including writer Deborah Harkness\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/h2>\n\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"aside-text\">Bates will recognize four honorary degree recipients during Commencement on May 31, including Commencement speaker Deborah Harkness.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/article><\/section><!-- .aside-stories -->\n\t\t\t<\/div><!--.aside-stories-wrap-->","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"","protected":false},"author":5,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_hide_ai_chatbot":false,"_ai_chatbot_style":"","associated_faculty":[],"_Page_Specific_Css":"","_bates_restrict_mod":false,"_dimp_site_id":"","_dimp_override_contact":false,"_table_of_contents_display":false,"_table_of_contents_location":"","_table_of_contents_disableSticky":false,"_is_featured":false,"footnotes":"","_bates_seo_meta_description":"","_bates_seo_block_robots":false,"_bates_seo_sharing_image_id":0,"_bates_seo_sharing_image_twitter_id":0,"_bates_seo_share_title":"","_bates_seo_canonical_overwrite":"","_bates_seo_twitter_template":""},"class_list":["post-6824","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.bates.edu\/commencement\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/6824","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.bates.edu\/commencement\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.bates.edu\/commencement\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.bates.edu\/commencement\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/5"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.bates.edu\/commencement\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=6824"}],"version-history":[{"count":12,"href":"https:\/\/www.bates.edu\/commencement\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/6824\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":7108,"href":"https:\/\/www.bates.edu\/commencement\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/6824\/revisions\/7108"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.bates.edu\/commencement\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=6824"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}