• Bachelor and Associates candidates: If you graduated in December 2025, January 2026, or are eligible to graduate in May or August of 2026, you are required to apply 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's candidates: Master's candidates who graduated in December 2025 and January 2026 and master's candidates who have applied for graduation for May 2026 or August 2026 and whose degree audit confirms anticipated completion of all degree requirements are eligible to participate in the May 2026 Graduate Commencement ceremony. If you have not applied for a degree yet, please do so as soon as possible at https://www.wcsu.edu/graduate/forms/application-for-degree/. 

• Doctoral candidates: You will be eligible to graduate upon the completion of your dissertation defense and the approval of your Doctoral Advisory Committee.

Applying for a degree does not automatically guarantee participation in the Commencement ceremony. Eligible candidates who have applied for graduation must also confirm their intent to participate by responding to the official invitation sent by Event and Conference Management. This invitation will direct graduates to submit an RSVP for the ceremony and complete their Tassel account, a required step to finalize participation and facilitate event planning. 

Please note: Invitations will be sent to your WCSU email address. The deadline to complete your Tassel account and RSVP for the ceremony is Sunday, April 12, 2026.  

https://wcsu.tassel.com

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)

2026 Regalia Ordering Deadlines

• Custom Doctoral Regalia Purchase – March 6, 2026
• All Standard Regalia Orders – March 16, 2026 (Doctoral, Graduate, Undergraduate/Associates)
  • Note: Any regalia orders placed after March 16 will incur a $25 late fee. Orders placed after May 4 will incur a $40 late fee for expedited shipping.

All academic regalia will be available for pick-up during Grad Salute on Wednesday, May 6th. For any regalia questions or to make alternate pick-up arrangements, please contact the Alumni Office (203) 837-9090 or email Alumni@wcsu.edu.

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.

At this time, WCSU does not recognize Honors at the Graduate Level.

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.

Western Connecticut State University will hold its Undergraduate Commencement Ceremony on Monday, May 18, 2026, at the Total Mortgage Arena, 600 Main St., Bridgeport, CT.

The ceremony will begin at 3 p.m. and will conclude at approximately 5 p.m.

Graduates will receive eight 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 must be held in the lap of an attendee and may not 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.

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 and a half hours prior to the start of the ceremony, at 1:30 p.m.

Check back closer to the date for a map of the arena seating so that you know where graduates from each school will be seated.

Each undergraduate who completes their RSVP on Tassel will receive a Digital Stage Pass. Your Stage Pass has a unique QR code that contains your name recording and is required for check-in. During the ceremony you will scan your Stage Pass to have your name announced as you cross the stage. 

To access your Stage Pass:

• Log in to https://wcsu.tassel.com/#/   

• Log in as a returning user, using your WCSU email address and the password you set up to register and RSVP for Commencement.   

• Once on the Tassel website, you will see a link to access your Stage Pass   

• Print your Stage Pass at home, download onto your mobile device, or add to your Google/Apple Wallet to avoid loading it at check-in.  

Graduates should arrive at the first level of the arena parking garage no later than 1:30 p.m. to check in and line up for the procession. Look for the flag with your school's name and proceed to that area to check in. Be sure to bring your Stage Pass QR Code, regalia (and tassel!), to the Total Mortgage Arena.

There is no Commencement rehearsal. Students will get the information they need the day of Commencement.

Graduates will be lined up and seated alphabetically with their respective school. This is the order in which you will process to the arena. The procession will begin promptly at 2:40 p.m.

You will need to keep your Stage Pass with you to assemble for the procession and to have your name announced during the ceremony.

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.

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 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.

Event day parking is 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.

Total Mortgage Arena Parking Map

Parking Lots Open: 11:30 a.m.

Arena Doors Open: 1:30 p.m.

Ceremony Begins: 3:00 p.m.

For Directions, please visit Total Mortgage Arena – Directions & Parking.

Western Connecticut State University will provide free bus transportation to the Total Mortgage Arena, Bridgeport, for 2026 undergraduate student candidates, guests, faculty, and staff.

The bus will depart WCSU from the Westside Campus Center bus stop at 12:30 p.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.

Western Connecticut State University will hold its Graduate Commencement Ceremony on Tuesday, May 19, 2026, at the Ives Concert Hall, Western Connecticut State University - Midtown Campus, 181 White St., Danbury, CT 06810.

The ceremony will begin at 5 p.m. and will conclude at approximately 7 p.m.

Graduates will receive three tickets for entry into the Ives Concert Hall. 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 must be held in the lap of an attendee and may not 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 venue cannot be taken into the seating area. Contact ECM@wcsu.edu with any questions.

Guest seating is open and on a first come first served basis. Doors to the concert hall will open one hour prior to the start of the ceremony, at 4 p.m.

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 6^th – remember to bring it with you on Commencement day! If you cannot 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.

Graduate candidates should arrive at Higgins Hall no later than 3:30 p.m. to check in and line up for the procession. Look for the flag with your school's name and proceed to that area to check in. Be sure to bring your reader card and regalia with you to check-in. 

There is no Commencement rehearsal. Students will get the information they need after check-in the day of Commencement. 

Graduates will be lined up and seated alphabetically by degree level with their respective school. This is the order in which you will process to Ives Concert Hall. The procession will begin promptly at 4:40 p.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. 

Hooding is a tradition that recognizes the completion of a terminal degree, defined as the highest academic credential in a specific discipline. At WestConn, hooding during the Graduate Commencement ceremony is reserved for candidates earning terminal degrees, typically doctoral degrees and any master’s degrees formally designated as terminal within their field. 

There will be a reception in Warner Hall 101 immediately following the ceremony. All graduates, guests, and faculty are invited to stop by for some light refreshments. 

Do not leave the Commencement ceremony early. Please have respect for the other graduates and their guests. 

Please silence all phones during the ceremony. The use of cell phones is disruptive to both participants and guests. 

No food or beverages are allowed inside of Ives Concert Hall. Please make sure to consume all items in the lobby before entering the hall. 

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. 

If you or a member of your group require ADA/wheelchair-accessible seating, please send an email to ECM@wcsu.edu and a member of our team will reply with additional instructions and information. 

If you are graduating and require accommodations, please contact AccessABILITY Services at aas@wcsu.edu.

Ives Concert Hall is in the White Hall building on the Midtown Campus. Event day parking is in the Fifth Avenue Parking Garage, located on the corner of Fifth Avenue and White Street. Handicapped parking spots are in the garage, as well as the surface lots located on both sides of White Hall. The ADA access ramp is located on the Fifth Avenue side of White Hall. Take the ramp to the lower level of the building; there are elevators to take you up to the first floor, where Ives Concert Hall is located. 

Click here for Midtown Campus Directions and Parking Map 

Wednesday, May 6 from 2-7 p.m., Westside Campus Center Ballroom

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
• Senior/Graduate Portraits
• Class Ring Sales
• Graduate Office
• Career Success Center
• WCSU Bookstore

More information will be sent to graduates closer to the date.

Graduate Portraits will be taken:

• Thursday, April 9, 2026
  Westside Campus Center Ballroom – 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.
• Friday, April 10, 2026
  Midtown Student Center Theater – 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
• Wednesday, May 6, 2026
  Westside Campus Center Ballroom – 2 to 7 p.m. (Walk-in Only)

Open to all WCSU graduating students. 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. April sessions are by appointment only. 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.

Celebrate your accomplishments by appearing in the digital yearbook for the Class of 2026! You worked hard to get here, so do not miss this opportunity to show the world your Wolves pride in our Gallery of Graduates.

Simply fill out the submission form, 2026 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 April 9th and April 10th, and at Grad Salute on May 6th. 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.