The senior rehearsal for the School of Engineering will be held on Friday, May 22 from 12:30 - 1:30 P.M. at the First Baptist Church in America. Graduating seniors are required to attend and a pizza lunch is served. The rehearsal is designed to give graduates an overview of the School of Engineering undergraduate diploma ceremony in the Meeting House and answer any questions. There will be a walk through of the ceremony, including pew assignments and line up procedures.

The University Ceremony ends on the College Green around 2:00 P.M. School of Engineering students and families will then proceed to the First Baptist Church, 75 North Main Street, located at the foot of College Hill, where there will be refreshments and a light reception. The School of Engineering undergraduate diploma ceremony will begin around 2:45 P.M. and students will line up beginning at 2:30 P.M. in the basement of the church. Please note that times are approximate and are only an estimate.

No. There is no food or water allowed in the church.

Please contact SAS (Student Accessibility Services) shuttle dispatcher at 401-225-9572 in advance to make arrangements for shuttle transportation to and wheelchair access through the rear of the church. SAS can also assist with other arrangements throughout Commencement Weekend. Please visit studentaccessibility.brown.edu for additional accessibility information or call SAS at 401-863-9588.

Please note that if you wish to drop a family member who needs assistance entering the church, please use 11 Thomas Street, Providence in your GPS as the drop off address. This is the only entrance to the church that is accessible. All other entrances require climbing stairs.

Due to the historic nature of the First Baptist Church in America, the bathroom facilities are very limited and not accessible by wheelchair. There are accessible portable bathrooms located throughout campus for the weekend.

In general, the University Ceremony ends on the College Green around 2:00/2:15 P.M. with individual departmental diploma ceremonies occurring afterward. The School of Engineering diploma ceremony will run from approximately 2:45 P.M. to 4:30 P.M.

Sunday, May 24, 2026

Undergraduate students are asked to report to Waterman Street by 9:30 A.M. Lineup begins at Faunce Arch, facing east, on the south side of Waterman Street. All seniors should arrive to Waterman in academic regalia. Undergraduate students will process through the Van Wickle Gates, down College and Benefit streets to the grounds of First Baptist Meeting House for the College Ceremony which will begin at approximately 12:15 P.M. After the ceremony ends, the seniors walk up the hill and take seats on the College Green for the University ceremony which will begin at approximately 1:15 P.M.

As part of Brown’s commitment to community safety and security, a new ticketing system for the 2026 Commencement and Reunion Weekend will be implemented that will include controlled access to campus buildings and outdoor spaces around the College Green. Further information can be found on the event access and ticketing website.