Graduation: What You Need to Know

All on-campus parking lots will be free and open to the public on recognition ceremony days. The CU Events Center area spring ceremonies parking map highlights the parking lots closest to the CU Events Center.View full parking information → 

• Parking for guests requiring accessibility: Guests who need ADA accessible parking may park in lots 440 (closest to the CU Events Center), 204, 346, 359, 360 or 380.
  • A disability parking placard is not required to park in lots 204, 380 or 440.
  • A disability parking placard is required to park in lots 346, 359 or 360.

Graduates have a separate entrance in order to sign in and line up.

Please follow signage to the north loading dock entrance of the CU Events Center and enter the double doors to the far right. 

• Once you arrive at 7 a.m.:
  • If you RSVP'd, thank you! Pick up your printed registration card at the table that corresponds with your last name. You will later hand the card to the person announcing your name as you reach the stage.
  • If you did not already RSVP, please arrive promptly to allow for time to check in.
• Our staff will direct you to line up by your degree program at 7:30 a.m. In the meantime, stay hydrated.
• There are portable restrooms outside the venue as you enter, but none inside the check-in area or once the ceremony starts. Please plan accordingly.
• There is no storage space for graduates to keep items during the ceremony. Graduates are responsible for carrying all personal items they bring, and all belongings are subject to the clear bag policy. Please take all items with you; students will not return to the lower gym after the ceremony.

Family and guests will follow signage to enter through the main doors of the CU Events Center. 

• Ceremony programs will be distributed at each entrance and throughout the CU Events Center concourse.
• Plan to be seated by 7:45 a.m. Guests may sit anywhere not marked reserved, ADA/accessibility or graduate seating. All seats are first come, first served. Tickets are not required.
• Guests requiring accommodations, such as wheelchair seating, sign-language interpreters or assisted-listening devices, should refer to the Accessibility tab for situation specific details.
• Concessions will be open for guests to purchase snacks and drinks.
• Flowers are available for purchase on the upper level of the concourse behind sections 7 and 8 and sections 23 and 24.

• Accessible parking is located north of the CU Events Center, in lot 440. A disability placard is not required to park in this lot. View additional parking information →
• A marked accessible entrance is located at street-level off Regent Drive. Guest Services staff are available to provide wheelchair transport to the accessible seating areas via elevator.
• Accessible seating is located court level in the first rows of section 9, 10, 11, 19, 20, and 21 or on the concourse level at the top of sections 8, 9, 10, 15, 21. View accessible seating map → 
• Captioning in English and Spanish will be available on personal handheld devices.
  • English captions
  • Spanish captions
• Guests requiring ASL sign-language interpreters should contact the ADA Compliance office at (303) 492-9725 or via email no later than 7 days prior to the event so that appropriate arrangements can be made.
• Guest Services, located near the Northwest entrance on concourse level, can provide assisted listening-devices, sensory bags, earplugs, masks as well as answer accessibility questions. 
• A lactation pod is available on concourse level at the top of section 14.

Clear bag requirements: To support security measures, CU Events Center has limitations on bags and items that may be brought with you. With the exception of medical bags, all others must be clear plastic, vinyl or PVC, and no larger than 12 inches by 6 inches by 12 inches.

Security: All graduates and guests are subject to security screenings, which may include walk-through metal detectors, electronic wanding and inspection of bags or other personal items. Medically necessary items will be permitted after proper inspection.

There will not be storage space for graduates to keep items during the ceremony. Graduates are responsible for carrying any personal items they bring, and all belongings are also subject to the clear bag policy.

A professional photographer with GradImages will take pictures of all graduates with a diploma cover.

GradImages will distribute contact cards to each student to fill out with their name, address and email. They will use this information to contact you after the ceremony to view and purchase your pictures.

GradImages offers a 20% discount to those who pre-register on their website before the ceremony.

For more information about ENVD's ceremony, visit the department's graduation webpage.

• Sunday, May 3, from 2 to 4 p.m. in the Upper Gymnasium of the CU Recreation Center. A reception in the same location will immediately follow the ceremony.
• Doors open for seating at 1 p.m. No tickets are required to attend.
• Graduates, please RSVP to ensure that the ceremony’s name caller will use the correct phonetic pronunciation of your name.

For more information, please visit the CU Commencement website.