Join us for an unforgettable celebration on Friday, May 16, 2025 at the MassMutual Center, 1277 Main Street, Springfield, Massachusetts 01103.
- Undergraduate Commencement: 11:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.
- Graduate Commencement: 4:30 p.m. - 6:00 p.m.
Submit your application by January 1 for undergraduate programs!
Join us for an unforgettable celebration on Friday, May 16, 2025 at the MassMutual Center, 1277 Main Street, Springfield, Massachusetts 01103.
Eligibility
To graduate, students must have:
Students who are approved to participate will receive an email from the Registrar’s Office with an RSVP link to sign up for tickets starting in mid-March.
Tickets will be emailed by the MassMutual Center the first week of May.
Students not eligible to graduate but want to participate in commencement must meet the requirement listed below:
*Please note that participating in Commencement may not indicate that you are cleared to graduate. The official transcript, sealed and signed by the Registrar, exclusively and definitively confirms the student’s academic record and possession of degree(s) awarded by À¶Ý®ÊÓƵ. If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to contact the Registrar's Office.
Commencement Tickets
Tickets for families, friends and guests will be issued electronically from the MassMutual Center.
Information will also be provided in the MassMutual Center email on how to transfer the tickets to each of your guests.
To allow for maximum access for graduates and their guests, there will not be any tickets available for faculty and staff who wish to attend without participation in the ceremony. Faculty in attendance should be in the processional; staff may volunteer by contacting Chris Hirtle at chirtle@westfield.ma.edu.
Students graduating should plan to arrive at the MassMutual Center for robing and processional between 9:00 a.m. and 10:00 a.m.
Alpha Alpha Alpha
Navy & Silver Intertwined Double Cords
First-generation Honor Society
Alpha Phi Sigma
Blue & Gold with Gold Tassels
Criminal Justice Honor Society
Banacos Academic Center
Teal & Black
Beta Beta Beta
Green & Red
Biology Honor Society
Advisors: Jason Ramsay at jramsay@westfield.ma.edu and Robin White at rwhite@westfield.ma.edu
Campus Pride
Rainbow
FACES
Teal
Gamma Sigma Epsilon
Royal Blue & White
Chemistry National Honor Society
Advisor: Ashley Evanoski Cole at aevanoskicole@westfield.ma.edu
Gamma Theta Upsilon
(One of each of blue, gold, and brown) representing the three domains of geography: brown for the Earth, light blue for the Sea, and gold for the sunlight in the sky
International Geographical Honor Society
Honors Program Commonwealth Scholars
Gold
Honors Program University / Honors Scholars
Silver
Kappa Delti Pi
Purple, Green, & Gold Intertwined
Education Honor Society
Advisor: Laurie Risler at lrisler@westfield.ma.edu
LAFE
Red & Gold
Lambda Pi Eta
Red & White
National Communication Honor Society
Advisors: Shirley Acquah at sacquah@westfield.ma.edu and Maddy Cahill at mcahill@westfield.ma.edu
Lambda Honor Society
Royal Blue & Gold
The national honor society for second-year undergraduate students, and is dedicated to the purpose of fostering leadership, scholarship, fellowship and service.
Omicron Delta Epsilon
Navy Blue & Gold
Economic Honor Society
Advisors: James Schlaffer at jschlaffer@westfield.ma.edu and Susanne Chuku at schuku@westfield.ma.edu
Phi Alpha Theta
Light Blue & Red
History Honor Society
Advisor: Nick Aieta at naieta@westfield.ma.edu
Phi Kappa Phi
Blue & Gold
Honors Society recognizing academic excellence regardless of discipline. Doesn’t have any officers now. Is retired.
Pi Sigma Alpha
Red, White, & Black
Political Science Honor Society
Advisor: Charles DiStefano at cdistefano@westfield.ma.edu
Psi Chi
Silver & Navy Blue
Psychology Honor Society
Advisors: Alex Daniel at tdaniel@westfield.ma.edu and Summer Williams at swilliams@westfield.ma.edu
Senior Gift Campaign
Royal blue, Gold, & White
Sigma Beta Delta
Green & Gold
Business Honor Society
Sigma Theta Tau
Purple & White
Nursing
Advisor: Joan Kuhnly at jkuhnly@westfield.ma.edu
Sigma Tau Delta
Red & Black
English Honor Society
Advisor: Glen Brewster at gbrewster@westfield.ma.edu
Tau Sigma
Gold & Dark Burgundy
Transfer Honor Society
Advisors: Brittany Garand at bgarand@westfield.ma.edu and Bill Pass at wpass@westfield.ma.edu
*Students must have completed a minimum of 45 credit hours at À¶Ý®ÊÓƵ to be eligible for graduation honors. View the catalog entry to learn more.
TRIO
Solid Red
Urban Education Program
Red, Black & Silver Intertwined
Veteran & Military Services
Red, White, & Blue
Veterans wear on left shoulder/Right shoulder for family members
Students will only receive a diploma jacket as you approach the platform. Actual diplomas will be mailed out at a later date. For undergraduate students, Latin Honors (Summa Cum Laude, Magna Cum Laude, and Cum Laude) are indicated by a gold tassel given to you on the day of commencement by registrar staff.
We know that having photographs of this occasion is very important to family and friends. Therefore, to clearly capture the moment when each graduate walks across the platform, the University has engaged the services of an experienced professional photographer. High-quality color photographs will be offered to every graduate for purchase soon after Commencement.
To align with our commitment to sustainability, digital programs will be accessible on the day of the event. Attendees can use their smartphones to access the program via a QR code provided at the ceremony. Those who are participating virtually will also have the option to view the program.
Please plan ahead for travel and parking.
This time of year is also very busy for Downtown Springfield so please take caution and review all information provided here.
For directions to the MassMutual Center, please visit:
Please note that some streets will be closed beginning at 10:00 am on Friday, May 16 to prepare for the annual "." Impacted streets include Main St to Bridge St, Boland Way, Harrison Ave, Court St, Bruce Landon Way, and City Hall Place, as illustrated on the MassMutual Center/MGM map.
Parking
Parking is available for free at the on Union Street and East Columbus Avenue. Parking is also available in the the and under I-91. Parking Lot 91N and 91S Garage will be offering a reduced $5 rate for Commencement.
The MassMutual Center is anticipating the opening of a new parking garage in February. Stay tuned for more details.
Leaving the Commencement Ceremony
ADA guests will be able to exit via the elevator.
Enjoy your visit!
The Greater Springfield area has a wide range of dining options and a number of attractive hotel venues. Please visit as well as to find listings of local restaurants and hotels.
We want all of our guest to have an opportunity to enjoy this special event. The MassMutual Center is fully accessible. Guest entrance is on Bruce Landon Way between Main Street and Dwight Street. Elevators are located at this entrance.
We advise guests requiring wheelchair assistance to bring their personal wheelchairs from home, as venue wheelchairs may be in use.
We will have closed captioning available on all large screens in the arena and on the live video feed. The MassMutual Center will provide Assisted Listening Devices (ALD’s) upon request. Please call them at 413-787-6610 to arrange for an ALD two days prior to the event. ALD’s will be available for pickup at the guest services booth on the arena concourse. Live streaming of the ceremonies will be available through the WSU home page.
If you or a guest have special needs, please contact the MassMutual Center at 413-271-3257.
For more information on accessibility and accommodations at the MassMutual Center:
Participation in the ceremony is allowed to those graduate students who will have completed all degree requirements by the date of the May ceremony, and to those students who meet the following criteria:
There will be no exceptions to commencement participation as indicated above. Graduate students must maintain a minimum overall average of 3.0 and meet all other degree requirements in order to be eligible for graduation. Graduate students in good academic standing are by definition honors students. The designation of Latin honors (Summa cum Laude, Magna cum Laude, Cum Laude) does not apply to graduate students. Students are welcome to wear any cords that may have been received at the undergraduate level.
Further details will be sent to eligible students. If you do not receive your detailed letter by the end of April and believe you are eligible, please contact Jennifer Haskins at 413-572-8023 or jhaskins@westfield.ma.edu.
Tickets for families, friends and guests will be issued electronically from the MassMutual Center.
Information will also be provided in the MassMutual Center email on how to transfer the tickets to each of your guests.
To allow for maximum access for graduates and their guests, there will not be any tickets available for faculty and staff who wish to attend without participation in the ceremony. Faculty in attendance should be in the processional; staff may volunteer by contacting Chris Hirtle at chirtle@westfield.ma.edu.
Degree candidates must report in cap and gown to the MassMutual Center for robing and processional at 3:30 p.m. on Friday, May 16, 2025. The tassel on your cap should be worn on the left front side.
We expect that students will respect all graduates by returning to their seats quietly until everyone has been hooded and students are pronounced officially graduated. Please do not bring balloons into the MassMutual Center.
Students will only receive a diploma jacket as you approach the platform. Actual diplomas will be mailed out at a later date.
We know that having photographs of this occasion is very important to family and friends. Therefore, to clearly capture the moment when each graduate walks across the platform, the University has engaged the services of an experienced professional photographer. High-quality color photographs will be offered to every graduate for purchase soon after Commencement.
To align with our commitment to sustainability, digital programs will be accessible on the day of the event. Attendees can use their smartphones to access the program via a QR code provided at the ceremony. Those who are participating virtually will also have the option to view the program.
Please plan ahead for travel and parking.
This time of year is also very busy for Downtown Springfield so please take caution and review all information provided here.
For directions to the MassMutual Center, please visit:
Please note that some streets will be closed beginning at 10:00 am on Friday, May 16 to prepare for the annual "." Impacted streets include Main St to Bridge St, Boland Way, Harrison Ave, Court St, Bruce Landon Way, and City Hall Place, as illustrated on MGM's map.
Parking
Parking is available for free at the on Union Street and East Columbus Avenue. Parking is also available in the the and under I-91. Parking Lot 91N and 91S Garage will be offering a reduced $5 rate for Commencement.
The MassMutual Center is anticipating the opening of a new parking garage in February. Stay tuned for more details.
Leaving the Commencement Ceremony
ADA guests will be able to exit via the elevator.
Enjoy your visit!
The Greater Springfield area has a wide range of dining options and a number of attractive hotel venues. Please visit as well as to find listings of local restaurants and hotels.
We want all of our guest to have an opportunity to enjoy this special event. The MassMutual Center is fully accessible. Guest entrance is on Bruce Landon Way between Main Street and Dwight Street. Elevators are located at this entrance.
We advise guests requiring wheelchair assistance to bring their personal wheelchairs from home, as venue wheelchairs may be in use.
We will have closed captioning available on all large screens in the arena and on the live video feed. The MassMutual Center will provide Assisted Listening Devices (ALD’s) upon request. Please call them at 413-787-6610 to arrange for an ALD two days prior to the event. ALD’s will be available for pickup at the guest services booth on the arena concourse. Live streaming of the ceremonies will be available through the WSU home page.
If you or a guest have special needs, please contact the MassMutual Center at 413-271-3257.
For more information on accessibility and accommodations at the MassMutual Center: