Campus & Community

Behind the scenes: Quality control for 2,500 Harvard diplomas

Series: Commencement 2026

Carlos Sanchez

Harvard Multimedia Producer

Rae Dragu, Associate Registrar for the Faculty of Arts and Sciences, inspects a Harvard diploma
Carlos Sanchez/Harvard FAS Staff Photographer

Leading up to every handshake on the Commencement stage is a monthslong, meticulous process of preparation. Join Rae Dragu, Associate Registrar for the Faculty of Arts and Sciences, for a behind-the-scenes look at how thousands of diplomas each year travel from the Registrar’s office to the graduates’ hands.

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Behind the scenes: Quality control for 2,500 Harvard diplomas