Undergraduate Student Commencement

Date: Sunday, May 18, 2025
Time: 9:30 a.m.
Location: MassMutual Center
1277 Main St., Springfield, Mass.

• Student assembly begins at 8 a.m. in the Exhibition Hall at the MassMutual Center
• Students enter through the convention center main entrance at the corner of Main Street and Bruce Landon Way
• Length of ceremony: Approximately 2.5 hours, beginning promptly at 9:30 a.m.
• Family and Friends: Tickets are not required for this event

In order to participate, all graduating students must arrive at the Exhibition Hall at the MassMutual Center between 8 and 8:30 a.m. Graduates are required to be present in the Exhibition Hall no later than 8:30 a.m. to ensure the marching and seating order. Candidates are advised not to bring valuables into the Exhibition Hall as this space will not be staffed or monitored during the ceremony. Guests will be admitted only through the box office/arena entrance on Bruce Landon Way between Main Street and Dwight Street. 

Accessibility for Students: Graduating students attending the ceremony requiring special accommodations or arrangements should contact staff at Disability & Accessibility Services at ascdas@springfield.edu or (413) 748-3389. 

Accessibility for Family and Friends: The MassMutual Center offers accessible seating for families and friends of graduates who have a disability or need special seating due to medical reasons. Accommodations will be provided to each guest requiring accessible seating and one additional person to accompany them. Staff from Springfield College and the MassMutual Center will be available to assist those individuals who require accessible seating. An interpreter for those who are hearing-impaired will be part of the Commencement ceremony. For more information about accessibility at the event, or to request accessibility-related accommodations, please contact the staff at Disability & Accessibility Services at ascdas@springfield.edu or (413) 748-3389.

The new Convention Center Carpark, located on the corner of Harrison and Dwight Streets in downtown Springfield, has officially opened to the public and is available for Commencement parking. The MassMutual Center offers drop-off and pick-up areas for guests along Bruce Landon Way. Free parking is also available in the MGM Parking Garage located on MGM Way. There is also limited on-street parking in downtown Springfield.

Please Note: Guests are advised not to purchase balloons prior to the ceremony as the MassMutual Center does not allow balloons in the arena.

Security: All bags will be checked by MassMutual Center security at the entrance to the arena.

Honor Cords: Undergraduate degree candidates who have completed all graduation requirements by the end of the spring term and who qualify to graduate with honors will be given their honor cords when they check in for assembly before the Commencement ceremony. Undergraduate students whose final cumulative grade point average (CGPA) is 3.500 or above are awarded their degrees with academic honors according to the following criteria: 

• Summa Cum Laude (gold) – 3.900-4.000
• Magna Cum Laude (maroon) – 3.700-3.899
• Cum Laude (white) – 3.500-3.699

The student’s qualifying CGPA shall be determined at the close of the spring semester for the May Commencement ceremony. Academic honors will be noted on diplomas and transcripts. 

VIEW GENERAL COMMENCEMENT INFORMATION.

Directions to the MassMutual Center

Since we expect several thousand guests, please allow sufficient time to get through traffic in the Springfield area and find parking before the ceremony begins. All graduating students must arrive at the Exhibition Hall at the MassMutual Center between 8 and 8:30 a.m. Graduates are required to be in attendance at the pre-ceremony line-up activities no later than 8:30 a.m. in order to ensure the marching and seating order. The ceremony will begin promptly at 9:30 a.m. 

The MassMutual Center is located at 1277 Main Street, at the corner of Court and Main Street across from Court Square in downtown Springfield.

Traveling North on I-91

Take Exit 5 (Springfield Center) onto East Columbus Avenue. Continue up East Columbus Avenue (about 1/4 mile) to Court Street. Take a right onto Court Street and proceed past Symphony Hall, City Hall, and Sovereign Bank. 

Traveling South on I-91

Take Exit 5B (Springfield Center/Columbus Avenue). Turn left at the light at the end of the ramp. Circle under the highway and go straight through one light. Take a right at the second light onto Main Street. 

Traveling West on Route 90

Take Exit 51 off the Mass Turnpike to Route 291. From Route 291, take Dwight Street Exit. Turn left at the end of the ramp and follow Dwight Street to the MassMutual Center. 

Traveling East on Route 90

Take Exit 45 onto I-91 South. Follow directions above from south on I-91.