Choose your campus from the list above to learn more about your commencement ceremony.
SAVE THE DATE
Thursday, May 22, 2025
5 p.m. – Graduates Check-in
6 p.m. – Ceremony Begins
8 p.m. – Approximate End of Ceremony
Dunkin’ Stadium, 1214 Main Street, Hartford, CT
CT State Asnuntuck Credit Program Graduation information:
Stacey Musulin, Campus Supervisor, Enrollment Services
AS-OneStop@ct.edu
860-253-3015
CT State Asnuntuck Non-credit Program Graduation information:
Sue Champagne, Workforce Development and Continuing Education
AS-ContinuingEducation@ctstate.edu
Students who are finishing their programs in May need to apply for graduation via the “Apply for Graduation” link in the my.ctstate.edu portal. (See more information about the graduation application process below). The May 2025 graduation application deadline for degree and credit certificate programs is April 15, 2025.
Students who plan to finish their programs during the summer term, are within 8 credits of completion, and are registered for summer classes may participate in the Commencement ceremony on May 22nd, AND must also complete their graduation applications by April 15, 2025.
CT State Asnuntuck students in non-credit certificate programs have had graduation applications mailed to their homes and must return these to the Workforce Development/ Continuing Education office by April 18, 2025.
Join us for Grad Fest
May 5-8 in the main building lobby
Take a break between classes and join us from for the following activities celebrating YOU – our CT State Asnuntuck Graduates! (More info coming soon to your college email!)
CT State Asnuntuck students requiring disability accommodations for the ceremony should contact Jillian Sullivan, Campus Lead of the Office of Disability & Accessibility Services, at jillian.sullivan@ctstate.edu or at 860-253-3005 as soon as possible.
American Sign Language interpreters will be working at the ceremony.
Elevators are available in the stadium, and there are special areas for guests using wheelchairs in the grandstand. Ramps are located at Main & Trumbull Street and Pleasant Street entrances.
ADA Accessible restrooms are available.
Yes. Each graduate will receive 2 parking vouchers. Parking vouchers should be treated like cash and cannot be replaced. Stay tuned: Specific info about parking coming soon!
The CT State Asnuntuck Commencement ceremony goes on “rain or shine.” However, in the event of severe weather, the stadium reserves the right to delay or cancel the event.
CT State Asnuntuck students who submitted their graduation applications by the April 15 deadline may pick up their cap, gown, 10 tickets, and 2 parking passes at the campus bookstore at 170 Elm Street in Enfield, CT the following days and times.
***STUDENTS MUST SHOW PHOTO ID at the Bookstore to pick up regalia & tickets!***
Week of May 5:
Week of May 12:
Week of May 19: (Last two days for pickup!)
All students who pick up their regalia in-person by 5/20/2025 will have the chance to win a CT State T-shirt and hat courtesy of Follett Bookstores!
Students who cannot pick up their regalia at the above times by 5/20/2025 can make alternative arrangements by emailing stacey.musulin@ctstate.edu or by calling 860/253-3015 no later than May 20.
Yes. Graduates must wear the official CT State cap and gown that they receive via the campus bookstore. You should wear the tassel on your cap on the right side until you are directed to move it during the ceremony.
Footware must be appropriate for walking on the baseball field. (i.e., NO spike heels!)
Clothing worn underneath regalia should be comfortable, yet reflect the solemnity of this occasion.
Sunglasses and sunscreen are recommended.
Students may decorate their caps to show their personal style. Any cap decorations should be safe and messaging positive. Graduates should refrain from décor that would significantly block the view of those seated behind them. Messaging that would detract from others’ enjoyment of this important life event is not allowed.
Only official CT State honors cords may be worn at the ceremony. These will be distributed to eligible students on the day of the ceremony at check-in.
Members of the Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society may wear the PTK stoles they received at their induction ceremony.
Each graduate will receive 10 tickets when they pick up their cap and gown. Children 3 years of age and under may be admitted without a ticket.
At the time they receive their regalia and tickets at the Campus Bookstore, students may request up to 2 additional tickets. Additional tickets will be distributed on a first-come, first-served basis.
The CT State Asnuntuck Commencement Ceremony begins at 6 PM with the procession of faculty and graduates onto the field.
Graduates must arrive no later than 5 PM for check-in.
CT State Asnuntuck Graduates must arrive no later than 5 PM for check-in.
Students will check in and assemble in groups according to the program of study. Graduates then move in line to a waiting area behind center field. Faculty and graduates march onto the field promptly at 6 PM.
Please note that graduates may not bring children past the check-in area. Children must remain with a responsible adult in areas of the stadium marked for guests for the duration of the ceremony.
Stay tuned: More information coming soon!
Tickets are required of each guest over the age of 3. Children 3 years of age and under may be admitted without a ticket.
If needed, graduates may bring small purses to the stadium and keep them on the field. You should bring sunglasses, any needed medications, and your phone (set to “silent”).
Please note that graduates may not bring children past the check-in area. Children must remain with responsible adults in areas of the stadium marked for guests for the duration of the ceremony.
Guests may bring small purses/ carrying cases and cameras to the stadium. Strollers for young children are allowed. Umbrellas are allowed as needed and should not be opened in a way to block the view of other guests.
For guests’ convenience, the Commencement Group will sell T-shirts, flowers, and other memorabilia before and during the event. (See information in the blue box at the upper right of this page.)
There is no smoking nor vaping allowed within the stadium.
Please understand that stadium staff may need to inspect all items brought into the stadium. The following items will NOT be allowed into the stadium:
Note about conduct during the ceremony:
Commencement is a celebratory occasion, during which we honor and respect the hard work of our graduates, as well as their families and friends in attendance. Any individual or group engaging in activity that interrupts or disrupts the normal progression of the ceremonies is not permitted and anyone engaging in that behavior will be asked to leave the event. Failure to leave may result in disciplinary action up to and including expulsion from the college. Disruptive behaviors and/or refusing to leave when ordered may result in police action and subsequent criminal charges.
Yes! A Ballpark concession stand will be open for CASHLESS sale of food and drinks.
Graduates of Associate Degree programs with a cumulative Grade Point Average (GPA) of 3.4 or higher receive a gold honor cord at check in time (5PM). Honor cords are not given for certificate programs due to the wide variance in the number of credits for those programs.
Graduates who are Veterans receive veterans honor cords at check-in.
Members of the Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society receive honors stoles at their PTK induction ceremony.
The graduation ceremony (AKA “Commencement”) is projected on the stadium jumbotron for all in-person attendees to see. It is recorded for later uploading to the CT State Asnuntuck YouTube channel.
The ceremony begins with a processional of faculty and graduates across center field to their designated seats, A traditional tune, “Pomp and Circumstance,” is played. Graduates are seated in the infield of the stadium, facing family and friends in the stands.
After playing our National Anthem, a variety of speakers greet the graduates and other attendees. Speakers include our campus CEO, a member of the graduating class, and a faculty representative among others.
Next, three awards specific to the CT State Asnuntuck campus are given to three extraordinary members of the graduating class.
Graduates are then announced one-by-one by name and credential earned (or to-be-earned in the case of summer graduates). Each graduate walks to home plate and receives a folder with a congratulatory letter from the Campus CEO. Most students shake hands and pose for a picture as they receive this folder, but that is not required. Some students place their free hand over their heart if they cannot shake hands.
After each student is acknowledged, the Campus CEO “confers” the degrees and certificates and directs graduates to move the tassel on their cap to the left side.
At the end of the ceremony, faculty line up in center field and congratulate the graduates as they march past. Graduates then meet up with their family and friends and exit the stadium.
No. The fancy printed diploma is ordered specially after a CT State Degree Auditor confirms all the graduation requirements have been met for a program after the end of the student’s final term. CT State Asnuntuck graduates will be contacted via email by a member of the One Stop Enrollment Center once the diplomas are ready for pick-up or mailing.
Once final grades are officially posted for the end of your last semester (usually 5-7 days after the end of the term), you may order free official transcripts via the Parchment application that will show the conferral of your CT State degree/ certificate.
Students who have completed all requirements for a program and had their degree/ certificate officially conferred can expect to receive their diplomas according to the following schedule:
No, but a recording will be made and uploaded to CT State Asnuntuck’s YouTube channel within a week or so after the ceremony.
Yes! Czarnecki Photography will be available for photoshoots prior to graduation. [More information coming soon!]
There will also be pictures taken during the ceremony and uploaded to CT State Asnuntuck’s Facebook page.
Students owing money to the college who complete all program requirements may technically be conferred their degree or certificate, but they cannot participate in the Commencement Ceremony, nor receive a printed diploma.
Technically, students do not officially graduate until all program requirements have been completed.
Students within 8 credits of completing their program, who register for those last classes in the Summer 2025 term, and who complete a Summer graduation application by the April 15th deadline may participate in the May 22 ceremony.
Summer graduates are officially conferred their degrees and certificates in August, after which they may order official transcripts showing completion. Diplomas are distributed in October.
Commencement is a celebratory occasion and we should respect the hard work of our graduates, as well as their families and friends in attendance. Any individual or group engaging in activity that interrupts or disrupts the normal progression of the ceremonies is not permitted and anyone engaging in that behavior will be asked to leave the event. Failure to leave may result in disciplinary action up to and including expulsion from the college. Disruptive behaviors and/or refusing to leave when ordered may result in police action and subsequent criminal charges.
SAVE THE DATE
Thursday, May 22, 2025
1 p.m.
Yard Goats Stadium, Hartford
For more information,contact Jason Scappaticci
SAVE THE DATE
Thursday, May 22, 2025
4 p.m.
Hartford HealthCare Amphitheater, Bridgeport
For more information,contact gw-deanofstudents@ctstate.edu
All caps and gowns will be available for pick up at the Graduation Fairs with all of your other requirements for graduation. See below for additional information.
The Graduation Fairs will be held on the 2nd floor Fairway at the following dates and times:
*Other dates will be added as needed
This year’s commencement will take place at the new Hartford Healthcare Amphitheater in Bridgeport, at 4:00 p.m. Guests will be allowed to enter the Amphitheater at 2:00 p.m. Please check back for updates on the entrance information. Doors will close at 3:40 p.m. for the Procession and will reopen once the Procession has ended.
Directions to the Amphitheater can be accessed at: https://hartfordhealthcareamp.com/.
Please allow extra time for travel and parking.
Graduates should arrive by 1:30 p.m. Important updates related to graduate assembly, entry and procession directions will be posted here. Graduates require a ticket. The yellow tickets are needed for graduate entry.
Please check the site regularly for updates.
There will be a reception for students before the line up. Food and drinks will be available for graduates only.
Students who have chosen to participate in the commencement ceremony must plan to stay for the entire ceremony which will take approximately two hours.
Graduates must have their height and weight to order their cap and gown online at: Jostens - Gateway Community College. There is no charge. Pre-Ordered caps and gowns will be available for pick up at a scheduled Graduation Fair. Please have your confirmation number available.
The doors will close at 3:40 p.m. for the procession and will reopen once the graduates are all in their seats.
Please note guests are not allowed in the tunnel area where the graduates will be lining up.
Honor cords will be distributed at the Amphitheater prior to the ceremony to students who have a total GPA of 3.4 or higher.
If you are a graduate that needs special accommodations, please contact Ron Chomicz at ronald.chomicz@ctstate.edu or by calling 203-285-2231. Please contact him no later than Friday May 9, 2025.
The Amphitheater has two parking lots available across the street from the venue. There is no fee for parking.
Parking is also available at CT State Community College – Housatonic at 900 Lafayette Blvd., Bridgeport.
Please pick up name cards at a scheduled Graduation Fair. Name cards will be used to call your name and degree/certificate at the ceremony. When graduates are approaching the stage to receive their diploma cover, they must hand their name card to the announcer. When your name is read, please walk across the stage to receive your diploma cover from the College CEO.
A professional photographer will be available to take your photo before and after receiving your diploma cover on stage. You will be able to fill out your contact information on your Graduation Name Card. This will enable the photographer to contact you directly to make arrangements directly with the studio for purchasing the photographs.
Guests are not permitted in the aisles to take photographs during the Commencement exercises as such activity can be distracting and may create safety concerns. A photographer from the Amphitheater will also be available to take family portraits at designated locations.
All participating graduates will be given a diploma cover on stage at Commencement. You will receive notification from the Dean of Student Affairs when diplomas will be available for students.
SAVE THE DATE
Thursday, May 22, 2025
10 a.m.
Hartford HealthCare Amphitheater, Bridgeport
Please note: There will be heavy traffic in the area due to another campus’s graduation ceremony at the Total Mortgage Arena, which is located next to the Amphitheater, on the same day and at the same time.
For more information,contact Jessicas Quesada
Students who are ready to graduate need to apply. Check eligibility for graduation requirements. The deadline to apply is April 15, 2025.
If you have been certified as a graduate, you must fill out this form to participate in the second CT State Housatonic commencement.
Graduates, family, and friends unable to attend the in-person ceremony can celebrate from afar! Grab the family together, make some popcorn, and watch the entire event live-streamed from CT State Housatonic’s official Facebook page.
The ceremony will be streamed on YouTube live. This link will be available after 9:45 a.m. on May 22, 2025.
For important information such as ordering your cap and gown, guest tickets, special accommodations and more, download the Grad Guide!
Students who will be graduating can pick up a cap and gown beginning Monday, May 12, 2025 at GRADFest in the Beacon Hall Event Center from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m., and at the book store through May 21 during normal bookstore hours. A valid photo ID must be shown at pickup. There is no charge for caps and gowns.
The student procession will begin promptly at 9:45 a.m. The ceremony will begin promptly at 10 a.m. All graduates must arrive by 8:30 a.m. All guests must arrive by 9 a.m.
Graduates must arrive by 8:30 a.m. All graduates and guests who have chosen to attend and participate in the commencement ceremony must stay for the entire ceremony. After the procession through the Faculty/Staff “Clap Line," all guests can meet the graduates. Commencement lasts approximately two hours.
Guests can enter from 8:30-9 a.m. to be seated for the start of the Student Procession. All graduates and guests who have chosen to attend and participate in the commencement ceremony must stay for the entire ceremony. All guests can meet the graduates after the procession through the Faculty/Staff “Clap Line.”
Parking is available in the Amphitheater parking lot across the street from the Amphitheater and in CT State Housatonic’s parking garage, which is a short walk to the Amphitheater.
A professional photographer will be available to take your photograph on the stage after receiving your diploma cover. Additional photographs will be taken when you exit the stage. You can order pictures from the photography company. Register using the scan code on the name card.
If you are a graduate with a disability who needs special accommodations, please contact Marilyn Wehr, Coordinator of Accessibility Services no later than May 9, 2025, at 203-332-5018 or Marilyn.Wehr@ctstate.edu. Please remember to include your contact information: name, Banner ID and phone number.
Honor cords will be distributed to students receiving an associate degree and who have honors (3.4) or higher at the student check-in table in the Amphitheater prior to the commencement ceremony.
All graduates will only be given a diploma cover on stage at the commencement ceremony. Your actual diploma will be ready for pickup in August. Check your college email for information regarding where and when diplomas will be available for pickup. Please continue to check your college email for important updates.
No, these items are not allowed. You will be asked to bring them back to your car or throw them away.
No, the Amphitheater does not allow balloons in the Amphitheater.
No coolers, drinks in glass, metal, cans or plastic containers, beverages, alcohol of any kind or food are allowed in the Amphitheater.
You can bring a non-professional camera without detachable lenses, a disposable camera or your cell phone. A professional camera with detachable lenses or a lens that zooms out more than an inch is not allowed in the Amphitheater. Guests are not permitted in the aisles to take photographs during the commencement ceremony.
No, please leave all weapons at home. The Amphitheater DOES NOT ALLOW weapons of any kind on their property. All graduates and guests should leave all weapons at home. If any weapons are brought to the Amphitheater, all guests must follow all applicable laws regarding securing a weapon in their vehicle. Neither the Amphitheater nor CT State Housatonic will secure weapons and the College does not take responsibility for any weapons left in vehicles.
No, the Amphitheater will ask you to bring it to your car or throw it away.
No, all events will go on in rain or shine. However, in the event of severe weather, the Amphitheater reserves the right to delay, postpone or cancel the event.
The Amphitheater has trained medical personnel, EMTs, paramedics, local law enforcement officers and ambulances on site to assist with any emergencies or medical issues on site. First aid is located on the lower concourse. If you need assistance and cannot go to First Aid, a staff member will dispatch first aid to the location.
Commencement is a celebratory occasion and we should respect the hard work of our graduates, as well as their families and friends in attendance. Any individual or group engaging in activity that interrupts or disrupts the normal progression of the ceremonies is not permitted and anyone engaging in that behavior will be asked to leave the event. Failure to leave may result in disciplinary action up to and including expulsion from the college. Disruptive behaviors and/or refusing to leave when ordered may result in police action and subsequent criminal charges.
SAVE THE DATE
Thursday, May 22, 2025
5:30 p.m.
Manchester Campus Bicentennial Band Shell
The Second Commencement Ceremony of CT State Community College Manchester (CT State Manchester) will be held on Thursday, May 22, 2025, at 5:30 p.m. sharp, at the Bicentennial Band Shell, on the campus lawn. The Commencement Speaker is Magdalena Gómez, an award-winning performance poet, playwright, performer, teaching artist and highly sought after keynote speaker and workshop facilitator.
For important information such as ordering your cap and gown, guest tickets, special accommodations and more, download the Grad Guide!
All student participants are required to wear, and may keep, the traditional blue gowns, mortarboards and tassels. Students may invite an unlimited number of guests to the outside ceremony. If it rains, only two guests per graduate may attend the inside ceremony. The Follett Bookstore @ CT State Manchester (Student Services Center SSC L176 or call 860-645-3140) will distribute regalia (pre-measurement is not required), and a maximum of four (4) invitations per graduate as per the schedule below:
Invitations, Caps and Gowns will be available on Commencement Day until 3pm!
After entering the campus, please carefully follow the directional signs. Graduates and their guests are asked to park in East Lot and West Lot. Individuals with special needs may park in designated areas of East Lot. There will be no traffic or parking of vehicles allowed near the Bicentennial Band Shell during the Commencement Ceremony. Seating will be provided for graduates. Family members and guests are asked to bring their own lawn chairs or blankets as seating is limited. Graduates and guests are asked to remain seated until all degrees and certificates are conferred, and the program has finished.
Rain or shine, all graduates participating in the ceremony are to report in regalia on Thursday, May 22, 2025, to the 1st floor lobby in the Student Services Center (SSC). Faculty and Staff will assist and guide all graduates with the line-up. If the sun shines, ARRIVE NO LATER THAN 3:00 p.m. If it rains, see Rain Plans (p. 2) for arrival times. PLEASE BE ON TIME. Since there is no rehearsal, we need ample time to line up in alphabetical order, by curriculum, and provide instructions to all graduates before 4:15 p.m. We ask that you turn off cellular phones and do not chew gum. Do bring sunglasses and dress appropriately for the occasion. Family members and guests will not be permitted in the student robing area.
GradImages® will be photographing all graduates with the Chief Executive Officer as they receive their diplomas at the Commencement Ceremony. Please visit their website, www.gradimages.com, and click on Pre-Event Email Registration. Enter your email and up to six emails of loved ones who would like to share in your accomplishment by viewing and ordering your photos. By pre-registering, you will receive a discount of 20% off an order of $50 or more. For questions or concerns, contact GradImages® Customer Service at 800-261-2576, online at www.gradimages.com or email ecc.giservice@gradimages.net.
CT State Community College Manchester ensures equal access to events. Contact Joseph Navarra at joseph.navarra@ctstate.edu at least 14 days before Commencement for accommodation requests.
Diplomas and certificates will be mailed in late Summer 2025. Questions about requirements: contact Joanne Faust at joanne.faust@ctstate.edu. Make sure the One Stop Services Office has your current address. Commencement Ceremony questions: contact K. Umesh Vig at kunwarumesh.vig@ctstate.edu.
In case of rain, the ceremony will be held indoors at 5:30 p.m. inside the SBM Charitable Foundation Auditorium in the AST Center. The decision will be announced by 9:00 a.m. on Wednesday, May 21, 2025. Visit www.ctstate.edu/locations/manchester for updates.
Only students will be allowed in the auditorium; guests will be seated in classrooms with a live telecast. Two guests per graduate will be allowed.
Graduates report in regalia by 3:00 p.m. on May 22 to the SSC lobby. Line-up is alphabetical and by curriculum.
Line-Up Instructions
Medallion Award
The Board of Regents Medallion is awarded at each of the twelve community colleges to graduating students who have earned perfect 4.0s and who have completed at least half of their requirements at the college where the degree is being awarded. Certificate programs are not included for this award.
The origins of academic regalia go as far back as the 12th and 13th centuries when universities were forming in Europe. Because universities were closely associated with the church, the robes worn by instructors and students closely resembled those of medieval clerics. Unlike today, these robes were not used just for special occasions and ceremonies. Professors and students alike wore robes whenever they were attending classes or lectures. Although many universities moved away from association with the church, they maintained the tradition of wearing robes.
Academic regalia has been used by those attending universities from the earliest days. In 1895 the Intercollegiate Commission met at Columbia University to adopt a standard code of academic dress. This commission regulated the cut, style and materials of the gowns as well as the colors which were to represent different fields of learning. The Commission has been reconvened three times since it first met, most recently in 1986, but few changes to regalia have been adopted. These standards continue to guide colleges and universities today.
Gowns worn by associate degree candidates are identical to bachelor gowns in style. Both have pointed sleeves and are designed to be worn closed. However, they differ in color. Associate gowns are traditionally blue; bachelor gowns are black.
Those at graduation will notice a variety of gowns word by faculty and staff. Master’s gowns have an oblong sleeve and are trimmed with various colors depending on the degree held by the wearer. The gown also has a hood that is three and a half feet in length.
Commencement is a celebratory occasion and we should respect the hard work of our graduates, as well as their families and friends in attendance. Any individual or group engaging in activity that interrupts or disrupts the normal progression of the ceremonies is not permitted and anyone engaging in that behavior will be asked to leave the event. Failure to leave may result in disciplinary action up to and including expulsion from the college. Disruptive behaviors and/or refusing to leave when ordered may result in police action and subsequent criminal charges.
SAVE THE DATE
Thursday, May 22, 2025
6 p.m.
CCSU's Welte Hall, New Britain
Directions (Google) | Download Directions
The Commencement Ceremony for CT State Middlesex, Class of 2025, will be held on Thursday, May 22, 2025, in Welte Hall at Central Connecticut State University (CCSU), 1615 Stanley Street, New Britain, Connecticut (Directions (Google) | Download Directions). Welte Hall is located on the north side of the campus on Ella Grasso Boulevard.
Graduates should report to Alumni Hall in the Student Center for lineup by 5 p.m. fully robed with Reader Card in hand. The Reader Card is used to announce and appropriately pronounce the graduate’s name. Graduates should not bring anything with them that they cannot carry with them to the ceremony. Once individuals leave the Student Center in line there will be no reentering the building to retrieve personal possessions. Doors for guests will open in Welte Hall at 5 p.m. Seating is available on a first-come first-serve basis. Individuals utilizing the services of the ASL interpreters are directed to sit on the left-hand side of the hall facing the stage. The ceremony begins at 6 p.m.
Please note that balloons are not permitted in Welte Hall.
How to Properly Wear the Cap (also known as a mortarboard):
The inside of the cap will denote which part is worn in front. The top of the hat should be worn level on the head, horizontal to the ground. Undergraduate students should wear the tassel on the right side of their face until instructed during the graduation ceremony to move it to the left side.
For more information,contact Corey Ruggieri
Students will be given the holder for their diploma/certificate during the ceremony. Students finishing requirements for graduation in May, diplomas/certificates will be available in July. If finishing requirements during the summer diploma/certificate(s) will be available September 2025. Students will be notified when to pick up their documents through their student e-mail accounts.
Parking on the CCSU Campus for graduates and guests is in any of the visitor “red” marked parking areas (lots or garages). Please note that Welte Garage, the Student Center Lot, Student Center Garage and Kaiser Lot are the designated areas for parking located closest to Welte Hall. Additional overflow parking is available in Copernicus Garage, Bichum Lot and the Willard-DiLoreto Garage on the south side of the campus. CCSU police officers along with additional security staff will be present. Please follow their directions for parking.
Family and friends are encouraged to take pictures of their graduate. Once regalia is picked up, please consider taking pictures and sharing them with fellow graduates. Share them by utilizing the following: #CTStateMiddlesex2025 or #CTState2025. As always, if you have any questions, call the Dean’s Office.
Additionally, GradImages® will be photographing each student with the Chief Executive Officer as they receive their diploma.
Visit www.GradImages.com to view and purchase custom photo products like prints, plaques, specialty gifts, and more. If there are any questions or concerns regarding the graduate’s photos, please contact the Customer Service Department at 1-800-261-2576, online at www.gradimages.com, or email ecc.giservice@gradimages.net.
SAVE THE DATE
Wednesday, May 21, 2025
2 p.m.
Palace Theater, Waterbury
For more information,contact Karen Blake
The following information is separated into five (5) different sections. Please read all the following sections carefully. There is no charge for caps/gown or tickets.
Section 1: Cap and gown pickup (Waterbury campus) – you must start at the bookstore
Section 2: Guest tickets and requesting extra tickets (Waterbury campus)- (no advance requests)
Section 3: Instructions for the day of the ceremony
Section 4: Parking
Section 5: GradImages (photos)
The cap & gown distribution will be held at our:
Follett Bookstore, Student Center, 3rd Floor Waterbury campus.
Dates for Pickup:
Thursday May 1, 2025 9am – 7:00pm
Friday May 2, 2025 9am – 6:00pm
Advisors for:
ABG: Robin J. Bage 203-596-8786 E602A
PTK: John Harding 203-596-8763 K604
See next page for more information regarding guest tickets
Waterbury campus (take the elevator in front of the bookstore to the 5th floor) PLEASE NOTE: Your cap and gown must be picked up first.
Date: Wednesday, May 21, 2025
Time: 2:00 P.M.
Place: Palace Theater
Location: 100 East Main Street, Waterbury, CT
Graduates: Report at 12:00 P.M. Promptly - park in the Scovill Street garage and use the stage door on Brook Street to enter the Palace (not the main entrance to the theater).
Guests: 1:30 P.M. - Seating begins inside the theater. Guests arriving at 2pm or later will have to wait until the procession has concluded before seating is allowed.
Guests: Use only the front entrance to the theater (100 East Main Street).
Ceremony: 2:00 P.M. - Commencement promptly begins
NOTE: There is no place to store valuables during the ceremony (i.e., large purses, cameras, etc.), so please bring only what is necessary that will fit under your seat. Also, please wear comfortable shoes as there is standing involved.
Physical Disabilities
Graduates: Contact Vince McCann, Campus Disability Coordinator, 203-596-8608
Guests: Contact Karen Blake, Commencement Coordinator, 203-575-8269
This will ensure that adequate space is provided.
Arrangement deadline: Friday, May 9, 2025 (no exceptions)
https://www.thecommencementgroup.com/naugatuckvalley/ (may be updated)
NOT PERMITTED INSIDE THE THEATER: alcoholic beverages, smoking of any kind (including electronic cigarettes) and balloons.
Unacceptable behavior will not be tolerated and may result in removal from the ceremony.
Free Parking: Graduates/Guests: Scovill Street parking garage. All other areas may charge.
Directions to Scovill Street (Student/Guest)
From Route 8 North/South:
NOTE: There are Green/Yellow signs to Event Parking at Palace
From 1-84 East:
NOTE: There are Green/Yellow signs to Event Parking at Palace
From 1-84 West:
NOTE: There are Green/Yellow signs to Event Parking at Palace
NOTE: due to limited parking availability, please see the alternate parking options at:
Pictures will be taken the day of the ceremony. All contact will be done directly thru them, not CTState Naugatuck Campus.
SAVE THE DATE
Thursday, May 22, 2025
6 p.m.
The Warner Theatre, Torrington
For more information,contact Kris Kennedy
SAVE THE DATE
Wednesday, May 21, 2025
11 a.m.
Hartford HealthCare Amphitheater, Bridgeport
For more information,contact NK-DeanOfStudents@ctstate.edu
Graduates may pick up their cap, gown, and tickets at the “Grad Fair” (Thursday, May 8, 11 a.m.-2 p.m., in the East Campus parking lot).
Graduates will be handed diploma covers on stage at the Commencement ceremony. Actual diplomas will be available for pick up in room E216 or will be mailed at your request. If you want your diplomas mailed home; May graduates will receive them in the mail at the end of July, and August graduates at the end of October.
All students will receive 10 tickets. Tickets are required for all guests, including small children. When your guests arrive, they should proceed directly to the main entrance for their seating. All bags are subject to search.
The following items are not allowed inside the Amphitheater: food, beverages, flowers, confetti, helium balloons, gifts or packages, large flags and strollers.
Free parking, including handicapped accessible parking, will be available at the Amphitheater.
A photographer will take your picture as you receive your diploma cover. An order form and proofs will be mailed to you by the photographer so that you can place your order directly with the studio. Guests are not permitted in the aisles to take photographs during the ceremony.
Graduation check-in will begin at 10 a.m. Please arrive promptly with your cap and gown (allow plenty of time for traffic). After you check in at the Amphitheater, you will be guided to where you will check in and line up alphabetically with your program. The ceremony begins promptly at 11 a.m. Graduating students are expected to stay for the entire ceremony.
If you have any questions about the Commencement ceremony, please contact the Dean of Student Affairs Assistant at nk-deanofstudents@ctstate.edu.
Commencement is a celebratory occasion and we should respect the hard work of our graduates, as well as their families and friends in attendance. Any individual or group engaging in activity that interrupts or disrupts the normal progression of the ceremonies is not permitted and anyone engaging in that behavior will be asked to leave the event. Failure to leave may result in disciplinary action up to and including expulsion from the college. Disruptive behaviors and/or refusing to leave when ordered may result in police action and subsequent criminal charges.
For our December graduates, please fill out this form to let us know if you want your diplomas mailed to your current home address or if you will pick them up. If you prefer to pick up your diploma they are available Monday-Friday, 9:30 a.m.-5 p.m. in room E216. Please contact the Dean of Student Affairs Office at nk-deanofstudents@ctstate.edu to schedule a pick up time.
SAVE THE DATE
Thursday, May 22, 2025
6 p.m.
Quinebaug Valley Danielson Campus
SAVE THE DATE
Tuesday, May 27, 2025
10 a.m.
Mohegan Sun Uncas Ballroom, Uncasville
SAVE THE DATE
Wednesday, May 21, 2025
6 p.m.
CCSU's Welte Hall, New Britain
For more information, contact magaly.correa@ctstate.edu
The Commencement Ceremony for CT State Tunxis, Class of 2025, will be held on Wednesday, May 21, 2025, in Welte Hall at Central Connecticut State University (CCSU), 1615 Stanley Street, New Britain, Connecticut (Directions (Google) | Download Directions). Welte Hall is located on the north side of the campus on Ella Grasso Boulevard.
Graduates should report to Alumni Hall in the Student Center for lineup by 5 p.m. fully robed with Reader Card in hand. The Reader Card is used to announce and appropriately pronounce the graduate’s name. Graduates should not bring anything with them that they cannot carry with them to the ceremony. Once individuals leave the Student Center in line, there will be no reentering the building to retrieve personal possessions. Doors for guests will open in Welte Hall at 5:30 p.m. Seating is available on a first-come first-serve basis. Individuals utilizing the services of the ASL interpreters are directed to sit on the left-hand side of the hall facing the stage. If you need any accommodations, please contact Magaly Correa, magaly.correa@ctstate.edu. The ceremony begins at 6 p.m.
**Please note that balloons are not permitted in Welte Hall.**
The inside of the cap will denote which part is worn in front. The top of the hat should be worn level on the head, horizontal to the ground. Undergraduate students should wear the tassel on the right side of their face until instructed during the graduation ceremony to move it to the left side.
For more information on the ceremony, please contact Magaly Correa, magaly.correa@ctstate.edu
Students will be given the cover for their diploma/certificate during the ceremony. Students finishing requirements for graduation in May, diplomas/certificates will be available in July for pick-up at the One Stop. If you're finishing your requirements during the summer, diploma/certificate(s) will be available September 2025. Students will be notified when to pick up their diploma through their student e-mail accounts.
Parking on the CCSU Campus for graduates and guests is in any of the visitor “red” marked parking areas (lots or garages). Please note that Welte Garage, the Student Center Lot, Student Center Garage and Kaiser Lot are the designated areas for parking located closest to Welte Hall. Additional overflow parking is available in Copernicus Garage, Bichum Lot and the Willard-DiLoreto Garage on the south side of the campus. CCSU police officers along with additional security staff will be present. Please follow their directions for parking.
If you are a graduate with a disability who needs special accommodations, please contact Magaly Correa at 860-773-1433 or magaly.correa@ctstate.edu. Please remember to include your contact information: name, Banner ID and phone number.
Family and friends are encouraged to take pictures of their graduate. Once regalia is picked up, please consider taking pictures and sharing them with fellow graduates. Share them by utilizing the following: #CTStateTunxis2025 or #CTState2025. As always, if you have any questions, please email Magaly Correa, magaly.correa@ctstate.edu.
Additionally, Island Photography will be photographing each student with the Campus Chief Executive Officer as they receive their diploma.
If there are any questions or concerns regarding the graduate’s photos, please contact the Island Photography’s Customer Service Departmen at 1-516-767-1234, or email custserv@islandphoto.com.
CT State offers three conferrals each year in December, May and August.
Note: You will not be able to fill out more than one application per program through myCTState. For example, if you applied for May graduation and then withdrew from a needed class, the degree auditor (once notified) would move the application from May to August (if it was your intention to take a summer class for completion).
*Summer applicants who submit their graduation application after April 15 will still be eligible to participate in the Commencement ceremony but will not have their names listed in the Commencement program.
Note: If a student takes one or more winter classes, they would be conferred in May. If a student takes one or more summer classes, they would be conferred in August.
Note: Summer completers who wish to attend the ceremony need to be within two classes (or eight credits) of degree completion, register for those classes and make payment arrangements to attend the ceremony in May. You are not considered to have graduated until those final requirements are complete (in other words, participating in the ceremony does not mean you have graduated).
All email correspondence from your Degree Auditor will be sent to your student email account (please check regularly). Audits will be done in the order they are received. Any questions regarding your audit, please email CTState-DegreeWorks@ct.edu or your Degree Auditor. Any questions regarding the ceremony, please look for contact information on your campus commencement section.
|
Degree Auditor |
Campuses |
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Debbie Kidd |
Norwalk and Tunxis |
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|
Joanne Faust |
Middlesex, Manchester and Northwestern |
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|
Davis Jones |
Naugatuck Valley and Asnuntuck |
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Tanya Shultz |
Gateway and Housatonic |
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|
Joy Thompson |
Three Rivers, Quinebaug Valley and Capital |
