Congratulations Class of 2023!

Hoot! Hoot!

Eligibility

To graduate, students must have:

• a minimum of 120 credits earned,
• an institutional GPA of 2.0 or greater
• a minimum major GPA as defined by your department and satisfy the core and requirements of all academic programs on your record in order to graduate

Students who are approved to participate will receive an email from the Registrar’s office with a link to a participation form to sign up for tickets starting March 25th.

Tickets will be e-mailed the first week of May.

Students not eligible to graduate but want to participate in commencement must meet the requirement listed below:

• have at least 114 credits earned by the end of the semester, AND
• be within two courses of completing all degree requirements at Commencement, AND
• have a minimum cumulative institutional GPA of 2.0 as well as a 2.0 GPA in the major, AND
• have a specific plan for completing the missing requirements

Commencement Tickets

Tickets for families, friends and guests will be issued electronically from the Mass Mutual Center.

• If you are eligible to participate in Commencement, you will receive an email with a participation form from the Registrar’s office beginning on March 25th.
• If you intend to participate in Commencement, you MUST respond to this form by April 17th.
• If you do not receive an email from the Registrar’s Office and would like to petition to participate, please contact – Registrar’s Office/Info/Form
• Each undergraduate will be provided with a maximum of Five (5) guest tickets for Commencement.
• Students graduating do not need a ticket.

Information will also be provided in the MassMutual Center email on how to transfer the tickets to each of your guests.

• All guest seats are now General Admission.
• ALL TICKETS ARE ELECTRONIC. Guests must have an e-ticket to enter the center.
• Tickets will be scanned at the entrance.
• Each ticket has a distinct access code and may only be used once.
• The tickets are non-replaceable and do not have monetary value
• The university does not support or condone the selling of guest tickets
• WSU is not responsible for lost, stolen or destroyed guest tickets.
• Undergraduate Commencement Guests will enter at the box office located on Bruce Landon Way beginning at 10:30 am.
• Guest tickets are free of charge.
• Guests are prohibited from bringing balloons, food or beverages into the MassMutual Center.
• Undergraduate Commencement will begin at 12:00 p.m. and last until approximately 3:00 p.m.

Watch a video walkthrough
Students graduating should plan to arrive at the Mass Mutual Center for robing and processional between 10:00am and 11:00am

• There is no secure storage for valuables.
• Look for signs directing you to the correct entrance for students located on the corner of Main St and Bruce Landon Way.
• Guests will enter the Mass Mutual Center at the Main entrance on Bruce Landon Way.
• Once inside students will be directed to the Exhibition Hall. Just inside the Exhibition Hall, check in to receive your name card and honors tassel if you have earned Latin Honors.
• Hold on to your name card, as you will present it to the reader at the microphone when you walk across the platform during the program. If you do not have a card, your name will not be announced.
• Once you have received your card, find the sign for your major and get in line for the processional. You will follow your academic department in rows of two, and you will end up sitting next to whomever you are walking in front of or behind as the two rows will split when you enter the arena. The banners with the names of majors will be positioned alphabetically behind the banner with the name of your School:
  • School of Business, Mathematics, Computing and Sustainability
  • School of Criminology, Psychology, Social Justice, and Public Policy
  • School of Education, Arts, Communication, and Humanities
  • School of Health, Natural Sciences, and Human Services
• When it is time for your major to approach the platform, those students on the left will approach from the left side and those on the right will approach from the right side. You will receive your diploma cover, stop for your photo, hand your name card to the reader at the podium, and shake the hand of the President or Chair of the Board of Trustees. All students exit the platform from the enter ramp and return to their original seats. WSU staff will be there to direct you.
• Please remain on the arena floor until the recessional at the end of the ceremony, and help assure the appropriate decorum to mark this important event in your life.

The bookstore will be attending graduation with you this year to help with any last minute regalia needs.

We will be supplying bachelor's/master's caps, gowns, tassels and hoods with Limited Stock at commencement, so be sure to purchase your graduation necessities prior to graduation at the bookstore.

Keep in mind that we will only be able to take cash transactions during graduation at the Mass Mutual Center, no debit/credit cards will be accepted at that time.

If you have any questions feel free to call or email the bookstore.

Thank you and Congratulations to Class of 2023!

Store Management Team
Barnes & Noble College #795
Westfield State University
413 - 579 - 3105

Faculty & Staff:
The last day for faculty regalia orders is March 28, 2023. 
Faculty/Staff Cap & Gown RENTAL

Any questions in relation to Faculty & Staff Rentals please contact:

Barnes & Noble College Bookstore
Westfield State University
(413) 579 - 3105

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
Forest Green

Beta Beta Beta
Green & Red
Biological Honor Society

Campus Pride
Rainbow

FACES
Teal

Gamma Sigma Epsilon
Royal Blue & White
Chemistry National Honor Society

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
Educational Honor Society

LAFE
Red & Gold

Lambda Pi Eta
Red & White
National Communication Honor Society

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

Phi Alpha Theta
Light Blue & Red
History Honor Society

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

Psi Chi
Silver & Navy Blue
Psychology Honor Society

Senior Gift Campaign
Royal blue, Gold, & White

Sigma Beta Delta
Green & Gold
Business Honor Society

Sigma International Honor Society
Purple & White
Nursing

Sigma Tau Delta
Red & Black
English Honor Society

Tau Sigma
Gold & Dark Burgundy
Transfer Honor Society

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.

Photographs

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. Grad Images: https://www.gradimages.com/

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.

Printed commemorative 2023 Commencement programs will be available upon request. Graduating students will receive an order form link via their Westfield State University email in early May. Programs will be sent through USPS mail in early summer to the same address for all requested copies, with a maximum of 3 copies per graduate.

For directions to the MassMutual Center, please visit:

https://www.massmutualcenter.com/plan-your-visit/directions-parking

Parking is available for free at the MGM parking garage on Union Street and East Columbus Avenue. For more information on parking, please visit the Springfield Parking Authority website.

Plan ahead!

We all want this to be a very special day for our graduates and their family and friends. The Greater Springfield area has a wide range of dining options and a number of attractive hotel venues. Please visit Explore Western Mass as well as Mass Mutual Center: Area Hotels 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 will have reserved seating and the services of an interpreter. 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: https://www.massmutualcenter.com/accessibility

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:

1. Students who have completed all requirements in August or December of the previous year, or January of this year.
2. Students who have completed all course requirements and are expected to complete their thesis/capstone over the summer. This would require the approval of their program administrator.
3. Students who have completed their comprehensive examination/thesis/capstone, and have one unsatisfied course requirement which can be completed by July 15, 2023. This must be a course already scheduled to be offered over summer session I of the same year as the commencement in which they participate.

There will be no exceptions to commencement participation as indicated above.

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.

• Each graduate will be permitted to have a  maximum of ten (10) guests for Commencement. Please indicate how many guests you will be bringing when you RSVP for the ceremony.
• Graduate Commencement will begin at 6:00 p.m. and last until approximately 8:00 p.m.

Degree candidates must report in cap and gown to the Woodward Athletic Facility by 5:00 p.m. on Wednesday, May 17, 2023. The tassel on your cap should be worn on the left front side. We do not have a secure place to store personal items. Students should make arrangements to leave bags, purses, and other large items with friends or family.

1. Students will check in and then locate your degree program and line up in the processional line. Students will process in order of their number on the placement card.
2. During the ceremony, students will be signaled to rise by program to go to the stage.
3. As you approach the stage, you will receive your diploma cover.
4. Once on the stage, you will provide your card to the Reader and wait to be called. If you do not have a card, your name will not be announced.
5. When your name is called, you will proceed across the stage where you will be greeted by your faculty mentor and hooded, you will then shake the hand of the President or Chair of the Board of Trustees, stop for your photo and then return to your seat.

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 Woodward Center.

Dear WSU Owls!

The bookstore will be attending graduation with you this year to help with any last minute regalia needs.

We will be supplying bachelor's/master's caps, gowns, tassels and hoods with Limited Stock at commencement, so be sure to purchase your graduation necessities prior to graduation at the bookstore.

Keep in mind that we will only be able to take cash transactions during graduation at the Woodward Center, no debit/credit cards will be accepted at that time.

If you have any questions feel free to call or email the bookstore.

Thank you and Congratulations to Class of 2023!

Store Management Team
Barnes & Noble College #795
Westfield State University
413 - 579 - 3105

Faculty & Staff:
The last day for faculty regalia orders is March 28, 2023. 
Faculty/Staff Cap & Gown RENTAL

Any questions in relation to Faculty & Staff Rentals please contact:

Barnes & Noble College Bookstore
Westfield State University
(413) 579 - 3105

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. Grad Images: https://www.gradimages.com/

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.

Printed commemorative 2023 Commencement programs will be available upon request. Graduating students will receive an order form link via their Westfield State University email in early May. Programs will be sent through USPS mail in early summer to the same address for all requested copies, with a maximum of 3 copies per graduate.

Directions
Campus Map & Directions

Parking
Parking will be available in the commuter parking lot for students and guests.

Local Area Lodging
Hampton Inn Westfield
Quality Inn

We want all of our guest to have an opportunity to enjoy this special event. The Woodward Center is fully accessible.

If you or a guest have special needs, please contact the Director of Event Management, Joanne Bigelow, at (413) 572-5580.