Harford Community College will hold its Sixty-Fifth Annual Commencement Ceremony on Thursday, May 25.
The ceremony will recognize all August 2022 and December 2022 graduates and May 2023 candidates for graduation in the College’s associate degree and certificate programs.
The stage is set and we're ready to honor Harford's Class of 2023. We're excited to
share this celebration with all of you. Congratulate our graduates and celebrate with
us—they’ve accomplished so much.
Overview
On May 25, 2023, ceremonies will be held at 10 AM and 2 PM in the APGFCU Arena at Harford Community College for graduates of the following divisions:
- A 10 AM ceremony for graduates of the Arts and Humanities and the Behavioral and Social Sciences divisions.
- A 2 PM ceremony for graduates of the Business and Applied Technology, Nursing and Allied Health Professions, and Science, Technology, Engineering and Math divisions.
Visit the Academic Catalog, Programs of Study if you need assistance determining which division applies to you.
Guests are welcome and encouraged to attend in-person and no ticket is required to attend. The ceremonies will be live-streamed and recorded. Links to the live-stream will be added to this page closer to the event date. A recorded version for each ceremony will be available for viewing on our website at a later date.
Please find Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) below for further Commencement information. Please contact the Commencement Planning Committee tri-chairs at Commencement@harford.edu.
RSVP
Students who have graduated in August or December 2022 or applied to graduate for May 2023 will be invited to Commencement 2023. Students will be required to RSVP if they plan to attend their Commencement ceremony. In order to RSVP for Commencement, students must first apply for graduation. Click here to apply for graduation. Links to RSVP to Commencement are located in the chart below starting April 13.
Student Commencement Honors
In preparation for Commencement 2023, the Office of Student Life is seeking nominations of students for the HCC Outstanding Student Leadership Award and nominations of students whom you feel would be an inspiring Student Commencement Speaker. These may include students who graduated in August 2022 and December 2022, or are candidates for graduation in May 2023. Students can self-nominate or nominate a peer using this form. The deadline for nominations for the Outstanding Student Leader award is February 15 and the Student Commencement Speaker is March 12.
Important Dates
| STEPS | TIMELINE | LOCATION |
| Apply for Graduation |
Now until APR 1 |
Owlnet>My Academic Life> Quick Links>Forms> Application for Graduation |
| Commencement Ceremony Invitation emailed to Students | APR 7 | Emailed to students’ HCC email address |
| Official Invitations for Commencement sent out |
APR 10 |
Mailed to students' home address |
|
RSVP to attend Commencement Ceremony Your RSVP to Commencement also reserves your complimentary cap and gown. |
APR 13—MAY 1 |
RSVP for the 10 AM Ceremony
RSVP for the 2 PM Ceremony
|
| Pickup Cap and Gown | MAY 8—19 |
College Bookstore in the Student Center Monday-Thursday 8:30 AM—5 PM Friday 8:30 AM—3 PM |
| Graduation Gala Celebration | MAY 22 | 7—9 PM | Learn more about the event and RSVP Deadline to RSVP is May 12 |
Commencement Ceremony for:
|
MAY 25 | 10 AM |
APGFCU Arena |
|
Commencement Ceremony for:
|
MAY 25 | 2 PM |
APGFCU Arena |
Frequently Asked Questions
Graduation refers to the conferring of an academic degree. At Harford Community College, you must meet specific requirements in order to graduate, and you must apply for graduation. Commencement is an optional College-sponsored ceremony in which graduating students dress in regalia, process, and are formally conferred a degree or certification. In order to participate in the Commencement ceremony, you must meet all graduation requirements and reserve a spot in the ceremony.
For more information and to apply to graduate, please go to:
Owlnet>My Academic Life>Quick Links>Forms> Application for Graduation.
Deadline to apply is April 1.
The college provides caps and gowns to all students that RSVP to commencement. Regalia will be able to be picked up at the bookstore May 8—19. For hours, visit bookstore.harford.edu. The college pays for the cap and gown unless the student does not RSVP by May 1.
While it is not the practice of the College to encourage the decoration or messaging of caps at the Commencement ceremony, if it is your intention to do so, please do it tastefully and with respect for the dignity of the occasion. The College holds Commencement to celebrate the academic achievements of all the graduates of the Class of 2023. We ask that you recognize it as a formal and prestigious occasion and to hold the event in proper perspective.
- Students should arrive at the auxiliary gym in Susquehanna, one (1) hour before their ceremony start time.
- We recommend that graduates dress semi-casual or semi-formal depending on your level of comfort walking across the stage and being recorded/photographed wearing. Gowns are blue.
- There are no tickets needed for guests to attend either Commencement Ceremony. Seating is first come, first serve.
On May 25, 2023, ceremonies will be held at 10 AM and 2 PM in the APGFCU Arena for graduates of the following divisions:
- A 10 AM ceremony for graduates of the Arts and Humanities and the Behavioral and Social Sciences divisions. (Future link to 10 AM Live Stream)
- A 2 PM ceremony for graduates of the Business and Applied Technology, Nursing and Allied Health Professions, and Science, Technology, Engineering and Math divisions. (Future link to the 2 PM Live Stream)
Visit the Academic Catalog, Programs of Study if you need assistance determining which division applies to you.
Accessibility
Harford Community College is committed to promoting the full participation of all individuals with disabilities in the Commencement Ceremony. For disability-related accommodations, contact 443-412-2402 by Monday, May 1, 2023. Please find additional accommodation information below:
- Drop Off/Pick Up: The main entrance of the APGFCU Arena offers a convenient drop off/pick up option for guests.
- ADA Parking: Accessible parking is available in the S Lot closest to the Arena. A disability placard or disability license plate is required to park in these designated spaces.
- Ramp: In addition to the stairs leading from the parking lot to the main entrance of the Arena, there is a ramp to the left-hand side when facing the Arena.
- ADA Seating: Seating for individuals with wheelchairs is located in row A on the floor in bleacher sections B, C, L, and M, and on the concourse in row P in bleacher sections F, G, and H (under the flags).
- Elevator: Upon entering the Arena’s main entrance, the elevator is located just beyond the restrooms on the concourse.
- ASL Interpreting Available: Each ceremony will include live ASL interpreting services. Seats in Section B will be reserved for individuals utilizing these services.
- Large Print Programs: Large print programs are available upon request, as supplies last.