Commencement

With the exception of Friday’s virtual event, the ceremonies will be in person gatherings, designed to comply with the restrictions currently in place by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, while retaining many elements of Commencement that are important to our students. We are pleased that each graduate will be allowed to invite up to two guests to their in person Commencement ceremony. 

The weekend ceremonies will be school-based and are scheduled as follows:

School of Health Sciences 

May 15, 2021, 8:30 am: Graduate Commencement 
May 15, 2021, 11:30 am: Undergraduate Commencement

School of Arts and Sciences

May 15, 2021, 3:00 pm: Graduate Commencement
May 15, 2021, 6:00 pm: Undergraduate Commencement

School of Physical Education, Performance and Sport Leadership

May 16, 2021, 8:30 am: Graduate Commencement
May 16, 2021, 11:30 am: Undergraduate Commencement

School of Social Work and Behavioral Sciences

May 16, 2021, 3:00 pm: Graduate Commencement
May 16, 2021, 6:30 pm: Undergraduate Commencement

Stream the Commencement events

Additional information: 

• Specific instructions for each ceremony, including the time you and your guests can arrive on campus, will be sent by email closer to the Commencement date.
• Each ceremony will be approximately 60 to 75 minutes in length. The Commencement and guest areas, including the chairs and stage, will be cleaned and sanitized between ceremonies.
• All graduates and guests will be required to wear face coverings at all times and adhere to social-distancing guidelines.
• Graduates are limited to two registered and ticketed guests, which will allow us to comply with state guidelines. Graduates who have completed a degree application will receive an email with instructions for registering guests and those tickets will be valid for the specified ceremony only.
• All seating at Stagg Field will allow for appropriate six-foot social distancing between graduates and between guest groups.
• Flat shoes (no heels) will be required to safely process across the turf field.
• No tickets will be available during Commencement Weekend. Graduates and guests must not arrive earlier than one hour prior to the ceremony start time and must exit the Stagg Field area immediately after the ceremony concludes so that we can ready the area for the next ceremony.The Springfield College main campus will be open to graduating students and their guests on May 15–16 to allow graduates to take photos with their friends and families at their favorite outdoor campus locations before or after their ceremony.

 

Questions about Commencement

For general questions regarding the Commencement ceremonies, please contact academicaffairs@springfield.edu.

 

Accessibility & Accommodations

Live captioning and sign language interpreters will be provided for the virtual opening celebration and all Commencement ceremonies.  For more information about accessibility at the events or to request disability-related accommodations, please contact Disability & Accessibility Services at ascdas@springfield.edu or 413-748-3389.

 

COVID-19 Safety Standards for Commencement and Graduation Ceremonies

Springfield College is following the COVID-19 Safety Standards for Commencement and Graduation Ceremonies as defined by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.  As such all guests must attest at the time of registration/ticketing that they will not attend the Commencement if:

• They are experiencing any symptoms such as fever (100.0° and above) or chills, cough, shortness of breath, sore throat, fatigue, headache, muscle/body aches, runny nose/congestion, new loss of taste or smell, or nausea, vomiting or diarrhea.
• They have had “close contact” with an individual diagnosed with COVID-19 and have not completed the required quarantine period. “Close contact” means living in the same household as a person who has tested positive for COVID-19, caring for a person who has tested positive for COVID-19, being within 6 feet of a person who has tested positive for COVID-19 for 15 minutes or more, or coming in direct contact with secretions (e.g., sharing utensils, being coughed on) from a person who has tested positive for COVID-19.
• They are currently required to self-isolate or quarantine by their doctor or a local public health official.

All guests must abide by the above-mentioned criteria to attend commencement.

Class of 2020 Commencement

In conversations with the senior class officers and College administration, we are planning a Celebration of the Class of 2020 in October 2021. Coupled with Homecoming Weekend (Sept. 30 - October 3), students can expect an opportunity to walk across a stage in their regalia, celebrate with faculty, family, and friends, as well as enjoy a senior dance and dinner.