Arrival Information

  • Arrive at MassMutual Convention Center- 1277 Main Street, Springfield, MA 01103 no later than 8:30 a.m.  Use the entrance that is located on the corner of Main Street and Bruce Landon Way. 
  • Students will be directed to Exhibition Hall A (“staging area”) where you will check-in. 
  • In the staging area you will robe with your gown, cap and hood
  • Staff and Faculty will direct you where to line up.
  • There is no secure storage for valuables. Do NOT leave any valuables in the staging area.   It is preferable to not bring large bags or purses.
  • Turn off your cell phone or set to vibrate once ceremony begins.
  • Tassels go on the right
  • Remember to take your name card with you, which you will receive in the staging area.

You will enter the arena in alphabetical single file by degree: AA-BA-BS-MAAT-MAT-MBA-MED-MS-MSN-MSN/MBA Dual Degree- CAGS-DNP

Graduates and their families are invited to share their social media photos using the hashtag #Elms2024. Be sure to follow @elmscollege on Instagram and Twitter.  Photos taken by Elms College staff during these events will be posted on the Elms College Facebook page as soon as they are available.

Accessibility Arrangements:

  • Students and/or guests attending any of these events who require reasonable accommodations for ADA-related needs please contact Elms College’s Student Accommodations and Support Services (SASS) at 413-265-2333 or sass@elms.edu by April 1. This includes, but is not limited to, an American Sign Language Interpreter, assistance with walking long distances, crossing the stage, and/or with stairs, as well as accessible seating.   

Caps, Gowns and Hoods

If you have not ordered your regalia yet, please call the bookstore at 413-594-5500. You will need to provide them with the following information:

  • First and Last Name
  • Height
  • Weight 
  • Whether you are receiving a Bachelor or Master Degree

Bookstore hours:

  • Monday, May 13th: 10am – 5pm
  • Tuesday, May 14th: 10am – 6pm
  • Wednesday, May 15th: 10am – 6pm
  • Thursday, May 16th: 10am – 5pm
  • Friday, May 17th: 10am – 6pm

Regalia orders are due by April 6, 2024. If you have any questions, please contact the bookstore at 413-594-5500 or by email at 0977mgr@follett.com.

Caps Decorating Guidelines

At Elms College, we hold all of our graduates in high esteem and recognize their achievements at Commencement. If you wish to decorate your graduation cap to wear at commencement, please remember to respect the historical and formal integrity of this event when decorating your caps.

Please take into consideration these guidelines set forth by the college when decorating your cap:

  • Please only decorate the flat, top area of the mortar board
  • Decorations must be flat on the surface of the cap and not raise above 1 inch off the surface of the mortar board
  • No hanging objects off the sides of the cap except for the tassel
  • No bells, horns or anything that makes noise
  • No fresh flowers, food, or living objects
  • No lighted objects
  • No battery operated objects
  • No obscenities, profanity, vulgarity or lewdness
  • Must not contain any advertisement, symbols, abbreviations, initials, words, slogans, patches, or pictures that refer to drugs, alcohol or weapons
  • Must not denote an affiliation with gangs or which advocate drug use, violence, illegal activity, or disruptive behavior which is detrimental to the safety and welfare of other students
  • No hate speech, intolerance or racist slogans
  • This list is not all inclusive. Elms College reserves the right to determine if a decoration is inappropriate

If you have a question about these guidelines or about the appropriateness of your decorated cap, please bring it to the attention of the Dean of Students Office, studentaffairs@elms.edu or 413-265-2210.

Receiving your Diploma

DECEMBER 2023 AND MAY 2024 GRADUATES

Don’t have your diploma yet?  For questions on how to obtain your diploma please email registrar@elms.edu directly for more information.

Photographs and Social Sharing

The photography company Grad Images will be taking pictures during the ceremony.
When posting your images to Instagram, Facebook and Twitter please use the tag #Elms2024

Stoles

A graduation stole is a decorative vestment worn by students who are members of college organizations for the purpose of recognizing association with an international group, a college registered sport, organization or club. A stole takes the form of a cloth scarf-like garment worn over the shoulders adorned with the colors of the organization or country of affiliation. Students may wear only one stole at commencement.


A graduation stole is a decorative vestment worn by students who are members of college organizations for the purpose of recognizing association with an international group, a college registered sport, organization or club. A stole takes the form of a cloth scarf-like garment worn over the shoulders adorned with the colors of the organization or country of affiliation. Students may wear only one stole at commencement.

If you would like to order a co-curricular stole designed by the college, please visit Co-Curricular Stole Ordering.  Prices start at $32.  The stoles will be printed and shipped directly to the address that you give them in late April.  The deadline for ordering a Co-Curricular Stole is April 1.

If you would like to apply to wear a stole that is different from the co-curricular stole designed by the college, please fill out the google form Stole Application and upload a photo of the stole to the form.   After April 1, the Dean of Students and Vice President of Academic Affairs will review all applications and respond to students regarding their decision.

If the request to wear the stole was denied, an appeal can be made to the Dean of Students Office in writing within three business days of receiving the denial. The appeal will be brought before the commencement committee for review at the next committee meeting after the denial is submitted.

The committee meets every other Friday during the spring semester. The committee must make a major decision with at least seven members present. A final decision will be communicated in writing via email to the student and/or organization advisor.

If the request to wear the stole was denied, an appeal can be made to the Dean of Students Office in writing within three business days of receiving the denial. The appeal will be brought before the commencement committee for review at the next committee meeting after the denial is submitted.

The committee meets every other Friday during the spring semester. The committee must make a major decision with at least seven members present. A final decision will be communicated in writing via email to the student and/or organization advisor.

Gonfalon Carrier

Gonfalons are banners with the college seal and name that hang from a crossbar. They are to be carried by three chosen students before all the other graduates walk into the MassMutual and again when exiting the arena at the end of commencement. The Gonfalons will be carried by one graduate student, one undergraduate student and one off-campus student. The student is responsible for getting to the commencement by 8:30 a.m. to do a run through at the venue. There will also be one required training in early to mid-May in Veritas to also practice.

If this opportunity interests you, please fill out the following application to either apply or nominate someone who you think would be a good fit.

Nominate a gonfalon carrier. The deadline for nominating a gonfalon carrier is April 1, 2024.

Flag Carrier

The U.S. Flag carrier must be a graduating Elms College student who is also a veteran. At commencement, they will carry the U.S. Flag into the MassMutual arena at the start of the commencement processional. The student is responsible for getting to commencement by 8:30 a.m. in order to do a run through at the venue. There will also be one required training in early to mid-May in Veritas to also practice.

If you are interested in applying or nominating someone who you think would be a good fit, please fill out the following application for consideration. Please note that all veterans will need to submit a DD214 if you are applying to be a flag carrier.

Nominate a flag carrier. The deadline for nominating a flag carrier is April 1, 2024.

Elms College E- Portfolio

Elms College students are highly encouraged to create an E-Portfolio (Electronic Portfolio) prior to Commencement! An e-portfolio is a purposeful collection of sample student work that showcases a student’s learning, achievement, and experiential learning opportunities. The Office of Experiential Learning will be offering workshops, guidance, tabling, and more. Please use these Elms E-Portfolio Resources – E-Portfolio Guidance Site  and E-Portfolio Quick Guide. If you have any questions, please contact Dr. Jennifer L. Granger Sullivan, Director of Experiential Learning, at grangersullivanj@elms.edu