From March through June, the most up to date and detailed information about the 2024 Commencement Ceremony can be found on the Graduation Tab in the MyCharterOak Student Portal.
The in-person graduation ceremony will take place at The Bushnell Center for the Performing Arts, inside the William H. Mortensen Hall, located at 166 Capitol Ave, Hartford, CT 06106.
The graduation ceremony will begin with the processional at 6:30 p.m. All graduates wishing to participate in the in-person ceremony must check in at the Autorino Great Hall, located on the second floor of The Bushnell, no later than 6:00 p.m.
The doors will open for Charter Oak graduates and their guests at 5:30 p.m. All graduates must check in at the Autorino Great Hall, located on the second floor of The Bushnell, no later than 6:00 p.m. Please allow extra time for parking and entry into the building. There will be a photo station and other opportunities to take pictures with Charter Oak staff, faculty, and distinguished guests prior to the start of the ceremony.
Yes. The entire graduation ceremony will be professionally recorded and streamed live with closed captioning available for anyone to watch from the comfort of their homes. The stream will go live at 6:30 p.m. and will continue for the duration of the ceremony. The link to access the live stream will be posted to Charter Oak’s Graduation webpage (https://www.charteroak.edu/graduation/) by 5:30 p.m. on the day of the ceremony.
Yes. Caps and gowns are required for the live ceremony. Please visit https://charteroak.shopoakhalli.com between the first week of March and the first week of May to place your order.
The graduation ceremony will last approximately 90 minutes to two hours from start to finish.
Yes. Each graduate may reserve tickets for up to ten guests to attend the ceremony. A ticket will be rquired for each guest age 3 or older to gain admittance into the venue. Friends, families, and loved ones will also be able to livestream the event from the comfort of their homes.
Free parking is available in the State of Connecticut parking lot along Capitol Avenue and Buckingham Garage on the corner of Buckingham Street and Washington Street. The Buckingham Garage will open at 4:30 p.m. and the garage will close one hour after the end of the ceremony. Accessible parking is available in these lots. Free spaces are available on a first-come, first-served basis.
If the free parking lot is full, parking is available at several reserved paid lots. You'll need your license plate number when paying at the kiosk.
Street Parking is also available and can be paid for using a City of Hartford parking kiosk. Be aware of signage that indicates restricted street parking hours.
The Bushnell is located in Downtown Hartford at 166 Capitol Avenue, Hartford, CT 06106
From the North or South, take I-91 to Exit 29A (Capitol Area). Go halfway around the rotary, and bear right onto Elm Street. Take the first left onto West Street. Turn right onto Capitol Avenue and continue one block to The Bushnell.
From the East, take I-84 West to Exit 50 (Main Street). At the second light, turn left onto Main Street. At the tenth light, turn right onto Capitol Avenue. Continue three blocks to The Bushnell.
From the West, take I-84 East to Exit 48B (Capitol Avenue/Asylum Street). Bear right onto Capitol Avenue. At the light, turn left onto Capitol Avenue. Continue one block to The Bushnell.
CTfastrak and CTtransit are great options for getting to downtown Hartford, including The Bushnell. CTfastrak is Connecticut’s new bus rapid transit system with frequent service and free parking in many locations. CTtransit has routes that serve downtown from the entire greater Hartford region. For more information call 860.525.9181 or visit www.cttransit.com.
Class of 2025 Senior Legacy – Program Book Tribute!
A Tribute is a way of memorializing the day and recognizing the achievement, success, and support that helped make Graduation Day possible.
For a minimum contribution of $20.25, students, their parents, family members, and friends can place a tribute in the Commencement Program Book. Tributes are listed by Graduate last name and examples might be: Congratulations, Sarah! We love you. Mom and Dad. Way to Go! Or ... So proud of you and your accomplishment! Love your fave person.
Also, tribute ad contributions are donated to the Senior Legacy Scholarship Fund in honor of the Class of 2025 and used to provide financial assistance to other COSC students through scholarships and grants from the COSC Foundation. A way to pay-it-forward as you celebrate your success!
Tribute Ads are due by Sunday, May 19, 2025 to guarantee inclusion in the Commencement Program Book.
Simply follow the link to submit your tribute and $20.25 donation online.
Contact Carol Hall, foundation@charteroak.edu with any questions regarding the Legacy Fund Donations.
The Senior Legacy Fund unites the Charter Oak State College senior class in a fund-raising effort. All donations are part of the Charter Oak State College Foundation Annual Scholarship Fund and are used to support Charter Oak State College students through grants and scholarships.
As a graduate you are now part of the Alumni Community and will receive correspondence on occasion! However, you can become a registered member and continue building a relationship with your peers and alma mater. Charter Oak State College Alumni Association Membership is open to anyone who has received a degree from the College. Simply complete and returning the application with the fee ($15 for one year, or receive a gift with your membership - $40 for one year, or $175 for Lifetime Membership). Visit www.charteroak.edu/alumni for details and to pay online.Alternatively, please mail a check (payable to COSC Alumni Association along with the Alumni Association Membership form (attached here) to: COSC Alumni Association, 185 Main Street, New Britain, CT 06051
Graduates who have completed all their coursework, met their financial obligations and have no holds on their account can expect to receive their diploma six to eight weeks after the graduation date. All items are mailed to the address provided on the graduation application.
If your address or name changes, contact the Registrar’s Office at registrar@charteroak.edu. To be certain that you receive your mailed diploma, be sure to complete a change of address form with the Post Office.
For additional questions, contact Jon Draper, Commencement Coordinator, at commencement@charteroak.edu.