How Gwynedd Mercy University Simplified Graduation Planning With One Platform

Commencement is one of the most important days for students. It is also one of the most complex events for staff to run. For Jim Gallo, Vice President for Mission, Planning, & Effectiveness at Gwynedd Mercy University, Tassel helped make that day smoother for everyone involved.

Jim works in higher education and started at his institution in 2019, just before the pandemic. Like many schools, his team faced an urgent challenge: how to run commencement safely while still giving students a meaningful experience. What started as a short‑term solution quickly proved to be more than that. Tassel has become a long‑term improvement to how Jim’s team plans and runs commencement, creating a smoother experience for students, faculty, and staff year after year.

A better experience for students

One thing that stands out to Jim is how much students care about their name announcement. With Tassel, students can hear how their name will be announced, make changes to pronunciation before they approve, and Deans no longer need to worry about getting names wrong.

Many people in the audience do not realize the names are pre‑recorded, Jim shared. What they do notice is how accurate and smooth the experience feels. Students often log in, listen to their recording, and re‑record if needed. They want their name said correctly on their big day.

Tassel gives students one place to manage everything. They can confirm their name, check pronunciation, and access tickets. According to Jim, this creates a “nice smooth student experience” from start to finish.

Easier for staff and faculty

The benefits are not just for students. Before Tassel, commencement required pulling data from multiple systems and printing name cards. Now, everything lives on one platform. That central Hub saves time and reduces errors, from student names to tickets and ceremony details. That single system has been a true game changer for their team. Once they made the switch, there was no reason to look back.

Deans no longer need to read long lists of names or worry about mispronunciation. Staff can focus on running the ceremony instead of managing paper and last‑minute fixes.

Ticketing has also been a long standing solution they have continued to utilize. Establishing easy ticket allotments and distribution where graduates can register and access everything they need for graduation.

Jim is clear about the impact: commencement runs better now than it did before Tassel.

A trusted partner

No system is perfect, but Jim describes Tassel’s technical experience as smooth overall. When issues came up, they were addressed by the support team within minutes. He especially values the customer success team and the close connection between support and product.

“Manny has been great since the beginning,” Jim shared, noting how feedback is taken seriously and passed directly to the product team.

Tassel helps streamline the ceremony, the practice, and the preparation. It reduces stress for staff and creates a better experience for students and guests. For Jim, that is what matters most. Commencement should feel organized, respectful, and personal. Tassel helps make that possible.