Commencement will take place on Tuesday, May 20, 2025.
Commencement will take place at the XL Center located at One Civic Center Plaza Hartford, CT 06103.
Commencement will take place on Tuesday, May 20, 2025.
Commencement will take place at the XL Center located at One Civic Center Plaza Hartford, CT 06103.
No sign up is needed to participate in commencement. You need to be approved to participate which is shown on your degree evaluation.
Graduation is usually 2 to 2½ hours.
Visit the XL Center website for directions.
Graduates should arrive and check in at the XL Center beginning at 1:30 p.m. Please enter through the Trumbull Street entrance.
Guests can plan to arrive at the XL Center starting at 1:30 p.m., and seating in the arena starts at 2:00 p.m. All guests must enter through the main entrance on Trumbull Street.
The Processional of Graduates begins at 3:00 p.m., and the Commencement Ceremony officially begins at 3:30 p.m.
Parking is available at various downtown Hartford garages and lots near the XL Center. Paid parking is available at the Church Street, Main Street, and Trumbull Street garages. Street parking may also be available but is limited. We recommend arriving early to allow ample time for parking and walking to the venue.
Yes. Accessible parking is available in nearby garages and at designated locations close to the XL Center. Please display your handicap placard and follow signage or ask staff for assistance.
Yes, please plan ahead. Downtown Hartford can be busy on Commencement day. Arrive early to account for parking and check-in time.
No tickets are required for guests and there is no limit to the number of guests. There are no reserved seats; guests may sit wherever they choose. The best seats fill quickly so time your arrival accordingly. Ushers will be available to assist with seating.
Commencement is a joyous but dignified occasion. The University's policy is that all graduates participating in the ceremony must wear an approved cap and gown and only *official honors cords may be worn. Personal adornments (e.g., leis, stoles, or messages on gowns) are not consistent with the spirit of the graduation ceremony. Graduates who appear at the Commencement lineup with unapproved adornment will be asked by student or faculty marshals to remove it. Faculty marshals have the authority to prevent anyone in unapproved adornment from processing. Decorating mortarboards is allowed.
*Official honors cords are those distributed by officially recognized academic honor societies at Eastern or those distributed by the bookstore for students who have earned graduation honors.
Students must have a CURRENT GPA of 3.5 or higher to be eligible to purchase honor cords from the bookstore. Midterm grades are NOT considered. Once final grades are posted your final cumulative GPA will be used to determine final graduation honor status.
Undergraduate Commencement
Graduate Division Commencement