Information for Baccalaureate (Undergraduate) Students

Academic Regalia (Cap & Gown) Purchase

Academic Regalia (Cap & Gown) Purchase

All participants in Commencement must wear academic regalia (Cap and Gown).

More information about how to purchase your cap and gown will become available shortly.

Students at Commencement — 2024 Graduates with their academic regalia.

Student Commencement Speaker

To serve as the commencement speaker the graduating senior must meet the academic qualifications to participate in the ceremony and be in good student conduct standing.

At this point you should have submitted your Notice of Candidacy for Graduation whether you plan to attend the ceremony or not. This is required by the Registrar’s Office to confirm you are on track to complete all degree requirements by your anticipated degree completion date and want them to complete the review.

Stay tuned for more information on the 2026 Commencement Speaker selection process!

Academic Honors (Latin Honors)

To be a candidate for graduation honors, a student must have completed all degree requirements and must have completed a minimum of sixteen (16) course-credits at Framingham State University.

The baccalaureate degree is conferred with honors upon a student with a final cumulative point average of:

Cum Laude: 3.25 - 3.59
Magna Cum Laude: 3.60 - 3.79
Summa Cum Laude: 3.80 - 4.00

All students graduating with honors will receive a gold honor tassel from the Dean of Students Office.

2025 Latin Honors Graduates — 2025 Graduate wearing a gold tassel on her cap for Latin Honors.

Family & Friends Celebration

Join us as we celebrate the Class of 2026 and the incredible support of their families! This special event brings together graduates, loved ones, and the Framingham State community to honor this momentous achievement.

Enjoy an evening of music, refreshments, and photo opportunities, including the chance to capture a professional portrait in your graduation regalia with your family.

Date and time TBD for 2026

We look forward to celebrating with you!

Intercultural Graduation Ceremony

Are you a graduating senior and identify as:

BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, Person of Color)
LGBTQ+
First-Generation (First in your family to attend college)
Living with a disability/disabled
Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI)

FSU's Intercultural Ceremony is a graduation ceremony that recognizes and celebrates the resilience and accomplishments of graduating students from historically marginalized communities including but not limited to: students who identify as BIPOC, LGBTQ+, First-Generation, and individuals living with disabilities.

This ceremony is an opportunity for graduating students to be honored by family, spouses, mentors, and friends who have supported them achieving this milestone and have been part of the journey along with them.

During the ceremony awards are given to students who have made meaningful diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) contributions to the Framingham State University community during their time here.

Student participants may request and reserve their individual identity stoles and cords at no cost, which will be presented exclusively during the Intercultural Ceremony, prior to the Undergraduate Commencement ceremony.

We are so proud of all of your accomplishments this past year! This year’s Intercultural Ceremony (date TBD) in the McCarthy Center Forum.

If you'd like to participate in the 2026 Intercultural Ceremony, please stay tuned for more information.

Record a Message to Your Families to be viewed on the JUMBOTRON!

The University is creating a video featuring brief messages from graduating seniors thanking their families for their support and reflecting on their favorite experiences during their time at FSU!

Stay tuned for more information in 2026!

Academic Requirements

Notice of Candidacy for Graduation

Notice of Candidacy for Graduation

All students who expect to receive their degree from Framingham State University are required to complete a formal degree application called the Notice of Candidacy for Graduation. The University has four (4) graduation dates. Applications are available from the Office of the University Registrar and must be submitted as follows:

May 1st December graduation
September 1st January graduation
December 1st May graduation
April 1st August graduation

No student’s name may appear on the graduation list unless all financial debts to the University have been settled. Conferral of a degree occurs only when the Registrar finalizes the student’s academic record and confirms that all degree requirements have been met.

Please note that all students must complete all degree requirements prior to the ceremony in order to participate in Commencement. This includes having completed a minimum of 30 course-credits along with a minimum cumulative grade point average of 2.00 in both the major and for the overall degree.

University obligations

If you have any unresolved obligations such as library fees, student loan exit interviews, bills at the Business Office or residence hall damage, diplomas will be held until the obligation is resolved. Take care to resolve these matters prior to the end of final exams.

Course Residency Requirements

To complete the University course residency requirement, a minimum of eight (8) course credits (32 semester hours) must be taken at Framingham State University.

To complete a major requirement, a minimum of five (5) course credits (20 semester hours) in the major department must be taken at Framingham State University.

To complete a minor requirement, a minimum of three (3) course credits (12 semester) hours must be taken at Framingham State University.

Commencement Participation Requirements

To participate in the Commencement Ceremony all students will need to fill out the commencement ceremony participation form which will be available by April 1st.

Participation in the Commencement ceremony does not constitute conferral of the degree. Similarly, inclusion of a student's name on such publications as the Commencement program does not confirm eligibility for the degree. Completion of a Baccalaureate Degree at Framingham State University requires that all students complete a minimum of 30 course-credits to include general education and major (and minor, if any) requirements in accordance with the Course Residency Policy as well as earn an overall minimum grade point average (GPA) of 2.00. Students are also required to achieve a minimum 2.00 GPA in their major requirements, including major-

All students must complete all degree requirements in order to participate in Commencement ceremonies. Appeals of this requirement with regards to participation in the Commencement ceremony may be made only on one of the following basis:

A. The student has no more than two (2) courses remaining to complete degree requirements, has a minimum grade point average of 2.00, and has a highly extenuating, documented circumstance that would support a hardship exception to the requirement. The student must agree to register for and complete coursework by the December following the May Commencement Ceremony in which the student wishes to participate.

OR

B. The student has no more than two* (2) courses remaining to complete degree requirements, has a minimum grade point average of 2.50, and the student must agree to register for and complete coursework by the December following the May Commencement Ceremony in which the student wishes to participate.

*Students who have only to complete their student teaching practicum semester may be allowed to participate in commencement and agree to register for and complete the student teaching requirement by the December following the May Commencement Ceremony in which the student wishes to participate.

The 2026 Commencement Appeal form will be made available after April 1, 2026.

The appeal must be accompanied by a printout of the student’s degree audit and other appropriate documentation and submitted to the Vice President for Enrollment and Student Development no later than May 1st. Decisions on such appeals will be made within one week of their submittal and are final.

Appeals should be submitted to the Office of the Vice President, Division of Student Success no later than May 1st. The Vice President will review appeals after the final exam period, but only if a final exam/project changes a student's status. These appeals will be considered no later than the Wednesday before commencement. The decision of the Vice President is final and will be made in writing by e-mail to the student's FSU student email account.

Please note: Participation in a commencement ceremony following successful appeal does not signify graduation (degree completion). Students who successfully appeal are not eligible to be awarded Latin honors at the ceremony as the student is not graduating at this time.

Additional information for Family and Friends

Parking

The DCU Center does not own or operate parking facilities but there are several garages and flat lots located within walking distance of the Arena and Convention Center. Below is a list of those closest for your convenience:

Mercantile Center Garage: 201 Commercial St.
Major Taylor Blvd. Municipal Garage: 30 Major Taylor Blvd.
Dwight Foster Parking: 27 Waldo St.
First American Realty Parking: 100 MLK Jr. Blvd. (formerly Central St.)
Pearl-Elm Municipal Garage: 20 Pearl St.
Worcester Common Garage: Eaton Place

Parking prices vary depending upon the event and time spent in garage.

Ample amounts of handicapped accessible parking spaces are located around the facility at designated areas. Legal placards are required to park in these spaces.

Entering the DCU Center

Students must check in by 8:15AM in the North Exhibition Hall via Door 2.

All family and guests must enter the DCU Center Arena through Doors 10-14, the main entrance at the intersection of Major Taylor Blvd and Foster Street.

Health, Safety, and Venue Policies

The 2026 FSU Commencement exercises will be a mask optional event. Anyone wishing to wear a mask during the ceremony is encouraged to do so, but they will not be required. The University reserves the right to change this policy if public health conditions in the location merit this action at the time of the ceremony.

Security Restrictions:

To ensure the safety and comfort of all guests attending events at the DCU Center, event attendees, including graduates will be subject to a search upon entering the facility. Please note that any persons with prohibited articles will be turned away at the entrances.

Any bags measuring greater than 5" X 7" will NOT be permitted into the arena, such as large purses, backpacks, knapsacks, luggage, parcels, briefcases, tablets and like articles. Medical bags and diaper bags will be allowed and will be checked prior to entry.
Firearms, explosives, pepper spray, or other weapons.
Thermoses, coolers, or other liquid containers except in cases of medical need, as certified by a physician.
Helium balloons, laser pens, artificial noisemakers, air horns, or megaphones.
Large signs, flags, poles, banners, or laser pointers.
Promotional items with commercial slogans or identifications.
Outside food and beverages are not allowed into the Arena or Convention Center.
Alcoholic beverages, drugs, or illegal substances.
Non-service animals.
Drones.

Event Seating

With the exception of seats that are reserved for participating faculty, alumni, graduates, and special guests of the University all seating will be considered open.

If you have a guest in a wheelchair or with specific needs that require seating considerations, he/she can opt to sit in accessible seating areas as designated by the DCU Center. One family member will be allowed to accompany that individual in the accessible seating area, in order to maximize seating opportunities for all guests and attendees. American Sign Language interpreters will be visible in all locations from projection monitors.