Frequently Asked Questions
General Information
Western Connecticut State University will hold combined Commencement exercises for Graduate and Undergraduate students on Monday, May 19, 2025, at the Total Mortgage Arena, 600 Main St., Bridgeport, CT.
The ceremony will begin promptly at 11 a.m. and will conclude at approximately 1 p.m.
Graduates will receive six tickets for entry into the Total Mortgage Arena. These e-tickets can be accessed through your Tassel account. You may email or print your tickets to give to your guests. Children three (3) years of age and under are not required to have a ticket but will need to be held in the lap of an attendee and cannot occupy a seat without a ticket. If you bring an infant in a car seat/carrier, they will need a ticket because the carrier would take a seat. Be advised that strollers brought into the arena cannot be taken into the seating area.
While not guaranteed, graduates looking for additional tickets may fill out the Extra Ticket Request Form. Additional guest tickets will be distributed once the RSVP deadline has passed and we can determine the number of additional tickets available. Contact ECM@wcsu.edu with any questions.
Guest seating is open and on a first come first served basis. Doors to the arena will open one hour prior to the start of the ceremony, at 10 a.m.
Check back here closer to the event date for a map of the arena seating so that you know where graduates from each school will be seated.
The Total Mortgage Arena is a handicapped accessible facility. All family members are welcome to attend. Handicapped accessible seating is available on a first come, first served basis. Total Mortgage Arena has specific sections reserved for handicap on the ground level as well as on the second floor. Elevators are available for the upper seating sections. There will be ushers available to help point guests in the right direction. ADA parking is located in the surface lot closest to the arena. In addition, passengers may be dropped off at the circle in front of the arena entrance. For more information, please visit Total Mortgage Arena – Accessibility.
If you are graduating and require accommodations, please contact AccessABILITY Services at aas@wcsu.edu.
Do not leave the Commencement ceremony early. Please have respect for the other graduates and their guests.
To preserve the dignity of the ceremony and the safety of those in attendance, air horns, noise makers, beach balls, balloons and other inflatable items are prohibited and will be confiscated by the arena security.
All bags brought into the venue are subject to search.
Alcoholic beverages are not allowed at the ceremony. Arena Security will confiscate any alcoholic beverages brought into the arena.
Please silence all phones during the ceremony. The use of cell phones is disruptive to both participants and guests.
Concessions will be open during the ceremony.
Faculty planning to march in the commencement academic procession should submit their RSVP here: 2025 Faculty RSVP Form
The ceremony will be live streamed and recorded. Anyone not in attendance may view the commencement ceremony by visiting www.wcsu.edu/live.
GradImages will take official graduation photos at your upcoming ceremony, including on-stage and graduation portraits. Proofs will be emailed to you once available, or you can search for your proofs on their website. While there is never any obligation to purchase, if you pre-register you will automatically receive a coupon code for 20% off your purchase of $50 or more. Visit www.gradimages.com or call (800) 261-2576 for more information. Visit www.gradimages.com or call (800) 261-2576 for more information.
Flowers and WCSU gifts and merchandise will be available for purchase at the arena.
- Follett, our campus bookstore operator, has merchandise and other items that can make a great commemorative gift or keepsake. Please visit them at TheWCSUBookstore.com. Join their email list to receive 10% off your clothing and gift purchase.
- The Commencement Group will be providing flowers for sale at the ceremony. The Commencement Group also encourages customers to take advantage of their online pre-order service. A contact-free customer experience for the guests who are simply picking up their pre-purchased and reserved product will be in place. The pre-order link for commencement flowers and t-shirts is: https://www.thecommencementgroup.com/westernconnecticut/.
Travel
Event day parking is located in the surface lots across from the arena located between Lafayette St & Broad St., in the Harbor Yard Transit Garage on South Frontage Rd., the Housatonic Garage on Lafayette Blvd, and handicap accessible parking is located in the surface lot on the corner of Broad Street and South Frontage Rd. In addition, passengers may be dropped off at the circle in front of the arena entrance. Bridgeport Police will be stationed at the entrance and various arena locations to direct traffic and instruct visitors.
In anticipation of traffic delays, we suggest allowing additional time for your commute. Graduates/guests are encouraged to arrive early, carpool, or take the shuttle from campus to the event (registration required). All parking is free and available on a first come first served basis.
For Directions & Parking Maps, please visit Total Mortgage Arena – Directions & Parking
Western Connecticut State University will provide free bus transportation to the Total Mortgage Arena, Bridgeport, for 2025 graduate and undergraduate student candidates, guests, faculty, and staff.
The bus will depart WCSU from the Westside Campus Center bus stop at 8:30 a.m. The bus will leave the Total Mortgage Arena to return to Danbury 30 minutes after the Commencement ceremony ends. Students/Faculty/Staff must reserve seat(s) by registering here and bring your confirmation on the day of Commencement to board the shuttle.
Seats are limited, please reserve your seats ASAP.
Graduate Preparation
- Bachelor candidates: If you graduated in December 2024, January 2025, or are eligible to graduate in May or August of 2025, please make sure you applied for graduation at the Registrar’s office or check their website to get information and the application at: Graduation – Office of the Registrar (wcsu.edu)
- Master candidates: If you graduated in December 2024, January 2025, or are eligible to graduate in May or August of 2025, please make sure you applied for graduation through the Graduate Studies office or visit their website to get information and the application at: Application for Degree Form – Office of Graduate Studies (wcsu.edu)
- Doctoral candidates: You will be eligible to graduate upon the completion of your dissertation defense and the approval of your Doctoral Advisory Committee.
Eligible graduates will receive an email from Event & Conference Management to complete their Tassel account and RSVP for the ceremony. This important step will help us generate the list of graduates and plan for your participation. Your guest tickets will be available through your Tassel account.
The deadline to register and RSVP for the ceremony is Sunday, April 13, 2025.
If you applied for graduation and have not received a registration email for Tassel or you are having an issue logging in to Tassel, contact ECM@wcsu.edu.
All participants in the academic procession are required to wear academic regalia. To order your regalia please use the link below:
Commencement Regalia Order (regfox.com)
2025 Regalia Ordering Deadlines
- Custom Doctoral Regalia Purchase – March 6, 2025
- All Standard Regalia Orders – March 17, 2025 (Doctoral, Graduate, Undergraduate/Associates)
-
- Note: Any regalia orders placed after March 17 will incur a $25 late fee.
All academic regalia will be available for pick-up during Grad Salute on Wednesday, May 7th. For any regalia questions or to make alternate pick-up arrangements, please contact the Alumni Office (203) 837-9090 or email Alumni@wcsu.edu.
Candidates should arrive at the first level of the arena parking garage no later than 9:30 a.m. to check-in and line up for the procession. Look for the flag with your school name and proceed to that area to check in. Be sure to bring your reader card, regalia (and tassel!), to the Total Mortgage Arena.
There is no Commencement rehearsal. Students will get the information they need the morning of Commencement.
Students will be lined up alphabetically by degree level with their respective school. This is the order in which you will process to the arena. The procession will begin promptly at 10:40 a.m.
You will need to keep your reader card with you to assemble for the procession and to have your name announced during the ceremony.
This is the card you will hand to the name reader before you cross the stage. Reader cards will have your full name to be announced, the phonetic spelling of your name (if needed), your school name, and your line up number. All graduates participating in commencement must have a reader card.
To speed up the check-in process on the morning of commencement, reader cards will be available for pick up at Grad Salute on May 7th – remember to bring it with you on commencement day! If you are not able to attend Grad Salute we will have your reader card available for pick up at check-in on the morning of the ceremony. If you lose your card, we will have blank cards available for you to fill out.
Attending the ceremony does not indicate actual graduation from your program, therefore diplomas are not issued at the ceremony. Diplomas will be mailed to you from the Registrar’s Office/Graduate Office approximately eight weeks after your graduation date.
If you need to make any changes to how your name will appear on your diploma, please contact the Registrar’s Office at RequestRegistrar@wcsu.edu or the Graduate Office at graduateadmissions@wcsu.edu.
Undergraduate honors cords are distributed by the Registrar’s Office and are awarded based on the last overall GPA recorded, not including the current semester. If you have any questions about your eligibility, contact the Registrar’s Office directly at (203) 837-9200. Please note, honors cords will not be available for pick up on the day of the ceremony.
We do not prohibit the decorating of mortarboards for commencement. We do ask that your decor is appropriate for all ages.
Candidates are encouraged to leave valuables with family and friends, if possible. There will not be a place to store personal belongings. WCSU is not responsible for lost or stolen items.
Additional Senior/Graduate Events and Information
Wednesday, May 7 from 2-7 p.m., Westside Campus Center
All graduating students are invited to this event where you will have an opportunity to finalize your commencement needs in one stop and pick up your pre-ordered academic regalia.
- Cap & Gown pick up
- Honors Cords pick up
- Reader Card pick up
- Senior Portraits
- Class Ring Sales
- Senior Class Gifts
- Career Success Center
- WCSU Bookstore
More information will be sent to graduates closer to the date.
Graduate Portraits will be taken:
- Thursday, February 6, 2025
Westside Campus Center Ballroom – 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. - Friday, February 7, 2025
Midtown Student Center Theater – 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. - Thursday, April 10, 2025
Westside Campus Center Ballroom – 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. - Friday, April 11, 2025
Midtown Student Center Theater – 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. - Wednesday, May 7, 2025
Westside Campus Center – 2 to 7 p.m. (Walk-in Only)
Open to all WCSU graduating students. Portrait sessions scheduled in February and April are by appointment only. There is no sitting fee and you will be able to view your proofs online. Cap and gown will be available for the portraits, and we recommend that you dress as for a job interview. To make an appointment please visit, www.thorntonstudio.com, click on “schedule appt” and use the school code 01380. If you need to change your appointment, just select a new date & time and your previous appointment will be automatically cancelled. For any questions, please contact Thornton Studio at info@ThorntonStudio.com or 917-847-3671.
Friday, May 16 – Click here to register! Limited spots available.
Celebrate your accomplishments by appearing in the digital yearbook for the Class of 2025! You worked hard to get here, so don’t miss out on this opportunity to show the world your Wolves pride in our Gallery of Graduates.
Simply fill out the submission form, 2025 Gallery of Graduates, upload your (non-watermarked) photo, and we’ll take care of the rest. Congratulations!
For anyone interested in purchasing class rings, a representative from Jostens will be on campus at the senior portrait locations on April 10th, April 11th and May 7th. For more information, you may visit Western Connecticut State University DANBURY, CT – College Rings | Jostens.
Graduation from college is a huge accomplishment. What better way to display this great achievement than in an official WCSU diploma frame? For years to come, your diploma will remain safe and look impressive.
Visit WCSU Diploma Frame Store online. There are several diploma frame styles to choose from and you can even design your frame online.
Be sure to check your email regularly for commencement updates from the Event & Conference Management department.
Questions regarding commencement? Contact us at ECM@wcsu.edu.
Congratulations Class of 2025!