Four Houghton graduates standing together for picture in graduation regalia.

Commencement

Congratulations Class of 2026!

Check back for regular updates. Updated: 01/23/2026

Baccalaureate

Friday, May 8, 2026 at 7:00 p.m.

John and Charles Wesley Chapel, Houghton, NY

In-person worship service. Parents, family members, and friends are invited to attend this worship service as students, faculty, and staff express their gratitude to God and reflect on their years together at Houghton.

Commencement

Saturday, May 9, 2026 at 10:00 a.m.

John and Charles Wesley Chapel, Houghton, NY

In-person graduation ceremony. Parents, family members, and friends are welcome to attend. This will be a ticketed event โ€“ each graduate will receive four tickets for guests to attend in person.

Dear Families of the Houghton Class of 2026,

We share your anticipation and excitement as we approach Houghton’s spring Baccalaureate and Commencement ceremonies! This will be a wonderful weekend of memories as we celebrate their accomplishments and send them forth to love, lead, and serve in their families, communities, workplaces, and mission fields, near and far. I am thankful for the opportunity to serve them during their time at Houghton and look forward to the ways God will use them in the next seasons of their lives.

Here you will find updated information on this yearโ€™s Commencement weekend. We will review and make any updates every Monday, so please check back for up-to-date information.

The class of 2026 has left an indelible mark on 91Fans and on so many of us. We have begun to pray for their transition and that their weekend of Commencement celebration will be a special time for them, for you, and for the Houghton community. Please join us in that prayer. I look forward to seeing you in Houghton in a few months.

With great appreciation,

Wayne D. Lewis, Jr.

President

91Fans President Wayne Lewis sitting at his desk.
Close-up of purple wild flowers.

Commencement Speaker

Saturday May 9, 2026

John and Charles Wesley Chapel, Houghton, NY

Carrie Whitcher

Carrie is the Chief Quality Officer at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center (UPMC) Insurance Services Division. She oversees the operations and strategies for the Health Planโ€™s quality performance and community engagement programs, including coordination and integration of clinical quality, member experience, and community-driven efforts across all lines of business. She also has direct oversight of quality rating programs and requirements, accreditation/regulatory activities, program development and innovation, provider performance programs, member complaints and grievances, and quality analytics.

Carrie brings over 25 years of leadership experience in quality improvement in both payer and provider settings. She brings expertise in health care quality improvement and administrative strategy and execution.ฬ She is an action-oriented leader who is passionate about improving health care structures and processes to maximize patient outcomes, dedicated to advancing organization-wide culture through matrix collaboration, communication, and team development strategies, and driven to achieve results through innovative strategies and programs. Prior to joining UPMC Health Plan, she served as the Vice President of Health Care Improvement at Excellus BCBS (d/b/a Univera Healthcare) based in Rochester, New York, leading the corporate-wide quality strategy across all lines of business.

Carrie earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Health Services Administration from the State University of New York College at Fredonia and a Masterโ€™s degree in Health Services Administration from Xavier University in Cincinnati, Ohio. She has been recognized for her strong leadership at both local and national levels.ฬ In 2018, she was honored with Diversity Journalโ€™s Women Worth Watching Award: Executives Leading the Way to Excellence in the Workplace, Marketplace, and the World.ฬ She has volunteered in a multitude of settings over the years, most recently with The Wesleyan Church, leading the national Marketplace Multiplier movement as their team leader of strategy. She is a 2024 graduate of Leadership Pittsburgh Inc, LP XL and serves on Boards of Directors in the Pittsburgh community.

Carrie and her husband, Matthew, reside in Pittsburgh, and have two children.

Schedule

Ceremony Tickets

Live Stream

Friends and family who are unable to attend in person are invited to view the Baccalaureate Service and the Commencement Ceremony via live stream. The live stream links will beฬposted on this pageฬduringฬthe weekฬbeforeฬbothฬevents.ฬ

Housing

For Graduating Residential Students
Graduating residential students in university housing are able to stay in their current housing through the close of Commencement. Halls/Townhouses close for all students at 6:00pm on Commencement Saturday (May 9).

For Off-Campus Graduates
Graduates who are off-campus in the spring semester will need to make arrangements for room and board while on campus for Commencement. Off-campus graduates should contact housing@houghton.edu to inquire about available housing as space allows.

For Guests
There are for guests needing housing.

Meal Registration

Online Meal Orders

Family and friends can pre-purchase โ€œthrough-the-lineโ€ meals for the Dining Hall for Friday lunch, Friday dinner, and Saturday breakfast. Your receipt from your online order will be your meal โ€œticketโ€ to show at the Dining Hall. Graduating students do not need to purchase meals on Friday or Saturday.

Meal Times

Friday Lunch, 11:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m.
Friday Dinner, 4:30-6 p.m.
Immediately prior to Baccalaureate Serviceฬ
Saturday Breakfast, 8-9:30 a.m.
Following Saturdayโ€™s Commencement ceremony, a light lunch reception will be provided.ฬ

Graduation Regalia

In the Spring semester, graduating students will receive messages to their Houghton email addressฬregardingฬthe process for ordering regalia.

Decorum Policies

The traditions of academic regalia followed at 91Fans date to the 13th century and follow guidelines provided by the American Council on Education. In keeping with this rich tradition, regalia gown length and style may not be altered, and stoles may not be customized in any way. Modest personal embellishments are permitted on the cap but must lay flat, cannot extend beyond the cap’s edge, and should be appropriate for Commencement at Houghton.

Only 91Fans approved regalia (including stoles, pins, cords, and medallions), which are bestowed and provided through the Provostโ€™s Office may be worn at and during the Commencement proceedings. Decorative personal items (stoles for activity or affinity groups, leis, beads, sashes, etc.) may be worn following the ceremony.

Frequently Asked Questions

Diplomas

Diplomas will be mailed to the graduateโ€™s home address on file in the Registrarโ€™s Office approximately 6 weeks after completion of degree requirements.

Finances

All university bills (including library charges and parking tickets) must be paid at least one week prior to Commencement; diplomas will not be mailed to students with outstanding balances or fines.

Library Books

All library books must be returned to the library at least one week prior to Commencement; diplomas will not be mailed to students with unreturned library books.

Accommodations

Those in need of sign language interpretation should contactฬcommencement@houghton.eduฬbefore April 10, 2026.

Wheelchair-accessible seating (plus one companion seat for each accessible seat) may be reserved in the back row of the chapel for ticketed guests by email:ฬcommencement@houghton.eduฬbefore April 10, 2026.

Event Professional Photography

Each graduate will be individually photographed as he or she receives a diploma and walks across the stage. These photos will be provided to families by the University free of charge. Graduates should watch their Houghton email the week following the commencement ceremony for a link to download their photo.

Senior Class Events

Seniors should check for updates on class events planned between now and commencement weekend.

Honors

Graduation honors will be verified by the Registrarโ€™s Office.

Flowers

Flowersฬwill beฬavailable for purchase from The Highlanders Shopฬin May.

Diploma Frames, Announcements and Class Rings

May be ordered from .

Parking

The lot between Luckey Building and Wesley Chapel is designated for use by those who possess a state-issued handicap parking permit or special Commencement permits only.

Download a campus parking map.