SC Connecticut News

Yale University is set to hold its 323rd Commencement at 10:30 a.m. on Monday, May 20. Vice Admiral Vivek H. Murthy, M.D., M.B.A. ’03, the United States surgeon general and a vocal advocate for mental health and well-being, will deliver the Class Day address on Sunday, May 19.

The Joint Military Commissioning ceremony honoring the graduates of Air Force and Naval ROTC will take place at 4:30 p.m. on Monday, May 20 in Battell Chapel, located at 400 College St.

Media members interested in covering these events must register for Class Day and Commencement credentials. These credentials will be issued on a first-come-first-served basis by Yale’s Office of Public Affairs & Communications (OPAC). Only those with Yale-issued credentials will be allowed access to Old Campus to cover these ceremonies.

Due to high demand and limited space, media outlets are requested to send a maximum of one reporter or one photographer to the Commencement ceremonies. News crew video cameras will not be permitted inside Old Campus or on the media platform; instead, a live feed will be made available.

The Baccalaureate service for Yale College seniors and their families is scheduled for Sunday, May 19 at 10 a.m., Old Campus. This one-hour ceremony will feature an address by President Peter Salovey and remarks by Dean of Yale College Pericles Lewis.

Class Day events will begin at 2 p.m., Old Campus on Sunday, May 19. The day's highlights include Murthy’s talk as well as traditional Yale activities such as the planting of the Class Ivy, a recitation of the Ivy Ode, awarding student academic prizes, and singing Yale’s alma mater “Bright College Years.”

Vivek H. Murthy has been serving as the United States surgeon general and is a recognized advocate for mental health and well-being. Known as “the nation’s doctor,” Murthy, who earned his M.D. and M.B.A. degrees from Yale in 2003, expressed his honor at joining Yale’s graduates on Class Day.

Murthy was confirmed by the U.S. Senate to serve as the 21st surgeon general of the United States in March 2021. He previously served as the 19th surgeon general under President Barack Obama. As the nation’s top doctor, Murthy has issued advisories on youth mental health crisis, social media’s impact on youth mental health, loneliness and isolation epidemic, and burnout in the health worker community.

Dean of Yale College Pericles Lewis praised Murthy's leadership and commitment to public good, stating that he sets a vibrant example for their graduates as they prepare to embark on their own paths of leadership and service.