Picture this: once a week classroom lectures stop and students, faculty, and staff gather for a special speech or performance by outside experts in a variety of disciplines. This is the convocation series at Bridgewater. It's the time during the week when the entire campus community comes to a halt and everyone assembles for shared discussion designed to provoke thought.

Because critical thinking is such a vital part of the liberal arts experience, students are required to attend seven convocations per semester. You can choose among several interesting scheduled programs and will receive credit for your attendance.

Convocations are held in five different formats at Bridgewater:

The "Traditional" Series

Held every Tuesday morning at 9:30 am, these convocations typically involve speakers, presenters, and participants from within the Bridgewater College community. These convocations are designed as a forum for the campus and the community to stay abreast of relevant issues.

The "Convo on the Road" Series

Held occasionally, and with a limited number of participants, these convocations are field trips with an educational twist. We are able to offer the trips at a discounted price to students as they are subsidized by the convocation budget.

The "Evening Event" Series

Held on weekday evenings usually at 7:30 pm, these convocations typically involve speakers recruited from the national or international scene and are supported by Bridgewater College's endowed lecture funds. These convocations are designed to challenge and provoke the audience to think about issues in new ways or perhaps for the first time. These evening events sometimes draw a large audience and last an hour.

The "Sunday Cinema" Series

Held every other Sunday evening at 6:00 pm, this film series will show topical and/or provocative films. These films will be sponsored by various academic departments and/or faculty members who will lead a discussion following the film. Please note that several of these films will involve adult content and mature themes.

Lyceum Series & Faculty Recitals

Held on specific Tuesday Evenings at 8:00 pm, these series, which are part of the "Evening Event" convocations, bring professional musical and cultural events of the highest caliber to the college.